MY EXPERIENCE
We moved here in 2018 from a smaller two-bed terrace nearby.
The house had been damaged by a flood and, despite a few bits of remedial work, it was filthy with lots of bare plaster and shoddy workmanship. Although the cream Shaker-style units looked new, they weren’t my cup of tea and looked bland combined with charcoal floor tiles, grey wall tiles and a black laminate worktop.
My first big idea was to create a slat wall which set the ball rolling, then I painted the cupboard doors in a dark blue eggshell following a collaboration with paint company, Lick. To make it feel lighter and more open, I removed some of the wall units, took the doors off others and painted a geometric pattern on the inside of the cupboards and floor. I’ve also used vinyl wrap on the worktops, built a mini island from bookcases and created a wood slat radiator cover.
In future, I might continue the herringbone flooring from the reception rooms through into the kitchen. I also want to limewash the pine slats and try a new concrete-effect vinyl on the worktops. I’ve spent a lot of time trying so many different styles, but now my ultimate aim is to pull the whole house together.
Of course, there were a few disasters along the way, like smashing the hob when I took the wall units off and buying a cheap black tap that I later swapped for a brushed brass one. But other than plumbing in the new sink and tap, I did all the work myself, as I really love DIY, so I’m so proud of what I’ve managed to achieve.