The vision was clear: complete transformation. When the new owner acquired this 1930s property, she wanted to reimagine it from the ground up. The goal was to create distinctive, individual spaces unified by a cohesive design narrative—one that would establish a warm, inviting atmosphere while incorporating ample storage throughout. Her collection of antique furnishings, vintage lighting, and artwork would be carefully woven into the new interior scheme. Krefeld-based architecture and interior design studio KuDo, already proven through prior commissions, took on the modernization with meticulous attention to coordinated color palettes and thoughtful detailing.

The renovation's central challenge was balancing comprehensive modernization—new roof, updated building systems, complete interior redesign—with a fixed reality: the existing floor plan had to remain largely unchanged for budgetary reasons. The two bathrooms received the most dramatic intervention, completely gutted and reimagined. Large-format marble-effect tiles pair with softly blushed timber surfaces and playful pastel glass fixtures, all counterpointed by matte black hardware and recessed pulls. Respecting the room structure demanded creative custom joinery solutions throughout: subtle wall adjustments in the entry created a built-in wardrobe niche. The original oak staircase railing was replaced by an elegant oak room divider that transforms the staircase into an architectural feature defining the space. The attic stairs underwent similar treatment, their dated metal rail now wrapped in a crisp white MDF construction. The kitchen was simplified—a cramped pantry removed—while existing tall cabinets received refreshed fronts in a deep green that complements the oak floors and antique china cabinet. The new counter height aligns with existing windows. The living room's extensive book collection now inhabits a custom shelving wall, concealed behind a striking fire-red sliding door that masks the television. Throughout, lighting combines ambient spots with strategically positioned pendant and wall fixtures—a mix of contemporary and vintage pieces—creating layered, atmospheric illumination.

kudo-architektur.de

Photography Credits:

Julia Dolle, Bijan Gies

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 02|22)