ANNMARIE GOODCHILD KITCHEN MAKEOVER
Contemporary kitchen makeover: ‘It’s my old space with a new look’
Annemarie Goodchild’s clever changes transformed her kitchen without wasting a thing
Image: David Giles
Annemarie Goodchild, a cabin crew member, lives with daughter Flori, 8, in this four-bedroom Victorian semi in West Sussex. She wanted to refresh her existing kitchen by tweaking the layout, painting the units and replacing the handles and installing a new floor for a brighter, more modern look. As part of the kitchen makeover, she chose to have grey floor and wall tiles installed to add cooler tones to the dusky pink painted units, broken up by oiled oak worktops that introduce a natural element to her space.
Read on to find out more about the finer details of her budget-friendly kitchen makeover which came in under £2,500…
Why didn’t you like your old kitchen?
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It looked dated and had a bland scheme that I would never have chosen myself. On the plus side it was in a good condition with fairly new appliances, but I felt that it belonged to the previous owners. I lived with it for almost a year while I renovated the rest of the house, but I planned to revamp it as soon as possible. Taking out a couple of cupboards has added a feeling of openness. A vibrant picture and contemporary bin add bold splashes of colour at the far end, drawing the eye in.
Tell us about the colour scheme
Image: David Giles
As part of the kitchen makeover, I wanted to add colour without making the room feel any darker and chose the pale pink shade to contrast with the glossy grey metro tiles I found. I like things that are a little quirky and knew that if I wasn’t happy with the results it would just take a lick of paint to change the look. The handles were as cheap as chips from Amazon and my cousin, who has a clothing company, gave me the little card holders for the drawers. When I get around to it, I’ll write what is inside each one.
Kitchen makeover design tip
Image: David Giles
Adding new handles to units is a super-easy update. These cup handles match the other pops of silver in the space.
How did you want to change the kitchen scheme?
With access at either end, as well as a door leading onto the garden, the layout didn’t flow very well. There was an odd peninsular unit sticking out on one side, while two tall cupboards on the other made going in and out of the garden awkward – especially if I was carrying anything! The whole scheme was also crying out for some colour. Though not to my taste, I could see that the cabinets were good quality and well made. So, I decided to have the doors and drawer fronts painted to give them a new lease of life. I didn’t want to attempt doing this myself, so a friend of mine did them for me. He did a great job!
Did you have a budget in mind for your kitchen makeover?
Image: David Giles
I had allowed for £5,000 but it actually came in under that, at around £3,500, including the fitting and painting costs – I spent the most money on bespoke shutters to hide the ugly windows! They are also a great way to diffuse bright sunlight. Underfloor heating was already installed, and makes such a difference; plus, it also meant that I didn’t have to try to fit in a radiator somewhere.
What was the best bargain you found?
Image: David Giles
I love upcycling things and bought the metal plate rack from an online selling site for £25.
Image: David Giles
The saucepan rack I picked up for a few dollars in New York years ago – it sits perfectly on the wall next to the cooker hood.
Were there any disasters along the way?
I thought that I could save some money by getting a local handyman to lay the floor tiles rather than employing a professional tiler. However, some of the tiles subsequently lifted and I had to have them relaid, which cost extra money in the end. I have definitely learned from that.
Did anything cost more than expected?
I splashed out on a few luxuries like the Brabantia bin, which was over £150, but I love good design and think it looks cool. As the appliances, sink and tap were in great condition I saved money by not having to replace them.
Image: David Giles
How do you feel now the kitchen makeover all finished?
It looks like a brand new kitchen, and I feel proud I was able to completely transform it without throwing the old units and appliances away.
Kitchen makeover budget breakdown
Paint and handles: £350
Tiles: £620
Shutters: £1,100
Worktops: £360
Total kitchen makeover spend
£2,430
What do you think of this pink kitchen makeover? Let us know! Tweet us @goodhomesmag or post a comment on our Facebook page.
