One of the most cherished spaces from our old apartment was undeniably the kitchen. Its charm lies in its ability to host and delight - be it our usual family meals or that memorable surprise birthday party where, in a cozy squeeze, we managed to accommodate 17 adults. On that day, we found ourselves sitting on every surface available, laughing and making memories.

The focal point of the room was a large, round cable spool, repurposed as a table. Dark and rustic, its charm was often accentuated with a crisp, white tablecloth. It was not just a table but a canvas for all our meals and culinary creations, filled with love and flavor.

The adjoining tea-kitchen was a sight to behold, an organized chaos of sorts. A maze of homemade rustic cabinets and cluttered shelves, it was home to an eclectic collection of tea tins, spice jars, bottles of intriguing alcohols, and a myriad of kitchen tools. Here, we found joy in creating, from scratch pasta dishes that comforted our souls, to ridiculous cocktails that sparked laughter, and warm cups of tea that fueled many heartfelt conversations.

A few unique features added to the personality of our kitchen. One was an unmissably large speaker system, impressively on wheels, which - although rarely used to its full capacity - served as an entertaining companion during our gatherings. Then there was the chalkboard, scrawled with doodles and messages. When we Airbnb'ed our apartment, it became a charming guestbook, filled with kind words and delightful anecdotes from our visitors.

Our kitchen was also home to a giant indoor tree, an arboreal wonder that extended up through the staircase to the second floor. And then there was the chandelier. Pre-restoration, it was adorned with pieces of our own jewelry and amber, twinkling in the light and adding to the whimsy of the space.

For a time, a hammock even hung from the staircase, an eccentric addition to our kitchen's maximalist and cozy aesthetic… And we ended up using hammocks for our window drapes. This was a space that whispered a warm invite to all: "Come, meet in our kitchen. Let's lounge a bit here."