Room to GROW
CLAIRE BECKETT’S SAVVY SHOPPING SKILLS AND EYE FOR DESIGN ACHIEVED A SPACIOUS KITCHEN-DINER THAT PERFECTLY SUITS HER YOUNG FAMILY
When Claire and Darren Beckett had their first daughter, it quickly became apparent that their two-up, two-down home wasn’t going to cope for long. ‘It was just about big enough for the two of us, but when Amelie came along it definitely felt overcrowded,’ says Claire, who runs online lifestyle store Chalk Homeware. With precious little spare cash to increase their mortgage, the couple found another two-bed, but one that could be extended. ‘There’s a basement ripe for refurb and the loft can be converted, too, as and when funds permit, so eventually we will get the extra bedrooms we need without overstretching ourselves,’ says Claire.
But before they could even move in, the property needed a lot of work on the ground floor. Luckily, Darren’s a carpenter and was able to do it himself. ‘It had been rented to students for more than a decade and the small galley kitchen with peeling lino and a damp smell was particularly grim,’ says Claire. But with Darren only able to work on the project – which involved knocking down walls, damp proofing and adding a sidereturn extension – in the evenings and at weekends, it
dragged on for much longer than anticipated. Fortunately, the family could live with Claire’s parents during the process. ‘It took well over a year, but news of another baby on the way helped to speed things up,’ says Claire.
When it finally came to the decorative touches, the budget had taken a serious hit, but Claire had a plan. ‘I’m all about working with what we’ve got. Over the years I’ve developed a skill for establishing the look I want, then searching and searching until I find the cheapest option possible.’ For the kitchen, she had fallen hard for a bespoke in-frame design with a relaxed, utilitarian style. ‘Most off-the-peg Shaker kitchens have a lay-on door, no frame, but then I spotted a classic in-frame display by Benchmarx Kitchens at our local Wickes and knew I could dress it up to make it work.’
While the main worktops are timber, Claire did splash out on Carrara marble for the island top. ‘I like materials that age gracefully and the uniqueness you can only get from nature. No one else has a worktop exactly like mine,’ she says. The same can be said for the reclaimed timber shelves Darren made. ‘It’s these unique touches that make our inexpensive kitchen feel much more special.’
❝I NEVER LIKE TO BUY NEW – I LOVE THE CHARACTER AND HISTORY OF RECLAIMED WOOD AND VINTAGE HOMEWARE❞