I didn’t need an extension after all

Rejigging the layout of her space has allowed Katie Lee to create a gorgeous open-plan kitchen-diner with room for a home office too

Rejigging the layout allowed Katie to create a stunning kitchen-diner

About me

I’m Katie Lee, a photographer at beautifulhomesinthenorth.co.uk. I live with my twin daughters, Lily and Anna, 11, plus our dog, Baxter. Our home is a three-bedroom, mid-terraced Edwardian house in Earsdon, Whitley Bay.

My room... MY PROBLEM KITCHEN

The kitchen and diner were two separate rooms. It wasn’t very family-friendly or comfortable as the fridge wasn’t near the cooker and I didn’t like cooking in there away from my two daughters.

HOW I MADE IT WORK

The galley kitchen was opened up to the dining room and a door was moved to the new hallway, which made more space for built-in bench seating and a bespoke workspace. Carefully planned lighting and tiling zones each area of the room.

‘It’s designed to within an inch of its life so there’s a place for everything and the space feels so much bigger’

MY FAVOURITE PART

I love the dark blue door fronts with the grooves and my plywood worktop.

A length of hexagonal tiles creates a runway effect right through the ground floor from the rear cloakroom to the front hall. The design has been echoed in the diamond shapes of the drawer fronts, which were cut to the same proportions for a matching look Before

Choose downlights that match your kitchen handles, combined with additional spots for practical lighting above the prep area TOTAL £11,150 Style idea