Kitchen renovation – open-plan living in a historic detached house
An older building doesn't necessarily have to retain its original spatial structure. Especially in older single-family homes, targeted interventions in the floor plan can create entirely new living qualities – provided that the existing structure, its stability, and the new use are considered together from the outset.
This was precisely the focus of the ground floor renovation and kitchen remodeling project in Münchenstein . The owners had purchased a detached single-family home with approximately 250 square meters of living space at the end of 2025. The historic building possessed many typical qualities of an older property: high ceilings, decorative elements on the ceilings, high baseboards, wallpaper, and a herringbone floor. At the same time, the compartmentalized room layout, particularly on the ground floor, no longer met the new owners' expectations.
project | Kitchen remodeling and renovation of the ground floor |
Location | Münchenstein, Basel-Landschaft |
object | Detached single-family house, approx. 250 m² |
Project type | Old building / Conversion of existing building |
Planning & Implementation | 2026 |
Services | Interior design, floor plan planning, kitchen planning, material and color concept, lighting design, interior finishing, coordination |
Special feature | Opening up the ground floor by removing two load-bearing walls and a central kitchen island as a space-defining element. |
Initial situation – kitchen renovation in an old building with load-bearing walls
The original ground floor had a classic layout. From the entrance area, one accessed separate living, dining, and kitchen areas. The owners felt this division was restrictive. Their goal was therefore clear: the entrance area should remain, while the adjoining living spaces should be opened up as completely as possible. From a planning perspective, this meant a significant intervention in the existing building structure. Two of the walls to be removed were load-bearing and carried weight from the upper floor. Their removal was therefore not comparable to simple deconstruction, but required a new structural solution. At the same time, the daylight, which enters the building primarily through the south-facing garden side, should be able to penetrate as much of the living area as possible. New requirements also arose for water, wastewater, and electrical installations. The kitchen was to be relocated to a position where the necessary building services had not originally been located. The timeframe was also demanding: only about eight to nine months elapsed between acquiring the property and the desired completion date.
Our approach to a solution
Optimize the floor plan instead of just replacing the kitchen
It was clear to us from the outset that this project shouldn't be considered an isolated kitchen design. The kitchen had to become part of a new spatial concept for the entire ground floor. After removing the partition walls, a large, almost L-shaped room emerged. This spaciousness simultaneously presented a new planning challenge: How could cooking, dining, and living be clearly organized without creating new spatial barriers? During the concept phase, we therefore developed and compared various floor plan options. The solution we ultimately chose utilizes the kitchen itself as a space-defining element. A generous kitchen island was positioned centrally in the new living area, forming the interface between the cooking, dining, and living spaces. This is not just a classic kitchen island. Its position structures the entire room and creates clear orientation without compromising the openness. Behind the island, a spacious tall cabinet area was created. Behind this, an additional, discreetly integrated work and storage niche was built. This niche accommodates further kitchen functions as well as water and wastewater connections and allows many everyday work processes to be moved out of the direct line of sight of the living area. This allowed for significantly more storage space to be created than before, despite the very open floor plan.
Material concept
between modern interior design and old building character
The clients desired a very bright, minimalist, and almost monochromatic design. At the same time, they wanted to avoid transforming the historic building into a neutral new construction. This tension determined the choice of materials. A light, finely textured ceramic tile, 12 millimeters thick, was chosen for the worktops. Its understated pattern creates a sophisticated effect, while the surface is robust and suitable for the intensive use of a kitchen. The custom-made built-in units were painted in a very similar light shade. This creates a visually cohesive composition between the stone or ceramic and the furniture elements. The walls were painted a very subtle shade of gray. Historic decorative moldings on the ceilings and the high baseboards, on the other hand, were highlighted in a light white. This allows key features of the original building to remain clearly visible. The new country-style oak parquet flooring also has a subtle white undertone, connecting the different light materials. Mirrored surfaces in the rear of the kitchen serve an additional function: they visually recede the second kitchen zone and give the room added depth. The concept was complemented by light curtains with a textured pleat. They frame the existing white windows and make the window openings appear visually more spacious.
Lighting design for the open kitchen and living area
With the opening up of the floor plan, the lighting requirements also changed. Instead of illuminating individual rooms independently, a cohesive lighting concept was now needed for the various functional zones. Therefore, multiple lighting levels were deliberately incorporated throughout the ground floor. Ceiling spotlights provide functional ambient lighting, particularly at work surfaces. In addition, indirect lighting creates a calmer atmosphere and emphasizes the new spaciousness.
