Living through a kitchen extension
Monday 10th October 2016
Ever wondered how to survive a kitchen makeover? Matthew Swan reveals the realities of living on site during building work
Trust is a huge issue on a project like ours. By the end of week two, with the back walls gone and the house propped up by metal poles, we were hugely grateful that the brilliant builder who did our loft conversion, Roman Bulik, agreed to do the kitchen with a side return extension. Roman and his team are on site Monday to Saturday, so it’s crucial to get along with them. Some people move out during major building work, but – in spite of the inconvenience – we’d rather be on hand (without getting on Roman’s nerves, if we can help it).
The building work is on schedule to finish within 12 weeks, so we’ve already chosen products for the open-plan kitchen/dining space. Interior stylist and creative director Sania Pell is helping us pick items including flooring and appliances. We’re aiming for minimal, industrial-style decor with steel as a key feature. In our old flat, we chose silver-coloured appliances but they soon scratched and we realised that investing in stainless steel vastly improves a space. To complement the stainless steel we’re going for a grey and white colour scheme with aluminium framed bi-fold doors and exposed London bricks, reclaimed from the original exterior wall.
Sania recommended a range of stylish, reliable and innovative Grundig appliances that suit our lifestyle. Our son, Eliott, 11, is a big fan of family-friendly American-style fridge freezers, and Grundig’s stainless steel model has useful features such as an ice and water dispenser and a vitamin care zone. For the washing machine, we’ve chosen a free-standing stainless steel Grundig model with touch control buttons and an extra large porthole door. It also comes with Sensewash technology – which automatically adjusts the washing settings for each different type and weight of load – and is A+++ rated, the most energy efficient label that can be achieved. This will be the only free-standing appliance in the galley, but the stainless steel finish and iconic design fit perfectly with our timeless aesthetic. We’ve also chosen a large Grundig induction hob for the island with a stainless steel trim, digital display and a flexi-zone, which automatically recognises the size of pans to provide maximum flexibility. The sleek, stainless steel Grundig built-in oven is also energy-efficient.
When we moved into the house in May 2013, we were stuck with two built-in (and temperamental) appliances: an ancient dishwasher without a manual and a boiler that constantly cut out and caused many cold showers. Sania recommended a fully integrated 60cm Grundig dishwasher that uses only six litres of water for a full load and is super-quiet. Another efficient (and quiet) product we’ve chosen is the Vaillant ecoTEC 838, a 38kw condensing combi boiler, which features a low-energy pump to help reduce our energy consumption.
Taking the eco-theme further, we found a product for the floor called Concreate; it’s as durable as poured concrete but more affordable. The tiles fit like laminate flooring, with the aesthetic of raw concrete, and hold a house’s heat.
We sourced concrete lights from a Dutch brand called It’s About RoMi and chose smart Hasled “speakerbulbs” that play music through Bluetooth connections, as well as flooding the island with light.
With the finish line in sight, we can’t wait to have a fully functioning, beautiful kitchen with a sleek, stainless steel theme and every element selected to suit us.
5 tips for surviving building work
1 Freeze meals before you start: the novelty of takeaway food wears off quickly.
2 Visit local launderettes to compare service wash prices.
3 Seal off the rest of the house (expect dust at all stages).
4 Accept that part of your home becomes your builders’ workplace.
5 Brace yourself for the unexpected. www.theguardian.com/grundig-design/2015/aug/28/kitchen-makeover-the-builders-are-in
