fbpx
Sophie Robinson
  • Home
  • Workshops
    • Marrakech Retreat
    • Ban the beige
    • Masterclasses
  • Online Courses
  • Collaboration
  • Podcasts
  • Blog
  • About
    • About me
    • Work with me
    • Press
    • We’re Hiring!
  • FAQs
  • Contact
  • Kitchens
  • Lifestyle
30 Nov 18

Quick and easy Kitchen updates that make an impact

The kitchen is often described as the heart of the home; it’s a place where we can spend the most amount of time so creating an environment you enjoy being in is important. But if your home is anything like mine, it’s more like a war zone! Having your kitchen fully kitted out and renovated is knee-shakingly expensive and so many of us have to update what is already there. So I’ve jotted down my top ten ideas on how you can up your tired old kitchen in the style stakes. And if you are doing a new renovation, there are some good ideas here on how to make your kitchen space have a little more flair. As they often quite frankly look really dull, and as usual, I’m always against that!

1.Update your cabinet doors

Painting your kitchen unit door fronts to give the room a whole new look is a well-known makeover hack. But buy yourself a tin of Zinsser primer and you can makeover a kitchen in just a weekend, as it foregoes the need to sand and undercoat. Just one coat of primer and then you’re ready to go with the topcoat in any colour of your choice.  It even works on glossy laminate doors, just give them all the once over with a hand held sander before hand to increase the finish. If you have shaker doors, consider applying some patterned wallpaper with a topcoat of varnish to protect it inside the panels. Or mask up plain fronted doors in order to create some fashionable asymmetric patterns that run across the units.

Interior Designers Sophie Robinson talks kitchen update Pastel kitchen units and patchwork panelled doors

2. Make the most of all the cupboard space to clear the clutter

Kitchen worktops can quickly begin to look like a cluttered and unsightly mess, as I know only too well! Get as much off the worktop as you can and re-organise your cupboards. A nifty idea is to place a lazy Susan inside your corner cupboards so you can easily access jars and bottles.

Interior Designer Sophie Robinson's kitchen Boras Tapeter Rabarber bright floral and rhubarb plants on dark green background wallpaper and corner unit

Rabarber wallpaper by BorasTapeter at Wallpaper Direct. Kitchen units by Howdens. Door fronts made by my local carpenter and painted Hunters Green by Zoffany.

3. Style up your worktops like a professional interior stylist

With your neat and tidy worktops you can start to think about how to style them up. Aim to have only lovely things on display (the cereal packets and Tupperware are banished) and play around with grouping your items. You can keep it neat and formal by arranging things in pairs. Or group different items together in odd numbers, like 5 or 3. It works well visually to make sure you have items of different height and texture too. The new Flow range from Breville is definitely good looking enough to make a star appearance and I chose  a dark kettle to blend in with my dark coloured wallpaper.

4.Wallpaper the walls in a bold pattern

I’m a real colour lover and enjoy adding as much as I can to my designs and the kitchen has plenty of opportunity. I’ve just wallpapered mine in a brightly coloured botanical wallpaper and it looks thrilling. My tip is to only paper areas away from cooking and sink area. If you are still worried a couple of coats of matt varnish will make it wipeable, however this dark pattern will hide a multitude of splats! You can then have fun grouping things in terms of colour families to match in with your new scheme, from your collection of cookbooks to your crockery. This will also help your room not feel too cluttered and bring a sense of harmony.

Interior Designer Sophie Robinson's kitchen Boras Tapeter Rabarber bright floral and rhubarb plants on dark green background wallpaper

Rabarber wallpaper by BorasTapeter at Wallpaper Direct

5. Upgrade the worktop to a colourful one

Just replacing the worktop can be a real game changer and not too hard to do. Believe it or not I’m a real fan of affordable laminate worktops. But rather than the naff fake granite or wood designs, pick one in a modern pop of colour like the colour du jour pale pink or a rich forest green. It can suddenly become the star of the show and colour soaked kitchens are set to be the next big trend in interiors. If changing up the worktop highlights how grotty the cupboard doors are, you could think about replacing them. There are some great replacement door companies out there but I particularly rate Naked Doors and Superfront. Or like I did, ask you carpenter to make you some bespoke door fronts in your own design.