The lighting thus supports the zoning without dividing the open floor plan with additional structural elements.
Important decisions during kitchen renovation in Münchenstein
One of the most far-reaching decisions was undoubtedly the removal of the load-bearing walls. Without this intervention, the desired spatial quality would not have been achievable. At the same time, it was crucial to decide early on where the available budget would generate the greatest added value. A significant portion of the investment was therefore deliberately allocated to the kitchen and the custom-made built-in units. In this project, these are not merely furnishings, but integral parts of the interior design, fulfilling a space-defining function. The building services also had to be integrated into the planning early on. New water, wastewater, and electrical connections were routed to the required locations, among other things, via the basement. This early coordination was essential to ensure that the design concept could later be implemented without disruptive compromises.
Implementation and coordination of the trades
The implementation of such a renovation project always involves the collaboration of various specialist departments. Among those involved were flooring installers, electricians, plumbers, painters, plasterers, and carpenters, as well as later suppliers of lighting, curtains, carpets, and furniture.
The new floor construction required particular attention. Changes to its height directly affect connections, doors, built-in fixtures, and the remaining ceiling height. Therefore, coordination between the floor construction and the interior fit-out began early on. Another key task was scheduling. The goal was an efficient construction process in which the individual trades could build upon each other without hindering one another or causing unnecessary downtime. Because the carpentry work forms a large part of the new room structure, it could be planned in detail from the outset. This reduced the number of interfaces during construction.
Plasterer
metalworker
painter
joiner
floor layer
electrical company
Curtain and furniture suppliers
Final result
Open kitchen and new sense of space in the detached house
After the renovation, the original compartmentalized character of the ground floor is barely recognizable. Cooking, dining, and living now form a cohesive living space. At the same time, each function has its own distinct area thanks to the positioning of the kitchen, dining table, and furniture. The central kitchen layout, in particular, shapes the new spatial experience. It provides orientation and storage space without dominating the room or diminishing its spaciousness.
The very light-colored materials enhance the influx of natural light and create the calm, modern atmosphere desired by the clients. At the same time, the parquet flooring, existing decorative elements, and baseboards ensure that the house's history remains palpable. For the clients, the quality of the materials was just as crucial as the visual transformation. Lacquered joinery surfaces, ceramics, fixtures, and textiles are not only visually appealing but also tactilely pleasing. The original floor plan concept was also particularly well-received: a solution that initially seemed novel and unusual during the concept phase now functions perfectly in everyday use.
Conclusion
This kitchen renovation in Münchenstein shows how much the quality of an existing single-family home can change when not only individual components are renewed, but the existing room structure is fundamentally questioned.
The removal of two load-bearing walls was a significant intervention in the primary structure. However, it enabled precisely the openness that was crucial for the new living concept.
At the same time, the project demonstrates that modern interior design and historical structures need not be opposites. The new kitchen, the reduced use of materials, and the open floor plan deliberately reflect contemporary use, while characteristic elements of the old building have been preserved and reinterpreted.
Findings from this project
The floor plan should be designed before the actual kitchen design.
Even load-bearing walls should not necessarily be considered as unchangeable boundaries; however, any interventions require professional structural planning.
A kitchen can structure an open floor plan as a space-defining element .
Early planning of carpentry work reduces later interfaces and constructive compromises.
A bright, modern interior design can be combined with historical elements without losing the character of the old building.
Especially after purchasing an older property, it is worthwhile to examine different floor plan variations before commissioning individual trades.
Why this project is interesting for building owners
Many buyers of older houses or apartments face a similar situation: The location and the building structure are convincing, but the existing room layout no longer corresponds to today's lifestyle.
In such cases, it's particularly worthwhile not to immediately develop a detailed solution with a kitchen designer or individual tradesperson. First, the potential of the entire floor plan should be assessed .
This project demonstrates the added value that an early interior design concept phase can create. Multiple variations make it possible to question existing assumptions and develop solutions that clients may not have initially considered.
Only once the room layout, usage, and priorities are established should the kitchen, carpentry, building services, and materials be planned in detail. This helps avoid poor decisions and aligns individual investments with a cohesive overall concept.
