Before & After: A Cookbook Author's Tuscan Kitchen Make-Over

As a Brit living in Sweden - by way of the USA, Scotland and Dubai (scarily, my time abroad outweighs my childhood years in England now!) - I am always fascinated to see the homes of expatriates - and how the cultures intertwine. Emiko Davies is an Australian-Japanese food writer, photographer and cookbook author (her four books include Forentine: The True Cuisine of Florence, Acquacotta, Tortellini at Midnight and Torta della Nonna). Growing up in a diplomatic family, Emiko spent most of her life living abroad. After graduating art school, she ended up in Florence and fell in love with a Tuscan sommelier. Mid pandemic, the pair moved to a new home in a small hilltop town in Tuscany with their DAUGHTERS Mariù (8) and Luna (3). 

Built in 1800, the pair fell in love with the palazzo and its wonderful old tiles, high ceilings with frescoes, wooden beams and 210 cm windows and views over the valley. Plus, it was a few hundred metres from Emiko's favourite butcher as well as an organic produce shop, a good pasticcera and a handful of restaurants. 

Needless to say, the first thing Emiko did when she moved in, was plan and renovate the 220-year-old kitchen! 

Kitchen before

Emiko was thrilled to have a large kitchen (or at least larger than their one in Florence). She was keen to create a practical, reliable and sustainable space - as well as somewhere she and Marco could spread out while cooking. A large dining table would be at the centre - offering a place for friends to sit, and somewhere the girls could play, chat about their day and do their homework while Emiko cooks. 

Kitchen after

Italy was hit hard by the pandemic / lockdown, and Emiko was keen to support local businesses. This led her to Very Simple Kitchen - a young, local kitchen design company in Bologna, who specialise in versatile modules inspired by vintage industrial workbenches. 

The century old table previously belonged to Marco's great-grandfather and had been hidden away in his Mother's attic. It was made by a local carpenter using wood and marble recycled from Angiolino's bar. They cleaned it up, sanded it down and it was good to go! Emiko loves seeing her girls around a table that's steeped in family history. 

The sturdy stainless-steel benches are powder-coated in teal giving the room warmth and the doors hide a dishwasher (Emiko's first!) as well as bins, heavy pots, cutlery and a hidden safety drawer for their vast array of kitchen knives. 

A small room off the side of the kitchen has been converted into a pantry and laundry room. Freestanding shelves provide a spot for their extensive collection of cookbooks. 

Emiko decided to go for a cleaner, modern look without top cabinets - instead, using a rod to hang utensils (and keep them to hand). 

The work surface is made from terrazzo (with peach and green splatters) chosen because it's practical, easy to clean and fairly resistant to stains. Plus, it looks pretty too! 

Emiko and Marco love to cook side by side, so it was important to design a longer worktop they could share. They also chose a larger induction stove from Smeg (a first for Emiko who was looking for a more sustainable and long-lasting option). I have also installed induction stoves (from Bosch) in our kitchen at home and also at the cottage and I'm so pleased with them! 

The cabinetry is built in free-standing units, allowing for a variety of different types of storage. A glimpse into the hallway shows another type of tiling (every room features a different tile!). 

I love this renovation  - and how they kept some of the wonderful details like the tiles (it would have been a travesty to remove those!), plus it looks so warm and relaxed. I can so imagine the family all gathered - Emiko cooking, Marco kneading bread and the girls at the table, how about you?

I'm looking forward to following Emiko's journey to see what they do next in their home! You can find her here over on her blog and also instagram.

Curious to see more kitchen renovation ideas over the weekend? 

Before and after: a derelict classroom becomes a country kitchen

My narrow Summer Cottage Kitchen reveal

A charming shaker-style Swedish country kitchen

Right folks, that's it from me this week! I hope you've enjoyed all the tours! 

We're actually off camping this weekend - my third time ever. The level of kit involved is nuts - but the children are so excited so hopefully it will feel worthwhile once we arrive!  I hope the Swedish weather gods treat us to fair winds and sunshine. And wishing the same for you! 

Vi ses på Måndag!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Emiko Davies

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Before & After: A Derelict Classroom Becomes An Incredible Kitchen!

Hello friends! Boy, have I got something inspiring to share with you today! I admire many people in the design world. But there are two people in particular, I am constantly in awe of: Laura Muthesius and Nora Eisermann of Our Food Stories. Everything this lovely couple touch turns to gold - from a Berlin warehouse and German countryside apartment to a beautiful cottage kitchen in Sweden. And now, they've turned their hands to a former schoolhouse in rural Germany. When they got the keys to the property a few months ago, it had been empty for decades and the interior was, shall we say 'rustic' to say the least! So much so, many would have run a mile, myself included. But fortune favours the brave and these two had a vision - which, with a lot of hard work, would become a dream reality! 

The exterior and interior was in dire need of some TLC, with many of the original features stripped away - including the windows, which had been replaced with cheap reproductions. 

Working as a food stylist and photographer (with over one million followers on instagram, no less!), Laura and Nora were keen to create a large kitchen from which to work, film and live. The pair set about tearing out a small bathroom to recreate the original classroom area. 