6. Introduce texture in your neutral kitchen

If however, you are a lover of neutrals and like things plain and simple you need to think about introducing texture to stop you’re kitchen appearing bland and uninteresting. From hand thrown ceramics, wooden bowls, through to metallic utensils you can quickly create plenty of visual interest. The Flow range from Breville, with its stylishly textured appearance is just perfect for this chic and minimal look.

7. Display favourite thing in open shelves

Ditch the wall units in favour of some open plan shelving. You can go sleek and modern with floating shelves and some swish LED back lighting or go for a more rustic edge with reclaimed scaffold planks. Either way this is a great way to show off your collection of favourite cookbooks, storage jars and glasses. I’d always trough in some favourite ornaments or photo’s too to stop it appearing too utilitarian. Have fun styling your open shelves to make the perfect #shelfie

Interior Designers Sophie Robinson talks kitchen update with organised kitchen shelves above the sink

8. Tile stickers hide a multitude of tile crimes

Tile stickers are such a quick and instant way to update tiles that no longer suite your scheme. You can get amazing patterned designs or something that mimics real stone. There are lots of design possibilities and it’s a great way to add some instant personality. Better still you can just peel them off when you fancy a new look.

Interior Designers Sophie Robinson talks kitchen update patchwork tile stickers

9.Create a living wall

Living walls are such a hot trend in interiors and the kitchen is a great opportunity to get this look. Create your living wall by arranging a series of potted herbs hanging from the wall on hooks or on a wall rack. They’ll be useful for cooking too.

Interior Designers Sophie Robinson talks kitchen update with an Ikea living wall on rustic wooden wall

Kungsfors range at Ikea

10. Fill the floor with fabulousness

When ever I’m designing a room on a budget I often think of where I can make the most impact for the least money. And in my opinion that is often the floor. For ease and affordability I’d roll out a new piece of lino in a really eye arresting bold geometric print. So very fashionable and a great focal point in the room. If tis is too big an undertaking consider a jazzy rug. You can get plastic ones (often designed to go in gardens) which are particularly practical.

Interior Designers Sophie Robinson talks kitchen update with Carousel vinyl floor by Atra

Carousel vinyl floor by Atra Floor

 

 

  • Kitchens
  • Lifestyle
Colour crush: Ultramarine The Great Indoors Podcast S1 Episode 5 show notes

comments

Liz on 21.03.19

Replaceable peel and stick tiles is a genius idea and a possibility I was unaware existed. An alternative to my hideous chicken tiles! (No offense to those who fancy them, I just don’t happen to). Thank you!

Reply
Ryan on 24.09.19

Choose a color palette that could complement your kitchen without over designing. The idea is to create a place and space that would be homely to start your day with a hearty meal.

Reply

Leave a Comment

Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published.

  • Christmas
  • Interiors
    • colour crush
    • colour psychology
    • DIY
    • dream home makeovers
    • Home Tours
    • Interior Design
    • Interior Styling
    • podcast
    • trends
  • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Fashion/Beauty
    • Life
    • My House
    • Nosh
    • Travel
  • Rooms
    • Bathrooms
    • Bedrooms
    • Kids rooms
    • Kitchens
    • Living rooms
    • Outside
  • Videos

mailing
list

Videos

Listen

Listen Here

Online courses
by popular demand

Catch Sophie In All Her Colourful Glory On Instagram

Who is looking forward to the weekend! 🙌 Welc Who is looking forward to the weekend! 🙌 

Welcome to a rare tour of my home! Since every room looked tidy, I grabbed my phone to show you around. 

You can see how I have lots of colour and pattern in every room but still the house has flow. I use the same palette of colours through which helps make it all hang together. But it takes more than that to make a maximalist home sing. Repeating the same materials, design motifs, styles and shapes helps to create a feeling of cohesion.

For the ultimate insight into how to decorate in a way that supports you emotionally, flexes your creativity and leaves you loving your home, check out my interior design school where I teach you  everything you need to know. 

