WOOD WORKS
Far from content with their existing plain vanilla kitchen, a Danish family embarks on a cosmetic overhaul, with some spectacular results
A project home in Denmark gets an instant boost with a clever, considered kitchen makeover
Nothing was fundamentally wrong with the kitchen in Anitta and Daniel’s new terrace near Copenhagen, but the white-on-white aesthetic wasn’t to their liking. “The kitchen was good quality but wasn’t our dream space,” says Anitta. “The impression was too sterile.” The couple kept the layout and the cabinetry carcasses but swapped the doors and benchtops for a new look, donating the white fronts to Daniel’s sister, who was building her own new kitchen. “It’s great to know she has a use for them,” says Anitta, a photographer.
She and Daniel tracked down craftsman Christian Riis of Grounded Craftwork to construct new timber door and drawer fronts. “I like the warmth and cosiness that wood brings, especially here, since the room is very bright,” says Anitta. “We looked at di erent types, and elm played well with our loor and the size of the room. If we had chosen a dark timber, it would have made the room look smaller.”
Walls painted in a soft shade of grey allow the timber to shine, while a splashback formed from concrete tiles laid in a herringbone pattern has hero status. “We were a little nervous about choosing such a dark wall for the small room, but I’m very happy with the result as it gives contrast and creates depth,” says Anitta.
Metallic touches help to deliver subtle glimmers of light that complement the more muted materials elsewhere. “I knew I wanted a brass tap, as the shiny brass against the dark, matt mosaic wall is really beautiful,” says Anitta, who also chose brass accessories and had a band of the same material added to the wall-mounted extractor by Danish design company Nilroy. “I like that we have created a connection in this kitchen, and you can see that things it together,” she adds. “We really love the look we’ve created.”
See Anitta’s photographic work at anittabehrendt.dk. Take a look at Christian’s other projects at groundedcraftwork.dk.