In Södermalm, Stockholm, lies a beautiful apartment dating back to 1906, featuring a hand-painted Shaker kitchen in a dark green shade from Nordiska Kök, contrasted by a kitchen island in dark oak. Interior architect Malin Grundström, who was assigned to renovate the apartment, has meticulously planned every detail—from the choice of colors to the hand-cut stone tiles on the floor.

Interior architect Malin Grundström runs the Interior studio Stuck On Earth, offering solutions for home decor and furniture, together with consultancy for both private and commercial clients. One of Malin's latest projects is a spacious apartment with original details, found in a classic building from 1906 in central Stockholm.

The kitchen was particularly rewarding to renovate. The room's spaciousness and natural light allowed for creative design solutions, including a slightly darker and moodier color palette. The result is a classic Shaker kitchen with beautifully harmonizing shades, seen in everything from the cabinetry to key details.

“The kitchens are always of high quality, yet very affordable. I also love that I can put extra effort into unique stone profiles and beautiful carpentry details that make the kitchens feel even more unique.”

— Malin Grundström

Hand-painted on-site in a deep green hue, the kitchen reveals the wood's beautiful grain. The countertop, crafted from Verde Guatemala marble—a rich green stone with delicate lighter veining from India—adds a natural, exclusive feel to the space.

One of the kitchen's most central features is the kitchen island, which also required careful consideration. It was redesigned numerous times until it correctly aligned with the original vision. The idea was to center the kitchen island in the room with the light source positioned right above, providing space for both cooking and enjoying meals.

– The weight of the stone and the stove were important factors. We didn’t want an ordinary base, we wanted it to stand on legs which was another challenge. But this was essential in order to avoid it feeling too heavy, says Malin.

As a solution, blocks were placed under the kitchen island, painted in the same shade as the rest of the cabinetry. The blocks contribute to the rustic feel, creating a contrast with the elegant green. Above the kitchen, an open shelf in the same green hue as the rest of the space holds favorite porcelain and glassware, adding a personal touch and a cozy, homely atmosphere.

The kitchen in the beautiful Södermalm apartment is Malin's third kitchen ordered from Nordiska Kök. For her, it feels natural, primarily due to the quality and possibilities.

– The kitchens are always of high quality, yet very affordable. I also love that I can put extra effort into unique stone profiles and beautiful carpentry details that make the kitchens feel even more unique, Malin explains, adding;

– Every kitchen feels tailor-made for that specific house or apartment, without costing a fortune. Plus, all our collaborations have been so reliable. Things look as they should and arrive on time. It may seem like a given, but unfortunately, that's not always the case. So, the service and expertise make all the difference.

Malin's best interior design tips:

Hide everything you can. Cables are a visual buzzkill.
No matter how beautiful the tiles are, it won’t matter if the tiler can’t create clean corners.
If you have space to create a small utility room, do it—especially if you have an open floor plan. Otherwise, the dishes will pile up as soon as there are more than two people.
Consider the natural light; it's a great starting point. In this case, it was a large, bright room filled with light, so we could afford to work with dark wood, stone, and color while still maintaining the room’s spacious feel. In a smaller kitchen with less natural light, we would probably have chosen lighter options overall.

Photo: Kristofer Johnsson for Nordiska Kök
Styling: Pella Hedeby
Text: Linnéa Ruiz Mutikainen

Featured

Minimalist and elegant design kitchen

Step into the apartment in Stockholm where Scandinavian minimalism meets French elegance, with soft, rounded corners permeating both the kitchen and the interior.

The Elegant Green Kitchen

Hand-painted Shaker kitchen in a deep green shade, where the elegant dark oak kitchen island creates a beautiful contrast and highlights the harmonious balance between traditional craftsmanship and modern design.

The Architect's wood kitchen

Step into the architect-designed villa featuring a minimalist dark wooden kitchen that embraces the synergy between architecture and nature with its clean lines and muted palette, creating a sense of serenity.