The Antique Dealer’s Kitchen Vision

Libs Nicholls, an antique dealer with homewares boutiques in the Cotswolds, renovated her 23-year-old kitchen to avoid a 'matchy-matchy' look.

“When my children were small, they could come home to a different kitchen table than the one they’d had breakfast on”

Victorian Pine Dresser as Island

Nicholls used a Victorian pine dresser with marble top, bought for £500, as a central island after nine months of storage.

Delicatessen Stone Counter

She sourced a salvaged stone from a fish counter at a delicatessen for the kitchen counter, adding stainless steel to extend it.

Galvanized Steel Backsplash

Nicholls used a scalloped sheet of galvanized steel from her garden for 16 years as a backsplash, cut by her builder.

“It was sitting in my garden for 16 years”

Ugly Cupboard for Storage

An antique cupboard with worn paint and original framing serves as a broom cupboard and space for lightbulbs.

“We call it the ‘ugly cupboard’ because we can hide the mixer and stuff I don’t want out”

Reclaimed Pantry Doors

Nicholls found 175-year-old Crittall windows in a neighbor’s dumpster and repurposed them as pantry doors after stripping and adding reeded glass.

“Oh my God, I want them back now”

Tabletop Ceiling Texture

Old Dutch market tabletops were fixed overhead with battens to create an authentic rafter look for the ceiling.

“It has given it so much texture”