A little French flavour
No stranger to DIY, Jannette Prentice loved creating a kitchen with plenty of ooh la la!
Reason for renovation
For Jannette, the saying “she was born with it” definitely rings true. This serial renovator remembers how as a child she used to happily play with cement while her mother was busy with a fix-it project. It was no surprise then that when she and her husband Craig walked into their new home dating back to the seventies and found the ceilings falling apart, the carpets smelly and the bedrooms barely big enough for a single bed, that she was in seventh heaven.
The kitchen, with its old yellow pine cupboards, Formica tops and beige tiles, was particularly dated. Luckily, Jannette was able to re-use the cupboards and save on costs.
Main alterations
• The wall separating the kitchen from the living room was knocked down and one of the windows was replaced with a sliding door. All the wall and floor tiles were removed.
• The remaining cupboards were restored and painted white. The handles were replaced and new granite tops fitted. A few additional open cupboards were added to enhance the chic aesthetic.
• An island was built in the middle of the kitchen, creating a sociable spot for family and friends.
• The walls were painted charcoal and the raw bricks were finished with a white paint technique ( see sidebar).
• Decorative polystyrene tiles were glued to the ceiling and a splashback consisting of large red tiles was added to protect the wall.
• Jannette’s super handy mom, Angelique Tromp, helped to fit the basin and also assisted with the plumbing.
• A tiler laid the large floor tiles (120 x 60cm each) that Jannette loves so much.