Sustainable renovator Kate was having trouble finding a quality kitchen small enough for her quaint 1930’s bungalow reno. When a designer kitchen island with appliances popped up on our website, she had the inspired idea to separate it into a small kitchen!
We caught up with Kate to hear more about how she did it:
What gave you the idea to use a kitchen island? “I was looking for Plain English cupboards because I had spotted them on a website and loved them, but I didn’t need that many cupboards. Then I saw a Plain English island at www.uke.co.uk. I counted and there were 8 cabinets that made it up – then I realised that the island could become a kitchen!”
Kate paid just £1,850 for designer kitchen cabinets complete with a Siemens fridge, sink, tap, and waste disposal.
Did you use all of the kitchens? “Yes! I had some leftovers – I put one in the bathroom and made it into a bathroom cabinet, and I put one in the shed. We used the same worktop and cut it down the middle. It’s modern and completely non-porous, really good quality granite. I would have paid more for the granite for the entire kitchen!”
A bathroom cabinet made from a leftover unit.
How did you plan the layout? “Just a pen and paper, but I’ve never designed a kitchen before so I took my time. If you buy more than you need a good joiner can help you work out how to use the parts.”
Did your joiner have any feedback? “I actually bought the island without speaking to the joiner first. When I did show him he said ‘‘you’ve saved yourself a fortune, this is a really good buy.” ‘
We can see you repainted – what is the new shade? “My decorator painted the units – we chose Farrow Ball shade ‘Wimborne White’. We had the colour matched.”
Is anything else in the kitchen pre-owned? “Yes, nothing I bought was new. I got the cooker second hand and I bought a new Smeg fridge off eBay for half price.”
How do you feel now it’s finished? “I love it! My family and friends ask why I always buy second-hand. In my mind, this kitchen would have cost whoever bought it a fortune – and there wasn’t a mark on it.”
Kate’s kitchen is made up of entirely pre-owned items
We love Kate’s small designer kitchen on a budget – it’s got a freestanding retro feel that compliments her bungalow perfectly. She’s also demonstrated just how versatile and flexible quality kitchen cabinetry can be.
Inspired by Kate’s story? Shop ex-display kitchens and approved used kitchens at www.uke.co.uk and find out what you could save. If you’re in need of kitchen inspiration, why not head over to our Instagram, or read more inspiring customer stories here.
