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A German Villa Transformed With Built-in Sofa, Green Hues, and a Slide

02.27.23 | By
A German Villa Transformed With Built-in Sofa, Green Hues, and a Slide

When tasked with transforming the main level of an old villa in Stuttgart, Germany, Studio Alexander Fehre removed as many walls as possible to open the space up. The homeowners, who are in the medical field, longed for a clean, minimalist home that was mostly white, which resulted in some compromising on both sides to avoid it looking stark and clinical. To bring in a more grounded and homely feel, Alexander Fehre designed a central, L-shaped storage structure with organic curves to help define the rooms without making them feel separate. The unit is clad in floor-to-ceiling wood slats that offer warmth and texture while unifying the spaces around it.

interior of modern home with wooden details and dining table with copper wire pendants

The long, outer side of the structure features an embedded reading nook that looks out into the dining room. The light oiled oak slats complement the wide planked floors and wood-topped dining table and chairs. The trio of copper wire pendants above the table adds a metallic accent to the scaled-back space.

interior of modern home with wooden details and dining table with copper wire pendants

interior shot of modern kitchen with wood slat details and dark green cabinet cutout

The interior section of the L-shape houses the kitchen with most of the appliances hidden behind the slatted fronts. A cutout in the cabinets, which pops in a dark green teal color, holds the sink and a coffee machine.

interior shot of modern kitchen with wood slat details and dark green cabinet cutout

Another focal point of the kitchen is the massive island topped and fronted in stone.

interior shot of modern kitchen with wood slat details and dark green cabinet cutout

interior shot of modern kitchen with wood slat details and dark green cabinet cutout

interior shot of modern kitchen with wood slat details

interior shot of modern living room with white built-in cabinets and a built-in sofa

In lieu of a traditional living room sofa, the family opted for a built-in sitting niche in front of a window. The textile walls on the sides disguise an embedded audio system for relaxing to music or an audio book.

modern interior with wood slatted wall with built-in shelving

Display shelves live within the central structure, one with green mirrors and shelves for added visual appeal.

closeup of modern green glass for built-in shelves

interior view looking through modern house through glass partition

closeup view of wood slatted cabinets

closeup view of built-in cabinets with wood slat exterior and deep green inset

interior view of modern house with multi level kids space with a slide and staircase

Overall, the project was designed with the kids in mind. A special lounge room by the stairs includes multiple tiers for play, as well as a slide. Window seats spanning two walls provide plenty of space for the kids to be creative or to read. As the kids get older, the room can evolve with the removal of the slide.

interior view of modern house with multi level kids space with a slide

closeup of modern green/blue bookcase with array of books

Photos by Philip Kottlorz Fotografie.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.