In order to fulfil the dream of a modern eat-in kitchen with an inviting cooking island and space for the family of four and their dog, everything from the connections for electricity and water to the kitchen cupboards had to be adapted from the ground up to meet the new space requirements. The Eickers enlisted the help of Daniel Anders from Die Küche Anders in Idstein, who supported the family with his experience and expertise during the planning and realisation.
A project full of challenges, which was more than worth it in view of the successful result in the new kitchen-living room. We were able to be inspired by it on site and learnt more about the conversion at the Eickers’ home.
These manufacturers can be found in the kitchen: Miele and Leicht
Interview with the Eicker family and kitchen specialist Daniel Anders
Hello Mrs Eicker, thank you very much for the insight into your new kitchen. The new kitchen has turned out beautifully. Why did you decide to buy a new kitchen?
Mrs Eicker: As is common in many old flats, the kitchen was originally located in a small area and in another room of the flat. Where the kitchen is now located, the dining room was planned in the floor plan, which is completely oversized at 31 m². For this reason, we decided to merge the kitchen with the dining room and create a kitchen-cum-living room that offers more space for us as a family of four.
The idea of remodelling has been with us for quite some time. Due to the spatial conditions of the old building and the associated challenges, we had great respect for the project and thought about it for a long time. Looking at the finished result, however, it is clear that we made exactly the right decision.
Despite the old building, you have opted for a modern kitchen. Did you have this idea right from the start?
Mrs Eicker: We deliberately opted for a modern and straightforward kitchen, which now looks great in contrast to the old building. The colour black was also chosen from the outset, as was the niche in the tall unit front. We knew where we wanted to go with the design and then relied on Mr Anders’ suggestions for the implementation and details. For example, in the choice of materials or the design of the niche, which was planned both with and without shelves.
The desire for a modern and straightforward aesthetic was also taken into account in the layout of the kitchen. Here, the components are limited to a tall unit front with integrated niche and sink area as well as the generous cooking island, which fulfils this wish with clear edges and a uniform joint pattern. In order not to compromise on storage space, we chose extra-deep cupboards on the advice of Mr Anders.
In addition to the design of the kitchen, functional appliances are also a must. Did you have any specific ideas here?
Mrs Eicker: No, we only specified one or two framework conditions, but were otherwise completely open. We therefore relied entirely on Mr Anders’ recommendation and in the end decided on a warming drawer in addition to the oven, fridge and other Miele appliances. The only point that was important to us was not having an extractor bonnet. Instead, a retractable table fan, integrated into the kitchen island, was chosen.
Why did you decide in favour of a kitchen specialist?
Mrs Eicker: Following a recommendation, we ended up with Mr Anders and were immediately impressed by the advice and service. We also looked around at other kitchen suppliers, but they didn’t offer many options for customisation and dimensions or took ages to prepare a simple quote. Mit diesem Wissen als Vergleich war uns klar, dass wir bei Herr Anders perfekt aufgehoben sind. He planned every detail with us, gave us detailed advice on everything and was very open and patient, even with special requests.with this knowledge as a comparison, it was clear to us that we were in perfect hands with Mr Anders.
The kitchen from an expert’s perspective: Daniel Anders
Hello Mr Anders, a big compliment to you too for the successful kitchen planning. What was special for you as an expert in this planning?
Daniel Anders: The overall framework conditions for this project were special and an exciting challenge, especially because the kitchen was no longer to be located in the original room, but in the former dining room. That’s why, in addition to the pure kitchen planning with furniture, appliances and the stone worktop, the entire planning of the installations also had to be carried out. From laying electricity under the existing parquet flooring to integrating water by means of a lifting system in the cupboard, everything was included here.
But the kitchen itself also has one or two special features. The requirement for a modern design in black was implemented with consistency and realised with furniture from LEICHT and various custom-made products. As a bright contrast and stylish refinement of the kitchen, a rare granite was chosen for the worktop, which can also be found in the niche.
As a kitchen specialist, what did you attach particular importance to and recommend the Eickers?
Daniel Anders: In general, it is important to me to create a balance between design and functionality. This was also the aim of the Eickers’ kitchen. So I recommended extra-deep cupboards to the Eickers, which create maximum storage space and also visually fill the large room without appearing too huge. The demand for functionality, design and quality also applied to my appliance recommendation: Miele appliances with clever functions, from pyrolysis in the oven to automatic detergent dispensing in the dishwasher, and with their black design they also fit perfectly into the aesthetics of the kitchen.
The kitchen is impressive both as a whole and in its many well thought-out details. What is your personal highlight of this kitchen?
Daniel Anders: A highlight for me is the rare granite used for the worktop and the niche. In order to achieve the best result that does justice to the high-quality material and the kitchen as a whole, we have thought through every detail when planning and selecting the look. Firstly, a raw slab – i.e. the unprocessed slab – was purchased at auction in Spain. Secondly, the worktop was scanned before processing so that we could use the images to plan the grain perfectly for the niche and worktop. Due to the size and weight of the granite, the delivery and installation was challenging, but well worth it. The result is inspiring!
The conclusion of happy customers
Finally, we would like to know what you like best in the kitchen.
Mrs Eicker: In general, we are very happy with the entire kitchen. We knew that the remodelling would present us with some challenges and not an easy path. Nevertheless, we decided to go down this path and in the end we successfully reached our goal. The result is simply fantastic and we are very grateful for the competent advice and realisation by Mr Anders.
Our personal highlight is the sense of space created. With the open-plan kitchen-living room, we now have plenty of space that we can use as a whole family. We therefore spend a lot of time here and enjoy being together.
Tip from the editors
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