Team KBB

Tour this gorgeous sage green kitchen in south west London

Posted on 14th March 2025

From dated to desirable, we reveal how this period home was transformed into a charming space exuding a playful, individual character…

“It was a real fixer-upper,” recalls Rob Burnett, co-founder and director of Kitchens by Holloways, of the pretty – but tired and shabby – Victorian terrace, recently purchased by a young family. “It needed a complete renovation to make it suitable for family life once more,” he tells KBB journo Amelia Thorpe.

The estate agent recommended that the new owners contact Kitchens by Holloways. “We had recently renovated his property, so he suggested that they get in touch with us, knowing that we undertake design and build as well as bespoke kitchens and joinery,” explains Rob.

“It made sense to find a company that could handle the whole project to make it as smooth and speedy as possible, which was important since the family had to find somewhere to rent while the work was carried out.”

Closeup of a sage green kitchen with pink walls. — An overhang on the worktop makes space for the Lilley bar stools by Garden Trading. Wine cooler by Siemens. Photography: Enzo Cerri.

The renovation

While the four-bedroom house required a total overhaul, including new electrics and plumbing, it was the ground floor that needed special attention. Featuring a Victorian terrace layout, a double reception room led through to a kitchen on one side at the rear.

“The kitchen was narrow, with an awkward cloakroom added on the opposite side at the end, blocking the access to the garden and leaving a gloomy courtyard in between,” explains Rob. “The owners wanted more space for cooking and dining – and a re-think of the layout to create a lighter, open feel and better sense of flow.”

View through the hallway at the extension with a side glass roof. — A new door to the garden occupies the space where the WC once was.

By adding an extension over the side-return courtyard and removing the cloakroom, they were able to create a wider and more usable kitchen with room for a dining table. “We added as much roof glazing as possible to bring in maximum natural light, which also flows through to the front of the house, creating a brighter feel throughout the entire ground floor,” explains Rob.

At the same time, they renovated the existing conservatory at the rear, added a large glazed door to the garden and built a new utility room and cloakroom in the space between the kitchen and living room at the front of the house.

Open-plan kitchen-diner with sage green cabinetry, a wood dining set and pink wall paint. — Pastel walls make for a warm, inviting dining area. Mini Elbow wall lights, Pooky.

The sage green kitchen design

With plans for the build underway, Rob turned his attention to the design of the kitchen itself. “The brief was to create a design sympathetic to the period character and age of the house, with a contemporary twist,” he explains of the blend of traditionally-made cabinetry and streamlined style.

L-shaped kitchen design with a central island and an adjoining dining area. — A joyful combination of colours brings personality to the newly extended kitchen. Bespoke cabinetry with polished chrome Beehive knobs, Kitchens by Holloways, painted in Sage Green by Dulux Heritage. Walls painted in Dulux Heritage’s Blossom.

“The layout fell into place quite naturally, with a central island as the food preparation and sociable hub. There’s a dining table on one side, and storage and built-in appliances on the other.”

To complete the design, a large fridge-freezer sits into the far wall, framed in symmetrical cabinetry including twin glazed cupboards.

Closeup of a sink and tap, with veiny surfaces and a matching shelf. — Carrara marble splashback and a matching shelf. Flex 3-in-1 tap, Quooker.

The panels in the glazed cupboards are made of rippled glass, a texture that inspired the finish of some of the doors, with each fluted panel surrounded by a classic frame. They are combined with some flat-fronted doors, each section surrounded by a slender frame.

“This creates a subtly elegant detail and highlights the individuality of this kitchen, which also reflects in the imaginative colour choice,” he adds of the soft sage green paint on the cabinets, teamed with warm pink walls and classic Carrara marble worktops and splashback.

Coffee and tea area with glazed cupboards and small countertop appliances. — These sage green kitchen cupboard doors have a chic fluted design.

The main ensuite and family bathroom

A similar approach to individuality continues throughout the house, from the choice of striking colours and wallpaper to unusual finishes, such as the rattan-fronted cupboards in the family bathroom. There are plenty of clever details too, like the former cupboard converted into a shower enclosure in the principal ensuite, and the bed head which doubles as a bookcase in the principal bedroom.

“The joy of a fixer-upper is the potential to transform a house and create a home that really suits your style and the way you like to live – as this project shows,” says Rob.