No more kitchen NIGHTMARES
A brand new kitchen may be appealing... but the cost and effort involved means it is not always an option. Interior designer and TV presenter JULIA KENDELL reveals how to create a kitchen you’ll love without spending a fortune WORK OUT WHAT YOU DON’T LIKE AND WHAT YOU DO
Julia suggests you start by standing back and taking a good look at your kitchen to identify what isn’t working. ‘It could be that moving a window or a doorway could suddenly make the layout work for you. It might enable you to squeeze in the tall cabinet or American fridge freezer you’ve always wanted.
‘I always suggest clients start a mood board on Pinterest. Having all your ideas in one place will help you establish what you’re after – it’s a good place to make your mistakes before you spend any money.’
SWAP THE DOORS – OR LOSE THEM ALTOGETHER!
If the main bodies of your kitchen cabinets are in good order, simply swapping the door fronts will massively change the look of your kitchen. ‘There are companies that specialise in this and will come to your home and take the measurements so you can be sure they’ll
You could even go for handle-less doors and drawers. ‘This helps the space to feel bigger, by reducing the clutter. Clean lines give a kitchen a cohesive feel,’ says Julia.
For an even cheaper but equally dramatic ‘There are some really good-quality paints on the market that will even adhere to laminate to be sure you have the time and patience
Sometimes a simple change like swapping the door handles can be enough to bring your kitchen up to date. ‘Make sure you choose the existing holes – unless you’ve got a the old holes and paint over,’ says Julia.
Chunky bar handles are currently having a moment. ‘It taps into the whole raw, industrial vibe,’ says Julia.
PUSH THE BOAT OUT FOR YOUR WORK SURFACES
‘It’s one area where, if you can go for something better quality, it will make the whole kitchen feel more expensive,’ says Julia. ‘There are companies who will cover your existing work surfaces with an overlay of thin granite without you even having to empty your kitchen cupboards.’
SPLASH OUT ON SPLASHBACKS
‘Splashbacks and tiling are often the area that lets the kitchen down and freshening them up is cheap and easy,’ says Julia. ‘It might be as simple as replacing the grouting in existing tiles, or, if you don’t like them, you can even tile on to the tiles you’ve already got.’
The metro-tiles trend is here to stay, according to Julia. ‘They are such an inexpensive option. I love some of the the gold ones from British Ceramic Tile.
‘You can also buy glass splashback panels to put on top of old tiles for a quick clean and
GET YOUR COLOURS RIGHT
‘Grey of all shades is now the staple neutral in interiors,’ says Julia. Think about adding a blackboard wall for depth and interest: ‘They’re a wonderful thing to have in the kitchen – the whole family can have input into them, and leave messages for each other; children love them.’
DON’T FEAR THE DARK SIDE
‘People are less afraid of going for dark colours,’ says Julia. Dulux’s paint colour of the year is Denim Drift, a rich blue grey that would make a stunning but easy-to-live-with kitchen colour. ‘I think any shade of blue in the kitchen works really well,’ says Julia.
Pantone’s colour of the year is Greenery, a lush, zesty green. ‘A muted version of this would look great in the kitchen,’ says Julia.
If you’d rather buy into that trend on a smaller scale, try houseplants. ‘A terrarium full of succulents and cacti on the kitchen windowsill has this year’s look all over it,’ says Julia.