‘ We updated What We had’
Rather than rip it out and start from scratch, Laura has put her own stylesavvy stamp on her family kitchen – and stayed on budget
It’s all very well saying, “if it ain’t broke...”, but what do you do if you just don’t like it and you’ve got a big wish list and a small budget?’ says Laura. ‘that’s the conundrum David and i faced when we inherited the original kitchen in this house.
It didn’t feel like a space we wanted to spend much time in and, even though it’s a great size, it didn’t deliver on the multi-functional space we were after. There was only a tiny oven and no space for a dishwasher. The units were good quality but their wood-effect finish just wasn’t to our taste and its red and brown tile scheme left me cold! It also felt very narrow due to the wall cupboards which lined the room. Even so, we lived with it for more than a year before we made any changes. We couldn’t afford to rip it out and start again, so we decided to work with what we had.
Starting point
The first thing we did was take down the wall cabinets. This immediately made a huge difference, really opening up the room and making it feel much brighter and wider. Next, we looked at colours for the walls and cabinets. With the existing black flooring I wanted to make the base cabinets lighter, so I chose a soft grey paint shade and then added a bit of drama to the dining end of the room by painting the walls dark blue.
Making the space work
There were definitely compromises along the way. The kitchen wasn’t the layout we would have chosen but we knew that by removing too much we would have been sacrificing muchneeded storage. We ended up replacing one cupboard with our longed-for
‘Replacing wall cupboards with open shelving will make your space seem bigger – as well as giving you a chance to show off your favourite crockery’
dishwasher! Fitting in a seating area was a challenge, but my dad came up with the idea of this lovely bench which is practical and comfy. it doubles as dining room seating and a radiator cover, too. What i wasn’t prepared to compromise on, however, was our cooker. it’s induction, which is perfect when you have children and need to prepare quick meals!
Main challenges
although the work during the summer of 2017 went without a hitch, the main challenge was to stay within budget. We did most of the work ourselves or with the help of family. the only thing we didn’t tackle was the tiling – a friend helped us. What we hadn’t bargained for was the time it would take to paint the unit doors! there are 18 and they all had four coats, so it was a labour of love. realising the difference they made to the room was the best bit of the project.
Finishing touches
one of the most striking features of the room is the dramatic dark blue on the walls, which i love. i like natural elements too, so i knew i wanted wood to be a feature. the scaffold planks that we made the shelves from cost hardly anything but add texture and warmth. the plants then provide a pop of organic green against the blue and the timber. i’m pleased with what we’ve achieved, especially on such a tight budget. there’s nothing i’d do differently. i think you could safely say we maxed out on our wish list after all!’