Dark oak kitchen in the architect-designed home
Along the Swedish west coast, among heather-covered rocks and stately pines, Sara and her family have built a long-awaited summer house – an architect-designed home, where minimalist Scandinavian design, earthy tones and tactile materials meet in perfect harmony. At the heart of the home lies a dark oak kitchen from Nordiska Kök, seamlessly integrated as a natural part of the interior.
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The dark oak kitchen is designed by Nordiska Kök to blend naturally with the architecture of the house, characterised by clean lines, earthy tones and tactile natural materials. Bar stools from Frama.
Designed by architect studio Hello arkitekter, the house features contemporary minimalist architecture, with distinct eaves and vertical black-stained pine cladding that form a beautiful contrast to the landscape’s organic forms.
Positioned at the foot of a sloping site framed by rugged rock formations, the house, designed by Gothenburg-based architect studio Hello arkitekter, unfolds across several levels, following the natural rise of the terrain. Towards the street, the structure remains closed and private, while to the west it opens fully to the light and surrounding landscape.
Half a level up, centrally located between the living and dining areas – with views of the surrounding nature – lies the dark oak kitchen from Nordiska Kök, custom-made to integrate seamlessly with the architecture.
The kitchen features a minimalist Scandinavian design, with smooth dark oak cabinetry, and a light granite-ceramic worktop. The matching kitchen island with integrated hob is positioned to overlook the dining area, the living room and the beautiful scenery outside.
Daylight is drawn into the house in multiple ways to enhance the sense of space and brightness – through a large roof lantern, along the eaves, and via generous glass panels.
The home’s minimalist architecture is balanced by daylight and the warmth of wood – a recurring material featured in the ceiling, window frames and kitchen. Together with furnishings and interiors in soft, natural tones, the home achieves a calm and inviting atmosphere. The floor lamp is ‘Akari 10A’ by Vitra, the sofa is ‘Tufty Time’ by B&B Italia and the rug is from Stockholm-based rug studio Knut. The armchair ‘Lauri’ is a vintage piece, designed in 1968 by Karin Mobring for IKEA.
For Sara, it was essential that the kitchen should harmonise with the house’s clean architectural lines and earthy palette. A minimalist kitchen was designed specifically for the home, with handleless cabinet doors in dark oak, a matching island, and a small scullery in an adjoining room.
– I wanted the kitchen to be in oak, as wood is a key material throughout the house. I’m naturally drawn to minimalist design, and I fell for this handleless kitchen with its clean lines and refined simplicity, says Sara.
Around the large kitchen island, there is space to cook, read, do homework or enjoy a glass of wine – a social focal point for family and friends, just as Sara and her family envisioned. The sink is from Decosteel, the hob from Bora. The pendant lamps above the dining table are from Wästberg, and the black armchairs are ‘Carimate’ by Fritz Hansen, designed by Vico Magistretti. Red trolley designed by Josef Frank, for Svenskt Tenn.
The vision for the house was to create a calm and peaceful retreat – a home that feels at one with the landscape. This has been achieved through thoughtful positioning on the site, and by letting materials and colours be guided by the surroundings.
– The bedrock slopes eastwards towards the street, which required a carefully considered placement of the house to capture the evening sun. The solution was a protective, closed façade to the east, and an open, light-filled side to the west, facing the rock, explains Kajsa, architect at Hello arkitekter.
Placed between the living and dining areas, the kitchen has become the true heart of the home – with the generous kitchen island at its centre, the natural gathering point for everyday life. See more inspiration for kitchen islands.
The clean, straight lines are a recurring theme throughout the house’s architecture, balanced by the warmth of wood.
The oak kitchen cabinetry, with its natural veining and tactile grain, brings warmth and character to the minimalist home.
The home is thoughtfully planned and social, with an open layout where kitchen, dining and living areas meet in a bright and inviting space. Through large windows, the surrounding landscape feels ever-present, gently blurring the boundary between indoors and out.
The patio feels like its own small sanctuary – secluded, peaceful and surrounded by nature.
The warm, dark wooden surfaces of the kitchen align beautifully with the home’s material palette, achieving the tactile quality that both Sara and architect Kajsa aimed for.
Both the interior and exterior palettes are drawn from the site itself. Muted, earthy tones with hints of black-stained pine, sand and wood in varying shades contribute to the tranquil atmosphere and the feeling of being immersed in nature.
Framed by rocks, the patio has a quiet sense of seclusion — a private oasis at the rear, completely sheltered from view. As evening falls, the house transforms; from within, a soft glow seeps through the dark wooden panels, and warm light spills gently across the rocks.
Adjacent to the kitchen and living area lies the scullery – a practical space for kitchen appliances, storage and an additional dishwasher, making it easy to maintain the home’s calm and uncluttered expression.
– What was initially planned as a laundry room was redesigned into a scullery – something we’re so glad about. Since the kitchen is the heart of the house, centrally placed and connected to nearly every room, we wanted to keep it open and serene. Now all the dishes go into the scullery instead, where we also have extra space for appliances and items we prefer to keep out of sight, says Sara.
Designed by Nordiska Kök, the scullery features dark wood cabinetry paired with a stainless-steel worktop. Open shelves along the wall provide additional storage. Read more about open storage.
Not far from the house lies the shimmering, rolling sea.
The colours throughout the home are inspired by the surroundings – sand, reeds, stone – all in soft, natural hues that shift gently with the light throughout the day. The coffee table is ‘PK61’ by Fritz Hansen, designed by Poul Kjærholm.
To the west, the house opens fully with large glass sections facing the sloping rock. The overall design is strict and simple, yet warm thanks to the many wooden elements. Armchair from Källemo, designed by Mats Theselius.
Photo: Krister Engström
Styling: Emma Fischer
Architect: Hello arkitekter
Learn more about the process of ordering a bespoke kitchen from Nordiska Kök, and find more kitchen inspiration.
