‘The House’ – a muted, minimalist retreat from Ask og Eng
I’ve featured a few projects by Norwegian design studio Ask og Eng over the years, and today I’m excited to share a peek inside the beautiful home of its founders, Kine Ask Sternersen and Kristoffer Eng.
Currently open to visit and available to rent for overnight stays while the couple temporarily relocate to Mallorca with their children, it’s located in Drammen, just south west of Oslo. It dates from 1868 and has been lovingly restored, with Kine and Kristoffer reconfiguring the layout to suit modern living while preserving as much of the building’s historic character as possible. The result is a calm, soulful blend of muted, earthy colours and natural materials, with pared-back furniture and pale ash floors warmed by lots of texture.
The ground floor of the house mostly consists of one large, open-plan space and at its heart is the kitchen, where the story of Ask og Eng all began. Unable to find a responsibly made kitchen system they liked, architect Kristoffer and former environmental geographer Kine decided to create their own using sustainable bamboo, spawning the idea for a company that has since branched out to cover all aspects of interior design. Clean-lined, handleless units give an airy, minimalist feel, with layers of beautiful patina thanks to the dark-stained fronts, stone worktops and mineral-paint walls. The whole thing is finished off perfectly with subtle brass details, an open shelf stacked with art and ceramics, and stunning circular marble and onyx wall lamps carved in the Mexican city of Tecali and inspired by the stone masks of the ancient civilisation of Teotihuacán.
Beyond the kitchen is a living area with more bespoke bamboo Ask og Eng creations, including a low-slung sofa, boxy side and coffee tables, a sculptural dining table and a display cabinet built into a niche. The crisp angles and clean lines are again offset by circular forms such as a curved beige easy chair, a pebble-shaped wall vase, a mushroom-like lamp made from smooth lime plaster, and a clay wall sculpture that resembles a flowing ribbon. It all makes for a very harmonious, relaxing and convivial space.
Nestled under the eaves on the floor above, the bedrooms are kept as calm and clutter-free as possible, creating a soothing ambiance that encourages rest and sleep. The main bedroom is particularly appealing, with its exposed rafters and softly upholstered headboard with a hidden bamboo ledge behind. It and the others also feature wardrobes with tactile fabric panels, all custom-made to maximise storage space beneath the sloping ceilings, plus eco-friendly (and fully compostable) pendant lamps crafted from recycled paper.
Just as beautiful is the bathroom. It’s designed with two separate zones divided by an internal wall, one housing a waterfall shower and the other a free-standing bathtub. This not only helps to create a cocooning and private feel, it also makes the best use of the space by avoiding the empty, unused area that occupies the middle of so many bathrooms. The materials enhance the spa-like mood, with light bamboo cupboards, gently textured walls, and natural Norwegian stone for the floor tiles, sink and countertops.
The House is open to visit by appointment during the week, with an open house on the first Saturday of every month; you can also book overnight weekend stays, with rates starting at €475 per night. And if you like the look of the furniture, lighting and accessories, many of them are available to buy via Ask og Eng’s online shop.
All photography courtesy of Ask og Eng
