Photography by Heju (@hejustudio).
It’s been a heady few years for architect couple Hélène Pinaud and Julien Schwartzmann. The two, both 27, met as students at the Strasbourg National School of Architecture. Come see the results and scroll to the end for an accounting of costs and a look at the kitchen as it was.
Located in a chambre de bonne—translation: the top floor servant’s quarters—the light-suffused kitchen occupies the footprint of the 50-square-meter (approximately 540-square-foot) existing design.
Hélène and Julien created their clean and simple setup using Delinia cabinet units from Leroy Merlin, which they faced with doors that they cut themselves from birch plywood: “We drilled little holes as handles and protected the doors by rolling on a matte varnish; they’re hung with basic metal hinges.”
So as not to “overload the space,” the architects applied cabinets below the counter only, and for additional storage added L-shaped birch plywood wall shelves that were “designed to recall the doors.”
The L-shaped white counter is laminated plywood with its “pretty slices” left exposed. (The perks of having a big following: knowing the project would be featured on Heju’s website and social media channels, Leroy Merlin didn’t charge for the latter three fixtures.)
A new wire-glass window—made and installed by one of Heju’s workers (“the only job we didn’t do ourselves”)—draws morning light into the adjoining bathroom.
A pared-down selection of ceramics used daily are on display.
The couple got their sink at Ikea (“they stopped offering our model in France, but it’s similar to the Havsen“).
The bottom shelf is detailed with brass rods that serve as hanging pegs to hold sink tools and pot holders.
The couple splurged on a round ash Profile Table from Remodelista favorite Stattmann Neue Moebel: see Pared-Back Furniture from a Fourth-Generation Company in Germany.
Total: €3,641.90 (approximately $4,204)
The Tally: Heju’s Kitchen Remodel Costs
“Our place is small and has low ceilings, but we loved it at first sight,” Hélène and Julien tell us.
Before
As was, the kitchen was a hodgepodge of tiles and appliances.