All about my kitchen: full source list!

A year ago, the big renovation of our house began. We built a two storey extension, knocked down walls, changed staircases and pretty much gutted the existing house. All the gritty chaos of the project is saved in my instagram story highlights if you fancy a look. We are still working on some rooms, but on the whole the house is now transformed and we are particularly delighted to have a finished kitchen that works so beautifully for us.

I have worked with some wonderful brands on my kitchen project, and therefore this post includes some gifted (denoted by *) and discounted (denoted by **) products as part of these collaborations.

BEFORE

Let’s start with a reminder of what it used to look like. For 4 years, we lived with a narrow, pokey, dark and dated kitchen before the building works started.

Even on a sunny day, the kitchen needed the lights switched on until the latter part of the day when the sun came around to the back of the house.

When we were considering buying the house, I knew that we would be knocking down the walls between the kitchen and dining area if the house became ours. And in April last year, that finally happened. This time lapse (courtesy of AO.com who lent me a GoPro camera) shows the space being opened up and the largest RSJ beam being hidden in the ceiling (2 days work condensed into just under a minute!) –

There was more steel work and a lot more destruction over April, May and June before the space started to come together from July. I don’t want to clutter this post with all that horror, but if you’re interested, you can view it all in my instagram story highlights.

My kitchen design included some bespoke work and a lot of DIY by my husband and myself, so it has taken a while to complete everything, particularly as we have been working on other spaces too. But now, with the exception of a couple of small finishing touches and paint touch ups, the kitchen is all done and we are chuffed to bits with it! Those following me on instagram will have seen most of it but there are a few images in this post that I have not yet shared on social media yet so keep reading!

All the sources are below, but if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Enjoy…

AFTER

This is the lovely view that greets us as we enter the open plan space 😊 –

Glazing: Black aluminium window from the Heritage range by Duration Windows

Flooring: Quick Step Impressive in Soft Oak Medium IM1856**, with Silent Walk underlay**

Kitchen cabinetry: DIY Kitchens Stanbury range, bespoke painted in Paint & Paper Library Squid Ink

Counter stools: ‘Heather’ faux tan leather stools* from Cult Furniture

Island ceiling light: Joule 2 pendant light from Heals

Downlights: Colour temperature changing, fire-rated, LED dimmable downlights* from Elesi

Range cooker: Rangemaster Professional Plus induction range cooker* from AO (Let me just say this – once you switch to induction cooking, you never go back to gas! The induction hob on this range cooker is just as responsive as gas, and with its large cooking space, two fan ovens and separate grill, cooking up big feasts and trying out new recipes is becoming a bit of a habit in our home! I don’t miss gas cooking at all, and oh, it’s a doddle to clean!)

Hardware: Heritage Brass Metro cabinet pull handles in Antique Brass

Fruit bowl: Ferm Living Neu Bowl* from Amara

Neff integrated dishwasher* from AO (Not only is this dishwasher superb at cleaning, but it is so quiet that if it weren’t for the timer that it projects onto the floor, we wouldn’t even know it was on! Perfect in an open plan kitchen.)

Monarch Leo gold tap** from Olif (get 10% off with discount code MEERA-TAPS)

Reginox Miami gunmetal sink from Kitchen Sinks & Taps

L:A Bruket washing up liquid from Amazon

Bespoke extractor hood canopy: beautifully made and fitted by Treemark Furniture to my design and spec

Perimeter worktop, splashback and upstands: Statuario Bianco quartz from CRL Stone, fabricated by C&J Stonemasonry

Island worktop: Full stave prime oak worktop* from Worktop Express

Dualit Classic Vario 4 slice toaster* from AO

Brass cook book holder from Garden Trading

Black and white marble cake stand (used here for fruit)* from Amara

Marble tray* from Amara

Utensil holder* from Amara

Oil bottles from Amazon

Ribbed glass canisters from Wayfair

Broste Nordic Sand teapot* from Amara

House Doctor cutting boards from Trouva

House Doctor brass shelf brackets from Arbol Home

White shelf (made to measure) from Mersey MPP

Dualit Classic Vario kettle* from AO

At the other end of the kitchen is the fridge and pantry wall, the framework for which I designed using kitchen products from DIY Kitchens in the same range as the rest of the kitchen.

Fisher & Paykel American fridge freezer* from AO (This model is no longer available, but I can wholeheartedly recommend Fisher & Paykel fridge freezers. The quality is superb, fruit and veg stays fresh for ages and they are very quiet too.)

Soho Lighting brushed brass 4 gang LED dimmer switch* from Elesi

White cast iron casserole dish from Denby

The unassuming double doors next to the fridge freezer hide the walk-in pantry – a space that may only be little – 1030mm wide x 1260mm at its deepest internally – but is incredibly useful in how much storage it offers and is a very cool feature in the kitchen. We love it!

Open sesame…

Previously with the old kitchen, things were stored all over the kitchen because the layout was terrible, but now when the grocery shopping is delivered, the bags are set down right here and the food is put away into the fridge-freezer and the pantry, while items like cleaning materials are stored in the adjacent utility. All within 3 steps of each other. It feels so efficient! 😀

Pantry base units and shelves (custom sized) from Lark & Larks

Oak effect laminate worktop from Worktop Express

Soho Lighting Brushed Brass Toggle Switch* from Elesi

Walls painted in Farrow & Ball Off Black

Wine rack from Anthropologie

Deco style cocktail coupe glasses from Amazon

Crystal champagne flutes – vintage

Sliding wire basket organiser in dark brown from Amazon

Sage stand mixer purchased several years ago from AO.com

Rattan storage baskets from The Basket Company

Borosilicate glass jars with bamboo lids from Amazon

Black biscuit tin from Rinkit

Black Brabantia bread bin from Amazon

Cereal dispenser containers from Amazon

This kitchen is such a dream come true for us. It is the first time we have had an open plan kitchen where we can all be in the same space without being in each others’ way and that is rather lovely. The kitchen flow works beautifully, the appliances are amazing to use and it is a joy to be in this light, airy space. It’s very much the heart of the home. A huge, HUGE thank you goes to the wonderful brands below who worked with me to make my dream family kitchen a reality. Do check them out as I have genuinely been hugely impressed by their superb products and service!

• AO.com, for all your appliance and tech needs, with a price match service
• Worktop Express, for a wide range of quality worktops and a bespoke cutting service
• Cult Furniture, for fabulous design-led and well-priced furniture, lighting and home accessories
• Elesi, for beautiful sockets, switches and lighting
• Amara, for lovely things that elevate your everyday
• Quick Step, for a wide range of superb flooring
• Olif, for quality taps and sinks

Next to the kitchen in this open plan space, we also have a dining area and a living area, and I will continue working on them when time and budget allows. But right now, I am going to put the kettle on. Who would like a brew?

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