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BEFORE: When we bought The Pink House, the kitchen looked like this (before we knocked through to the living room)

BEFORE: When we bought The Pink House, the kitchen looked like this (before we knocked through to the living room)

The Pink House Kitchen Makeover part 2 - The Big Reveal!

August 9, 2016

FINAL 'AFTER' PHOTOS REVEALED AT THE END OF THE POST!

If you've read about The Pink House's current kitchen, you'll know it's one of the rooms we haven't really changed that much since buying our house more than five years ago. Kitchen renovations are rather daunting - ripping the old one out and replacing it is bound to cost mega bucks, as well as being a massive disruption to family life. I for one had no desire to be microwaving my tea in the hallway, feeding the kids cold baked beans in their bedrooms or mustering up a Pot Noodle in the play room, much as I love a Chicken & Mushroom.

So we did the minimum: tore up the black floor tiles to reveal the original wooden floorboards, painted the walls, changed the lighting and added a Smeg fridge. But the bulk of the kitchen - the granite work surface, the cupboards, the range cooker (which I didn't even know how to turn on until nearly four years of living here) - we left untouched. 

BEFORE Part 2: The kitchen after the first renovation - still with laminate cabinets and uninspiring handles/Photo: Susie Lowe

BEFORE Part 2: The kitchen after the first renovation - still with laminate cabinets and uninspiring handles/Photo: Susie Lowe

But the fact remained: our kitchen was just a bit too...kitcheny. As the room is now open-plan to the living room, the slightly grubby laminate cupboards (they look nice and white in Susie's shiny photo above, but don't be fooled) weren't really doing it for me. And although I appreciated the Pink House Husband swapping the existing unpleasant handles for others that were unpleasant in a different way, it didn't quite solve the problem. 

So what to do? How to bring the kitchen up to standard, without months of domestic hell and spending a fortune? The answer came - as answers so often do - in the shape of Mick Hucknall, AKA my amazing painter and decorator Paul Sutherland, who, with his mop of strawberry blond hair, is a dead ringer for the Simply Red singer. So much so that he even gets pestered for Simply Red selfies on occasion. 

It's not just his looks that make Paul more than your average tradesman; it's his attitude. Paul doesn't say that something unconventional can't be done just because a) it's a bit tricky, or b) he hasn't done it before and can't be bothered to work it out. Nope, Paul is a perfectionist and always up for a challenge, making him the perfect person to come to The Pink House's aid.

Of course, I had an idea of how I wanted the kitchen to look (i.e. I obsessed about it hourly for about six months), and showed Paul the Pinterest inspo pics below.

Pinterest inspo pic 1 - dark cabinets, brass handles/Photo: Jennifer Hughes, Design:  Elizabeth Lawson

Pinterest inspo pic 1 - dark cabinets, brass handles/Photo: Jennifer Hughes, Design: Elizabeth Lawson

Pinterest inspo pic 2 - dark cabinets, brass handles, light wall cupboards/Photo: Jennifer Hughes, Design:   Elizabeth Lawson

Pinterest inspo pic 2 - dark cabinets, brass handles, light wall cupboards/Photo: Jennifer Hughes, Design: Elizabeth Lawson

Pinterest inspo pic 3: black work surface, black cupboards, brass handles/Design:  Plain English

Pinterest inspo pic 3: black work surface, black cupboards, brass handles/Design: Plain English

Essentially, I wanted the bottom cabinets to be dark, and the wall-mounted cupboards to be paler, so they didn't feel so heavy. I was keen to keep the black granite work surface, and I wanted the whole effect to be that of a bespoke kitchen which had been pieced together, instead of bought as a job-lot from IKEA. I also wanted it to feel less clinical and more living room-y. And I needed some gold bling. 

I also knew exactly what handles I was after, having drooled over the heavy metal hardware in Buster + Punch's rock-chic London showroom. The idea was for the handles to all be brass, and all from B+P, but slightly different in design, depending on where they were used. I wanted the T-Bar handles on the lower cabinets, fitted vertically; the Furniture Knobs on the upper cabinets; and the T-Bar/Plate on the drawers, fitted horizontally. We already have a Buster + Punch Hooked pendant lamp over the kitchen table, so I knew the hardware would go nicely.

