Before & After: This tiny kitchen has perfected a small space formula
When model and writer Charli Howard bought her first home in 2022, she was looking forward to a 'semi-easy' kitchen renovation. Then her builders unearthed catastrophic damage from a WWII bomb that put paid to her plans.
Looking around Charli's deeply romantic, liquorice-coloured kitchen, there is little evidence that this was ever plan B. There is something about the clay-coloured walls and sloping ceiling, sunshine peeking in from its skylight, that makes it look as though it has been carved from a hillside in Italy–quite the achievement for a Victorian terrace in South London.
It's unsurprising to hear that Charli is a consummate planner when it comes to decorating, and she pored over colours and materials for months to come up with a moodboard that felt like 'her.' The jumping-off point were glossy Zellige tiles—she went with the Marrakesh Hessian Bejmat tiles by Bert & May that create a wonderful dappled effect. The mix makes a strong case for going dark in small spaces, concentrating all the drama on the cabinets and going light on walls and floors.
Below, Charli talks us through the renovation process, from the, ahem, bombshell discovery made by her builders to her favourite finishing touches...
Tell us a little bit about the original space and why you chose to renovate
CH: This is my first house, which I bought in 2022. It was a total mess and covered head to toe in grey vinyl and white paint. The kitchen was really run down. The cupboard doors were hanging off and the tiles were broken, but I could see its potential.
It was originally built in the 1890s to house sailors and factory workers from the nearby docks. Much of the original layout had stayed the same. The bathroom (which would've been outside at some point, if there at all!) was built as an extension at the end of the kitchen, which wasn't very practical for modern living. I knew I was going to build a new bathroom above the kitchen and, in turn, make the kitchen bigger.
Take us briefly through the process.
CH: I worked with Mario from Creative Edge Design to help design the kitchen. We met up a few times in person to discuss how it would look and I couldn't have asked for a better result.
When it comes to interiors, I like to moodboard everything, so I spent a couple of months really studying paint colours, tiles and textures. I knew I wanted glossy Zellige tiles and I knew they would look great against something more matt on the walls. Pink is my favourite colour, but I didn't want a Barbie pink, I wanted a grown-up, muted pink.
Did you update the layout?
CH: Yes, the whole house was completely knocked down until there was nothing but the original bare brick shell, ready to start again. It was a total renovation.
Why it works: Charli's kitchen features a few tried-and-tested tricks for making the most of a small space. Galley kitchens often need a run of overhead cabinets, but all that bulkiness can overpower a small room. Her glass-fronted wall cabinets feel much lighter, while the storage space in her floor-to-ceiling pantry reduces the need for too many. The wash of warm colour across the walls and up onto the ceiling feels bright and expansive, tempering for the richer tones of her cabinets, which in turn are lifted with light-reflecting brass hardware. Countertops take up a lot of visual space, and Charli has used hers well to introduce a brightening marble, while the intense pattern of its veins provides enough decoration that she can forgo a lot of the space-guzzling accessories.
Did you face any challenges in the process?
CH: Unfortunately yes. When I bought the house, the survey said there were no problems beyond the little things you'd expect from a house of that age. Initially, I was going to just renovate the kitchen and make it pretty, something I assumed would be semi-easy.
But when the builders began prepping the kitchen, they discovered that it was hanging off the main part of the house at an angle from World War II bomb damage! The previous owner clearly knew that and had cleverly (and slyly, to be honest) covered the wall with plaster to help sell the house. There was also terrible damp on the walls.
After calling numerous damp control experts and speaking to the builders, I had to admit defeat and knock the entire kitchen down again, which was not only upsetting and caused delays but ended up being an extra huge cost I hadn't really accounted for. It was so flimsy that it wouldn't have been able to support the bathroom extension anyway. In the end, it worked out for the best, because now I know I have a beautiful kitchen that is completely my own and bespoke to me, and it breathed new life into the house.
What’s your favourite part of the transformation?
CH: I love the fact that it is completely 'me' and is a real mix of Victorian heritage with modern features.
Is there anything you would change if you were to tackle it again?
CH: I wouldn't change a thing looks-wise. It's my favourite space in the house and I've never looked at it and thought, 'I wish I could've changed X, Y or Z'. I think your home should make you feel excited when you wake up and proud to live there.
What are your favourite parts of the kitchen?
CH: My absolute favourite thing is the viola marble on the countertops. I am a tea addict so I had a hot tap built in, and that has been the handiest thing. I love the cream deVOL lamps on the walls, as well as my Anissa Kermiche pieces. I own a load of her pieces—my house is like an ode to women and the female form!
What were the main paint colours and tiles used?
CH: I used Farrow & Ball Paean Black on the cupboards, which I'd describe more of a liquorice purple, and the handles are all from Etsy. On the walls and ceilings, I used Farrow & Ball Sulking Room Pink in dead flat. Painting the ceilings makes the kitchen feel a lot cosier.
The tiles are the Marrakesh Hessian Bejmat tiles by Bert & May, they are a glazed Zellige. I get so many compliments on them, and they help keep the kitchen really cool in the summer. The handcrafted finish adds a subtle, textured detail that works beautifully with the deep tones of the cabinetry.
Marrakesh Hessian Bejmat
Sulking Room Pink
The Heirloom Wall Light
£480.00 at devolkitchens.co.uk
Grove Cup Handle Antique Brass
Marble Pedestal Bowl
Unlacquered Brass Kitchen Faucet
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