The DREAM kitchen renovation & how to renovate yours!
I'm bursting with excitement to share a couple of sneak peeks from my client Anna's surrey renovation today.
This was one of the most rewarding projects I've worked on. It taught me so much about how to create a high-end look affordably...
...and I have lots to share if you're looking to renovate your home in a similar quality to Anna's.
Stick the kettle on, it's a juicy one ☕️😅
Anna’s 1950s Surrey Renovation
Our surrey renovation – project birch
BEFORE
After 🎉
Anna's build started in 2021 and finished last year.
It was a mammoth project undergoing a complete facelift to the rear, with a double-storey extension and internal remodel.
Anna first started working with us via our online course and community where we taught her ways to manage the project, her budget and the mistakes to avoid...
Everything ran super smoothly apart from the usual issues that hampered the renovations that started around 'that time' ! 😷
The days we had to have client meetings outside!
I remember when we first met in person at Anna’s property in Surrey before the renovation started. Anna had printed out the entire renovation course, all the checklists and PDFs, showing me the folder that she kept all of her notes and plans within.
Her dedication to successfully completing this project was a match with my excitement for it and she appointed me to work 1:1 on the interior design and layout of her ground floor and master suite upstairs.
surrey renovation - the exterior facelift was next level!
On a personal level, it was one of the most thrilling designs I've worked on – for many reasons – but a big one was because the kitchen was completely bespoke.
A bespoke kitchen meant every design possibility was on the table.
It meant I could listen to Anna's and her family's needs and dream up solutions on another level. Without feeling burdened by off-the-shelf solutions that can lead to design compromises.
Bespoke kitchens offer another level of function and quality. They allow me to optimise every corner of the space, getting the colours exactly right, and much more.
I've designed high-street kitchens too (DIY Kitchens & Howdens) and they're great but there are always limitations.
On Anna's project though, the unit designs, the cabinet colours, the tiles, the lighting and finishes – we designed it all from scratch and it was freeing...
I know what you're thinking though, "surely it must have cost a fortune" 🤯
Bespoke kitchens are more expensive than high-street suppliers, but not prohibitively so...
...I've had clients since, who have been pleasantly surprised by the price of a bespoke kitchen by a reputable local joiner vs a howdens kitchen. The projects we work on usually start from £25,000 to design, build and finish (if you're interested in working with us there's more info on how to do this below).
Balancing price, affordability & quality
As Anna, Dan and the kids were renting whilst the work was happening, it was crucial that the renovation was completed on time and within budget.
Anna used our online course to manage the budget and timeline, expertly – meanwhile, I poured my heart and soul into the designs and layout plans to make sure their budget was spread well across the property.
We had multiple rooms to design, but the heart of the home – the kitchen – was the area Anna was particularly keen to get right and where we focused the largest portion of the budget.
We leaned on cost-effective suppliers like Dunelm, Cox & Cox and Ca'Pietra to strike a balance between affordable vs high end.
The result was a calm, functional and timeless family space they will enjoy for a lifetime.
How can your renovation level-up your life?
Since working with Anna on her project, Neil and I have enhanced our online courses to show renovators how to easily and quickly produce cohesive design plans (following virtually the same design process I use for clients).
In the course, I encourage students to think about how their home design can positively impact their daily life. To dream big, and ask yourself;
What if your home could be your dream place? What would it look like?
What if you loved everything inside it?
What if walking around your home filled you with pride and happiness instead of glumness? What difference would that bring to your mood and life?
What if every room was designed well and had purpose?
I ask students these questions because I know the positive snowball effect having a calm, organised, inspiring environment has on your wellbeing.
When Neil and I went to visit Anna and saw her home beautifully finished, we got talking about this, and the impact having a home you love has on your life (we've felt it too).
Anna's new home has enhanced her life in many ways:
She hosts family comfortably, entertains and creates life-long memories
The views from her kitchen sink when she's washing up offers far reaching views of trees, her kids playing on the lawn, and her beautiful garden
Storage is next level. The kids can easily find snacks and bespoke bookshelves have allowed her husband to take pride in organising his collection of books
They can sit as a family around the island or dining table, starting the day feeling connected and inspired before the busy day starts
I imagine Anna has days where things don't go to plan, as we all do. But shaping her environment to suit her and her family's needs, having beautifully designed and organised spaces, brings an element of calm and resilience.
She's not just levelled up her home, she's levelled up her life.
There are so many stories and other areas of this project I can't wait to show you, but if you got this far, thank you for reading and being here.
If you're feeling like you'd like support to create your dream home, I would love to help you.
We're opening enrolments for our online renovation course soon
Plus, I have a limited number of bespoke kitchen design slots becoming available soon if this is the avenue you're taking with your build
I hope you've enjoyed this post and I’m wishing you all the best for your project ahead.
Rooting for you,
Fi xoxo
