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Granite Transformations helps double kitchen in TV project
It's tougher than ever for homeowners to move up the property ladder, which has prompted most people to adopt an 'improve not move' mindset, focusing on home improvement instead. Channel 4 series 'Double Your House For Half The Price', hosted by Sarah Beeny, takes this one stage further, showing viewers how to make the most of property they already own, by extending every which way and maximising their living space.
Home makeover experts, Granite Transformations, which makes and installs replacement work surfaces and cabinet doors for kitchens and bathrooms, is at the forefront of the 'improve not move' trend, typically transforming customers' properties in just a day or so. Thus it welcomed an opportunity to become involved in an expansive rebuild project for Double Your House..., supplying its best-selling Black Star worktop material and Brillante 'mosaics on a mattress' splashbacks for a major kitchen extension in Hinckley, Leicestershire.
House owner Mark Ricketts wrote to GT asking for help with the new breakfast bar and kitchen units, at the suggestion of Sarah Beeny, who used Granite Transformations' material on her Rise Hall renovation and loves the brilliant finish. Mark was looking for something 'black with sparkles', which more or less described Black Star, a deep black recycled glass finish with fragments of mirror fleck that actually sparkle under halogen lighting.
Living in what Sarah Beeny described as 'an undersized home for quite a big plot', Mark and wife Francesca took the TV programme's advice and added huge extensions at the side and rear of the home, virtually doubling its size and adding substantially to the value. The kitchen was brought through into the rear extension, creating a huge open plan living space with bi-fold glazed patio doors and a large roof light admitting massive amounts of natural daylight.
The open plan kitchen-diner is zoned by a large breakfast bar, which divides the living space and allows for informal eating and family chat. The diamond-polished black worktops work well with the extensive glass mosaic splashbacks, plain white kitchen units, and black glazed appliances.
As with all of its domestic makeovers, Granite Transformations' own fitters undertook the installation work, first measuring up and templating the worktops, then carrying out the installation work and laying the mosaic tiles, all within a single day, in line with the tight filming schedule. The high recycled content of the composite glass surfaces, including the mosaic tiles, also attuned with Mark's interest in 'all things green', additionally demonstrated in solar roof panels and eco-friendly underfloor heating installed in the new extension.
The finished effect is supremely stylish, whether viewed from within or outside the glazed extension, and Mark, Francesca and show presenter Sarah were highly satisfied with the outcome. What's more, Granite Transformations also provides a lifetime warranty on the materials.
T: 01892 509680
W: www.granitetransformations.co.uk
5th April 2013