- how to harmonise colours
- How to plan and budget
- How to source all the materials
- How to save time and money
- How to burst open your creativity

And this weekend you can enjoy 25% of ALL COURSES across my entire design school by using the code BLACKFRIDAY25 at check out. Click on the link in my bio or visit courses.sophierobinson.Co.uk ☝️

#housetour #banthebeige #bbbinteriors #colourlover #colourfulhome #maximalistinteriors #eclecticdecor #onlinedesign #designschool
It’s podcast day on The Great Indoors and we hav It’s podcast day on The Great Indoors and we have a very special guest! @banjo.beale is a BAFTA award winning TV star, winner of series 3 @interiordesignmasters_tv , interior designer and recently adding author to his rosta of talents. While reality TV launched Banjo’s stellar interiors career we managed to bag him for a chat while he took a short beak from sourcing vintage for his second series of Design The Hebrides. 

This is an opportunity to listen to this whirlwind of a design mind, with insights into what it takes to win a TV completion, how living on a remote island in the Scottish Hebrides has made him ultimately resourceful and his unique design process. 

Listen to The Great Indoors, whoever you get your podcast. Hit that subscribe button and come back here to let us know what you thought! 

#thegreatindoors #banjobeale #designingthehebrides #interiordesignmasters
This is the perfect time of year to up level your This is the perfect time of year to up level your bedding. With the autumn chill on its way I’d rather hike up the tog count than whack up the central heating. 

Beautiful bedding and linen is the ultimate luxury and at this time in my life 👵🏻 my bed is up there as my absolute favourite place to be and my sleep is honestly my favourite pastime! So making it the most comforting, soothing, replenishing experience possible is my priority. 😴

I recently up-levelled my duvet and pillows  to @naturalmatuk goose down products and here is my unbiased review. The pillows are the like sleeping on an actual cloud! Along with the 9 tog duvet I’ll stay cosy all winter, and leave the thermostat turned down.  @naturalmatuk only use natural, sustainable materials, organic cotton and responsibly sourced feathers, which all support a good nights sleep. With a hectic lifestyle, my bed is my ultimate sanctuary 🥱

What’s your self care routine and secret to the perfect pampered night sleep? 

#ad PR product 
#naturalmat #bedroom #bedlinen #bedroombliss #bedlinen #pillows #bedding #bedroomdecor #bedroom #pamperyourself #pampernight
What a dress! When @benjaminfoxdressmaker spotted What a dress! When @benjaminfoxdressmaker spotted my new collection with @harlequinfw they wanted to make a dress in it! Now I actually match my decor! 

This dress shape is so perfect. I love the big sleeves, that goes so well with a fine knit underneath and the long gathered skirt looks perfect with boots, both of which I bought recently at @cosstores . Team with my signature big earrings ( these are old ones from @anthropologieeu ) and I feel a million dollars! Happy Monday folks! We can do this 👊

#ad - pr product. 
#dresslikeyourhome
I hosted an event this week to show off all the ha I hosted an event this week to show off all the hard work we’ve done in the house and showcase the new collection with @harlequinfw . It was a wonderful opportunity to fill the house with laughter, great conversation and celebrate our mutual love of colour! Since the pandemic I work more and more from home and it felt good to open the door and let people in. 

The guest list was a mix of writers, artists, gardeners, cooks, designers and fashion stylists but one thing we have in common is embracing the joy of colour and celebrating how our homes are the foundation for a happy and fulfilling life. 

However getting the house ready for such a group of discerning eyes was rather exhausting! I had to hide under the duvet yesterday! But I’m so grateful to everyone who came, their positivity and inspiration. Most of whom I met here on instagram. This is a special place to make like minded connections, yet it was great to actually have an excuse to get together in real life! 

And this weekend Tom and are are celebrating not doing any house DIY for the first time in ages! 

Special Thanks to @mad_about_the_house @erica_davies @hillhousevintage @andrea_childs_journo @theottohouse @clairevallis @michelleogundehin @mollymahonblockprinting @sophieabbottartist @gemswholesomekitchen @edwardrobinsonid @dahliabeach for making it such a wonderful day 

 Thanks to @gemswholesomekitchen fir feeding us! 

thanks to @benjaminfoxdressmaker fir the custom made dress!

