Kitchen of the week: A light and airy Kitchen Makeover in Bristol - The owners of this house was rented for a year when they decided to make their move to permanent Bristol. Search for a place to buy, they fell on a Victorian house in need some serious care and attention, but with the space they wanted. "He was in very bad condition," said a rchitect Elke Dittrich, who helped the family to bring their own sense of style and personality to the property. The whole house was renovated once, which took about five months.
Elke worked closely with the mother of the family, Mirkku, a graphic designer to create this light, bright kitchen. The pair are friends, and Elke told her, "When she arrives, she always looks immaculate. It was a pleasure to work with someone with such a strong vision.
Cooking A glance
Who lives here A family of four
Location Bristol
Size 7.3 x 3.4m
designer Elke Dittrich DHV Architects
Elke worked closely with the mother of the family, Mirkku, a graphic designer to create this light, bright kitchen. The pair are friends, and Elke told her, "When she arrives, she always looks immaculate. It was a pleasure to work with someone with such a strong vision.
Cooking A glance
Who lives here A family of four
Location Bristol
Size 7.3 x 3.4m
designer Elke Dittrich DHV Architects
DHV Architects
When the family bought the property, on the ground floor was a maze of rooms with very little light. "There were actually two kitchens - the Victorian and another original, 1970s kitchen beyond, plus a bathroom and laundry room beyond," says Elke.
She stripped the whole area, which involved removing a large mantelpiece and put in a significant amount of steel to support the building. The result was worth it, though - a space, the spirit of light lifting.
cabinets, Ikea. rubber floor, Dalsouple.
Browse thousands of white kitchen photos on Houzz to find more inspiration.
She stripped the whole area, which involved removing a large mantelpiece and put in a significant amount of steel to support the building. The result was worth it, though - a space, the spirit of light lifting.
cabinets, Ikea. rubber floor, Dalsouple.
Browse thousands of white kitchen photos on Houzz to find more inspiration.
DHV Architects
Mirkku is half German, half Finnish, and a graphic designer, 'says Elke. "She wanted to have a clean look, almost Scandinavian. 'Mirkku chose to go for a light and natural color palette, mixing white wood in typical Scandi style.
As the daughter of an art dealer, she had a lot of works of art with which to decorate his house, including original images of Bauhaus.
Browse Scandi wooden paddle and monochrome
As the daughter of an art dealer, she had a lot of works of art with which to decorate his house, including original images of Bauhaus.
Browse Scandi wooden paddle and monochrome
DHV Architects
the ground floor used to be a dark maze of rooms and the garden was hidden from view. "There were no windows, said Elke. Adding a small extension, flat roof allowed them to insert glazing at the same height as the windows in the rest of the room, where they have not been able to do with a slope, 'shed' roof.
"The kitchen is oriented to the west and light was one of the most important factors in design. For us it is always the most important thing - to create a space that is not only comfortable, but that makes you happy, too, says Elke.
The garden was overgrown and required a lot of attention, but it is now a beautiful green space.
The thought of going all white with your outside? See these other white exterior photos for ideas.
"The kitchen is oriented to the west and light was one of the most important factors in design. For us it is always the most important thing - to create a space that is not only comfortable, but that makes you happy, too, says Elke.
The garden was overgrown and required a lot of attention, but it is now a beautiful green space.
The thought of going all white with your outside? See these other white exterior photos for ideas.
DHV Architects
Mirkku is the kitchen from Ikea. "That's the good thing about the house," says Elke, "it is a wonderful example of how to combine classical pieces with more affordable options."
DHV Architects
dining Arne Jacobsen chairs are a good example of a design classic well chosen. Paired with an Ikea dining table made of wood, the look is fresh and discreet, with a clear sense of whether the fundamental simplicity of Scandinavian systems.
The work of childhood is displayed all over the wall, bringing personality to the room. 'The display shows how things that are often considered messy enough can be presented in an organized and beautiful way, says Elke.
Series 7 chairs by Arne Jacobsen, available at The Conran Shop. sliding doors VELFAC.
Check more options sliding doors
The work of childhood is displayed all over the wall, bringing personality to the room. 'The display shows how things that are often considered messy enough can be presented in an organized and beautiful way, says Elke.
Series 7 chairs by Arne Jacobsen, available at The Conran Shop. sliding doors VELFAC.
Check more options sliding doors
DHV Architects
Mirkku chose to avoid continuous units for a more independent look. "The whole room is a mix of modern and traditional, says Elke. "Unity is the height where the chest would typically been, he hinted at it and looks more like a piece of furniture.
The work plan is maple, and the couple living and waxed themselves in order to reduce costs as the project ended.
The work plan is maple, and the couple living and waxed themselves in order to reduce costs as the project ended.
DHV Architects
The range Smeg stove gives the room an edge of the country. 'Mirkku did not want it quite modern, and wished he had some traditional touches, too, because it is a period house, "says Elke.
DHV Architects
It was important for Elke that there will be a variety of lighting in the room. "We find that in a kitchen, including a kitchen-dining room, you need to have different types of lights for different functions. You need the task and ambient lighting, "she says. Downlights are combined with a pendant on the dining table to enable different atmospheres to be created. Mirkku is quite the artist, so it was important.
"It was a real pleasure and success working with someone with such strong design language," concludes Elke. "The room is so light and welcoming, people are just drawn to it.
Tell us ...
Have you combined traditional with contemporary in your home? What do you think of this mixture? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
"It was a real pleasure and success working with someone with such strong design language," concludes Elke. "The room is so light and welcoming, people are just drawn to it.
Tell us ...
Have you combined traditional with contemporary in your home? What do you think of this mixture? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.