5 Dream Kitchens

These homeowners show us how they’ve designed their spaces to perfectly suit their needs.

- By Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel. Photographs by Henrique Wilding, Christoph Hoffman, Karl Rogers, Ed O'Riley

1 Full of personality!

WHO Kirsten Lloyd

WHERE Johannesburg

When interior designer Kirsten Lloyd of Lo-Ki Interiors was asked to update an old-school Johannesburg kitchen, her main aim was to find a beautiful feature tile and introduce lots of unique pieces to set the space apart.

“The old kitchen was dark and dated, the layout wasn’t as practical as it could be and it lacked character,” explains Kirsten. “The homeowner wanted to create a light and airy atmosphere with whites and creams, and add quirky touches to show her bold personality. The colours had to complement the existing blinds and the layout needed to be more practical. Gold accents were a must!”

Kirsten and her team set out to open the space up as much as they could to make it feel light and bright.

A dividing archway wall that prevented the bottom floor from having an open-plan design was demolished. A false ceiling was added to allow space for new lighting, and the floor was retiled.

“We worked closely with our carpenter to get the most out of the kitchen layout; we moved the pantry cupboard and added open shelving to create a modern kitchen,” explains Kirsten. “The cabinetry was kept simple so as not to distract from the splashback and handmade pendants.”