Adding an extension gave Kat Wagstaff the space she needed to create a characterful, family-friendly kitchen-diner
Feature & stylingLISA MOSESPhotographyKATIE JANE WATSON
SPACIOUS REFURB
WHAT WAS WRONG WITH YOUR OLD KITCHEN?
When we first moved into our house, the ground floor was so un-family friendly that we knew we’d have to extend in order to get what we needed from the space. The tiny kitchen housed just a couple of unattractive orange pine cupboards with hardly any worksurface. The back door took away part of the usable space, and it was a struggle just having myself and my husband in there!
TELL US ABOUT THE EXTENSION…
Our plan was to create a large kitchen-diner at the back of the house, but everything took time, as we had to save to do each part of the project. When work finally started, I decided I didn’t want white goods taking up precious space, so we converted the old kitchen into a utility room. The builders kept the original cooker and sink working for as long as they could, but there was a time when I had neither and it was tricky to manage, especially as by then we had two small children.
WHAT WAS THE STARTING POINT FOR THE SCHEME?
We chose the cabinets from Sheppards DIY, a small family-run company, and I sat with their kitchen planner to create the design. I liked the symmetry of cupboards either side of the cooker, and I wanted large corner base units, as I prefer to have pots and pans hidden rather than on display.
HOW DID YOU PERSONALISE THE SPACE?
It felt quite box-like to start, so I wanted to make it seem more worn and lived in. The cream, distressed-effect tiles break up the white walls to stop the room feeling stark and monochrome, and the warm, textured floor tiles are my nod to the Victorian flagstones I’ve seen in old photographs. Vintage stores, antique fairs and charity shops are a treasure trove of beautiful and unique pieces. Recycling and reusing furniture is also something I love to do.
DID YOU NEED TO STRETCH YOUR BUDGET?
A small budget brings hard decisions – I’d have loved a Belfast sink with solid wood or granite worktops, for example, but they were too expensive. I’m really pleased w
