The forever home of foodblogger Karola's Kitchen

For Karolien Olaerts of Karola's Kitchen, her new home had to be not only functional, light and soothing, but also a reflection of her intuitive way of life. During her total renovation, she deliberately chose a serene base with character, and that started with engineered wood by Lamett...

The search took a while, but thanks to a bit of luck - and a nudge from her best friend - she found her dream place. "We live here not only within cycling distance of the city, but also within walking distance of my best friend and our children's school. That connection makes it absolutely right for me."

A floor as a foundation

When decorating her home, Karolien was guided by feeling and intuition. "I eat according to my gut feeling, and I apply the same approach to my interiors. I made the most important choices instinctively, and then I built on that." One of those intuitive choices was the floor. "For me, it was obvious that it would be a wooden floor again. I had it in my previous home too, and there’s nothing warmer, cosier and more timeless than engineered wood."

While visiting a showroom - actually looking for tiles - Karolien’s eye was drawn to the Lamett Oslo Mont Blanc. "It was love at first sight. The contractor presented me dozens more similar samples, but I just knew: this is it. In the meantime, the collection has been updated, but if I had to choose today, I might as well go for the new Alta Mont Blanc or Riga Mont Blanc."

Engineered wood flooring that lives

The floor continues throughout pretty much the entire house, creating a serene and harmonious base. "For the cooking area, I chose a ceramic tile. Lamett advised against installing a wooden floor in this area because the floor here is used very intensively and - even with the best care - permanent stains do develop sooner or later. Fair advice that I took to heart. Now I can cook and enjoy myself completely carefree. I definitely wanted a calm and neutral floor, but one with character. Engineered wood lives, and I like that." She is often asked how she experiences maintenance. "Because I also had engineered wood in my previous house, I know that one wooden floor is not like another. This wooden floor is much more robust and low-maintenance. Of course, you have to be careful with water and sand, but a quality wooden floor can really take a beating."

Saying that her home is heavily used is an understatement. "Our toddler - who is, to put it mildly, a little piglet - has not been eating independently for very long. With all the normal fumbling, tossing and spilling that comes with it. But so far, the floor doesn't budge. It doesn't worry me, quite the contrary: I like the fact that engineered wood is alive and evolves with our family."

Getting used to the new home

How does it feel to step in here? Karolien has to think for a moment. "I had to get used to it," she admits. "I am honourable and had lived in my previous house for 17 years. That was a safe haven for me. I experienced loves there, coped with the loss of my parents... It was a place full of memories. Renovating this house was really necessary to make it feel like 'my home'."

Now it is her dream home. A place where her family can grow and where she finds peace in everyday life. "I am very sensitive to details, and I wanted everything to be really right. This is our forever home. We have no intention of ever moving again."

Karola's Kitchen HQ

Besides being a home for her family, the house is also the base for Karolien's work. Under the name Karola's Kitchen, she inspires thousands of people with her recipes, books, blog, television program and podcast. "My job revolves around cooking, writing and creating, which requires a lot of concentration and structure. That’s why having a desk downstairs was essential for me. In my previous home, I also had a desk, but since it was on the first floor, I often ended up working at the dining table. That doesn't happen here, thanks to the downstairs desk. Truly a life hack! There is underfloor heating under the wooden floor so it is always pleasant to be here."

But it is not just her workplace. "It was clear from the beginning that we were also going to place the piano there and create a cosy corner. My son Isaac likes to use it. Sometimes just for ten minutes, to read a bit or to be alone for a while. The sunset here is beautiful. We live on a T-junction and have few opposite neighbours, so the light always comes in nicely. It's my desk, but really it's a space we all like to use."

Embracing imperfection

No matter how well you plan everything, once you move in, there are always things you would rather have done differently. Karolien had some of those moments too.  "Sockets and switches, for example! But that's okay. Every house has something, and maybe that's the biggest lesson a home can teach you: embrace imperfection. What matters is that this is a warm and cosy place, where we can live together and enjoy each other."