This German Kitchen Will Inspire a Sleek and Minimal Overhaul

By Joann Plockova

Photography by Annika Feuss

When Freiburg, Germany–based couple Emelie Ekkernkamp-Majer and Christian Majer were looking for a home for their small family (which at the time included just one child), they had an apartment or small house in mind. But when the two doctors came upon an Art Nouveau town house with four apartments in the charming Wiehre district, they fell in love with the historic bones of the monument-protected home, including original floors and fittings. "We had 100 years of history in this house," says Christian. They also appreciated that the structure was unrenovated, which made it more affordable and allowed them to shape it into the home of their dreams.

AFTER: The homeowners, Emelie and Christian bought the 100-year-old Art Nouveau town house in 2016. In 2019, they called on local firm Justies Architekten to convert the two lower floors into one apartment with a basement-level kitchen and living-area extension in concrete.

The couple started with a loft conversion on an upper floor, where they lived between 2018 and 2021. But after they had their second child, they were in need of more space, and they also wanted a direct connection to the garden. Their solution was to combine the basement and ground floor into one expansive two-level apartment, which unites the old with the new, inside with outside. The couple called on local firm Justies Architekten to do the job. "It was a very good match," Christian says of their working relationship. The heart of the abode, as is true in so many cases, is the kitchen-dining area.

BEFORE: This entryway had a lot of potential, but still needed a refresh.

AFTER: The adjoined living space of the extension—opposite the kitchen-dining area—allows for plenty of light. The garden can be seen through a new picture window.

"I always said my goal for the new apartment is that it doesn't matter if I set the table inside or outside," says Emelie. "Here in summer the doors are always open. We cook a lot. It's one of my favorite things to do…. The kitchen is really the main space where we spend time."

Location: Freiburg, Germany

The before: To carve out the extension, the architects tore down the walls and opened up the formerly dark and dank basement level to the garden. "The extension was created as a kind of living-cooking area," says architect Simone Wörner, who cofounded Justies Architekten along with Christoph Justies. The connection to the garden was also essential. At the intersection of what is essentially two overlapping rectangles, the concrete kitchen opens up to the outside through massive sliding doors. "The other intention was to keep as much from the original elements like the terrazzo floors," explains Simone. "So it's really a mixture between this absolutely new and minimal extension and the original surfaces to display the character of the house."

BEFORE: Before the refresh the basement level was quite dark and dank.

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AFTER: The concrete, basement-level extension housing the kitchen acts as a support system for the house. One set of concrete stairs leads to the garden while another heads to the upper level of the apartment.

The inspiration: "Here the idea was to keep [the kitchen] simple and just use a few materials. So we found the Plate kitchen from Reform. [Emelie] always said that we needed a countertop that's very robust…where you can put everything you want on it. The stainless-steel countertop is perfect," says Christian.

"We worked hand-in-hand with [Emelie and Christian]," Simone adds. "We shared their idea to keep the kitchen really simple. In our studio we have a kind of basic rule that we always try not to use more than three materials. This [kitchen by Reform offers a] kind of monumental statement that it really fits in that central position. When you enter the room, there is no doubt about what is important."

The budget: "It was more than an IKEA kitchen but less than a Bulthaup kitchen, which is a really expensive brand from Germany," Emelie says.

The square footage: The area of the extension is about 570 square feet. The terrace space in the basement adds another 452 square feet.

Counter tops: Solid stainless steel with a nondirectional brushing by Reform

Fronts: Reform Plate by Studio David Thulstrup in brushed aluminum

Cabinet: Häcker Systemat

All-in-one tap: Fusion Square by Quooker

Dishwasher: Miele AutoDox XXL

Fridge: Miele integrated fridge

Freezer: Miele integrated freezer

Combi steam oven: Miele DGC 7865X

Cooktop extraction system: Bora X Pure

Lamp socket: Manufactum

Hanging pendants: Louis Poulsen PH 4/3

Hanging neon light: DIY lamp by the owners

Table: Vintage Oak table from Pamono

Chairs: Vintage Tübinger Stühle

Bar stools: E15 Tank by David Thulstrup

AFTER: The town house's original terrazzo floors pair well with the Reform Plate kitchen.

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Most insane splurge: "The Miele oven was expensive, but opening the house at basement level to create the concrete kitchen-living area extension was the most challenging. It was a huge effort because of the structural engineering with the old house and the monument protection. We were happy that everything worked well," explains Christian.

AFTER: A circular atrium over the vintage dining table from the Netherlands brings light into the space even on gray days. The pendant lights are by Louis Poulsen.

Sneakiest save: "I think compared to the new elements, including those from Reform and the appliances, the vintage dining table from the Netherlands and the chairs from my hometown—they’re almost 100 years old and embody traditional craftsmanship—are not that expensive," says Christian.

Favorite part: "I really love the floor because it never looks dirty," says Emelie. "In the loft we had a very light parquet, and it was always dusty. [And] I just love being here in the kitchen and cooking for friends because they’re always close." Christian likes the clean aesthetic of the kitchen. "I’m happy with the quality of everything. After one year of heavy use, it still works—the architecture, the floors, the [various] parts of the kitchen—everything. It's perfect for us, and we are really, really happy with it."

AFTER: In summer the lines are blurred between inside and outside.

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What I’ll never do again: "In the beginning it was quite loud when there were a lot of people. But now we have an acoustic panel. We found a solution," says Emelie.

Final bill: "My dream was that I can have all the appliances I want," says Emelie. "For example, the Miele steam oven and the Bora cooktop system. Despite my expensive choices, we kept the budget."

AFTER: An added interior staircase joins the basement-level extension to the upper floor of the apartment.