The Kitchen Transformation Journey

When we first set out to renovate our kitchen, I had no idea how much of a rollercoaster ride it would be. What started as a simple dream for a functional and beautiful space turned into a complex project with more twists and turns than I ever anticipated. From designing a layout that would work for our family to choosing materials that balanced style and durability, every decision seemed to carry an unexpected weight. There were moments of excitement and creativity, but also some serious stress, doubt, and that creeping fear of making a very very expensive mistake.

Now, looking back at what we’ve created, I can say it was all worth it. Our new kitchen has become the heart of our home, a space where the whole family comes together — even the girls are starting to enjoy cooking with me. But getting here was no small feat, and if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that every part of a kitchen renovation has its challenges, from design and sourcing to the worktop drama and appliance mishaps.

I’ll share the most stressful process of this whole renovation, how we chose our supplier and fitter, and how we navigated all that came with building our dream kitchen. Along the way, I’ll share advice on appliances, the unexpected hurdles we faced, and what we’ve learned through it all. I hope this helps anyone else out there who’s about to embark on their own kitchen renovation — or even just dreaming about one!

“Creating the perfect kitchen is like crafting a recipe—every ingredient, step, and mishap shapes the final dish. Put the effort in and the end result is worth every challenge.”

The Design

From the very beginning, I knew I wanted an island kitchen. My first job was working as a commis chef, and I loved cooking while facing customers, being able to chat with them as I worked. Having a large workspace felt essential, especially with my girls now showing an interest in how food is made. They often want to sit on the worktop while I bake, but in our tiny, cramped kitchen, this was nearly impossible—and frankly, dangerous. The architect initially told us an island wouldn’t be practical and designed an L-shaped kitchen instead. However, standing in the massive empty space, it was clear that without an island, we’d have a huge, dance-floor-sized room. I wasn’t about to give up on the vision just yet.

To plan a kitchen that functions well, use the “kitchen triangle” concept. This design principle keeps everything within easy reach, with the fridge, sink, and oven arranged to make everyday tasks more efficient. In a busy family kitchen like ours, where meals are prepared multiple times a day, this setup helps reduce unnecessary walking back and forth between key appliances. The island would make this possible, especially in a room where we were looking at a 5-meter-long stretch of kitchen. Without it, it would have been a marathon just getting from the fridge to the oven.

The hunt for perfection

Now, with the layout settled, we needed to find a supplier and a design that we both loved and could afford. My phone was full of images of real wood kitchens from Lanserring, but with those starting at over £50k, it was way out of the question. Next on the list was NordiskaKök, with its sleek Nordic designs and a more realistic price tag. However, flying to Sweden just to check out the quality wasn’t practical.

At this point, our builder suggested Alex, a cabinet maker who ran his own company and could use a CNC machine to create whatever we wanted. Alex listened carefully to our needs, and soon after, he sent over designs that looked spot-on. But, being thorough, we also went to Howdens to see what they could offer. Unfortunately, they simply copied the design we already had, offering no suggestions or improvements, and took us through a showroom that felt bland and uninspired. Their stainless-steel ovens and worktops screamed “new build budget kitchen.” To make matters worse, their quote came out higher than Alex’s. That sealed it—we went with Alex.

Then came the materials, and the stress began. Without a showroom, Alex showed us dozens of swatches, but none of them felt right. I wanted walnut, but the laminate samples he ordered didn’t look nice at all—repetitive patterns and cheap, MFI-style finishes reminiscent of 1980s wardrobes. I was growing increasingly frustrated, until Alex pulled out a box of more premium options with a warning: “These are a bit pricey.” The moment I saw them, I knew we had found the one—wood that looked and felt real, textured, exactly as I had envisioned. Paired with a matte sandstone finish for the larger cabinets, we were finally getting somewhere. I also requested a larder cupboard with pocket doors to hide away the coffee machine and create a coffee station—a design Alex hadn’t done before and one that took a lot of trial and error to get right.

Next up was the worktop. We travelled all over the country, and I had my heart set on marble—something with bold veins and character. But to my surprise, no one wanted to sell us a marble top. Despite having it in their ads, every supplier strongly advised against using marble in a kitchen and pushed us towards porcelain instead. After weeks of searching, we settled on a 20mm porcelain from Granite Warehouse in Preston. It had beautiful gold, brown, and cream veins running through a textured off-white surface, and it felt perfect for the space. With a final cost of £6,600, we paid the deposit and moved on to the next stage.

