‘WE KEPT THE BEST OF THE OLD FOR OUR NEW KITCHEN’ Light and airy, this space is now ideal for one young family

Knocking a dining room and kitchen into one and creating a light, bright kitchen-diner means this old property now meets the needs of one young family

Framed units for kitchen and utility Worktops Lighting

Flooring Appliances Radiators

Sink and taps £10,000 £3,500 £1,000 £500 £2,200 £1,050 £305

FLOORING Underfloor insulation keeps the room cosy though installation required taking up all of the floorboards floorboards and insulated beneath. There were unknowns too, such as rotten floor joists that had to be repaired. The main challenge was to salvage what we could and be sympathetic to the property’s character.

How did you plan the space?

We didn’t need planning permission or an architect, so we designed and project-managed the kitchen ourselves with lots of help from magazines and social media – including my Instagram, @home_ stead. To save space, we opted for a slimline dishwasher and squeezed slim cabinets below the island and two small pullout larders either side of the oven. Cupboards in the adjoining utility room hide clutter, the boiler and an integrated washing machine.

Was there anything you weren’t prepared to compromise on?

Although we thought about foregoing the stone worktop, we decided to install a temporary plywood one until we could afford the stone. I also knew what hardware I wanted before we bought the house, so there was no giving up – we ended up sourcing it through a friend with a kitchen company. We were keen to use original floorboards so swapped rotten ones for others elsewhere in the house.

Tell us about the colour scheme…

I love colour! I have degrees in graphic design and fashion and textiles, and trained as a colour consultant with Farrow & Ball. Tester pots were vital in helping me make sure I got just the right shades. The room’s light colour maximises the sense of space and makes it look bright even on a dull Edinburgh day. There are many shades of white though, so never go by just the colour card – always try a tester pot and look at it in natural and electric light.

Do you have any memorable stories?

We lived in a flat overlooking this house when it was for sale and would get upset if we saw anyone else viewing it. We even thought about playing loud metal music to scare them off, but it never came to that!

Were there any highs and lows during the process?

It was certainly a challenge working full time and living through the work with a baby. But knowing we did so much of the hard graft ourselves gives us a great feeling of satisfaction.