'We gave our glossy kitchen a Shanker update'
Claire Champion injected character into her plain, gloss kitchen using pre-cut MDF panels and a lick of paint for a classy, timeless look
Feature & styling Lisa Moses Photos Katie Jane Watson
When Claire moved in to her partner John’s home, which he previously bought from his mum, the couple decided to give the house a refresh, starting with the kitchen. ‘We wanted a more sociable space to entertain in, but the kitchen and dining area were originally two separate rooms,’ Claire explains. ‘I knew an open-plan space would suit our lifestyle better, so we decided to start from scratch, knock the two spaces into one, and install a new kitchen.’ However, after having a contemporary kitchen fitted in the new open-plan space, Claire realised she wanted something with more character, so set about injecting classic style into the existing scheme.
THE PROJECT
When Claire and John installed the new kitchen, they saved money by keeping it in the same place, as moving the utilities would’ve added to the cost. ‘We initially chose a glossy, handleless design, with blue subway tiles and a black worktop,’ says Claire. However, the couple fairly swiftly realised they’d made a mistake. ‘The high-gloss units were impractical, as fingerprints were left behind every time we touched them. Also, the scheme felt really cold and characterless,’ admits Claire, adding, ‘I think our initial choice was a reaction to the original dark brown units.’
As a solution, the couple had the worktops updated with a white composite veneer as a quick fix. ‘The covering is built off-site and then installed to fit perfectly, so we didn’t even need to empty our cupboards,’ says Claire, ‘but we were still unhappy with the look, so began conversations about how to transform it into something we could love.’
Meanwhile, Claire started decorating in the dining area, straight after the spaces were knocked through. ‘I attached panelling, as the long expanse created in the dining area needed some interest, and I also wallpapered areas of the room to inject some pattern and colour,’ says Claire.
WHAT WE DID
After living with the kitchen for three years, Claire decided that she would prefer a Shaker-style look, ‘but ripping out the units felt wrong, both
