STOCKHOLM KITCHEN

Offering a cosy moment within an open-plan space, this kitchen in a Stockholm apartment honours some of the home’s original 1920s materials (like the parquet flooring) while escorting it into the future. The grain and vein of the stained oak timber and Nero Marquina marble draw in the eye, and their tactile qualities compel you to stay — perhaps by taking a seat in the leatherclad nook, a practical inclusion that blurs the line between kitchen and living.

NORDIC NOIR A lesson in how to achieve all the intrigue of a dark kitchen while offsetting the intensity with lighter shades of pale, Shaker-style recessed-panel cabinetry provides storage and conceals the shelving unit behind pocket doors for a dramatically different look when not in use. Inside, tonal black finds in interesting shapes make you want to reach out and touch.