Buster + Punch T-Bar brass handles in the new Pink House kitchen/Photo: Susie Lowe

Buster + Punch T-Bar brass handles in the new Pink House kitchen/Photo: Susie Lowe

I also knew which colours I was after - Farrow & Ball White Tie on the wall cabinets (to match the woodwork throughout the open-plan kitchen), and Railings on the lower cabinets and drawers. I wanted a matt finish; our front door is Railings and I love the soft, greyish-black chalky effect, and the way the dark shade helps bright colours sing out.

"No problem," said Paul. "Here's what I'm going to do..." See below for Paul's 5-Step plan, in case you fancy trying something similar with your kitchen...

Painter Paul's 5-Step Plan for Painting Laminate Cupboards

1) "Remove existing handles and fill the holes"

2) "Clean the cupboard doors with soap and water, then give them a good rub with meths so they're really sparkling"

3) "Sand the doors very lightly with sandpaper"

4) "Next I use a special 'grip primer' that sticks to any surface with minimal prep work. I like this primer from Valtti, which I get made up to match the colour of the top coat as closely as possible"

5) "At this stage I could apply two coats of Farrow & Ball Railings estate eggshell. However, I reckon it'll be more kid-proof if I use this Valtti topcoat - Helmi Decorative Paint - in a similar grey-black, in a semi-matt finish. You can use this paint on a wide range of interior surfaces, either in gloss or semi-matt, and it's hard wearing and easily cleaned"

And that's it! After three days of Paul's prepping, priming and painting, and our joiner spending a couple of hours fitting the handles, our kitchen was transformed - and looked amazing. It was exactly how I'd imagined, but much cheaper and quicker than ripping out the existing kitchen and starting again. Oh, and if you fancy getting Edinburgh-based Paul to help with your home renovation (he's a dab hand at wallpaper too), you can reach him on subbo42@gmail.com. 

So do you want to see what The Pink House kitchen looks like now? Do you? Oh go on then! Here, finally, are the 'After' photos the fabulous Susie Lowe took of the finished room:

The Pink House kitchen makeover after photo
The Pink House kitchen makeover after photo
The Pink House kitchen makeover after photo
The Pink House kitchen makeover gallery wall
The Pink House kitchen with Roberts radio and Cole & Son's Woods wallpaper
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In Inside The Pink House, Expert Advice, Kitchens Tags Kitchen, Before and after, Renovation, Budget, How to
← The Pink House Hotel Style AwardsCupcakes are for girls - right? →
Amara Interior Blog Awards IBA16 Best Newcomer winner The Pink House
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"Fabulous family living!"

Emily Murray founder of The Pink House Living

"Hello! I’m Emily Murray, founder and editor of The Pink House. I’m a lifestyle journalist who has written and edited for loads of different publications, including Stylist, The Guardian, Grazia, Cosmopolitan, Conde Nast Traveller, Brides, and Mother & Baby. Here I am in the bricks-and-mortar Pink House in South East London, where I live with the Pink House Husband (PHH) and our two small, semi-feral boys. Our fabulous Christopher Farr sofa is covered in marker pen and chocolate, and the Eames rocker has a few suspicious stains. Come in and make yourself at home. No need to take your shoes off." 

