Extension diary

Ever wondered if it’s possible to project manage a massive kitchen extension and remain sane? Interiors journalist Linda Clayton is finding out the hard way…

Interiors writer Linda Clayton on living through a big renovation

If you love to cook, or even if you hate it but prefer not to starve, at some point you’re going to have to decide on appliances for your new kitchen extension. You’d think specialising in kitchens for nearly 20 years would put me at an advantage on this score. But sometimes too much knowledge is a dangerous thing. Particularly for the health of our sickly bank balance. I get to see a lot of cool appliance tech and, generally, fall in lust with it.

My husband Nick cooks perhaps thrice a year and cares more about crocuses than cookers (he’s not a gardener, either). I knew I’d have my work cut out getting what I wanted. Like any good negotiator, I started by preparing a wishlist of priorities. I knew I wanted an oven with pyrolytic cleaning. Once you’ve had one, you’d rather sever a limb than go back to Mr Muscle. I also couldn’t live without an induction hob, like we’d had in our old house. I probably could, but I’m so impatient it’s possible I’d explode with frustration trying to fry an egg. Induction is a gamechanger. But the kicker is, I also wanted an AGA more than all the sauv-blanc in New Zealand. I grew up with an AGA, and there is no better roaster of Sunday roasts. I work from home, and am reptilian-grade cold, so the cosy ambient heat, while guzzly on the fuel front, wouldn’t be wasted on an empty house. After we’ve recovered from extension bankruptcy, the idea is to install solar panels, and an electric one could even quash the deathstares from eco-smug friends.

Sadly, none of my three priorities were budget buys. And although I may sound like a foot-stomping spoilt princess, I didn’t have the expense account of one. So, I came up with a two-pronged plan of attack. First, was to reuse as many appliances from our old kitchen as possible. It’s tempting to buy all shiny-new kit when you’re extending. But if your appliances work, and aren’t likely to disintegrate in the process, crack on and rehome them. And not just the freestanding ones. People think built-in appliances are hard to move so it’s not worth the bother, especially if your current models only have a couple years’ life left. In truth, kitchen carcasses are built to standard European sizes, as are the appliances that go inside them. A small child (with the muscles of Popeye) could do it…or at least any proficient Diyer/kitchen fitter. This plan wiped a new fridge-freezer, single oven (for when the AGA is off) and wine fridge (so maybe I am a bit of a princess) off our shopping list, leaving lots more budget for my precious AGA. Prong two was buying said

AGA long before we ran out of cash. A shrewd move given that we did so way sooner than anticipated (due to the unforeseen electric/plumbing overhaul). This meant that while the kitchen in the extension may still be cobbled together out of old chipboard and egg cartons until Nick can find time to build the real one, we have a fabulous shiny new range cooker (with induction hob – YASSSS MATE) to keep us all warm and cook up a storm. Happy days.

For more advice, follow me on Instagram @lindaclaytonwrites

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