#harlequinxsophierobinson #athome #colourlover #banthebeige
#AD Admit it! I can’t be the only one beginning #AD Admit it! I can’t be the only one beginning to plan for Christmas. Conversations about the menu for the big day has started with gusto in my family. But my focus is always around creating a magical table setting. This year I’ll be incorporating these classic Christmas tree plates from @by_spode  that set the festive scene without the need to add loads of other fiddly decorations. I’m all about maximum impact, minimum effort this time of year, and I love how this traditional design (85 years old this year) is the perfect touch of nostalgia to accompany my bright Paper straw stripe tablecloth and colourful gloss candle sticks. I then just add simple flowers by snipping some hydrangea heads and popping them in tumblers dotted along the table. Finally bring it all to life with plenty of candlelight. And voila, it’s the perfect table setting for a fantastical festive celebration. Oh, how I wish the Christmas lunch was this easy to prepare! 

#byspode #spode #christmasdecor #christmastable #christmastablesetting #layingthetable #tablescape #christmastablescape #christmastree #christmasdecor #christmasinspiration #banthebeige #colourfulchristmas
I’m so excited to present my new ready made cush I’m so excited to present my new ready made cushion collection, in collaboration with @harlequinfw sold exclusively at @johnlewis 
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Cushions have long been an obsession of mine and I’m so thrilled with this capsule collection for @johnlewis because it combines all the pattern and colour so you can get an instant hit of maximalist spirit by creating any combination that works for you. There is the iconic Sherbert stripe, sitting amongst luxurious embroidered designs and heavily patterned velvets. My personal favourite is the deeply colourful jewel bug design🪲 Which ones yours?!

#cushion #cushioncover #maximalist #maximalistinteriors #bbbinteriors #colourmyhome #colourfulinteriors #colourfuldecor #sofaupholstery #sofaupgrade #livingroomdecor #interiorstyling #interiordesign #harlequinxsophierobinson
TVsnug reveal! We are absolutely loving this roo TVsnug reveal! 

We are absolutely loving this room! What was a tiny north facing kitchen has been transformed into a cosy family room for curling up and watching TV. As the nights draw in and we are hunkering down, this room has all the comfort . Just curling up with a hot chocolate. Heaven.

How we did it…

Firstly I maximised all the space in this 4x3m room by having a corner sofa made to measure. The Grace corner sofa by @loveyourhomeuk is super  comfy but better still upholstered in the glorious Wonderland floral velvet from my collection with @harlequinfw . 

Then for extra comfort and pattern I’ve added plenty of cushions. These are from my new ready made collection available to buy now from @johnlewis . Very excited to se how great they all look together. 
 
The round Dylan footstool, also @loveyourhomeuk , is covered in the striking Sherbert Stripe, and is perfect for a small room, doubling up as a coffee table. This fabrics is so eye catching I love it!

All of this glorious pattern is set off against the deep dark and cocooning  wall colour called Cordoba by @littlegreenepaintcompany . It’s a deep brown, plum colour and feels so rich and enticing. I’m very pleased I took the leap of faith and did the ceiling too. It makes the room feel so cosy. 

All the colours are finally bought together in this glorious painting by @sophieabbottartist . Inspired by the sunsets on our recent holiday to Marrakesh it fills me with fond memories. That and the vintage Moroccan rug from @tateanddarby completes the sultry Marrakech vibes. 

The family absolutely love this room. Could you go this dark. I promise you won’t regret it if you do! Let me know what you think in the comments below 👇 

#Ad contains PR products
#harlequinxsophierobinson
#tvsnug  #banthebeige #colourlover #maximalist #maximalistinteriors #cosyupyourworld #cosyinterior #livingroom #livingroomdecor #colourinspiration #hygge #hyggehome #bbbinteriors
Load More… Follow on Instagram
Sophie Robinson
  • © 2017 Sophie Robinson

    /
  • Contact/
  • About/
  • Design by MW

Don't forget to join!

You're almost inside!

Leave me your best email to sign up for the Webinar