We believe that home, even the temporary one, has to be a safe and comfortable place. To improve the living conditions of the families affected by the domestic violence, our interior designer Ūla starts a series of makeovers at one of the biggest family crisis centres in Kaunas.
Meet the heroes!
Our interior designer Ūla faced a difficult task. She had to equip a room for people she didn't know yet. The only thing she knew was that this temporary home would someday accommodate a family of five. Here, they will live, study, work, play and relax in the same space. The staff of the Family Crisis Centre helped Ūla to better understand all needs of the potential residents.
Our interior designer Ūla faced a difficult task. She had to equip a room for people she didn't know yet. The only thing she knew was that this temporary home would someday accommodate a family of five. Here, they will live, study, work, play and relax in the same space. The staff of the Family Crisis Centre helped Ūla to better understand all needs of the potential residents.
Before the renovation
The spacious and bright, yet modestly furnished room did not give the impression of a cosy family apartment. The space featured all essential furniture needed for living, but there was too little room for storage and obviously - too little chances to feel “at home”.
The spacious and bright, yet modestly furnished room did not give the impression of a cosy family apartment. The space featured all essential furniture needed for living, but there was too little room for storage and obviously - too little chances to feel “at home”.
The whole apartment in a room
When many people of different ages spend time in the same room, special attention needs to be paid to its layout. Separate areas for different activities can facilitate movement in the space. Therefore, Ūla furnished this room like a small apartment. It now has a hallway, some sleeping area, a nursery corner, a children’s play area, a workspace and a shared area for family leisure.
When many people of different ages spend time in the same room, special attention needs to be paid to its layout. Separate areas for different activities can facilitate movement in the space. Therefore, Ūla furnished this room like a small apartment. It now has a hallway, some sleeping area, a nursery corner, a children’s play area, a workspace and a shared area for family leisure.
“More members in the family mean more items in the room. Therefore, I designed a large corner wardrobe in the hallway area that adapts to the needs of the whole family: it can accommodate clothes, bedding, toys and other household items, and even offers a place to sort laundry.”
Ūla Žebrauskaitė, IKEA interior designer
A bedroom or a living room?
Let it be both. Practical and multi-functional furniture, such as UTÅKER stackable beds, allow having two rooms in the same space. During the daytime, they serve for a sofa and can become a double or twin beds when the night comes. By the way, these beds are easy to combine with any interior, since the frames made of untreated wood can be repainted.
Let it be both. Practical and multi-functional furniture, such as UTÅKER stackable beds, allow having two rooms in the same space. During the daytime, they serve for a sofa and can become a double or twin beds when the night comes. By the way, these beds are easy to combine with any interior, since the frames made of untreated wood can be repainted.
One piece, endless possibilities
KALLAX shelving units with drawers and boxes easily adapt to the needs of each family member. They are convenient for storing baby care items, toys or other small things. If necessary, such a shelf can also serve as a table for children to play and draw or a partition that provides privacy in the room.
KALLAX shelving units with drawers and boxes easily adapt to the needs of each family member. They are convenient for storing baby care items, toys or other small things. If necessary, such a shelf can also serve as a table for children to play and draw or a partition that provides privacy in the room.
From new-borns to teenagers
The new room features a cosy nursery corner with a VALLENTUNA chaise longue. It provides a comfy seating when reading for kids or putting the baby to sleep, and can turn into a single bed if needed. The cover is durable and easy to keep clean, which is extremely important for the families with little kids.
The base of GULLIVER cot can be placed at different heights, so it grows together with the child. And if the family with teenagers moves into the room, they can enjoy a space-saving MYDAL bunk bed. This bed can be separated from the baby corner with curtains for more privacy in the shared area.
The new room features a cosy nursery corner with a VALLENTUNA chaise longue. It provides a comfy seating when reading for kids or putting the baby to sleep, and can turn into a single bed if needed. The cover is durable and easy to keep clean, which is extremely important for the families with little kids.
The base of GULLIVER cot can be placed at different heights, so it grows together with the child. And if the family with teenagers moves into the room, they can enjoy a space-saving MYDAL bunk bed. This bed can be separated from the baby corner with curtains for more privacy in the shared area.
One table for everything and everybody
A mobile table on wheels and two chairs that meet the requirements of public use are the real celebrities in this room. They will definitely serve for many years and help many students to finish the school. When the homework is done, both table and chairs can be moved towards the sofa and become a place for dining or family gatherings.
To save space on the table, most of the items are stored on SKÅDIS pegboard with fixed containers, hooks and other accessories.
A mobile table on wheels and two chairs that meet the requirements of public use are the real celebrities in this room. They will definitely serve for many years and help many students to finish the school. When the homework is done, both table and chairs can be moved towards the sofa and become a place for dining or family gatherings.
To save space on the table, most of the items are stored on SKÅDIS pegboard with fixed containers, hooks and other accessories.
“How to accommodate a big family into a small space? Divide the room into functional areas, separate them with curtains or open shelving units for more privacy, and use space-saving furniture that is easy to transform.”
Ūla Žebrauskaitė, IKEA interior designer