Renovation and redesign of a family kitchen to ensure it fulfils the next phases of family life
Roughly 25 years old, the kitchen layout had been entirely suitable for a growing family with a peninsula dividing the cooking space from the table area, a neat way of keeping inquisitive toddlers away from kitchen bustle and teenagers on the right side of the divide while slowly devouring their 3rd bowl of cereal.
However, as the family fledged, the kitchen faded.
The existing fitted cupboards are built traditionally and still very solid, including the hinges and stoppers. The construction is in-frame tulipwood, and MDF with pine dovetail jointed drawer boxes on waxed runners.
Over the years the cupboards have been covered with a few layers of paints but do not need replacing with new cupboards. To replace the cabinetry with the same quality today would equal the cost of a new VW Golf.
The primary remit was to make the space more welcoming from the main entrance door for social, leisurely G&T's and grazing meals for two rather than Crunchy Nut for many. Enlarging the cooker from a standard size to a 90cm range style meant removing the dividing peninsula and creating a space for a central-ish island with proper sit-up-too space and a warm surface to gather around.
The large kitchen window and glazed doors from the garden and living room add natural light to the room, making it bright and airy all year round. On the downside, the room door handing was conflicting in the space, and the floor was busy with two different finishes and the worktops overly dominant.
The new kitchen cupboard colours needed to effectively counter the existing black high sheen granite worktops, a strong horizontal divide seen in many kitchens now. Using soft white with a very slight touch of grey Roundway Kitchen Cupboard Paint, on all the fitted cupboards and knobs provided the perfect antidote to the granite.
All White?
Not Quite!
The new island unit is finished in kitchen Cupboard Paint, Dark Knight with two base layer coats of grey high build primer to prepare the very new MDF elements before the top coat was applied.
Taking the colour to the furthest end of the large room, Dark Knight has been painted on the backboards within the newly glazed tall dresser providing the perfect foil for the collection of glasses and decorative platters.
The Kitchen Cupboard Paint Order for this renovation consisted of:
White High Build Primer - 6 Litres
Roundway Water-Based Topcoat - 6 Litres
Grey High Build Primer - 1 Litre
Dark Knight Water-Based Topcoat - 2 Litres
Bringing the whole scheme together as one, a new floor finish of broad planked Oak has been laid lengthways throughout and the walls painted in 'Twitch'.
Project Notes
Retained Existing Fitted Features:
Sink & tap, fully integrated dishwasher, granite worktops and 90% of the fitted cabinetry.
The window above the existing main entrance door
Consumer unit and housing
Tall cupboards and built-in dresser unit
Relocated Kitchen Essentials:
Main entrance door into the kitchen
USA Fridge Freezer
Tilt style integrated bin
Reused Kitchen Essentials
Granite worktop from the peninsula to the right-hand side of the range cooker and fridge freezer
All the knobs (repainted to match)
New Kitchen Features
Fitted Island comprising 90cm pan drawers, 50cm bin cabinet, four end panels, brackets and plinth with Rustic Oak Block oiled worktop
New glazed doors to the dresser section
Wine rack (of course)
90cm Range cooker
90cm telescopic extractor above set within a new cabinet
Simple, contemporary top cornice to the wall cupboards
Broad planked oak flooring throughout
Todd Slade completed the cupboard painting.
The new features were sourced directly from makers and the flooring supplied and fitted by a local company.
Customer Response
'We are delighted with the new kitchen layout and how the kitchen space works for our needs now. The painted finish on the cupboards is just what we were looking for, not smelly while being applied, quick to dry and a finish that is very easy to clean spills from and has a clean matte sheen.'
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