In this episode of Home idea with IKEA, the show visits a family that is ready to embark on a kitchen transformation adventure. Santa and Ansis once moved into an apartment where the kitchen was already installed, but over time it has become clear that it does not fully meet their needs. By applying to take part in the show, both have committed to creating a kitchen that truly suits them and their lifestyle — and, most importantly, the vision of the family’s head chef, Ansis.
Before
The existing kitchen is a spacious, open-plan area combined with the living room. This is where the family spends most of their time — cooking, sharing meals together, playing games, working, and hosting guests around the large dining table. The current kitchen was not planned by the homeowners themselves, and they admit that there are several things they would like to change, both in terms of layout and storage solutions. At the moment, there is not enough storage space, and some items they would prefer to keep in the kitchen have to be stored in the hallway instead.
After
After the transformation, the kitchen has gained a strong, distinctive character with a restrained and graphic black-and-white contrast. Instead of the originally planned dark fronts, light ones were chosen on the designer’s recommendation, making the kitchen feel visually lighter and preventing the space from becoming too dark. The biggest change is the newly planned kitchen island, also introduced on the designer’s advice, while still preserving the large dining table that is so important to the family.
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Thoughtful planning
Since Ansis and Santa enjoy hosting guests, the layout recommended by the designer for this kitchen includes an island. It allows the cook to face the room while preparing food, rather than standing with their back to guests, and also serves a practical purpose as additional storage space. Extending from the island is a spacious dining table, which can be extended on occasions when more seating space is needed.
Tips for kitchen storage
After reviewing the family’s newly installed kitchen, the IKEA designer added small details to make the overall solution more harmonious. For example, dark drawer organizers were chosen instead of light ones to better match the color of the drawers. Additional shelves were added inside the cabinets to allow for more dish storage, and the countertop was complemented with accessories to make everyday life more convenient and cozy.
Dining area for family and friends
The family often hosts guests, so it was very important to keep a large dining table where everyone can sit together. Although the homeowners would have liked a round table, in combination with the new kitchen island they chose to keep a rectangular table as before. By decorating it accordingly, it’s easy to quickly create a different atmosphere in the space—whether for a specific celebration or simply when they want a change in everyday life.
“By adding various accessories, the kitchen visually becomes cozier and no longer feels so empty or sterile. When doing so, it’s important to pay attention to a coordinated color palette that suits the space.”
What was done before?
In previous seasons, our interior designers transformed a wide range of home and business spaces, offering practical tips on how to adapt interiors to personal needs and keep everything well-organised. We renovated kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms, created a children’s room in an attic, refreshed office spaces, redesigned a compact one-room apartment and so much more.Previous makeovers
Would use some help?
If you'd like to renovate your home without a big investment or major repairs, you can always ask our interior designers for help. With your input and home furnishing style preferences, whether it be traditional or modern, our professionals will help you navigate our wide range of products and create a complete furnishing solution for one or multiple rooms, or for your entire home.Interior design service