In the heart of all the action
“You don't really feel like you’re in an urban centre when you look out the window,” says Anne-Lise Amundsen, 69, as she looks out of the living room window and sees green fields, woods and farms.
Together with her husband Arild, 72, she moved into the newly built apartment from Thon Eiendom in Parkodden in Strømmen in the spring of 2018.
On the fifth floor, at the top of the building, they have 136 square metres of space, as well as a roof terrace of no less than 100 square metres.
Despite the fact that the city centre is right outside, it is still amazingly quiet up here.
And with lift access directly to the apartment, it’s only a short distance from the underground car park to the home - and just as short a distance from the apartment to shops, eateries and everything Strømmen has to offer.
"You can't live more centrally than this! We can walk in our slippers to the convenience store right across the street, are right next door to Sultan Marked and only a two-minute walk from the Strømmen Storsenter and our favourite restaurant, Il Padrino," says Anne-Lise.
Arild and Anne-Lise’s best tips
- Go for a walk along the Sagelva River. Start at Slorahallen in Fjellhamar and walk through Mølleparken to Skjervagapet - it’s a wonderful route!
- Eat at the Italian restaurant Il Padrono. The food is fantastic and they have outdoor dining and sometimes even music. If you love Indian food, New Ambassador is also highly recommended.
- A trip to the Strømmen Storsenter is a must. They have all the familiar chain stores, but also some great fashion shops that are harder to find, such as Gant and Høyer.
- Shop at Sultan Marked, a huge market with food from around the world. Here you can get flowers, spices and legumes at very good prices.
An unexpected match
It’s not hard to understand why so many people enjoy loving here at the best location in Strømmen. But for this couple, moving here was not the original plan.
After having lived in Lillestrøm for 30 years, it was no easy decision to relocate to Strømmen.
“There’s always been a bit of a competition between Strømmen and Lillestrøm,” says Arild with a laugh.
This is probably due to the fact that they used to be two different municipalities each also has its own football team."
So, when he and Anne-Lise came across the apartment to be developed with what they thought was a perfect layout, it was with mixed feelings that they packed their belongings and relocated to Strømmen.
“Oh my, are you going to call Strømmen home?” their friends in Lillestrøm asked. “We’re still from Lillestrøm, but we’re going to live in Strømmen,” replied Arild and Anne-Lise to console their friends and neighbours.
“I have to admit that I never thought we would be so happy in Strømmen,” says Arild, while Anne-Lise nods in agreement.
"They says that 'Strømmen is the dream' and we were pleasantly surprised to discover that this was absolutely true."
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Despite the road passing just below Arild and Anne-Lise’s apartment, it is completely quiet on the fifth floor. The views of Bråte farm, woods and green fields make it feel as if the city and cars are far away. -
There are several tables and benches in Mølleparken made from old millstones. With the relaxing sounds of the river in the background, this is the perfect spot to stop to eat lunch while walking along the Sagelva River. -
In the past, there were extensive sawmill operations in Strømmen. If you walk along the Sagelva River towards Mølleparken, you’ll find Strømmensaga, a waterwheel-driven saw based on a 1700s model and watermill that currently functions as a living museum.
City and country - hand in hand
What makes Strømmen the perfect place to call home? According to Anne-Lise, you have both urban conveniences and natural landscapes all in one place.
"I really like the rural surroundings in a relatively urban area. We have a wide range of shops and restaurants and all possible services right outside the front door, yet we're also close to nature. It’s like a big city in the countryside," she says, adding:
"We aren't getting any younger, so being close to everything is a must."
For Arild, it’s all about having everything he needs within easy reach and the fact that Strømmen is conveniently located in relation to other cities.
"We have everything we need for our daily life here and we’re not far from Oslo and Lillestrøm, with all their cultural offerings. But we don't have to live in the middle of the action."
He thinks it’s nice to live close to nature instead.
"We have a nice walking path along the Sagelva River, cross-country tracks with lighting during the winter for those who like to go skiing and four to five golf courses close by. And we're not far from the Østmarka wildnerness area, with plenty of recreational opportunities."
"It’s fantastic to walk along the Sagelva River. You can walk all the way from Slora, past Mølleparken to Lillestrøm," adds Anne-Lise.
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It is often due to coincidence that you end up living somewhere. For Arild and Anne-Lise Amundsen, most important was that they became enthusiastic about an apartment that just happened to be in Strømmen. Fortunately, they quickly became enthusiastic about the area as well. -
The decisive factor was the large, single-level patio, perfect for enjoying both morning coffee and a casual dinner with friends and family. -
In the common areas right outside, there is a good mix of benches and green zones, perfect for interaction, playing and recreation.
Here to stay
As mentioned early, it was basically the apartment itself that convinced Arild and Anne-Lise to buy.
They had looked at a lot of apartments without finding the right one and when they saw the brochure for this project, they suddenly found everything they were looking for.
“The determining factor for us was the large, single-level patio, which offers easy access,” says Anne-Lise.
"We also like the floor plan. The living room is large and the kitchen is slightly separate. We like the fact that we can cook away from the living room and have a kitchen nook where we can hide some of the dirty dishes when we have guests."
She also mentions the curved shape of the apartment as being charming and having access to one of the two bathrooms directly from the bedroom as a huge plus. And of course, the lift takes them directly into the apartment. It’s practical and makes life a lot easier!
“We haven't seen such a nice apartment either before or since,” says Anne-Lise.
Positive things about living in Strømmen
- You have shops, eateries, medical centres and a wide range of amenities and services in the immediate vicinity.
- Even though it's a relatively urban area, it's not far from nature. The walking path along the
- Sagelva River and all the recreational opportunities of the Østmarka wildness area make this location unique.
- Oslo, Oslo Gardermoen Airport and Lillestrøm are all within easy reach.
- Apartments are more affordable here than elsewhere in the municipality.
When they're not enjoying themselves inside their apartment, the couple enjoys discovering all that Strømmen has to offer.
"We love to take advantage of all the possibilities we have around us here. We like to take our grandchildren bowling and also love to eat out," says Anne-Lise.
"And if we need to buy something, whether it’s a gift or something for the apartment, Strømmen Storsenter is sure to have just what we need. They have absolutely everything! There's no reason to go anywhere else," she adds.
Before Arild and Anne-Lise moved to Lillestrøm, they lived in several different places in Norway. This couple, who used to run a course and conference company in the tourism industry for a number of years, enjoys a fast pace.
But they've now found their perfect fit in Strømmen.
"We’re here to stay!"