Onda Apartment Is a Reimagined ’80s Flat Full of Playfulness

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Perched high above Ljubljana, Slovenia, a 731-square-foot apartment has been transformed with a bold, art-infused interior that feels equal parts gallery and home. Designed by alto design studio, the Onda Apartment reimagines what a 1980s building interior might look like, while embracing the dynamic energy of its owner – an award-winning visual artist and graphic designer with the desire for her space to reflect her vibrant and experimental aesthetic.

When the client first moved into the apartment as a teenager, the home bore all the hallmarks of its era: closed-off rooms, dark wood, and muted furnishings. The goal of the renovation was not to erase history but to liberate the space from its weight. Rather than erasing the past, the renovation leans into it, weaving together remnants of the original apartment with fresh updates.

A minimalist room features a large abstract black-and-white artwork, mirrored pedestals, a striped pillow, a terracotta duck sculpture, and sheer white curtains.

The first decision was to remove unnecessary doors and walls. By opening the floor plan, light now fills the interior with natural light, filling the previously gloomy hallway and connecting rooms in a way that feels natural. The shift in circulation changed the entire atmosphere, replacing the heaviness with a better flow and brightness.

A mirrored pedestal with a red vintage clock stands next to pink radiator pipes, a curtain, and a cart with a transparent bag labeled “thank you!” in a modern room.

Budget constraints required the designers to work strategically, deciding what to keep and what to reinvent. The original oak parquet flooring, marked by years of use, was carefully sanded, oiled, and darkened, lending warmth and continuity.

A textured, brown and red vase and a shallow brown bowl are displayed on two white pedestals against a white background with sheer curtains.

A modern kitchen with a marble countertop, peach cabinets, checkered floor, glass table, black chairs, and a white pendant light; red accents add color to the space.

In contrast, the kitchen was fully reimagined, beginning with four massive slabs of marble from Marmor Hotavlje, a Slovenian quarry renowned for its craftsmanship. Installing the marble became an adventure in itself – navigating slabs through a too-small elevator required ingenuity and persistence. The result is a kitchen that feels monumental yet playful, balancing its classic black-and-white checkerboard floor with peach-toned cabinets and a cherry-red faucet that infuses the space with personality.

Modern kitchen with peach cabinets, marble countertops, checkered floor, and a small dining area by a large window with sheer curtains. A pendant light hangs above the glass table.

Modern kitchen with peach cabinets, marble countertops, white tile backsplash, open shelf with dishes, stainless steel oven, and checkered black-and-white floor.

Modern kitchen with marble countertops, peach-colored cabinets, a red faucet, and a black-and-white checkered floor; a hallway with vertical stripes is visible in the background.

The design is built on contrasts. Natural materials – oak parquet, cork flooring, veined marble – set the stage with artificial ones: glossy plastic chairs, Reform cabinet fronts, and Archizoom’s legendary Superonda sofa in electric red vinyl. This clash is intentional, a deliberate meeting of warm and cool, organic and industrial, timeless and avant-garde.

Modern kitchen with a marble countertop and backsplash, a round stainless steel sink, a red faucet, pink dishes, a striped jug, and minimalist decor on a white shelf.

A tomato and two clear glass cups are placed on a marble countertop with a red electrical outlet; white tiled wall is in the background.

A marble countertop with geometric containers and bowls, a white grid tile backsplash, and a shelf holding books and a round object with a red and beige pattern.

Textures extend beyond the tactile to the visual. A storage wall becomes a graphic statement with bold black-and-white vertical stripes, broken up with spherical knobs placed almost haphazardly. Curtains filter daylight in soft folds, while pink-painted pipes span across walls, transforming functional elements into happy design features.

A modern interior with a red sculptural sofa, a striped black-and-white cabinet, abstract wall art, and a clear acrylic magazine holder on a tile floor.

The living area embodies the spirit of the apartment most vividly. Anchored by the Superonda sofa in the center – a 1960s icon that can be reconfigured into seats, beds, or platforms – the room feels like a constantly shifting installation. Artworks by the client line the walls and additional pieces sit on pedestals, reinforcing the impression of a private gallery.

A hallway with floor-to-ceiling black and white vertical striped panels, brown door handles, and a ceiling light fixture with two round shades.

Vertical black and white striped walls with round brown knobs protruding at various heights and locations.

A bed with black and white striped bedding is next to a glossy black side table and a red wall sconce, set against a white wavy headboard and wall.

The bedroom continues the same creative vibe with striped bedding echoing the storage wall, while pink pipes anchor the corner.

A clothing rack with three garments stands by a window with sheer curtains in a bright room. A pink radiator and exposed pink pipes are visible against white walls.

For more information on the Onda Apartment and alto design studio, visit altodesignstudio.si.

Photography by Ana Skobe.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.



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