A Mexican-inspired kitchen for a bright personality
A new season means new inspiration with the interior makeover show "Home idea with IKEA"! This season, the show will take a new twist: viewers shall accompany IKEA Designers and homeowners to creative workshops and inspirational conversations with well known personalities. New adventures, bright colours and unforgettable emotions all in one colourful season that starts with an impressive tribute to Frida Kahlo in a kitchen for teacher and artist at heart Inonanta.
Meet the protagonist
Inonanta is teacher and lives in Sigulda where she owns an apartment. Her artistic spirit is expressed through painting and the result can be seen everywhere in the apartment. Unconsciously, the love for colour inspires even Inonanta's wardrobe that acts as an outlet for her exuberant personality. Colours are ever present in her everyday life, even in her apartment, and it is her dream to bring new breath of colourful life in her kitchen.
When personality must compromise
The existing kitchen is a colourful mix of compromises: even thought Inonanta's beloved colours are there, the overall impression lacks that "special something" that we all wish our interior had. The room is quite small and Inonanta has made the best out of it, using nooks and crannies for inspirational items. Even so, it is quite clear that this space needs some fresh ideas to make it even more cosy and inspiring.
Keeping an eye on the things you love
The wall behind the dining solution is dedicated to things that Inonanta likes to keep near, like dear photos and inspiring pictures. This makes for a modern combination of memorabilia which contrasts with the old-school breakfast corner that has lost most of its charm over the years and is in dire need of replacement.
In search of inspiration
To find the right vibe for the makeover, IKEA Interior Designer Kristīne invites Inonanta to go to Cēsis: home of artists Ilze Tigule and Alise Ķīnasta. There, in the intimate atmosphere of the studio, real magic is born: Inonanta, who is first reluctant to embrace the loss of control experienced in colouring textiles each with their own character, tries and finds herself impressed by the freedom and result that can be achieved with this technique. The result comes like a revelation for her.
A background for lively accents
Interior Designer Kristīne first thought of an impressive display of colour by choosing green kitchen fronts. However, in the end she chose to change the initial idea and picked white fronts that act as a background for all the colourful accents and creates a harmonious overall impression.
Functional yet aesthetically pleasing details
Functional is beautiful! Even if there is beauty to be found in purely decorative objets d'art with the sole function of pleasing the eye, kitchen is the one room in every home that requires highly functional approach as it has to be not only beautiful but also comfortable and ergonomic. Here, the Interior Designer has chosen to display both decorative items and functional food storage solutions that create a possibility to mix and match even later to create new, surprising colour combinations in joyous contrast to the black-and-white background.
The new life of the breakfast corner
When planning the dining area in the kitchen, it is important to consider your everyday needs. In Inonantas family it is mostly used by just two persons, so there is no need for a big table and many chairs. However, there are guests or children from time to time, so there has to be some flexibility to accommodate more people. Designer Kristīne has taken this into account and chosen an extendable table that easily seats 2 to 4 people and some extra chairs that can be hung on the wall when not in use.
"The biggest challenge, as always in kitchen, was to find enough storage space for everything. The family dreamed of finding a place for a dishwasher but this meant losing space in cupboards. This problem is solved by a spacious combination of open shelves. Such combinations are often seen in country style kitchens and is perfect for this kitchen as it allows to create colourful and decorative accents using food storage and everyday items that supplement the overall impression or create contrast that pleases the viewer."
A kitchen with a personality
In colourful contrast to the black-and-white kitchen solution is the decorative green wall that acts as an eye-catcher and creates a perfect harmony with the decorative objects that are hung on a rail and can be exchanged at will. The spectacular display of watercolour-like handmade fabric in curtains and tablecloth is a practical way to "use" art in interior. The result of creative workshop in Cēsis is now proudly displayed in Inonantas new kitchen.