A cosy home with plenty of space for children and grandchildren – that's what a client envisioned for her inherited family home in Mönchengladbach. Iris Kutzim and Julia Dolle of the Krefeld-based architecture and interior design firm KuDo took on the challenge of comprehensively modernizing this 1960s semi-detached house. Their priority was clear: honor the client's vision within a tight budget while preserving the home's character. Rather than erasing its history, they sought to reinterpret it for today – giving the family home a contemporary voice while respecting its roots.

All three bathrooms – untouched for nearly 60 years – needed complete renovation. The client also desired a more flowing ground floor, with sightlines extending from the street-facing kitchen all the way to the garden. Removing two walls between the kitchen and adjoining study opened up the cooking, dining, and living zones into one cohesive space. Original carpeting gave way to warm oak parquet. A shelving unit, originally designed for the client's previous home, was adapted to anchor the reimagined living area. The kitchen strikes a minimalist note: clean oak fronts paired with black recessed handles and matt black baseboards that visually ground the cabinetry. The staircase – steps and steel railings alike – was repainted in a sophisticated green that echoes the 1970s wood panelling already present in the home. This green became the design's signature color, appearing in terrazzo tiles that line the stairwell and carrying through to both the new upstairs bathroom (created from a WC and small bath) and the ground floor guest WC. Throughout, the architects layered modern terrazzo and dark green tiles with oak materials and matt black fixtures, weaving a warm, personal aesthetic. Layered lighting – recessed spots combined with thoughtfully placed pendant and wall fixtures – completes the inviting atmosphere. From concept to completion: KuDo managed the planning phase in three months, with execution taking another three.

www.kudo-architektur.de

Photography:
Julia Dolle

(Featured in CUBE Düsseldorf 02|23)