Our eclectic kitchen mixes industrial influences with domestic touches

When you talk about kitchens, most people's thoughts immediately go to a fully-fitted one.

Given how big our kitchen is, we could have gone that way as an easy option - but that wasn't for me.

I didn't particularly want a fitted kitchen - in fact I'm not keen on anything fitted. 

So with Plan A cast aside, the other challenge was there are three doors on three separate walls in the space.

We had to arrange the kitchen around that as it was too costly to start bricking up doors and changing the configuration. 

But I love a challenge and my history as a trained chef and owner of a catering company really came to the fore with a great solution that was practical and quirky.

I knew that I wanted an industrial influence and what would and wouldn't work. Stainless steel moveable tables are so practical, hygienic and heat proof, so I bought two of these and slotted them either side of the range cooker. 

Open shelving looks contemporary and is quite versatile as it can be changed and moved when desired. Unfortunately with two long haired cats who tend to moult a lot very fine hairs can sometimes drift into dishes etc., To overcome this I put kitchen crockery in containers, lids on pans etc., I also used vintage suitcases for storage and to add a point of interest. 

I added some storage on the wall to keep herbs and spices in, cutlery etc., and put up a metal shelf for glasses and mugs. Again, being conscious of germs and dust I made sure I put these items high up.

My range cooker is great with three separate ovens and overhead extractor fan where I randomly placed vintage jelly and blancmange moulds.

I don't really like ceramic tiles as a splashback so I just painted the wall with wipeable paint. I would like to stick some tin tiles over this at some point.

Next to the stainless steel table is an American style fridge, again this will be changed using 'sticky backed plastic!' ( Only people of a certain age would appreciate that one!) 

Opposite the fridge is my Nan's antique dining table. I particularly wanted to keep this as we used to eat at this table when we were kids and so did my Mum before us. I have very happy memories of my Nan and Grandad and my Nan was a great cook. I can remember eating raw tripe with vinegar on it and didn't bat an eyelid, no wonder I'm a vegetarian! It was brown wood but I didn't want to paint it so I stripped it and limed so that the oak grain still shows through. It's a very versatile table as it can be folded down to give more space. 

It did have four matching chairs but they became rickety and beyond repair, so I just kept one out of sentimentality.

I was very lucky as somebody gave me these gorgeous 1960's G plan dining chairs complete with original vinyl upholstery, they are in perfect condition. 

The island unit is opposite, again all graphite grey which intend to customise using laminate paint one day. 

The lights that hung over the island unit were glass and got broken, I didn't want to spend a fortune on replacing them so I just picked three different shades from Ikea.

Meat safe and larder cupboard

This is the best thing in my kitchen because of the origin, the originality and it's so well made.

It came from lady who is 98 and lives a few doors down from my Mum. 

During the war she kept hens in a huge chicken shed which is still there in her garden.

There was a problem with one of the windows in the chicken shed and she asked me if I would go in and fix it. It was like Aladdin's cave in there, I was in my element rummaging through old stuff. 

Unfortunately most of it was rotten, damp and rusty. 

While I was rooting I unearthed these 1950's kitchen cupboards. They were made by the lady's uncle who had been a time served carpenter. They are beautifully made and very sturdy. 

She had been using them to store garden equipment, plant food, grass seeds etc., Having the cheek of the devil I asked her if I could have them and would replace with new storage cupboards. 

She said that I would be doing her a favour by taking them. She asked " Are you going to do them up?" I replied "No I love them the way they are" 

She was horrified. I brought them home and gave them a good scrub. 

I don't particularly like green, but loved the aged patina, so decided to leave them like that. The meat safe didn't look good directly on the floor so we bought this metal sideboard to put it on. 

So, half the kitchen is industrial and new, the other half is old and shabby. 

The overall look of the kitchen is eclectic with the juxtaposition of the old and new side by side. I love this look and never tire of looking at it.

But the story doesn't end there. 

We thought our generous benefactor may like to view her old kitchen cupboards so I asked her round for a cuppa. She studied the kitchen and said, "Well, I like this new part but you have ruined the other half and looks like a mess!" 

The 'mess' being the half with her old kitchen units in. Rite of passage I guess!