Before & after: A dark outdated kitchen transformed into a Scandi haven
Bringing in experts from Magnet's design team led to the remarkable transformation of this awkwardly shaped kitchen into a light, warm and inviting family space.
Who lives here
Kiera Buckley-Jones, a stylist, her partner Jonathan and their baby Maisy live in a 1950s three-bed house in south-west London.
Before
‘The kitchen was an awkward shape, partly due to a built-in larder cupboard used as
a utility space. There were also odd built-in glass display cabinets along a recessed wall that we swapped for streamlined floor-to-ceiling cupboards,' says Kiera.
How did you get started?
KBJ: I wanted a timeless, practical Scandinavian-style kitchen suitable for family life, so I created a Pinterest board of ideas I could share with my partner, Jonathan. We then went to Magnet to look at finishes and worked with their experts on a layout.
Did you have to redesign the space?
KBJ: Yes, I intended to get one of the walls knocked down, so I arranged for someone from the Magnet showroom and the builder to visit before confirming the job. The design and layout of the kitchen were dependent on this wall being removed, so it was crucial they were both there right at the beginning. There was also a built-in unit with glass display cabinets along a recessed wall that we decided to remove and replace with floor-to-ceiling cupboards.
What were your must-haves?
KBJ:A dishwasher and a Belfast sink were both priorities for me. Admittedly, the Belfast sink was chosen more for the aesthetic – I’d always admired them in period properties and art rooms at school – while the dishwasher was the sensible, practical choice. We went for a quartz splashback and worktop, and, though expensive it was a worthwhile investment, providing a cleaner look compared to tiles, which I felt would have been too fussy.
Was it a long process from start to finish?
KBJ: The builders removed a cupboard wall on the first day, then it was a week to get the majority of the kitchen fittings in place. There was a short wait for the stone providers to come and measure up for the worktop and splashback, which they provided a week later. In all, the kitchen only took just over two weeks, so it was a very smooth process.
What’s your favourite element of the new kitchen?
KBJ: Definitely the larder cupboard: its wooden interior includes drawers and shelves so that everything has its place. I also love the simple Shaker style of the cupboard doors, with the slight added bling of the handles.
Sourcebook
Kitchen units, handles, worktops, splashbacks, sink, and taps, magnet.co.uk
Appliances, aeg.co.uk
ClickSmart treated oak flooring, amtico.com
Blind, johnlewis.com
Kettle and toaster, dualit.com
Light switches, dowsingandreynolds.com
Brooklyn wall lights, industville.co.uk
Costs
Kitchen units and handles £14,220
Sink and taps £466
Worktops £3,872
Appliances £2,527
Flooring £1,060
Blind £60
Kettle and toaster £260
Light switches £170
Wall lights £178
Total = £22,813
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