Jamie-Rose Rigby and her husband had secured planning permission for a wraparound extension to their 1930s home in South Wales, but instead decided to wind back their plans to create a galley kitchen.
Jamie-Rose, a digital creative who posts on Instagram @rigby.residence, joined us to explain how she designed a highly practical space and why they decided that their kitchen didn’t have to be big to be beautiful.
Hi Jamie-Rose! Can you tell us about your kitchen project?
Although we had planning approval for a big wraparound extension, it didn't feel like the right investment for us to take on at the moment. We have two young children and want to be able to go on holidays and make memories but we were also desperate to renovate the kitchen as it was the last room in the house to be updated.
We decided on a less ambitious renovation to extend our existing galley kitchen. We knocked down a wall to incorporate the utility space and moved the back door from the side to the end to open up views into our garden.
What were your main considerations when you planned your kitchen layout?
My main goal was to make the most of the limited space. I wanted our kitchen to feel warm, bright and airy in keeping with the rest of the house. One of the main features I wanted was a small seating area so we can enjoy being in the kitchen all together.
I chose practical surfaces that are easy to keep clean and made sure we had lots of storage but without over-cluttering the space with kitchen cabinets. Wall cupboards would have made the narrow room feel very enclosed so instead I opted for a few open shelves where I can display my favourite things and keep them easily to hand.
How would you describe your interior style?
I find it really hard to define my style because my taste is always evolving but the core elements I'm drawn to will always shine through across each room in our home. I would say my interior style tends towards neutral, classic, and cosy. I love warm, earthy and woody tones with touches of black.
Why did you select Karndean flooring for your kitchen?
I had heard nothing but good reviews about Karndean flooring and how durable it is so we thought it would be ideal for our busy kitchen. We were impressed by the huge range of styles and colours, although I have to say this also made it quite difficult to choose just one!
We used all the tools available to help us find the best design for our kitchen. We ordered a few samples and tried these designs on Floorstyle by uploading a photo of our room and experimenting with colours and laying patterns. We also visited a local retailer and honestly this was the most beneficial because some of the samples looked different again once we could see them on a larger scale.
How has the herringbone floor completed the look?
We eventually decided on Hayfield Oak herringbone from the Van Gogh range because it had the right level of warm brown tones. It isn't orangey but also isn't too ashy. The off-white of the kitchen units and walls blends really well with the floor’s worn brown and distressed grey tones while the herringbone pattern introduces an interesting texture and a subtle sense of movement that makes the room feel bigger than it is. The result feels so natural and calming.
Our kitchen is definitely my new favourite room in the house and the floor is simply perfect for this high traffic area! Before, the kitchen was just a necessary space for preparing food but now it finally feels like the heart of our home.
Our thanks to Jamie-Rose for sharing her kitchen transformation story with us. If you’d like to follow her continuing journey, pop over to her Instagram @rigby.residence.
Get creative with herringbone. Explore more herringbone designs here.
