'We created a show-stopping kitchen for under £1,300'

By updating the existing kitchen with statement green paint, patterned tiles and savvy finds, Emma Forrest got her dream scheme at a low cost

- Jane Crittenden

Soon after Emma Maginnis and her husband, Dave, had their second son, they decided to move locally to a bigger family home with a south-facing garden. They discovered this property for sale, which was familiar to Emma. 'I grew-up nearby and remembered the house being built when I was a teenager,' she recalls. 'It had instant wow-factor, with a big hallway, a huge garden backing onto a park and a kitchen extension with an island, which was always the dream.'

Decorated in silver and grey throughout and not to the couple's liking, they began by painting the entrance hall once they moved in. For the first time I went bold with a dark green paint,' says Emma. "The results were so good we began thinking about using green in the kitchen.'

THE PROJECT

A major plus point of the kitchen was the layout and storage, as well as the real wood cupboards being in good working order. There was plenty of space in the extended living area, which had double doors leading out onto decking. However, Emma wanted to brighten up the dull, open-plan room, add warmth and give it a much more homely feel, so she decided to paint the cupboards and walls, rather than spending on replacing the whole kitchen.