Getting crafty in Katherine’s rental kitchen
Tired of your bog-standard kitchen, but not looking to trigger your landlord? You'll want to learn from Katherine's (@katherine_ormerod) latest project 🖌
The landlord was left unfazed by Katherine’s kitchen upcycle 😌
As a former fashion, lifestyle and features journalist and now creative icon, you’re likely no stranger to Katherine’s popular social profile and witty weekly column, 'Every Shade of Grey'. Opting to live in a rental property, Katherine was quick to learn some DIY hacks, such as applying peel and stick vinyl, temporary wallpaper and even hand-crafting curtains. Recently, she used her creative eye and DIY flair to upcycle her kitchen. We sat down with a cuppa to chat through the full process, including all things rental decorating 🎨A fashionable home 👗
“My interior style is pretty similar to my fashion taste – a mixture of high and low, colour and classic print (stripes, checks). Every room in my house is really an exploration of palette and art as I love spaces which feel organised but not pristine.”
Pros of renting 👍
"The pros of renting are really consolation prizes – there’s no point pretending that it’s advantageous to rent from a long term security perspective. I’d still love to own a family home, but you have to cut your cloth and for us, it’s just not been achievable yet.
The pros of renting right now mean that we don’t have to be as concerned about the interest rate rises, but even higher rents will likely follow, so it’s not easy either side of the coin. Renting is also a great way into a new neighbourhood because you get to try locations out without making a massive commitment."Cons of renting ⛔
"The cons are pretty much the same for everyone - the chance that you will be forced to move on mid tenancy and the chance your rent will increase wildly at the end of your term. That insecurity is tough when you have kids, but you do get used to it. Moving is the worst, but you always survive!"
Decor hacks 🖼
"This house has been very special because I put together a proposal for the decoration of the space before I signed the contract and we agreed to do lots of improvements in exchange for a reduced rent. So I’ve been able to paint in agreed colours and really make the space our own.
If you’re not in that position, it’s all about the temporary measures – I love vinyl for work surfaces, white goods and tiles as well as wallpapers. Just cut to size then peel off and go. I’m also a big fan of radiator covers which can be painted and can cover all manner of sins and large scale stretched tapestries to bring texture to a room. 
Can never have enough framed prints 🖼
"I make a lot of soft furnishings – my own tailored curtains and cushions as well as some upholstery and that really creates a depth and warmth to a room. There are so many temporary options which can work beyond just renting – if you can’t afford a new kitchen, marble wrapping for your worktops is impressive these days and so cost effective."
The kitchen makeover 💄
"The kitchen is always the heart of a home and this one was more than a little tired. I wanted to give the cabinets a refresh, so I added MDF strips (affixed with melamine wood glue) to create frames on each surface, turning them into shaker style cabinets which I then painted with specialist melamine paint – ideal for kitchen cabinets to help resist stains.
To add the final flourish I added SCOTT handles from Plank’s gorgeous collection. I then wrapped the surfaces with white marble vinyl and constructed and painted a kitchen island. To bring a touch of femininity, I added wavy trim to the window frame and hatch shelving, then made simple gingham curtains held up with a microscopic rail.""I covered the tiles with patterned tile stickers, added a checked rug and some nice accessories including a scalloped edge lamp and linen tar towels. The final hurdle was swapping out the tap which should have been straightforward but turned into an absolute mission! Not everything you see on YouTube works 🤣"Meanwhile, the kids? 🧒
"Toddlers and band saws just don’t mix. I can do some needlework around the kids, but generally I’ve learnt you have to keep them completely separate! I do all my painting after they go to bed and any drilling / using power tools while they’re at school."
The kids were fast asleep whilst Katherine DIY’d her gingham curtains 🧵
All inspired by art 🎨
"This sounds so cliched but I really try to look outside of social media for inspiration – mostly from art. My kitchen palette was taken from one of my favourite Matisse paintings. There are of course amazing interior designers on there – here's a few I love."Albums on repeat 🔁
“I’m horrendous at music and listen to the same three albums on a loop. Rumours, Born to Run and the Essential James Taylor. Or else I listen to Classic FM. I understand this is neither cool, nor impressive, but I like to be comforted by music especially when I’m up a ladder in the dead of night!"A huge thanks to Katherine for joining us for a TEA BREAK ☕ Why not follow her interiors journey over at @katherine_ormerod?
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