My kitchen renovation is finally complete – take a look at the big reveal!

Plus I’m opening up my little black book of products and sharing the key details you can bring into your own renovation

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Fluted Belfast sink with brass tap on mable worktop and with marble splashback
(Image credit: Natalie Jahangiry)

Interior designer Natalie Jahangiry is one of Ideal Home's new Open House contributors, sharing her thoughts on decorating a home to suit a busy family life while sticking to your aesthetic values, too. See the rest of her articles here.

After months of planning, negotiations (mostly with my husband), spreadsheets, research, doomscrolling and a lot of dust, our kitchen renovation is almost complete… and by almost, I mean a few inevitable snagging bits left to finish but when is there ever not?

Six weeks of trade work, and our beautiful new space is complete. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I believe the kitchen is the heart of the home, and now I stand by that more than ever. Living without it during the renovation made us truly appreciate how central it is to everyday life. Having it back, and better than ever, feels wonderful.

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Before vs Now

The problem

When we first moved in three years ago, to me, there were some fundamental issues with the kitchen. Although I updated it a few times along the way (read all about this in Kitchen Chronicles Part One) and everyone kept telling me it looked great, I always felt the positioning was a major drawback, tucked away in the darkest corner of the room.

Grey, unfurnished kitchen

The kitchen before...

(Image credit: Natalie Jahangiry)

The breakfast bar also cut the long extended space in half, which never quite worked from a layout perspective. We lacked storage, and I really missed having a kitchen island as a central focal point, but also from a practical aspect.

There were smaller frustrations too. The dishwasher had seen better days, and the sink was never quite big enough, and there wasn’t a great deal of kitchen worktop space for prep.

Overall, it just didn’t suit the way we live. And I say “the way we live” because every family is different, which is something I remind my clients of all the time. What works for one family won’t necessarily work for another, and for ours, there was always something that just didn’t quite click.

My solution

The way the kitchen now works day to day has completely changed how we live in the house on a whole. It is at the core of our everyday routine, and having a space that works harder for our needs has made our daily routine feel so much easier.

With floor to ceiling storage and surfaces clear, we can thoughtfully display the pieces and trinkets we’ve collected over time. We now have extra deep drawers that are fully organised, with space around everything meaning we can finally see what’s in each drawer and get to what we need easily.

Having the island running with the natural direction of the room actually elongates the space giving the illusion it's bigger without adding any sq footage.

Close up of burgundy kitchen drawers on marble topped island with brass pull

(Image credit: Natalie Jahangiry)

The kids have their own dedicated area for toys and crafts, complete with a coffee table where they can create freely and a cosy chair to curl up in together and watch tv… although I have to admit, Tom and I have often found ourselves fighting over this chair and who gets to sit back with a cocktail on it while the other cooks.

Marble kitchen worktop run with deep fluted Belfast sink, marble splashback and red cabinetry across from marble topped island with integrated hob

(Image credit: Natalie Jahangiry)

And speaking of drinks, I now have my dream bar area and my much missed island back, while whoever is cooking can still be part of the conversation, thanks to the hob on the island and a much bigger fridge.

Bar area integrated into kitchen nook between built-in oven and fridge

(Image credit: Natalie Jahangiry)

What was once the playroom at the back of the space, has been transformed into a beautiful adult dining area, with soft draping curtains, an extendable table that comfortably seats ten (as tested at Easter when we had family around), complete with my gorgeous new dining chairs.

The walk in pantry has become a dream in itself, a perfectly organised jar filled haven for all our essentials, finished with a newly formed archway.

round wooden dining table surrounded by light pink upholstered chairs

(Image credit: Natalie Jahangiry)

My Favourite Features

While singing in the style of Julie Andrews “now here are a few of my favourite things”...

Pantry cupboard

Kitchen with red and grey cabinetry, marble topped island with three glass pendant lights above

(Image credit: Natalie Jahangiry)

A dream item I have always longed for, a double door pantry cupboard. Somewhere to tuck away the microwave, toaster and kettle, while neatly organising pantry ingredients and jars. A total game changer.

Did I design that entire run around it? Yes. Do I regret it? Absolutely not. If you have the space, I cannot recommend one enough.

Sink area

Fluted Belfast sink with brass tap on mable worktop and with marble splashback

(Image credit: Natalie Jahangiry)

I wanted this side of the kitchen to have a real big wow impact, and I love every detail. From the glass fronted dresser units to the oversized sink, everything feels (and was) highly considered.

Paired with a tall traditional tap, scalloped sink, and a seamless splashback and shelf, finished with brass fittings and subtle wall lighting. It is exactly what I had hoped for, and more.

Deep drawers

Close up of deep kitchen drawers with brass pull

(Image credit: Natalie Jahangiry)

On the island and along the sink run, we opted for large, deep drawers instead of multiple cupboards. Some include built in cutlery drawers, while others are organised with inserts for things like spices and pan lids.

I tend to favour drawers over cupboards, as everything is visible and easy to access once opened.

Brass hardware and lighting

Kitchen island painted in burgundy, topped with marble, integrated brass plug, across from run of light grey cabinetry

(Image credit: Natalie Jahangiry)

In the past, I used to favour bold black fixtures and fittings. While I still love that look, my style has evolved. In the kitchen/dining areas I wanted to introduce a subtle heritage feel, so I leaned into brass, choosing deeper, more antique tones across the fittings.

From lighting to sockets, switches, taps and brackets, they complement the colour scheme beautifully and bring a more refined, timeless feel to the space. I did incorporate some black to tie in with the rest of the house, but brass remains the predominant finish throughout.

Walk in pantry updates

Arch doorway in kitchen leading to walk-in pantry

(Image credit: Natalie Jahangiry)

Before the renovation, we transformed what had been a dumping cupboard under the stairs into a walk-in pantry. The original doorway remained, however I had always swooned over the look of an arched pantry entrance.

One of my favourite features in the new kitchen is the newly formed arch (woo hoo!), now complete with a proper light switch, something we didn’t have before. I also love the addition of the matching worktop, which ties everything together beautifully and elevates the space even further.

Pull out spice rack

Marble kitchen worktop run with deep fluted Belfast sink, marble splashback and red cabinetry across from marble topped island with integrated hob

(Image credit: Natalie Jahangiry)

On the island, we also have a pull out spice rack, which works brilliantly. It keeps everything in plain sight, rather than having bottles gathering dust at the back of a cupboard.

Steal My Design

Want to steal my design? No problem. I’m opening up my little black book of the products and suppliers I used to create my very own kitchen.

Supplier and product lists are usually something we charge clients for, but for you dear reader… I’ll make an exception. I know, I’m too kind. Here you go:

Natalie Jahangiry
Natalie Jahangiry

Natalie is a designer through and through, with over 15 years of experience. She began her career in graphic and web design and has explored a wide range of industries along the way. These include advertising, of which she worked in some of the top agencies in London, creating an award-winning Persian food company (based on her family heritage) and building a renowned wedding stationery company pre-pandemic.

However Natalie’s real passion lies with interiors. She currently is the co-founder of Design & Refine Interiors, a London-based studio she runs with her friend and fellow wedding contractor, Jenna Hewitt. Natalie also heads up a design offering (Nat’s Design Studio), helping small businesses stand out and grow their brands through strategic, tailored design.