The Czech interior designer Zuzana Bošková took part in the renovation of a flat, where the changes included a partial reconstruction of the bathroom and a significant transformation in the kitchen living room. Zuzana opted for bold ochre complemented by earth-toned details. All materials and colours were chosen with regard to the four-legged member of the family. “I was tasked to match up the hallway, the bathroom and the kitchen living room into a homogenous style – Bošková explains –. The final look was defined by each member of the household, including the dog. Considering the pet, I only chose materials which can be kept clean easily. You might even say I only picked colours of floor tiling and other details which go together with his fur".
New style and functionality for the kitchen
Visually, the greatest transformation was achieved in the kitchen living room. The original kitchen units were replaced with a set of new ones, which are now positioned along the longer wall, providing more space for food preparation. In order to keep the clear line of the kitchen, the extractor hood is now integrated into the hob. Near the kitchen units, a niche can be found, serving now as a coffee nook, displaying everything the owners need to prepare their coffee on additional shelves. “We like how much easier it is to clean the kitchen thanks to the materials Zuzana used – the clients comment –. Apart from the practicality and functionality, the kitchen shelves provide a perfect place to display paintings. It's our dog who favours the new layout of the bathroom but it's also easier for us to have a wash in the shower. The hallway is now skirted with a built-in wardrobe but it's lifted above the ground and illuminated so the space feels graceful and airy even without natural light. All in all, we love the transformation, especially for its interconnected materials and colours in the whole interior.”
A high-quality foundation
The transition between the kitchen and the living room, as well as between the living space and the hallway, is defined by the floor. There is a floor tiling with a delicate pattern in the hallway and the kitchen, changing into a wooden floor. The border between the two materials is made with a cork expansion strip which provides a more elegant and unobtrusive transition than typical baseboards. “The clients – the designer says – had agreed that investment into a high-quality foundation is the most important one. Therefore, I paid special attention to floors and transitions between the chosen materials. The wiring of lights in the flat, on the other hand, proved to be quite cheap as well as effective in the flat because it required no construction alterations. The visible cables skirt the individual lights in a regular distance, which feels both compact and tasteful.”
Brown and beige for the living room
The living room is intersected with a support column – its concrete structure was uncovered during the renovation. As recommended by the designers, the owners decided to keep the column's natural look and accept it as a design component which plays a crucial role in their home. On the contrary, they wanted to hide the large wall radiators which take up a significant part of a wall in their central room. Zuzana dealt with this small detail by adding a simple set of bookshelves and lengthening a curtain rod above the radiators. Both are hidden yet they still serve their function in full. Moreover, white ceilings are complemented with a bold ochre accent on some walls, going hand in hand with same-coloured curtains and earthy tones of the tiling pattern. Similar brown and beige colours can be found on equipment such as a dining table, a sofa, and wall lamps.
