Before and after: from dark and dated to light and super-stylish, take a look at this amazing kitchen makeover

Clever planning and practical storage solutions have brought this run-down kitchen in London back to life

kitchen room with cabinet and white wall with tiles
(Image credit: TBC)

The owner bought this Battersea flat at a property auction and knew the interior was dated and run-down. The compact kitchen hadn't been decorated in decades and was in desperate need of some TLC. The cupboards were broken, the floor was worn out and the paintwork was peeling.

In order to create a practical, usable space the owner decided to re-design the kitchen. She chose shaker-style Howdens units and went for space-saving appliances.

kitchen room with cabinets and white wall with tiles

(Image credit: future PLC/Lizzie Orme)

An integrated under-counter fridge and freezer meant she could install open shelving above. Thanks to clever designing, the owner even managed to fit in a dishwasher!

kitchen room with white wall and white tiles with wooden worktop

(Image credit: future PLC/Lizzie Orme)

Wall cupboards were installed on one side of the kitchen near the cooker hood with an integrated single oven and gas hob below.

kitchen room with white wall tiles and gas hob with cooker

(Image credit: future PLC/Lizzie Orme)

The worktop was a big decision - it had to be practical, but the owner didn't want it to feel too stark and modern. She chose a grey oak-finished laminate with a square edge for a smart, contemporary feel and a white ceramic sink to complement the look.

kitchen room with white tiles and window

(Image credit: future PLC/Lizzie Orme)

The addition of brick-shaped wall tiles and grey grout added a retro vibe, while the cool grey paint colour was chosen for its contemporary feel.

The grotty old flooring was replaced with a smart ceramic wood-effect grey floor tile.

A few finishing touches such as the pretty grey-and-yellow blind were chosen to give the space a warm, homely feel. Bold accessories in shades of acid yellow have been used to brighten up the worktops.

Your shopping list: 

Units, from £133, Howdens

Sink £162.40, Howdens

Dishwasher £311.70, Howdens

Fridge £222.60, Howdens

Freezer £50, Howdens

Oven, hob & extractor £285.50, Howdens

Floor tiles £24.80 per sq m, Topps Tiles

Wall tiles £38.33 per sq m, Topps Tiles

Worktop, £122 for 3m, Howdens