The Colourful Scandi kitchen in London
In beautiful Aldersbrook, East London, Vita and Ali, along with their two children, have created their forever home in an Edwardian townhouse, featuring a Scandinavian design kitchen in dark oak from Nordiska Kök, contrasted with warm pink tones.
Kitchen design – Nordiska Kök
Wooden kitchen in dark oak with a worktop in Caesarstone Shitake – a modern beige quartz variety inspired by natural limestones that complements the Scandinavian, minimalist style.
Beautiful historic home in Edwardian style, in East London.
In the beautiful area of Aldersbrook, East London, lies the Lake House Estate. This Edwardian-style neighbourhood was built around 1910 on the site of a former large lake, created in the early 1700s. The houses in the area were designed using 'pattern books' and feature a variety of architectural elements that differ from house to house, yet together contribute to a unique character within this listed area.
In one of these beautiful houses live Vita and Ali with their two children. Over the years, the house had undergone several minor renovations, but when Vita and Ali moved in, they decided to carry out a thorough renovation of the entire house with the help of the London-based architecture firm, Prop Architects.
The entrance door is original, just like the beautiful staircase that has been repainted. The checkered floor is made of limestone.
The dark wooden kitchen is complemented by white-pigmented wooden beams and brick walls.
The warm pink shade complements the dark oak perfectly.
The main goal was to replace the rather dark spaces in the house with an open-plan layout while preserving and restoring original features that had been lost over time. And, of course, at the top of the list—a new kitchen from Nordiska Kök.
“As for the kitchen—for us, it was about finding the right balance between style, quality, and price. The only local options that offered a similar style and quality involved using a custom carpenter, but the prices were very expensive for what you got. Nordiska Kök allowed us to build a bespoke kitchen to our exact tastes at a very reasonable price.”
“We started working with Heidi from Prop Architects before we had even moved into the house, and she was fantastic. We are both very design-driven and have lots of ideas, but Heidi was great at turning those ideas into reality and ensuring that every detail was covered!” says Vita.
The ceiling beams and brick wall reinforce the connection to the house's original architectural style.
The old conservatory overlooking the backyard was replaced with a new extension that offers an open-plan layout with a kitchen, dining area, and living room. Vita and Ali chose to install large glass panels facing the garden to allow light to flood in.
The Scandinavian-designed kitchen in dark oak is contrasted by a warm pink hue that adds both personality and character. The beautiful white-pigmented ceiling beams and the brick wall enhance the sense of connection to the original details and the home's architectural heritage.
“The most important things to us were build quality, utility and convenience options and the ability to customise the design.”
Smart pocket-door cabinet with a dark oak interior and solid oak drawers.
The cabinet can be closed for a more uniform expression in the kitchen.
“We wanted something truly bespoke and had lots of ideas about how we wanted it to look, so choosing a brand that had flexibility with the designs was the main thing we were looking for.”
“The most important things to us were quality, utility and convenience options, and the ability to customise the design,” Vita says. ”We wanted something truly bespoke and had lots of ideas about how we wanted it to look, so choosing a brand that had flexibility with the designs was the main thing we were looking for. We also wanted all the convenience options, like cutlery and spice drawers and a coffee station, so finding someone who could provide those or build them was important.”
The beautiful grain of the wood is clearly visible and enhances the natural feel of the material.
The beautiful passage complements the kitchen's warm pink color and creates a unique expression in the house.
Vita and Ali chose large window units that let light into the house.
Vita and Ali knew early on what they were looking for when it came to the kitchen. They wanted a kitchen that met all their requirements and expectations regarding functionality, design, and quality, while also taking into account the room's specific dimensions and angles. When they heard about Nordiska Kök, they decided to travel to Sweden to visit Nordiska Kök's showroom in Ekerö, just outside Stockholm.
“Our designer also planned a great route for us via ferry from Stockholm, so we got to see the beautiful Swedish scenery on a sunny September day.”
"The experience was very seamless, and it really gave us a great understanding of the quality and different design options that Nordiska Kök offers”, Vita shares.
With the beautiful tap from Lusso, the family can get boiling water directly. The induction hob on the kitchen island is from Neff.
Both Vita and Ali are very passionate about interior design, and Vita runs the Instagram account @belgravehome, where she shares their family’s renovation journey. The choice of the pink color was particularly important, and Vita personally tested the paint on the kitchen walls to see how it interacted with the light. One of the reasons they chose Nordiska Kök was the flexibility to choose any color for the kitchen, paired with wood in various stains. Additionally, the smooth process and the ability to deliver to the UK were crucial factors in their decision.
”For us, being in London, the most common questions are about the process and delivery. We obviously reassure them that the process was very smooth! We were expecting a baby around the delivery window, so timing was critical for us, and it all worked out perfectly.”
The large kitchen island is perfect for socializing. Worktop in Caesarstone Shitake.
Behind the smart pocket-door cabinet, there is also a pantry concealed behind a door, painted in the same color as the rest of the kitchen
Vita and Ali have created their dream home in the Edwardian townhouse in London.
Photo: Helen Cathcart for Nordiska Kök
Architect: Prop Architects
Home: Vita Russell @belgravehome
The kitchen was designed and crafted in Sweden in our carpentry Studio outside Gothenburg, and then shipped to the client in England. We are proud to offer our high-quality Scandinavian kitchens, crafted in Sweden and now available for delivery across Europe.
Read more about how to order a kitchen from Nordiska Kök.
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