Small, refined and centrally located – this is how a well-travelled couple envisioned their second home on this side of the Atlantic. After an eventful life in Munich, Bangkok and Florida, the Rhinelanders were drawn back to their roots. A small, 55 m² two-room flat in need of renovation in the centre of Cologne offered enough potential for this dream, which was realised and executed by Anke Preywisch's Cologne-based interior design firm Raumkleid.

The construction phase began with professional asbestos removal. The subsequent demolition of almost all partition walls made it possible to create an open, spacious room layout. A kitchen island replaces the previously separate kitchen area and becomes a central meeting and communication point. The sleeping area is separated by a cubic installation that creates niches for the fridge-freezer and coffee maker on one side, while also offering compartments and space for a compact mini dressing room and luggage storage on the other. As the main feature of the interior, it appears in an opulent shade of red with a metallic sheen. The light colour scheme of the wall, floor and ceiling surfaces diffuses the daylight and makes the rooms appear much more spacious than they actually are. Gradations and differentiations in the colour scheme are reflected in finely crafted details – such as the delicate grey retro texture of the kitchen worktop, the finely shimmering grain of the ash parquet flooring and the noticeably gentle dampening effect of the walls, which are finished in matt white or delicate grey lime plaster. The area behind the custom-made sideboard in the dining area is also discreetly accentuated in a pale stone grey, creating an unobtrusive frame for a photographic work. A number of other art objects, found objects and collectibles complement the décor in a finely tuned manner. There was even room for a home office: together with a custom wall object, which was developed by the Lamp & Sohn joinery in collaboration with the client based on the architect's ideas, it forms a harmonious ensemble in the room. The lighting concept is equally sophisticated: the rooms feature exciting contrasts between selective light accents, wall-defining cones of light and functional islands of light. The use of warm white tones creates a calm and relaxed atmosphere in the living areas. In the midst of the bustling city life, a space to unwind has been created.

www.raumkleid.de

Photography Credits:

Thorsten Kern
www.kern-fotografie.de

(Featured in CUBE Cologne Bonn 01|22)