The Appliances

The Appliances

I’ll admit it—I’m a gadget geek. I love tech, especially when it’s clever, even if it’s a bit gimmicky. So, when it came to choosing kitchen appliances, I had my eye on Siemens ovens from the start. They looked amazing, with large color screens and pre-set meal options that made cooking feel effortless, especially when juggling mealtimes with the kids. The kicker? You could control them from your phone. But the cost was eye-watering—each oven was priced at around £2-3k, and I wanted two. One of them had to be a combination microwave oven. And, because I’m a sucker for symmetry, that meant everything else had to be Siemens too—fridge, freezer, dishwasher—the works. All in, it would’ve set us back over £9,000.

We just couldn’t stretch to that. So, I started looking at seconds sites and found a hidden gem in Appliance Depot. After a bit of searching, I managed to get the ovens, dishwasher, fridge, and freezer for a fraction of the original price. These were “seconds,” meaning they had minor dents or scratches, but nothing visible once installed. Some were even in perfect condition, just with damaged boxes. They were delivered the next day, all carried in with care, and it felt like a huge win.

Then came the hob—a Siemens IQ700 induction venting hob with a built-in extractor. I found it on eBay, originally priced at £2,800, but I nabbed it for £1,999. It was brand new and still boxed, another solid deal. Everything was delivered in perfect condition, and we put it aside, ready for when the electricians were due to complete the second fix. With appliances sorted and the first cabinets going in, things were finally starting to take shape.

The Stress

Now, things really started to heat up, and my pursuit of perfection began to play havoc with my mind. It all kicked off with the matt sandstone doors, which just didn’t look as good as I’d envisioned. The edges were scrappy, glue was starting to show, and I began to feel like I’d been ripped off. And to make matters worse, the fitting was off. The gaps around the doors were uneven, and the whole thing just looked sloppy. Had I really spent £25,000 on a kitchen for it to turn out like this? Was this normal? Or was I expecting too much?

We had countless meetings with Alex, who, to his credit, took our complaints on the chin and handled them professionally. But it all came to a head with the coffee station doors. They’d been made inset into the cabinet, whereas all the other cupboards had frameless doors. The inconsistency sent my stress levels through the roof—I wasn’t sleeping, my blood pressure was skyrocketing, and I started to seriously doubt our choices. Thankfully, Alex agreed to take the cabinet away and remake it to match the rest, even replacing the doors. But just as I thought we’d turned a corner, the worktop drama hit.

The Worktop Drama

Enter Granite House, who’d been working on the worktops. They asked for full payment upfront before producing and fitting the countertops, which seemed normal enough. We’d already paid a £300 deposit, and I was ready to settle the balance. But, given the kitchen nightmare so far, I decided to read the small print—something I rarely do. And it’s a good job I did.

Our island was designed with a 30cm overhanging breakfast bar spanning 2.5 meters. The small print from Granite House clearly stated that this span was too large, and they wouldn’t warranty it if it cracked. Lovely of them not to mention this earlier! They’d designed the island themselves but never warned us that it could break under that span. When I contacted them, they explained we’d need 30mm quartz or granite for a span of that size—not the 20mm porcelain they’d originally suggested which was great of them to finally confess this but I had lost all trust in them. So, back to square one. Stress levels? Now at an 11.

The search for a new worktop led us to Simplicity Granite in Bollington. Their lovely little showroom had a collection of unique veined quartz, and the moment we saw it, we knew we’d found the one. At 30mm thick, it was exactly what we needed, and the best part? It came in at £4,400 fitted—£2,000 cheaper than Granite House’s 20mm porcelain! Once it was fitted, the kitchen truly came together. The waterfall edges were stunning, and all the little details I’d obsessed over seemed to melt away… until the hob was fitted. And it didn’t work.

Stress levels shot up to 100. eBay sellers aren’t exactly famous for their stellar customer service or generous refund policies, and I was worried we’d hit another dead end. I thought I had a warranty with Siemens, but it turned out the model was over three years old, and even though it was a brand new, boxed unit, Siemens wouldn’t honor the warranty. Just my luck! But, thankfully, the eBay store came through. They fought for my case, threatening to stop selling Siemens products, and somehow had enough clout to get Siemens to fix the hob the very next day.

Finally, we had a kitchen!