Style advice
Three simple tricks to try in your own home
OPEN IT UP
U-shaped kitchens can sometimes feel hemmed in, so remove the doors from a row of wall cabinets and paint a geometric back panel, like Ann-Marie, to make the space feel more open and to add character. Buy Kilner jars or colourful canisters to complete the look and display your favourite tableware. ‘Someone messaged me on Instagram saying it was a great idea to tile the back of the cabinets,’ says AnnMarie. ‘ They didn’t realise I had just painted the designfl’ GO FOR SLATS Wood slat walls are a fairly inexpensive way to get a clean-lined, mid-century modern look and are popular for feature walls or cladding a breakfast bar. Ann-Marie has taken it one step further by building a slatted radiator cover to tie in with the back wall. ‘You still get loads of heat coming through; more than I expected,’ she says. Above, she’s transformed three old IKEA shelves that were in different colours by covering them in Fablon vinyl wrap and hanging them from scaffold brackets.
RE-USE & RECYCLE
Before you rip anything out, think about how it could be re-purposed elsewhere. When Ann-Marie removed the cabinets from two walls, she re-used them to create additional storage under the stairs. She gave them a new lease of life with Frenchic paint and added brass handles, while the top and kickboards are made from OSB. ‘I would’ve made it into a pantry, but there’s nowhere else to put the cat box,’ says Ann-Marie. ’However, it’s a handy storage space to keep all my paints and DIY tools.’
Style idea
Make a ceiling feature with an IKEA Ivar side panel and some shoe racks