The Scandinavian Kitchen in Paris
Step inside the beautiful home of interior designer Sara Mengesha, just outside Paris, with a bespoke kitchen from Nordiska Kök, blending French elegance with Scandinavian minimalism, honouring the residence’s original beauty while adding a personal, contemporary touch.
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Soft, curved arches appear throughout the kitchen design – a graceful nod to the home’s historic character – adding both charm and a sense of timeless elegance.
Echoing the elegance of La Belle Époque and neoclassical charm, decorative cornices, elegant wall paneling and parquet flooring set the tone for a carefully curated interior where vintage pieces and modern accents coexist in harmony.
For over 15 years, interior designer Sara Mengesha has been crafting thoughtful, expressive spaces rooted in both form and function. Her career began in the vibrant city of Dubai, where she spent a decade designing for the hospitality, residential, and retail sectors. After ten years in the Middle East, Sara relocated to London and soon launched her own studio – MEIO Interiors. Today, five years later, she lives in Paris with her husband David and their two children.
Natural light pours in through full-height windows and classic French doors, creating a seamless connection between the kitchen and garden.
The bespoke kitchen from Nordiska Kök features balanced proportions, symmetry and a light colour palette, harmonising with the rest of the home.
The beautiful French residence built in 1870, is located in Le Vésinet, just outside Paris.
Their beautiful home, an elegant residence built in 1870, is nestled along the leafy avenues of Le Vésinet, and bears the hallmarks of the neoclassical style so typical of the La Belle Époque era – with balanced proportions, symmetry, and refined stone and plaster detailing. Features that were carefully considered in the design of the newly renovated kitchen.
The kitchen is located in one of the newer extensions of the house – a space that originally stood in stark contrast to the rest of the home with its clean lines and lack of ornate detail.
– The old kitchen felt disconnected – more like an add-on than a continuation. The vision was to create an open kitchen that felt more integrated, says Sara.
With shaker cabinets, dark oak cabinetry, marble and soft curved forms, the design is a mix of French country charm and Scandinavian minimalism. Stove from Bertazzoni and cooker hood from Fisher & Paykel.
Crafted in Nordiska Kök’s carpentry studio outside of Gothenburg, Sweden, the kitchen is fully customised for the French home. With shaker cabinets, dark oak cabinetry, marble and elegant arched shelving, the design balances elegant French country charm with the beauty of Scandinavian minimalism.
– With its open layout, the kitchen is visible from the main entrance and throughout the entire ground floor, so it was essential that it blended seamlessly with the rest of the home – both in character and in materiality.
With soft, light hues contrasted by warm wood accents, the kitchen creates a serene and sophisticated atmosphere, while still maintaining a contemporary flair.
The home’s rich history is reflected in its original decorative details.
Warm, dark oak cabinetry brings depth and character to the light, airy open space.
– A key source of inspiration was the fireplace, with its subtle mixture of both neoclassical and art deco influences. Introducing soft, curved forms became essential to infusing the space with personality – a harmonious blend of Scandinavian minimalism and the elegance of early 1900s Paris, says Sara.
The neoclassical and art deco influences of the fireplace was a key source of inspiration for the kitchen design, with its soft curved forms and light color palette.
Light hues, curved forms and carefully curated materials create a warm and inviting feel. The knobs are Milliner Furniture Knobs by Corston.
Warm wood is a recurring element throughout the interior, infusing the space with warmth and character. Dining table by Audo Copenhagen, and dining chairs by DETJER.
The kitchen design reflects a balance between softness and structure, featuring light hues and curved forms. With influences from both Scandinavian minimalism and Parisian elegance, the result feels carefully curated yet warm and inviting.
– Transitional is perhaps the best word to describe the kitchen style: a thoughtful balance between honoring the home’s original beauty and adding a personal, contemporary touch.
The beautiful kitchen island offers plenty of workspace, while serving as a cozy gathering point for friends and family to socialize around.
The kitchen island worktop is marble “Dover White Namibia”. Learn more about choosing the right worktop.
“What I appreciate most about Nordiska Kök is their ability to offer truly bespoke solutions, along with their beautiful wood inserts that add warmth and character.”
Interior designer Sara Mengesha.
The kitchen is a mix of French elegance and Scandinavian minimalism. Kitchen tap from Grohe Blue Home.
Sara’s keen eye for interior design is evident in every corner of the home.
– What I appreciate most about Nordiska Kök is their ability to offer truly bespoke solutions, along with their beautiful wood inserts that add warmth and character. Their kitchen collections also embody that refined Scandinavian design language I was looking for – elegant, minimal, and timeless. In short, they had everything I was after, says Sara.
The warm oak cabinetry from Nordiska Kök adds a rustic touch, while maintaining an elegant, timeless appeal.
A subtle yet standout detail is the coffee/tea station hidden behind pocket doors – a smart bespoke solution providing practical storage as well as a seamless look.
Photographer: Andrea Papini
Interior designer: Sara Mengesha Meio Interiors
Architect: Wukang Architecture
