Rustic Kitchen Makeover

Before: The original kitchen was of a good size, but there was no real room for dining and it was incredibly dated and (dare we say it) ugly. An extension was added to the house to create a dining space and the old kitchen, needless to say, found a new home on a skip.

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Before

After

Large dining table and chairs in a rustic kitchen makeover

After: Looking from the old kitchen into the new extension, a roof light has been added at the divide between the old and new building to throw lots of light into the kitchen end of the room. But what else makes this relaxed scheme successful?

Do Without Wall Units

This is a busy family kitchen belonging to a keen gardener and cook, so much of what's needed is out on display, and to hand. However, the lack of high wall units helps keep a fairly cluttered room looking relaxed, informal and welcoming.

Swap Formal For Finds

The formal kitchen units in this room are minimal and are instead replaced by antique market finds, such as this old sideboard on which a pair of antique scales are displayed. The oak table is newer but fits in with the older pieces perfectly and picks up the wood of the window frames, too.

The long console buffet unit houses everything from paperwork to cutlery, pans, pictures and floral arrangements. Windows high up in the wall throw extra light into this already bright space.

Choose Open Storage

Here's a lesson in how to do open storage - keep all your kitchen implements to hand above the cooker, stack plates and glasses on open shelves and line up bowls and jugs of spices, herbs and sauces on the work surface. The result? A busy looking room that’s a cook’s dream. For more kitchen storage ideas, see our ideas gallery.

To see more kitchens like this, go to our contemporary kitchens gallery.

Pictures: David Giles
Styling: Andrea Dean