Kitchen Remodel in Scandinavian Style + Budget

Elena Pino and Julien Schwartzman are an architect couple from Strasbourg who decided to move to Paris and open their own firm Heju.

The couple settled in a small apartment on the attic, renovated all the floors and painted the walls white. Initially, they had enough budget and time only for the bedroom, while the kitchen remained untouched.

Only when the couple rethought their views on kitchen design did they manage to completely transform it. The guys calculated the main expenses, and we translated them into rubles — scroll to the end of the post to see the budget.

A cramped space and low ceilings — this is how you could describe this kitchen, but the owners liked it at first glance.

The guys decided to update everything, even the wiring — it was too old. Just like in the whole apartment, the walls were repainted white and the floors were sanded.

The cabinets were bought at Leroy Merlin — they offered more options than IKEA. Moreover: the cabinet doors were lined with birch plywood by the architects themselves. They also decided to do without handles: instead, they drilled small holes.

To avoid overloading the tiny space, they made cabinets only on the bottom, and decorated the walls with minimalist shelves from the same plywood. There is a small panel with hooks for kitchen utensils under them — a convenient solution.

Along the perimeter of the cabinets, they created something similar to an apron: they painted part of the wall with light gray washable paint.

The plumbing was purchased at IKEA, and they didn't skimp on the tap — they chose a brass one. It looks great in a bright interior.

Household appliances were chosen with a minimalist design so they wouldn't look too ornate against the simple cabinet fronts. There was even space for a washing machine: it was hidden behind the doors.

The only thing the guys didn't hesitate to spend money on — a round dining table made of solid wood. And not a bit — quality often costs more.

• Cabinets bought at Leroy Merlin: 13,000 RUB
• And lined them with birch plywood: 29,000 RUB
• Planned the plywood: 36,500 RUB
• Installed a new window: 22,000 RUB
• Bought a sink at IKEA: 7,000 RUB
• Installed a brass mixer: 36,500 RUB
• Installed a Smeg oven: 33,000 RUB
• Installed a Smeg induction stove: 27,000 RUB
• Made a cabinet under the oven: 2,000 RUB
• Bought the table: 60,000 RUB