Catherine Martin’s spacious kitchen-diner had a lot going for it – a good layout, generous storage and worktop space – so she kept the basics and used clever touches to update the rest.

When Catherine Martin and her husband Bob bought their 1970s bungalow near Cambridge in 1999, they inherited a roomy, well-designed kitchen-diner with masses of storage, but the décor was shabby and dated. ‘With both of us working full time, decorating wasn’t a priority,’ says Catherine, which is why they ended up living with it for six years.

But when she took a career break, Catherine decided it was the ideal time to give the room a face-lift.

What did you want from your new kitchen-diner?

‘The room desperately needed a fresh, modern revamp. It looked out of date and the colours were drab. But I knew there was no need to rip it all out and start from scratch because the units were still in good condition. I also had lots of storage and didn’t need new appliances – we’d had a new oven fittingly only two years ago – it was just a question of updating the look.

So where did you start?

Unfortunately I didn’t really know where to start! We knew we needed a fresh colour scheme and new flooring through, and we’d decided to paint the unit doors and fit new worktops, but couldn’t make firm decisions.

That’s when I approached Cate Burren from the Cambridge-based interior design company Angel + Blume – I saw their ad in a local magazine. The first visit was free, so I could hear what Cate had to say before committing. She had lots of great ideas and an address book bursting with experienced tradesmen.

Were there any problems?

When the vinyl kitchen flooring and dining area carpet were pulled up, we found the concrete floor was uneven so we had to put down a levelling compound to get it flat enough for the new tiles.

What’s worked best?

I love the subtle combination of colours that Cate suggested. ‘The greeny-grey units contrast beautifully with the red stripe of the curtains and blind in the kitchen.

Also, the brick-red feature wall in the dining area is a lovely touch – it really warms up the room and links it with the kitchen furnishings.

Would you change anything?

As the kitchen is fairly large, I might add an island unit one day or maybe a large moveably trolley to break up the space.

What tips can you offer someone else planning a kitchen update?

Don’t be reluctant to seek professional advice if you’re having trouble deciding what to do. Although I had to pay extra for the design service and for Angel + Blume to run the project, I feel I’ve ended up with lots of stylish touches that I’d never have thought of myself, as well as avoiding expensive wrong decisions – and a lot of stress.

Original article featured in Ideal Home Magazine January 2007.