Interview about the kitchen design and my ideas on kitchen design in general:
You work as an interior designer and have made many kitchens for your clients, how come the projects so often focus on kitchen design?
The kitchen is called the heart of the home and I believe that most people agree that it is an important room. A room where you spend much of your time and hang out with friends and family. You often invest a lot in your kitchen and therefore want to take help to avoid mistakes and get both function and a good aesthetic.
What are your thoughts when you design a new kitchen?
I study the building, the customer's needs and the shape of the room. What type of kitchen is suitable? Modern, classic, rustic or maybe 60s hardwood kitchen. I like all types of kitchen styles when they are tastefully executed.
Can you recognize a Joanna Lavén kitchen?
Yes, they are always incredibly elaborate and exceptionally beautiful. Joking aside, I try to live every project and every kitchen should be the best for the specific home I work with and those who live there.
Your interior design and your kitchen feel very international, how come?
My inspiration, like my projects, is international, I work both in Sweden and abroad and I like to travel to gather ideas and impressions. It is true that, unlike many other Swedish interior designers, I am less ”Scandinavian blonde” and I have a preference for cozy environments with luxurious materials and a mix of French / Italian / Brazilian / Danish designers rather than just Nordic. I try to raise my eyes and want to create elaborate kitchens and furnishings that are timeless. The goal of my projects is that it will be a pleasant result that is tied to person and place rather than the time of the rebuilding or new construction.
What mistake do people often make when designing new kitchens themselves?
Many people decide what they want without taking into account the room and the building. They follow trends that they believe are timeless and are often unaware that what they choose is a trend. Without a wider perspective, there is no way to look beyond trends and find other alternatives.
What was the starting point, the inspiration and what was most difficult in this project?
The starting point was the fantastic building and the customer who likes a classic style but at the same time has an interest in modern design. A completely classic kitchen was what the customer initially asked for, but the room's symmetry and shape gave me other ideas that felt more appropriate. A completely classic kitchen would have become a fine kitchen but this crossover solution takes the apartment to another level. I was inspired by French double doors and wanted the carpentry to feel like a natural extension to the rest of the apartment which has incredibly beautiful preserved turn of the century details. The most difficult thing was to get to a practical kitchen island with good storage and appliances without having to compromise with the beautiful marble pattern that is wrapping around the whole island. Tons of sketches were sent between me, the carpentry workers and the stone company ...
The eternal hesitation, how does marble work in a kitchen?
I think it all depends on the customer's personality. If you have marble in a kitchen, there will be stains. Period. Some people are disturbed by these stains and others think it is ok and a small price to pay to enjoy the beauty of the natural stone and the materials good qualities (for example, it is a pleasure to bake on marble). The alternative will be a granite or stone composite and they do not have the same beautiful veins. I always try to investigate the customer on the pulse and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different materials.
What are your thoughts when choosing home appliances for a kitchen?
It is very different from project to project, can really just say that I have a general rule regarding appliances - if it is visible then it has to look good. I often hide home appliances since that gives a more clean impression.
How do you choose color for a kitchen?
The color is very much determined by the style of the kitchen and how the room is to be used. Is can be a social room where you can spend time with your friends at festive events or a cozy room where you cook with the family. I also try to think that the color as well as the kitchen as a whole should last over time.
What is the color of the cupboard doors and walls in this kitchen?
This kitchen is painted with NCS S 0502-Y. I didn't want the color to overstate the beautiful carpentry profiles or the amazing vein of the stone. Natural materials and craftsmanship in the form of stonework and carpentry is what gets full focus in this kitchen.
Are there times when you would say no to design a new kitchen in a home?
Not initially, but if the customer insists on solutions that I do not believe in, the project will not work out. It is very important that both parties believe in the idea and do not feel that they are compromising.
Best tip for those who want to renovate the kitchen?
Try to question your preferences. Why are you craving a specific detail? If everyone else also likes this specific detail right now, you should be very careful unless you want to redo your kitchen in a couple of years again when the trend has changed. I think it is smart to hire a designer considering that a kitchen is a large and important investment that will greatly affect the quality of life and value of the home! If you want to get help, I recommend going to an interior designer who is not bound to a specific supplier so that you get advice that suits you and your home and is not limited by what is in the supplier's range. Keep in mind where the kitchen is located in the apartment, if it adjoins a living room in a cozy retro style, for example, perhaps a professional kitchen in stainless steel is to recommend clean style. Also consider an extra lap on the room's layout and take into account how you will move in the kitchen and hence the appropriate design and placement of all essential functions.
