Relocating their kitchen to the front of their Bristol terrace meant Jess and Elliot Booley could maximise their cooking and entertaining space whilst enjoying their garden from the light-drenched living room at the back.

With its vibrant high street edgy arts scene and stock of appealing period homes, Bristol gives Jess and Elliot plenty of reasons to advocate for their hometown. So, when they decided to embark on their first renovation project together, their property search for a doer-up didn’t span too far from where they were living. KBB journo Louise O’Bryan shares the details behind the new kitchen and upstairs makeover…

“We had a lovely apartment in Clifton, and although we loved the location, we wanted more space, a garden and an opportunity to stamp our mark on an entire house, so we started looking in nearby streets,” says Jess.

This elegant Edwardian home with four bedrooms, a pretty south-facing garden and plenty of potential, was just the ticket they needed, however, they didn’t move in immediately. In fact, the couple wouldn’t move in for another four years, making the wise decision to rent the house out until they could afford to renovate it without compromise.

“We did a basic upgrade to get it ready for rental, and stayed in our flat, waiting and making plans for when the time was right for us to move,” says Jess.

Improving the home’s layout

This time and headspace meant they could properly evaluate what they wanted out of their future home, and after many discussions with their architect, they realised that a formulaic terrace house layout was not right for them.

“Typically, these types of homes are extended at the back and into the side return to create a kitchen-diner, but this solution wasn’t going to give us what we wanted, which was a big space,” explains Jess.

“Even by extending into the side return, we wouldn’t have had enough width to fit a large island and dining table, so we decided to move the kitchen to the front of the house to benefit from the generous proportions, the beautiful light from the bay window, and the chance to create a spacious dining area in the adjoining room.”

As the works involved stripping every wall back to bare brick and renewing the entire plumbing system, relocating the kitchen wasn’t going to be an issue. The couple were able to stay within permitted development regulations, too, as they didn’t need to extend into the entire side return. Tailoring the layout to suit their needs allowed them to reconfigure the spaces in smarter ways.

The new space

The entrance hall now leads into the new kitchen area and monochromatic dining room, which then flows into the light-drenched living room at the back of the house, featuring stunning black steel windows that maximise the incoming light.

“We love the refined simplicity of these beautiful doors, and opting for real steel means they will last for many years,” says Jess, whose chic aesthetic of warm neutrals and natural materials is woven through each space.

“I love the calmness of Scandi style; its timelessness lends itself to period properties, allowing old, new, retro and vintage to be combined effortlessly.”

The kitchen design

Simplicity rules in the kitchen too, where the warmth and function of Scandi style is channelled through the pared-back in-frame and Shaker cabinetry in Carbon, the graceful white quartz worktop, and the timeless engineered oak flooring.

“We opted for deep drawers instead of base cupboards, as it’s easier to find things, and items don’t topple out,” says Jess. “The tall units either side of the sink feature a larder cupboard and a coffee station, which was on my husband’s must-have list.”

Elegant arched mirrors add a surprise touch either side of the handsome Elise range by Rangemaster and help to connect the cook with the rest of room through their reflection, while the decorative cornices, ceiling rose and graceful shutters across the bay window bring focus to the heritage touches throughout the space.

“The room’s generous width has given us a large island for food preparation and eating at, while keeping the walls pale ensures the north-facing room always feels light and fresh,” says Jess.

“However, in the evening, we love to turn down the dimmable spotlights, and pop on the table lamps for soft, low-level lighting. It often feels like we are eating in our favourite restaurant, which makes it a truly special place to be.”

Upstairs makeover

The upper floors were also reconfigured, with a redundant box room being transformed into a serene guest shower space, and a spacious dormer loft extension added to create a restful master bedroom with an ensuite. Luxe finishes and soothing tones were then combined to ensure a seamless flow from room to room, with sea-blue tiles and period sanitaryware in the bathrooms retaining a classic feel.

“The gentle paint colour on the bespoke wardrobe doors was inspired by the soothing bathroom tiles, and we also added steel windows onto the Juliet balcony. I love how upstairs mimics downstairs in that way; there’s a subtle consistency throughout that makes each room feel comfortable and familiar,” says Jess.

However, it’s the house’s flexibility that has proven to be the biggest success, with the couple embracing their new spaces by entertaining friends and family. “We love being able to host a crowd in the kitchen and dining room, and then spilling into the bright living room. We also love how the neutral décor creates a real sense of calm. It always sets us up for a good day.”

As originally told to: Louise O’Bryan | Photography: James French | Styling: Marisha Taylor

This house tour was featured in the October 2024 issue of Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine.

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