A Golden IKEA Kitchen Upgrade
For Martha and her husband Ollie, this project was more than just a renovation - it was a labour of love, a creative collaboration and the making of a light-filled family home. Martha, Director of the Paul Smith Foundation, and Ollie, a tree surgeon with a sharp design eye, brought together their shared love of craftsmanship, colour and form to transform a 1968 prefab house in Lewes into a bright, characterful home.
Their new kitchen, created with Made in Ply, sits at the centre of that transformation; a space to pause, gather and feel the warmth of daily life.
Project spec:
Upgrade IKEA kitchen carcass with Formica Just Gold Door Fronts, Drawer Fronts, Panels and Plinths
“Sunset and light were our design brief for the tone of the house - it’s the one thing we never compromised on.”
Can you tell us a little about your home and what drew you to it?
Martha: We wanted to leave London but stay connected to a community. We actually missed out on buying a house two doors up, but loved the feel of the street so much we kept an eye out. Everyone’s at a similar stage of life, kids playing in the park together - there’s a real sense of neighbourly connection.
Ollie: The house itself is a 1968 prefab, part of a small group of homes that all look uniform from the outside but have such individual personalities inside. It had huge potential, even though it was pretty joyless when we found it - everything grey, cold and flat. We knew it needed a complete transformation, but we could see the bones were good.
Can you tell us a little about your home and what drew you to it?
Martha: We wanted to leave London but stay connected to a community. We actually missed out on buying a house two doors up, but loved the feel of the street so much we kept an eye out. Everyone’s at a similar stage of life, kids playing in the park together - there’s a real sense of neighbourly connection.
Ollie: The house itself is a 1968 prefab, part of a small group of homes that all look uniform from the outside but have such individual personalities inside. It had huge potential, even though it was pretty joyless when we found it - everything grey, cold and flat. We knew it needed a complete transformation, but we could see the bones were good.
What kind of atmosphere or mood did you want to create in the kitchen?
Martha: Joy was a word we kept coming back to. The kitchen is literally and emotionally the heart of the house, so we wanted it to feel warm, welcoming and full of light.
Ollie: We completely reoriented the downstairs so you can see straight through from the front to the garden, catching the sunset at the back of the house. We wanted those views and the natural light to guide how the space feels; calm, yet energising.
What kind of atmosphere or mood did you want to create in the kitchen?
Martha: Joy was a word we kept coming back to. The kitchen is literally and emotionally the heart of the house, so we wanted it to feel warm, welcoming and full of light.
Ollie: We completely reoriented the downstairs so you can see straight through from the front to the garden, catching the sunset at the back of the house. We wanted those views and the natural light to guide how the space feels; calm, yet energising.
The flooring is so striking - can you tell us more about how that informed the design?
Ollie: It was really important to us that the flooring helped define the space. We used reclaimed yellow pine floorboards running laterally towards the kitchen, then shifted to a basket-weave of warm quarry tiles underfoot - it feels like a natural transition - but also a subtle moment of choreography.
The basket weave was a nod to 70s West Coast architecture, which we both love. It makes the kitchen feel like a place to pause and gather - not a corridor you just pass through.
The flooring is so striking - can you tell us more about how that informed the design?
Ollie: It was really important to us that the flooring helped define the space. We used reclaimed yellow pine floorboards running laterally towards the kitchen, then shifted to a basket-weave of warm quarry tiles underfoot - it feels like a natural transition - but also a subtle moment of choreography.
The basket weave was a nod to 70s West Coast architecture, which we both love. It makes the kitchen feel like a place to pause and gather - not a corridor you just pass through.
You’ve chosen a bold yellow for the cabinetry - was that an instant decision or something you arrived at?
Martha: Pretty instant. We’d used birch ply from Made in Ply in our old Islington flat, so we already knew the quality and practicality of the material. This time we wanted something with more energy; a nod to the sunset tones we get through the house.
Ollie: It’s that mix of playfulness and purpose. It’s beautiful but also bulletproof - which is exactly what we need with small children!
You’ve chosen a bold yellow for the cabinetry - was that an instant decision or something you arrived at?
Martha: Pretty instant. We’d used birch ply from Made in Ply in our old Islington flat, so we already knew the quality and practicality of the material. This time we wanted something with more energy; a nod to the sunset tones we get through the house.
Ollie: It’s that mix of playfulness and purpose. It’s beautiful but also bulletproof - which is exactly what we need with small children!
Were there any challenges or features that were particularly important to get right?
Ollie: There’s a drainpipe that runs through the wall, so we had to design around that, which was fun. I also really wanted to make the range cooker a focal point, so the cabinetry needed to complement the stainless steel and Smeg fridge, without feeling too utilitarian.
Martha: The flush cabinetry and exposed ply edges are our favourite details. It feels cohesive - like it belongs to the house.
Were there any challenges or features that were particularly important to get right?
Ollie: There’s a drainpipe that runs through the wall, so we had to design around that, which was fun. I also really wanted to make the range cooker a focal point, so the cabinetry needed to complement the stainless steel and Smeg fridge, without feeling too utilitarian.
Martha: The flush cabinetry and exposed ply edges are our favourite details. It feels cohesive - like it belongs to the house.
How was the process of working with Made in Ply?
Martha: We’d worked with them before, so we knew the quality and attention to detail were exceptional.
Ollie: Dan was amazing. You can’t fluster him - calm, patient and pragmatic. We sent through so many drawings and he helped us make sense of every little detail.
How was the process of working with Made in Ply?
Martha: We’d worked with them before, so we knew the quality and attention to detail were exceptional.
Ollie: Dan was amazing. You can’t fluster him - calm, patient and pragmatic. We sent through so many drawings and he helped us make sense of every little detail.
Any words of wisdom for others starting their own kitchen project?
Ollie: Have good people around you - we had brilliant builders who really respected the materials and the craftsmanship.
Martha: And don’t be afraid of colour. Trust your instincts. It doesn’t have to be loud to be full of life.
Any words of wisdom for others starting their own kitchen project?
Ollie: Have good people around you - we had brilliant builders who really respected the materials and the craftsmanship.
Martha: And don’t be afraid of colour. Trust your instincts. It doesn’t have to be loud to be full of life.
Project highlights
- A love letter to mid-century design:
Their sensitive reimagining of a 1968 prefab home, balancing its modernist roots with a Californian warmth and an appreciation for craft and provenance. - Designed to gather:
The kitchen sits at the centre of the reoriented ground floor, connecting the dining and living areas in a seamless flow. - Rhythm and warmth underfoot:
Reclaimed yellow pine floorboards lead laterally towards the kitchen, meeting a basket-weave of warm-toned quarry tiles that ground the space in 1970s authenticity. - A sunset palette:
The bold yellow cabinetry is both practical and uplifting - a joyful counterpoint to the natural textures of wood and tile. Its sunset hue reflects the way light travels through the house. - Craftsmanship and collaboration:
Having worked with Made in Ply on a previous home, they knew the quality and attention to detail would match their creative ambitions.
