ellen & matthias
The ground floor of the renovated home felt spacious and full of potential, yet it lacked a clear spatial identity. By integrating one of the doors into a full-height cabinetry wall, circulation became more intuitive and the different functions of the space were better defined. An additional beam above the kitchen counter was clad in mirror to make it visually disappear, allowing the other red-painted beams and column to take centre stage. The rounded peninsula acts as a gentle transition between the kitchen and dining area, creating a natural flow through the room. The clients’ initial colour palette was carefully refined, resulting in a balanced composition in which colours and materials complement one another.
Once the kitchen design was completed, the area beneath the staircase still felt unresolved. Through a series of discussions, several practical needs emerged. A cloakroom, relocated from the shared entrance hall, was combined with a bar cabinet, a bench and even a discreetly concealed litter box. While this combination of functions may seem unexpected, the careful interplay of volumes, colours and materials unifies them into a coherent whole. Distinct from the kitchen yet closely connected to it, the under-stair element has its own identity while remaining part of the overall composition.
Architecture by Studio Toto.
(pictures by Inneke Gebruers)