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Bringing your first book home to show your parents is a bit like introducing them to your new boyfriend:
šŸ˜…Will they like it/him? šŸ˜…Are they just being polite? šŸ˜…Does it/he look comfortable in its/his new surroundings? šŸ˜…Will it/he stand up to scrutiny?
šŸ˜…What are the chances of them flicking through it/him when you’re not looking...😳
Luckily, the first meeting of Pink House Living (the book) with the Pink House Grandparents has been a success so far. Not only did the book make itself at home on the pinkest thing in the house (this chaise in the garden room), but my dad was heard to make a number of enthusiastic-sounding noises before opining: ā€œThis one’s a keeper*ā€ šŸ’–
*He didn’t exactly say this, but I thought it would be a fitting conclusion to the book/boyfriend analogy. 
OVER ON STORIES: A mini tour of my rug-mad mother’s super-stylish Edinburgh home, plus her verdict on her aesthetic vs mine šŸ˜’. #meettheparents #sorryabouttheswearing #lookatthespineonthat #sexybook
A few days ago the Pink House Husband and I agreed we’d postpone Valentine’s Day until next Thursday šŸ’šŸš«. As well as the fact that this tedious lurgy should have buggered off by then, it makes lots of sense from a restaurant-finding, bouquet-pricing, babysitter-booking perspective to make February 21st our own personal V-Day. I’m thinking I might apply the same principle to Christmas - just add a couple of weeks and your present budget will stretch a LOT further šŸŽšŸ’Æ. Anyhow, this week is exciting enough without a posh dinner and some pink (never red) roses...because this week my kitchen was included in interior gurus @apartmenttherapy ā€˜s feature entitled These Are Our Favorite Kitchens Ever 😊. I’ve added the link in my bio if you want to check it out. This kitchen here, which belongs to @kipandco founder Alex McCabe, was also featured. Actually, sod PHH; I think Alex’s kitchen can be my Valentine - pink, gold and gorgeous: what more could you want from a life partner?🄰.
šŸ“·: @nikoleramsay #cheatingonPHHwithfurniture
Gutted. Tonight I was supposed to be heading to a glorious Galentine’s evening at the gorgeous @whitecityhouse with top gal pal @katefaithfullwilliams to listen to @bowelbabe talk about dildos with @cherryhealey as part of a @thehotbedcollective live podcast recording šŸ†. Perfect night, right? Except I’ve got girl flu which means that instead I’ve got a date with my sofa and some Vicks Vaporub 😳. To cheer me up, Emma from my fave florist @hayfordandrhodesflowers showed up with this stunner of a love-wreath for my front door (#gift). It’s for all of you, too - my little Galentine’s gift to anyone in need of a bit of love šŸ’—. Swipe for wreath close-up šŸ˜. Right: better get into the Lemsip before my chat runs out...šŸ¤’
It’s like @houseofhackney read my mind sometimes šŸ‘©šŸ»ā€šŸŽ¤šŸ’­. There I am, trying to find a cool, jungle-with-a-twist wallpaper for my 9yo son’s bedroom when WHAM! the kings of maximalism serve up these rolls of dino-design deliciousness šŸ¦•šŸ¦– - swipe for the Ecru colourway. Obviously I prefer the pink but I don’t think the progeny is going to go for it šŸ™„. Hell, I might just paper the walls of the kitchen with it instead! PHH is going to be absolutely THRILLED! šŸ˜ƒšŸ’–šŸ˜ƒ
#pinkisforpeople
[AD] What an INCREDIBLE holiday. The main aim of this, our first ever family skiing trip, was to introduce the kids to a sport me and PHH both love with a passion, and show them how much fun it could be. Mission accomplished ā›· šŸ˜. And that’s thanks to: excellent ski instructors (St Gervais ski school šŸ™ŒšŸ»); wonderful weather (loads of snow, blue skies nearly every day); and, of course, @chalet_mirabelle, which has taken what is a potentially fraught situation (first time away skiing with two young kids) and turned it into a truly magical experience for every single one of us. Yes, this is an AD, but don’t for one second think I wouldn’t have written exactly the same thing had we been paying full price. And yes, I fully intend to book the chalet for next year, no AD required. 
p.s. That is a cup of tea I’m holding #rocknroll 
OVER ON STORIES: PHH jumping out of the hot tub into piles of snow. There are other Stories but they pale in comparison. šŸ’–
#familyskitrip #stgervais #montblanc #hottub #thepinkhouse
[AD - #guest] This seriously stylish ski lodge comes with a serious story...As a result of @chalet_mirabelle owner/designer Jacqueline’s cancer diagnosis at the start of the chalet’s build (she has thankfully now been given the all clear), wellness played a huge part in its design. From the products - which are all sustainable, recyclable and eco-friendly - to the catering, with its emphasis on local, organic and seasonal ingredients, Chalet Mirabelle is full of thoughtful touches, with the well-being of its inhabitants and the planet in mind. But that’s not where the story ends...
