Essential Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Magazine April 2016 Back Issue

You know the excitement of taking an unloved space and giving it a total revamp? Well, there’s something of the spring story of The Ugly Duckling that applies to all four of our featured kitchens this issue, and will no doubt resonate with anyone in the throes of home improvement. Take our cover story: with a little imagination and a lot of good taste, this young couple turned what they call a ‘dismal, dark dungeon’ into a light-filled and spacious, ergonomic dream with big windows, sliding doors and a luxury bulthaup kitchen. It was just a matter of owners Max and Tamsin recognising the potential and believing in it – see Victorian Revamp on page 54.

Meanwhile Geira and Axel Muller purchased what they describe as a ‘very dated and tired’ 1970s house and renovated it entirely in Nordic Light (page 36). In Defying Gravity (page 24), Sarah and Martin had the vision to completely transform the living spaces of their period home with a double-height extension which opens up the whole back of their house, flooding the basement and kitchen with ever-changing light. And in Mirror Image (page 46), Norbert and Lesley decided to start from scratch with an oddly built 1960s house in an Arts and Crafts street and create a real wow-factor kitchen and living space. It just goes to show that in kitchens, just as in fairytales, there is no reason why a so-called ‘ugly’ – or at least dark, dismal or dated – space cannot be made beautiful.

Spring is in the air and it’s time to think about all of the exciting ideas and advancements coming through now. For new-season style inspiration turn to Top 10 Kitchen Trends on page 88 and Going Global on page 138, and discover a whole new world of groundbreaking bathroom technology in High-tech Havens on page 118. Enjoy the issue!