5 Brilliant Before and After Kitchen Transformations
Are you planning to renovate your kitchen? Take a look at these five clever spaces for inspiration
Amanda Pollard
8 May 2019
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
When it comes to designing a new kitchen, it can be hard to see past the challenges of your existing space. But someone with a creative eye, such as an architect, interior designer or kitchen renovator, can help you find ways to transform the space. Check out the before and after images of these five projects to find ideas for your own kitchen.
1. Before: The minimal transformation
The back of this terrace house previously featured a rundown lean-to conservatory with a very limited connection to the garden.
The back of this terrace house previously featured a rundown lean-to conservatory with a very limited connection to the garden.
Lizzie Ruinard of neighbourhood studio, an architectural practice in London, was called in to turn the old building into a fresh, minimalist space. She replaced the conservatory with an extension that had the same footprint as the original lean-to and kitchen space, which made for a smoother approvals process.
After: The main materials in the new space are brick, concrete and oak, which could all be kept quite natural and untreated.
The room is now light and spacious, with a glazed view out to the garden.
Browse more contemporary, crisp white kitchens
The room is now light and spacious, with a glazed view out to the garden.
Browse more contemporary, crisp white kitchens
2. Before: The industrial transformation
When the owners of this kitchen first moved in, the space was dark, damp and divided. A half-wall with a window above it separated the kitchen and dining room.
When the owners of this kitchen first moved in, the space was dark, damp and divided. A half-wall with a window above it separated the kitchen and dining room.
To revamp the space, the couple who owned the home needed to rip it all out and start again. This meant they had to make do for a while with an old workbench and a Belfast sink they’d found in the garden. A bucket was positioned underneath the sink to catch the water.
After: The couple hired a kitchen company to design bespoke cabinetry. The solid timber black kitchen cabinets now line the walls of the new space, while metal pipes work as conduits to run the electricity cables around the room.
The kitchen and dining spaces are zoned with different flooring – the kitchen features concrete-effect tiles and the dining area has reclaimed solid maple boards.
Browse more industrial-inspired kitchens
The kitchen and dining spaces are zoned with different flooring – the kitchen features concrete-effect tiles and the dining area has reclaimed solid maple boards.
Browse more industrial-inspired kitchens
3. Before: The uncluttered transformation
A few simple structural changes made a huge difference to this cluttered space. In the original room, the breakfast bar divided the kitchen from the dining area, and the kitchen units could only run as far as the hallway door.
Jessica Preston of a UK-based interior design firm, colour + shape, moved the hallway door along slightly and removed the breakfast bar.
A few simple structural changes made a huge difference to this cluttered space. In the original room, the breakfast bar divided the kitchen from the dining area, and the kitchen units could only run as far as the hallway door.
Jessica Preston of a UK-based interior design firm, colour + shape, moved the hallway door along slightly and removed the breakfast bar.
After: The new design allowed for a longer run of base units and opened up the space.
Preston chose a soft green scheme, slab-fronted cabinets and a minimal layout to create a kitchen that feels calm and streamlined.
Trend Alert: Softer Colour Palettes on Kitchen Cabinets
Preston chose a soft green scheme, slab-fronted cabinets and a minimal layout to create a kitchen that feels calm and streamlined.
Trend Alert: Softer Colour Palettes on Kitchen Cabinets
4. Before: The coastal transformation
There wasn’t much in the way of storage or bench space in this original kitchen – in fact, there wasn’t much of anything at all.
UK-based interior designer Tanya Leech enlarged the windows to bring light into the space and maximise the views, and fitted a stylish, two-tone kitchen.
There wasn’t much in the way of storage or bench space in this original kitchen – in fact, there wasn’t much of anything at all.
UK-based interior designer Tanya Leech enlarged the windows to bring light into the space and maximise the views, and fitted a stylish, two-tone kitchen.
After: Leech smoothed the rough walls with insulation and plasterboard. This made the windowsills quite deep, so she added comfortably upholstered seat cushions to transform them into window seats.
The space is now well-equipped, stylish and full of character.
The space is now well-equipped, stylish and full of character.
5. Before: The glazing transformation
It’s not often that designers close up a window in a renovation, but that’s just what Hannah Morris of UK-based Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design did in this kitchen.
The window looked straight onto next door’s side wall, so although it let in a little extra light, the view was less than lovely.
It’s not often that designers close up a window in a renovation, but that’s just what Hannah Morris of UK-based Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design did in this kitchen.
The window looked straight onto next door’s side wall, so although it let in a little extra light, the view was less than lovely.
After: By blocking the window, Morris was able to create a more useable space – and the white surface is significantly more attractive than the neighbour’s brick exterior.
Tell us
Which of these five kitchen transformations is your favourite? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like and bookmark this story, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to get your kitchen looking less like these ‘before’ images and more like the ‘afters’? Find a specialised kitchen designer and renovator near you here
Tell us
Which of these five kitchen transformations is your favourite? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like and bookmark this story, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to get your kitchen looking less like these ‘before’ images and more like the ‘afters’? Find a specialised kitchen designer and renovator near you here
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I would also go and say that transformation #1 was by far the most impressing one but nevertheless, the last one (coastal transformation) was my favourite. The way the smoothed the walls and how they used the navy blue in that discrete way is just top class.
We agree #1 is a fantastic transformation.
I love the kitchen, but feel the comments regarding ugly wall are not valid.Surely it could have been a beautiful view with planting? longer narrow window, light, view, and shelves straight across....