From lacklustre units to walls with the wow-factor, this kitchen transformation will leave you speechless

published 21 October 2015

The owners of this five-bedroomed home in south west London wanted to knock down a conservatory at the back of the house to make room for a large kitchen-diner. They were looking for more space to entertain guests and were tired of the old fashioned two-tone kitchen and laminate worktops.

The makeover

The structural work took several months as the old conservatory not only needed to come down, but the builders also had to lay foundations for the new rear extension. During that time the owners decided to shop around for the perfect kitchen units.

Getting rid of the old wood-panelled kitchen and opening up the space
downstairs spurred them to go for something fresh and contemporary. In
the end they chose simple high gloss handleless cabinets.

kitchen room with blue fridge and wooden table with bench

The new design works well for the family, too. There's a blank base of wall units on the back wall, while the sink and hob are positioned in a central island which means they are easily accessible. Due to the large space, the owners have managed to add in a living area at the other end of the room.

In order to add interest and character, the owners decided to tile a wall with textural tiles behind the range cooker.

kitchen room with grey wall and kitchen cabinets

In addition to the kitchen diner, the owners converted an exisiting side extension behind into a practical utility room.

The details

A large wooden table adds colour and texture to the contemporary kitchen-diner. A pale blue sofa echoes the colour of the retro fridge-freezer, helping to link the kitchen and living areas.