6 Brilliantly Reworked Kitchens Before and After
Discover how designers have brought light, connection and sociability into these seemingly unpromising spaces
If your kitchen is in need of a rethink, take inspiration from these transformations. From clever tricks that boost space to inventive designs that completely change the mood of a room, check out the before and after photos to see what a good designer can achieve.
Taking the ceiling up and adding the windows immediately improved both the quantity and quality of light. The extra height also helped to make the room feel bigger. “If you can’t extend out, this is the next best way to really increase the sense of space,” Olivia says.
In addition, reversing the colours of the previous design and having white worktops helped to reflect the extra light from above.
The Shaker-style cabinets on the exterior wall are neatly angled to fit the pitch of the new ceiling. On the right, however, Olivia fitted them to where the original ceiling sat. “They might have crowded out the space otherwise,” she says.
Instead, she saw an opportunity to create a spot for the owners’ beloved plants, adding a softening flourish to the elegant, clean-lined design.
See how Olivia refreshed the whole of this house.
Find a reviewed kitchen designer on Houzz today.
In addition, reversing the colours of the previous design and having white worktops helped to reflect the extra light from above.
The Shaker-style cabinets on the exterior wall are neatly angled to fit the pitch of the new ceiling. On the right, however, Olivia fitted them to where the original ceiling sat. “They might have crowded out the space otherwise,” she says.
Instead, she saw an opportunity to create a spot for the owners’ beloved plants, adding a softening flourish to the elegant, clean-lined design.
See how Olivia refreshed the whole of this house.
Find a reviewed kitchen designer on Houzz today.
2. The reducing visual clutter transformation
This renovation of a first floor flat shows what a difference integrated appliances can make, especially in a small space.
The kitchen looked cluttered because of the mishmash of cabinet and appliance doors. It was also not very streamlined, with wall cabinets and a chunky extractor fan intruding into the cooking space on the left. The dark cabinets and black worktop didn’t help, either.
Not surprisingly, the brief was to make this space – and the rest of the flat – feel as light and airy as possible. “We wanted to increase the feeling of size, even though we couldn’t increase the size per se,” designer Alex Dauley says.
This renovation of a first floor flat shows what a difference integrated appliances can make, especially in a small space.
The kitchen looked cluttered because of the mishmash of cabinet and appliance doors. It was also not very streamlined, with wall cabinets and a chunky extractor fan intruding into the cooking space on the left. The dark cabinets and black worktop didn’t help, either.
Not surprisingly, the brief was to make this space – and the rest of the flat – feel as light and airy as possible. “We wanted to increase the feeling of size, even though we couldn’t increase the size per se,” designer Alex Dauley says.
It’s hard to believe this is the same room, it’s so much calmer. Having cabinets made to measure meant the appliances could be hidden away, plus Alex could maximise the layout by removing the oppressive wall cabinets on the left and making more use of the alcoves opposite for storage.
Little details also make a difference to the streamlined feel: inset cabinet handles; an unobtrusive white induction hob, and a barely visible ceiling-mounted extractor.
The final element in the design was the new internal window, which has opened up sightlines through to the hallway, making the space feel much more airy.
Learn more about how Alex maximised space in this small flat.
Little details also make a difference to the streamlined feel: inset cabinet handles; an unobtrusive white induction hob, and a barely visible ceiling-mounted extractor.
The final element in the design was the new internal window, which has opened up sightlines through to the hallway, making the space feel much more airy.
Learn more about how Alex maximised space in this small flat.
3. The rustic farmhouse transformation
If you think you have to stick to a certain style in your kitchen, toggle between these before and after schemes. Despite the fact this house is in north-east London, the owners – one of whom is Italian – wanted their kitchen to have a rustic aesthetic.
Designer George Bradley of Bradley Van Der Straeten was on the same page in terms of style and used natural materials – oak, terrazzo and marble – to bring an authentic farmhouse feel to this urban space.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
If you think you have to stick to a certain style in your kitchen, toggle between these before and after schemes. Despite the fact this house is in north-east London, the owners – one of whom is Italian – wanted their kitchen to have a rustic aesthetic.
Designer George Bradley of Bradley Van Der Straeten was on the same page in terms of style and used natural materials – oak, terrazzo and marble – to bring an authentic farmhouse feel to this urban space.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
The mood is now completely different. Extending into the side return on the right created space for the key features of the new design – a traditional pantry and an elegant oak island.
The pantry was made bespoke by a joiner. “It’s really simple,” George says. “The curtain is a classic English pantry thing and the grooved panelling adds texture.” LED lighting makes it practical after dark.
The island sits lightly on slim legs and has a marble top and drawers with reeded glass fronts. It sits parallel to the garden (behind the camera in this shot), so anyone working there has a lovely view.
Other details quietly add to the farmhouse aesthetic, including the ceramic sink, utensil rails, and solid wood cabinet doors. “The fronts are vertical timber planks held together with horizontal planks,” George says. “It’s a real craft.”
Tour the whole of this house.
The pantry was made bespoke by a joiner. “It’s really simple,” George says. “The curtain is a classic English pantry thing and the grooved panelling adds texture.” LED lighting makes it practical after dark.
The island sits lightly on slim legs and has a marble top and drawers with reeded glass fronts. It sits parallel to the garden (behind the camera in this shot), so anyone working there has a lovely view.
