Location: Woodham, Surrey
Style: Painted Shaker – Linton Door
Colours: Artichoke & Talpa
Work Surfaces: ‘Mystery’ Quartz
Every kitchen project begins with an informal conversation. Recently, we started working with a lovely client in West Byfleet, Surrey, who approached us looking to transform their existing kitchen and separate dining space into something far more suited to modern family living.
Like many homes of a similar era, the kitchen and dining room were divided into two distinct spaces. Our client felt that the layout no longer reflected how they wanted to use their home — particularly when spending time with family or hosting friends — and they were keen to explore how the two rooms could be brought together into one cohesive, welcoming space.
A Few Weeks Ago
Just a few weeks ago, this kitchen looked very different. The room itself was perfectly serviceable, but it felt somewhat enclosed and disconnected from the adjoining dining room.
Our client explained that when entertaining or preparing meals, they often felt separated from family and guests. While the kitchen worked on a practical level, it lacked the openness, natural flow and sense of connection they were hoping to achieve.
The brief therefore quickly became clear: create a kitchen that feels more open, sociable and better connected to the rest of the home.
Listening to How the Client Wants to Live
Our first meeting with any client is always centred around understanding how they want to live in the space. Every household uses their kitchen differently, so taking the time to listen is an essential part of the design process.
During our initial discussions, we explored how the space was currently used and how our client hoped it would function once transformed.
For this particular project, the key priorities were:
- Creating a stronger connection between the kitchen and dining area
- Increasing usable worksurface space for everyday cooking
- Improving storage and organisation
- Designing a kitchen that works equally well for everyday family life and for hosting friends and gatherings
Another important part of this stage is discussing appliances. We always spend time talking through the wide range of options available and identifying which appliances best suit the client’s cooking habits and lifestyle.
Once we have worked through these conversations and our detailed design questions, we can begin developing a kitchen that is not only aesthetically beautiful but also highly practical and tailored specifically to the client’s needs.
Bringing the Design to Life in 3D
To help our client fully visualise the transformation, we used the latest 3D CAD design software to create a series of visuals for the proposed kitchen.
These visuals allow clients to see how their new kitchen will look long before installation begins — exploring layouts, cabinetry styles, colours, lighting and materials. It also allows us to refine the design together, ensuring every detail works exactly as intended.
For many clients, this is the moment when the project really starts to feel real, as they can finally see how their future kitchen will take shape within their home.
Preparing the Space
With the design finalised, the next stage was preparing the space ready for installation. All of the building and structural works for this project were carried out by the excellent team at KW Developments.
To achieve the more open layout our client was hoping for, several important changes were made to the structure of the space, including:
- Removal of the internal wall between the kitchen and dining room to create one open-plan space
- Replacing the dining room window with a new set of patio doors to improve natural light and provide easier access to the garden
- Blocking up the existing doorway from the hallway to the kitchen to improve the overall flow of the room
- Installation of underfloor heating to provide a comfortable and efficient heating solution
- Installation of a new ceiling throughout, along with plastering, electrics, plumbing and full decoration
These building works are often one of the most exciting stages for clients, as the space begins to physically transform before the kitchen itself even arrives.
Installation Now Underway
Fast forward to this week and the transformation is now well underway.
With the preparation works complete, the kitchen installation has begun. All cabinetry and appliances have now been delivered to the client’s home and the layout — which previously existed only in drawings and 3D visuals — is beginning to take shape within the room.
Over the coming weeks we will see the furniture fully installed, worktops templated and fitted, and all the final connections made that bring the entire design together.
We’ll continue to share updates on social media as the project progresses and look forward to revealing the completed kitchen very soon.
Once everything is finished, we will return with the full before-and-after transformation, showing how this space has evolved from the original kitchen into a beautiful new heart of the home.
Explore the Full Project Journey
View the full project gallery along with our client’s testimonial.
If you’re considering a kitchen transformation and want a space created around the way you truly live, we’d love to hear more about your plans and invite you to our Byfleet Village Showroom for an initial, informal meeting.
