Kitchens – How to upgrade on a budget.

March 17, 2016

Deciding to install a new kitchen is always a big investment, and although I love the opportunity to start from scratch there is no reason why with a little creativity you can’t either upgrade existing or go for one of the less expensive suppliers.  As with some careful ‘hacking’ you can create something unique.

The current trend for open shelving means that removing over counter cabinets brings down the cost of a new kitchen. By taking away oppressive wall cabinets you can create a much lighter more modern look. Yes you do need to be tidier and the crockery has to match, but the overall effect is modern and refreshing.

I like to mix up finishes and styles, such as using rough natural looking wood shelves against a more sleek matt cabinet finish. The kitchens above are part of an overall design scheme I created for a  new build project of 6 industrial style flats in EC1.

Other options include spray painting existing cabinets in a lighter more contemporary shade or adding a bespoke island, this will  have an immediate upgrade effect. Another tip is to change cabinet and draw pulls.

This year we are seeing a huge revival of gold and copper accents. I’m using these finishes in all my up coming projects for 2016.

Alex Evans

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