Other details quietly add to the farmhouse aesthetic, including the ceramic sink, utensil rails, and solid wood cabinet doors. “The fronts are vertical timber planks held together with horizontal planks,” George says. “It’s a real craft.”
Tour the whole of this house.
4. The inside-outside transformation
Many of us want to connect our house and garden and bring in more light, and these homeowners were no exception. The design of their old kitchen was very much not making the most of the leafy view.
They found likeminded Tom Manwell of Wellstudio Architecture on Houzz and asked him to boost the light and ventilation, connect the space to greenery, and create a sociable layout the whole family could enjoy.
Many of us want to connect our house and garden and bring in more light, and these homeowners were no exception. The design of their old kitchen was very much not making the most of the leafy view.
They found likeminded Tom Manwell of Wellstudio Architecture on Houzz and asked him to boost the light and ventilation, connect the space to greenery, and create a sociable layout the whole family could enjoy.
Tom extended into the side return and roughly 1.5m at the back, and the difference in light and connection is clear to see. As well as the glazed bifold doors, there’s a large fixed window giving diners a view of the garden, while rooflights spread daylight and sky views right through the space.
With a bigger room, Tom was able to incorporate an island to help create the sociability the owners desired. “It means people can cook or prep food while facing others at the dining table and have a conversation – an opportunity for family togetherness as well as creating a more functional kitchen,” he says.
Learn more about how Tom brought light and a nature connection into this extension.
With a bigger room, Tom was able to incorporate an island to help create the sociability the owners desired. “It means people can cook or prep food while facing others at the dining table and have a conversation – an opportunity for family togetherness as well as creating a more functional kitchen,” he says.
Learn more about how Tom brought light and a nature connection into this extension.
5. The no more bling transformation
This galley kitchen in a fourth-floor Victorian flat had quite the statement ceiling. “The previous owners had renovated it in the 1980s and it hadn’t been touched since,” says designer Josephine Lecoufle-Vinet of JLV Design, who updated the space.
This galley kitchen in a fourth-floor Victorian flat had quite the statement ceiling. “The previous owners had renovated it in the 1980s and it hadn’t been touched since,” says designer Josephine Lecoufle-Vinet of JLV Design, who updated the space.
The owners wanted a look that was still modern but much warmer. They chose classic Shaker-style cabinets in a cornflower shade, with marble tiles for the splashback and a quartz worktop. Ceramic wood-effect floor tiles add to the warmth.
Josephine retained the original dining spot to the right of these units, simply changing the table. She then turned a small room beyond that into a pantry with plenty of shelving, plus a pocket door that can hide it away from diners if necessary, creating a warm and welcoming space that’s perfect for entertaining.
Take a look at before and after photos of the whole of this revamped flat.
More: How to Start a Kitchen Renovation
Josephine retained the original dining spot to the right of these units, simply changing the table. She then turned a small room beyond that into a pantry with plenty of shelving, plus a pocket door that can hide it away from diners if necessary, creating a warm and welcoming space that’s perfect for entertaining.
Take a look at before and after photos of the whole of this revamped flat.
More: How to Start a Kitchen Renovation
6. The elegant glazing transformation
The redesign of this kitchen-diner in a Victorian house is a masterclass in mixing modern and traditional. The ground floor was bitty, with this dining room at the rear and a kitchen in the darker middle space.
The owners asked architect Corrie Jones to open things up, bring in more light and connect the inside and outside. “They wanted to pull it all together and expand the space out to the side. They didn’t want it all ultra-modern, though – they wanted to keep some of the old charm,” he says.
The redesign of this kitchen-diner in a Victorian house is a masterclass in mixing modern and traditional. The ground floor was bitty, with this dining room at the rear and a kitchen in the darker middle space.
The owners asked architect Corrie Jones to open things up, bring in more light and connect the inside and outside. “They wanted to pull it all together and expand the space out to the side. They didn’t want it all ultra-modern, though – they wanted to keep some of the old charm,” he says.
Soft pink units with Shaker-style doors and brass handles, along with wood herringbone flooring, retain the traditional feel of the space. “[The owner] wanted a genteel and traditional English feel, not anything super-strong or bold,” Corrie says.
But the standout feature, which actually helps to highlight the classic details, is the modern slice of glazing wrapping around the side-return extension. It creates a feeling that the kitchen is almost outdoors.
“[The room] looks onto the garden, which has nobody overlooking it, and there are mature trees, too. We wanted to make the most of that,” Corrie says.
The glazing protrudes at the back, creating space for a window seat (now furnished with made-to-measure cushions), meaning the family can enjoy the garden come rain or shine.
Discover more about how Corrie designed this kitchen-diner.
Tell us…
Which of these schemes have you found most inspiring? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
But the standout feature, which actually helps to highlight the classic details, is the modern slice of glazing wrapping around the side-return extension. It creates a feeling that the kitchen is almost outdoors.
“[The room] looks onto the garden, which has nobody overlooking it, and there are mature trees, too. We wanted to make the most of that,” Corrie says.
The glazing protrudes at the back, creating space for a window seat (now furnished with made-to-measure cushions), meaning the family can enjoy the garden come rain or shine.
Discover more about how Corrie designed this kitchen-diner.
Tell us…
Which of these schemes have you found most inspiring? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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The couple who own this Victorian terrace wanted more light throughout the house, and the kitchen was no exception. As it’s located in a single-storey outrigger, designer Olivia Boardman of My Bespoke Room suggested removing the ceiling and fitting rooflights.