Having survived the c-bomb (and the chalet build) Jacqueline pledged to give back, especially to cancer and family trauma support areas. And so she has committed to giving 2 weeks’ free stay per year at Chalet Mirabelle to charitable causes, starting with the chalet as an auction lot for @maggiescentres ā€˜Secret Garden Party’ this March. 
It’s been an honour to stay at @chalet_mirabelle - not only because it has provided the venue for our family’s best EVER holiday ā›·šŸ•ŗšŸ¼šŸŒ­šŸ„‚ (and we still have 2 whole days left!), but also because of what it gives back to the world, in so many senses. 
Photo: @susielowephoto šŸ’– SEE STORIES FOR: The 9yo’s reaction to apres ski | What kids can learn after 3 ski lessons | Ski style in the 1980s šŸ’–
It’s been a brilliant, beautiful bluebird day up here in the French Alps above St Gervais šŸ’™. But there’s no doubt that skiing - and especially skiing with kids - involves rather a large amount of faff. Is it worth it? YOU BETCHA! Especially if you’re staying at @chalet_mirabelle [AD - #guest], where they have genuinely thought of everything when it comes to ensuring all members of the family have the best possible skiing holiday. So for anyone who’s considering hitting the piste avec progeny, once I’m back from this snowy paradise I’ll be writing a blog post sharing my dos and don’ts of a successful family skiing holiday. Speaking of which, I’m just off for a sauna before I finish the champagne I started in the hot tub earlier šŸ„‚. The kids? Oh they’re playing with the mountains of Lego and watching Netflix in the gorgeous playroom (pic to follow soon). Haven’t seen them for hours šŸ™ŒšŸ». OVER ON STORIES: Me making an apres ski tit of myself as per šŸ•ŗšŸ¼ | Lunch with a view | The 6yo ready to ski | Sauna @chalet_mirabelle
ā„ļø #skiingwithkids #bluebird #stgervais #ihavethisthingwithpink #ontopoftheworld #thepinkhouse #pinkhouseliving
Life’s pretty full on right now and I have a sneaking suspicion I may have taken on too much (ground floor renovation and wall knock-through; bathroom extension building; kids bedrooms renovation; blog relaunch; book launch; kids to keep alive; Pink House Husband to entertain...etc). But I refuse to be beaten. And I refuse to be one of those constantly busy people who are always rushing around saying how busy they are (I have been guilty of this on a number of occasions). Because, as The Beatles remind us, life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans. So to ensure I enjoy the life I’m living right now, as well as the life I’m planning for, I’m currently doing the following things:
* Listening to my favourite musical soundtracks (today was West Side Story and Crazy For You)
* Dancing to said musical soundtracks in the kitchen and imagining I’m on a West End stage until someone shouts they can smell burnt fish fingers
* Buying and appreciating lots of pink tulips (see Stories for the most amazing pink-and-yellow beauties)
* Gazed at these glazed breakfast bar tiles (@bertandmay Siham tiles) which are just the perfect shade of pink and one of my favourite parts of The Pink House
* Lapping up (not literally 😳) the hilarious memes involving #fyrefestival ā€˜s ā€˜take one for the team’ boss Andy King (see Stories) šŸ†
What about you? What’s giving you life this week? 
#cheatingonfashionwithfurniture #pinkhouseliving
This where I’ll be having breakfast on Sunday morning 🄐. And for the next 6 mornings after that 🄐🄐🄐🄐🄐🄐. Except the view from the beautiful @chalet_mirabelle doesn’t look like this right now. Because the mountains around St Gervais in the French Alps are COVERED IN SNOW! ā›·ā˜ƒļø Yup - me and the Pink House Husband are taking the kids skiing for the very first time, and we couldn’t be staying in a more beautiful, or more family-friendly place šŸ‘Øā€šŸ‘©ā€šŸ‘¦ā€šŸ‘¦āœ…. If you’ve ever thought about taking your kids skiing but were worried it would all end in tears (yup šŸ™‹šŸ¼ā€ā™€ļø), Chalet Mirabelle could very well be the answer. I’ll be reporting from the slopes, sofa and sauna next week (I know; tough job) so you can see how we get on ā›·šŸ›‹šŸ˜…
FULL DISCLAIMER: My family and I will be staying at Chalet Mirabelle as Jacqueline’s guests. Jacqueline followed me on Instagram and asked if I would be interested in staying in her brand new chalet in return for Instagram coverage and a blog post, as she thought you, my style-savvy Pink House Guests, would appreciate the place (spoiler: it’s completely gorgeous.) Even better, when Jacqueline was looking for an interiors photographer to photograph her beautiful new chalet she decided to ask The Pink House’s very own @susielowephoto out to the Chalet in the summer, so I have Susie’s beautiful interior shots to share with you, which will be interspersed by some snowy scenes when we actually arrive. I’m so excited I might cry; though it’s been 11 years since I last went skiing so let’s hope the crying isn’t as a result of a downhill race against PHH that goes badly wrong... #guest

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