The kitchen renovation wish list

In this day and age, it’s very strange to think that the dining room was once deemed the heart of the British home when these days we strongly associate this term with the kitchen. Its purpose is well beyond just cooking. In fact, kitchens have become a very popular and welcoming space in which to entertain, playing a big part in attracting potential buyers when it comes to selling your home. 

With Christmas now fast approaching, hosting friends and family is very much in season. Reason enough to look at the room of your home that deserves a renovation like no other. We’ve sieved through our project portfolio to offer you some design inspiration but you better watch out: this blog contains merry and bright renovation ideas that could well see you making a list, checking it twice and then dashing to get your kitchen spiced up in time for the next festive season in 2024.

CREATE A SENSE OF SPACIOUSNESS

Whilst not every home’s footprint can be increased, clever design can make it appear more spacious. When we built the extension for this semi-detached family home in Twickenham, we opted for a pitched roof to add maximum volume internally, natural light and a sense of openness within the space. 

Introducing a stunning rear feature window, sliding doors and four large Velux windows make the overall clean, contemporary feel of the open-plan kitchen/diner complete. Warmer weather spells call for opening up those sliding doors and letting the indoors merge with the outdoors – a wonderful way to increase the room size when you’re entertaining, especially in spring and summer seasons. 

RELOCATE THE KITCHEN

We often meet clients who are keen to change their homes to better suit their lifestyles. A prime example in older properties is the location of the kitchen. Back in the days, UK homes were designed very differently and you’d be likely to find a rather small, functional kitchen somewhat isolated from the rest of the home. 

Although it may sound too big a job, trust us, your kitchen can be moved. Pipes, walls, plumbing, even staircases – Cube have been there and created a feast of a transformation. One of our favourite project examples is this refurbishment and extension: we completely reconfigured the ground floor of this pretty terraced house in Kew and moved the staircase to a more convenient spot in order to accommodate the new kitchen. The result in short: our clients are now enjoying great space, additional rooms and a wonderful, bright kitchen and living area that leads out onto the garden. 

EXTEND TO ENHANCE

Although an extension may stretch your renovation budget, it’s an investment that can really pay off by adding that desired floor space to your kitchen and potentially increasing the value of your home. More room to play with architecturally also increases your design choices, making the transformation of your home even greater. 

The best way to extend period properties like this detached Victorian house is a wraparound extension. 

Our Kingston upon Thames client chose to retain more of their green garden space by going for a wraparound rather than a classic rear extension which created substantially more room. External wasted space has been built over allowing us to open up the kitchen area and connect it neatly with the garden. The extension created sufficient extra space to facilitate a utility and a cloak room too. And look, how wonderfully bright the kitchen/diner is since we introduced Velux windows to the side and rear as well as timber framed traditional French doors.

MIX OLD AND NEW

Given the UK has the oldest housing stock in Europe, we often consult with clients who are looking to modernise their home with an open-plan kitchen. It’s important to not just overwrite the history of your home but rather design and build to match its heritage. We retained the traditional feel of this open-plan kitchen, dining and living area in Hinchley Wood through clever use of natural wood flooring and by hand building and painting the entire bespoke kitchen. The new rear extension adds to the overall character of this beautiful home and this is what we call a proper heart of the home.

EXPLORE KITCHEN ISLANDS

We’d go as far as to say that kitchen islands are as much a ‘staple’ in the kitchen as that basic black jumper in the wardrobe. In other words: kitchen islands are here to stay and hence a great choice. They’re also a versatile and practical addition to any kitchen, helping to shape the general flow whilst providing extra workspace, storage, and a central hub for both cooking and entertaining. 

How far you push the boat out in terms of worktop and colour choices is up to you but kitchen islands can really zhuzh up what are often rather plain culinary spaces. Have a think about how you’ll operate on a daily basis within the space as it’ll help you decide on the positioning and actual size of your kitchen island. 

Our clients in Surbiton opted for a clean, modern look by sticking to classic colours and quartz worktops with a stunning marble effect. The rear extension offers ample space for bar-style seating so guests can socialise while the food is prepared, which is definitely something you should consider if space permits and you like to entertain.

LIGHT IT RIGHT

Preparing, cooking, entertaining, playing with the children or even WFH – our kitchens need to live up to any number of expectations, hence sufficient lighting is key. Here’s an extra bright refurbishment project from our portfolio: large Velux ceiling windows flood the kitchen with natural light, whereas the pretty mirrored hanging lights nicely come into play for task lighting and entertaining alike. A wonderful setting, no matter what time of the day courtesy of design inspired by maximising light.

DESIGNED, MANAGED AND BUILT BY CUBE

Cube is renowned for our end-to-end services covering all types of home extensions, refurbishments and loft conversions in the greater London area, Surrey and Berkshire. 

We’re here for you every step of the way, from designing your project and managing planning permission through to building your project and making sure everything is completed to your satisfaction. 

Read more about extension types or contact us to discuss how we can help you achieve your home makeover goals.