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A Budget Kitchen Makeover With Victor & June

This budget kitchen makeover with Victor and June shows how a small cooking area can be updated to become family-friendly in an affordable way. A low-cost, shaker style was the starting point for this kitchen makeover, complete with the couple’s favourite colour scheme and plenty of storage. As busy grandparents, Victor and June also needed room for hosting. Their Howdens designer suggested a U-shaped layout, while their trade professional fitted kitchen features that free up space, so the family can share quality time together.

About Victor & June

After successful RAF and NHS careers, Victor and June are now enjoying retirement. They want a space to spend time with their nearest and dearest, plus clever storage to keep things tidy. With budget in mind, they were also looking for a layout that didn’t break the bank.

Victor & June's vision

Victor and June wanted to refresh their compact room while retaining its shaker style. With a large family, their makeover had to work for get-togethers and for the small budget.
The final look

The couple picked Allendale, which adds a classic, shaker design for less. They chose a sage green shade for an on-trend look and used smart storage for a space that's ready for family fun.

Victor

“Our old Howdens kitchen lasted 20 years, and we say the quality and durability is second to none. So, it was an easy choice to use Howdens again for our makeover.”

The design detials

Low-cost shaker

Allendale is made for a money-saving makeover. The five-piece style and grained detail have a traditional look, while the slim build keeps costs down.

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Lean into green

For a splash of mood-boosting colour, the couple chose sage green. This pale tone also makes the compact room appear open.

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Fixing the floorplan

To free up floor space, Victor and June's designer recommended a U-shaped layout. This maximised wall space and offered more storage for essentials.

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Storage saviours

June's mobility challenges made hard-to-reach areas, like corners, difficult. That's why she chose pull-out accessories to make cupboard contents more accessible.

True timber

A solid wood counter offers a cosy aesthetic that’s welcoming to the grandchildren. It’s also an investment that will stand the test of time.

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Decorative details

Victor and June’s designer used a patterned backboard to tie their room together. Quick to fit and easy to clean, it brings a fashionable feature to the space.

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Cooking companion

Installing an oven higher up makes it simple for Victor and June to check on dishes. Heavy trays are also easy to reach without bending or stretching.

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Washing up wonder

With just June and Victor at home, the couple's designer swapped a full-size dishwasher for a slimline model. This swap also makes the most of their setup.

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Affordable accents

To complete their units, Victor and June picked metallic handles from our budget-friendly collection to introduce luxe style for less.

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Kid-friendly floors

With little ones around, this design had to be low-maintenance. Durable and wipe-clean, Oake & Gray vinyl flooring was tough enough for the task.

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