Renovating a kitchen is never a walk in the park, but with nearly two decades of experience, interior designer Alexandra Childs has something of a home advantage. But even a stellar career can’t prepare you for tackling a remodel when six months postpartum, just after a move from Paris and at the mercy of builders who vanish midway through the job. ‘I’ll factor my next personal project into my work schedule, rather than trying to juggle the two,’ Ali says.
Her project? A Victorian terrace in east London needing a total renovation, to include creating a tiny kitchen in a former side return. Despite its size, Ali’s design packs a real punch, due largely to the materials used, such as reclaimed terracotta and, surprisingly, cheeseboards. ‘I always try to use reclaimed materials and vintage pieces,’ says Ali. ‘The effect is of a layered, textural kitchen that feels as if it’s been in situ for decades.’
Who lives here
Interior designer Alexandra Childs (studioalexandra.co.uk) lives in a small Victorian east London terrace with her husband and young family.
The before
‘The whole house needed renovating. The kitchen was small and narrow, but building into the side return effectively doubled its size’
The inspiration
‘A very specific image of Una Más, a chic restaurant in New South Wales, guided the entire colour scheme.’
The plan
‘The planning phase was a whirlwind,’ recalls Ali. ‘We had just moved back to London from Paris with a baby in tow and I was returning to work.’
Even amid the whirlwind, Ali managed to find inspiration from the most unlikely of sources. During a trip to Retrouvius, the design world’s go-to for architectural salvage, she spotted some reclaimed cheeseboards, once used for curing gouda. She decided to have them made into cabinet fronts, and the rest of the scheme fell into place from there. ‘I had to mock up the whole room to sell the idea to my trickiest client yet... my husband!’
The process
During the build there was further upheaval: the contractors abandoned the job early, leaving Ali with half a kitchen and the unenviable task of assembling a new team to finish it.
Working with the reclaimed cheeseboards was no picnic either. ‘Our joiner met a few surprise nails mid-saw! But their warmth and texture is worth every blunted blade,’ Ali says. In keeping with the cabinet fronts, she chose reclaimed terracotta floor tiles and sourced a reconditioned oven from Ebay.
The ground floor walls were painted in Pudding by Coat Paints. As Ali points out, ‘It helps to create flow and connection between the rooms, which is especially important in a small Victorian terrace.’
The design hero
‘The standout feature is probably the incredible oven. It’s a real powerhouse and a joy to cook on – and it was a total bargain. It is now a permanent fixture as it had to be installed before the garden windows went in and it won’t fit out through the front door!’
The biggest challenge
‘We had a nightmare with our first builders – they left the project half-finished over Christmas. I eventually pulled in favours from people I work with.’
Sourcebook
- Design Studio Alexandra
- Kitchen doors and worktops Retrouvius
- Floor tiles Maitland & Poate
- Wall tiles Porcelain Superstore
- Wall paint Coat Paints
- Hardware Rowen & Wren
- Dining chairs Scene by Chloe
- Wall lights Pooky
