The rules were simple. The family’s wishes have come true, as the kitchen and dining room have been combined into one large family kitchen.
Home time and designer Aina Sollie Steen was given free rein to make absolutely all decisions when it came to color and décor.
Big change
The family didn’t recognize themselves anymore when they got home – but they loved the choices that were made.
– We are very pleased with the solutions, not least the colors chosen. They say when they see the result it couldn’t be nicer.
After: The facing wall gave the adjoining rooms completely new possibilities. Photo: Per Olaf Solvberg
Before: the dining room that’s been separated from the kitchen. Photo: Pandora Film/TV 2
After: A large dining table moves to the end of the room to make room for a sofa. Photo: Per Olaf Solvberg
Before: A kitchen bench with an L-shaped upper cabinet along a wall. Photo: Pandora Film/TV 2
After: Fresh solution with island, wall-mounted integrated fridge and oven. Photo: Per Olaf Solvberg
Before: dark beams in the ceiling, an old wood-burning stove, and a sliding door that didn’t work. Photo: Pandora Film/TV 2
After: A new, minimalist wood-burning stove in an interesting shape and an overhauled sliding door. Photo: Per Olaf Solvberg
Designer tip – how to create a great family kitchen
– You should know that if you demolish a wall and make a large kitchen room, you invite the family – because this will become the family’s favorite room. Everyone’s going to want to be here all the time, so you have to account for plenty of space, says interior designer Aina Sule Stein.
– Remember that in a large room with a kitchen, dining area and maybe a small lounging area, there are many more activities to do than in a clean kitchen. Therefore, all pedestrian areas must be taken care of and good spaces created. There should be a place for the kids to run around at the same time that dad is standing up and cutting the salad.
Aina speaks from her experience. She has three children, and she is used to the fact that a lot is going on around cooking.
TUMLEPLASS: Here kids can run, play and be with the adults. Photo: Per Olaf Solvberg
– If you are going to have a kitchen island, you must account for 130 cm between the island and the bench/cabinet on the other side. Then several people can work in the kitchen at the same time, and have room to open the drawers, oven, and dishwasher without collisions, she says.
Find out what furniture, products, and materials were used here.
How to use a muted color palette without getting boring
In this project, there are no pops of color, just variations of beige, white, and off-white oak—something that can easily get boring if you don’t make a number of conscious choices. Here are tips on how to make it vibrant and interesting, based on Aina’s ideas from Renovation.
- Imagine you have to use the entire scale from dark to light within your chosen shade. In this case, from the all-white chairs and lamp details, through the beige wall colors, textiles, and light oak, to the darker, earthy decorative elements.
Contrast: Colors go from completely white to dark beige and oak. Photo: Per Olaf Solvberg
- Create variety in surfaces. Glossy versus matte surfaces, plain versus rough surfaces, textiles with different textures. In this room, a slightly matte white countertop was used, and the tiles above were white and glossy.
- The sofa was a broad-striped corduroy cover, while the cushions were almost the same color, but of a different kind of fabric, and the rug on the floor was a long pile.
Surfaces: Glossy tiles against matte wall and worktop. Photo: Per Olaf Solvberg
- Add shapes to the room. A simple color palette works great if the furniture and objects have somewhat amusing shapes. In the family’s kitchen, the kitchen island had an end that curved toward the room’s living area.
Soft shapes: the end of the kitchen island. Photo: Per Olaf Solvberg
- The stove is designed in a circular shape, and the sofa in front of the fireplace is completely round. The lamps in the room also have playful, organic shapes that create variety and magnification in the sober color scheme.
SOFAKOS: All round corduroy sofa for adults and children. The stove has a circular design. Photo: Per Olaf Solvberg
- Feel free to let the perfect meet the imperfect. Newly renovated modern rooms are often frosty, with straight lines and smooth surfaces. In the face of this distress, it might be a good idea to use a potted plant or handmade objects that have something rough or imperfect.
Organic: An entertaining look for an all-white lamp above the dining table. Photo: Per Olaf Solvberg
Make the seat yourself
Much of what was made for the project is a bit intended for the “advanced” craftsman, but the cushioned seat can be made, even for the less mobile.
SIMPLE AND FLEXIBLE: These simple stools can be moved easily if you need a long table for guests. Photo: Per Olaf Solvberg
Watch how to make your own seat and seat cushion in the video below.
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