ONE ROOM RENOVATIONS
An extension and redesign have resulted in a great enter taining space
Hannah Lewis, a designer and owner of Overbrook Kitchens, lives with her husband George and their Labrador Luna in a 1930s semi-detached home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Before
‘It was a smaller, awkward L-shaped kitchen that felt dark, cramped and lacked style. Like much of the rest of the house, it was dated when we moved in, but we saw its potential’
Did you have a clear plan?
We wanted a super-stylish space that would also stand the test of time. So we chose classic Shaker cabinetry, an elegant marble-style quartz worktop and used a neutral, calming colour palette throughout. The skylight introduces a modern industrial twist while ensuring the dining area has lots of natural light.
How did you begin the transformation?
Having already got planning permission to extend, we knew that the extra space would enable us to create a larger open-plan kitchen. We really took time to work out the layout, allowing ideas to evolve organically. I designed it and enlisted the help of builders and my wonderful fitter Dean Sheppard and the team at Overbrook Kitchens to install it. Once it was completed, I spent weekends and evenings decorating the room myself.
Was it a challenging process?
As a designer I’m used to helping my clients with their spaces, but I found it so much harder being on the other side. There are hundreds of decisions to make, and you really want to ensure you get everything right, down to the tiniest details. I’ve had a few sleepless nights but I’m grateful to have a new understanding of what it’s like to design your home – and a new empathy for my clients!
What we