They were hoping to find a wood floor lurking beneath the layer of concrete but sadly, when they peeled it back, it had been destroyed so they laid a new oak wood parquet floor. They also swapped out the modern windows and replaced them with replicates of the original windows from Sorpetaler Fensterbau.

Fortunately, they were able to bring their Devol kitchen from their previous country apartment, which they supplemented with extra units to capitalise on space. 

One of the features I love the most is the vintage arched door, which Nora sourced online - WHAT A FIND!!!!

The kitchen units and worktops were planned around the natural light which pours in through the large windows. 

They installed a Bertazzoni cooker (which will no doubt play a major part in their delicous cake creation moving forward!). 

An incredible DeVol marble sink matches the countertop which was custom-made by MCR. 

Matt limewash paint from Bauwer Color was applied to the walls (Ibiza) and ceiling (Smokebush).  

And finally, the pair installed a mantel piece and a DeVol freestanding pantry cupboard on the opposite side of the kitchen. 

I love glass cabinets - they're a perfect way to display pretty kitchen items while keeping them dust free (a big problem with the open shelves under my kitchen island!). 

All-in-all one, a really incredible kitchen, don't you think? Trust this pair to create such a unique and original, timeless kitchen!

You can keep to date with their latest recipes on @_foodstories and interior projects over at @_designtales_. They've also shared more info about this kitchen reno here - and if you're curious, you can take a peek at their cosy Swedish cottage kitchen here. 

And if you're looking for more kitchen inspiration today - check out: 

Before and after: a beautiful handmade kitchen on a budget

A Swedish kitchen gets a DIY make-over

Our summer cottage galley / narrow kitchen make-over

Have a wonderful start to the week friends! 

Niki

Photography: Nora Eisermann & Laura Muthesius / Our Food Stories - shared with kind permission. 

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Before and After: Old Stables Become a Beautiful Country Home

Come on, own up! Who frequently fantasises about buying a run-down property / wreck and doing it up? I totally confess to dreaming about this on a monthly basis. Especially when I see some of the incredible transformations out there. And today, I think you're going to feel hugely inspired by the home of Anna-Lena in Lower Saxony, Germany. I think we can all agree that there is such an incredible amount of work that goes on behind-the-scenes of any property renovation. Which is why 'before', 'during' and 'after' pictures are a great reality check, but also inspire. It's quite incredible what vision, hard work and of course, a solid budget can do! Ready to feel inspired? Here are some pictures of Anna-Lena's home - which has slowly been transformed from dilapidated stables into a beautiful, rustic, modern country home! 

Exterior before 

A lot of the exterior was covered in plaster when they first purchased the property. This was carefully removed to reveal the original brickwork.  The entrance has also been modernised and new windows have been installed. 

Main living room - before

Wow! In the above picture you can really get a sense of how the stables looked before the renovation. It was a completely open shell and the stalls are clearly visible. 

The main living space was transformed into a well-insulated living space with a reinforced ceiling to allow for a second floor. 

Main living space - after

The wonderful Clou-Xtra wood-burning stove creates a focal point, while the concrete floor and beautiful wood ceiling add character to the space. 

The darker, clean and contemporary kitchen creates contrast and a sense of drama to the room, while the wood farmhouse table adds warmth and a rustic touch - pertaining to the past. 

Stairs were installed in the back corner of the stables for access to the second floor. 

Master Bedroom with En suite - During! 

Insulation work was carried out on the roof and two VELUX skylights were added to slip in light over the bath. The entire floor was re-constructed and a new wood floor laid. 

Master Bedroom and En suite - After

The beams were preserved to add character to the space and a new wood floor adds a light, modern touch to the space. Natural textures seen in the plant pot and bedding (you can find similar off-white bedlinen here*) help to add depth and warmth to the overall look. The storage is a mix of modern (IVAR from IKEA) and a large vintage wardrobe. 

Bathroom - Before

The room that the second bathroom occupies was non-existent and needed to be created from scratch, which shows the extent of the work put into transforming the building into a liveable space! 

Bathroom - after

The bathroom design is relatively simple yet texture from the wood, the subtle plaster finish behind the washbasin and the beautiful vintage unit help to add interest and warmth to the space.

Hallway / Entrance  - After

A barn door offers a wonderful nod to the history of the building, while the simple, rustic aesthetic is keeping with the rest of the property.

From what I understand from Anna-Lena's instagram, there's a lot more renovation work to be done. And I for one, will be following their journey! 

If you're keen to see what they do next, keep an eye out for updates here: @house.no1. 

Looking for more 'before and after' / renovation inspiration today? Check out these incredible transformations: 

A century old Danish thatched cottage is given a revamp

Two dated apartments are transformed into one beautiful home

A run-down Swedish property becomes a beautiful farmhouse

Could you imagine taking on a project like this? Even if you're not quite ready to take the plunge (or perhaps it's simply to your thing, which is entirely understandable!), I hope seeing these before and after pictures have left you feeling inspired all the same! 

Vi ses imorgon! 

Niki

Photography: Anna-Lena / @houseno.1 shared with kind permission

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