'It's modern yet STILL CHARMING'

Beth used her own creative skills to modernise her cottage kitchen while retaining its character - all at a fraction of the price

-  ZOE BISHOP

As soon as I walked into this cottage I fell in love,' says Beth. 'It was cute and quaint, and while it had some modern touches it A still had wooden ceiling beams and lots of character, which was the big appeal. While the rest of the house had been modernised, the kitchen looked dated. The bulky appliances were all white and stuck out like a sore thumb, and the worktops and sink didn't scream "cottage".

I didn't have the budget to replace the kitchen units, but I love a challenge so I did a few rough drawings and came up with a plan that would involve upcycling the doors with wood, replacing the appliances and worktop, and adding some extra character..

Making it work

As soon as I moved in, I arranged to have the overhead extractor removed and the washing machine relocated to the outhouse, which I had already started to use as a laundry room. With the plumber on site, he was able to juggle a few of the pipes, which meant I could also install a narrow dishwasher, and added piping in for a new radiator. He also made safe the boiler and fitted a cupboard door in front, which would allow easy access should I need it. The electrician was also able to sort out new plug points and confirm that everything was safe to use.