Timber panels lining the walls of this house in Beijing by Swedish studio Claesson Koivisto Rune create a datum that unites the different spaces and contributes to a warm and soothing ambience.

Claesson Koivisto Rune designed the interior for an existing house in the Chinese capital. They chose to create a Scandinavian-inspired space that enlivens the mundane building.
Pale wood used for the wall panelling matches the extra-wide floorboards throughout the house, and contributes to the relaxed, neutral feel of the interior.
"Natural materials, the wood in particular, creates warmth and psychological wellbeing," claimed the architects.
Recessed LED light strips incorporated along the top of the panelling creates a warm glow on the pale walls. A dimmer control can be used to alter the ambience within the house.
"The contemporary Scandinavian ambience is in contrast to the 'international-classical' exterior," said the studio, which also recently provided a 250-year-old hotel in Norway with a modern makeover.
"With this contrast, the calm you meet when entering is unique: a completely ordinary house has been given an extraordinary interior."

The first step taken by the architects was to simplify the internal floor plan. Next, they devised a method to lend consistency to the reorganised spaces, in the form of the timber panels lining the rooms.

"A horizon line is established that runs through every room in the house," said the studio. &...