My kitchen revamp is the perfect blend of old and new

style idea

Decorate your splashback with vintage finds

We used to pass this house on our daily dog walks and daydreamed about living here. When it went up for sale, we put in an offer even though we weren’t looking to move. It was the worst timing in the middle of lockdown, but we couldn’t let this house slip through our fingers.

The house still had many period details but the interior needed updating. The kitchen was one of the first rooms we tackled because we wanted to have a place to escape to when renovating the rest of the house. We saved money by keeping the original galley layout and by doing most of the work ourselves. We got rid of the dark-grey walls because the colour sucked all the daylight out of the room. The tired laminate worktop was replaced with a good-quality granite, and we put in a Belfast sink.

Ripping up the uneven floor tiles and swapping them for real terracotta tiles made such a difference. Because the tiles are handmade, they weren’t uniform, so it was a tricky job to lay them flat and it took two days to complete. Next, I found a cream reconditioned AGA on eBay that we fitted in the hearth. The white uPVC doors stuck out like a sore thumb, so we had wooden French ones made. I love the way the wood complements our green units.

As the owner of a vintage shop, lots of my time is spent sourcing accessories from the Sixties and Seventies so I kept my eyes peeled for bits that would work in the kitchen. It took months to find these 1950s teak chandeliers, which were rewired so they could meet modern safety standards. I’ve collected Hornsby pottery for years, so Joe made shelves for me to display all my ceramics.

I’m so thankful that this is the first room we’ve completed in our home. First thing, I pour myself a cup of coffee that I enjoy in the morning light. It’s the perfect start to my day.

About me

I’m Sophia Barrese, 34, owner of Top Of The Town Vintage – topofthetownvin