West Kilbride Kitchen Renovation
Project Overview
This West Kilbride project began with a homeowner who already had a clear vision for their new kitchen, along with a pre-selected kitchen design and flooring. Cutwood Joinery were brought in to manage and deliver the full installation, taking the room back to shell and rebuilding it to suit the new layout and specification.
Our role was to handle everything around the kitchen and flooring supply – including strip-out, reboarding and plastering, first- and second-fix electrics and plumbing, precise installation of the new cabinetry, and all finishing joinery.
As part of the wider upgrade, we also fitted new radiators throughout the downstairs, improving comfort and efficiency across the main living spaces. Additionally, we installed a new loft hatch & ladder.
The result is a clean, contemporary kitchen that integrates perfectly with the rest of the ground floor. While the client’s own kitchen and flooring choices set the look, Cutwood’s all-trades management and attention to detail ensured the installation was completed to a high standard, on programme and ready for the family to enjoy.
Client Brief
The clients wanted:
- A calm, modern kitchen with a mix of painted cabinetry and warm wood tones
- Much better storage and organisation – tall larder units, hidden appliances and proper pantry space
- A layout that worked for everyday family life and entertaining, with clear circulation space
- The room taken back to bare walls and rebuilt properly – new ceilings, electrics, plastering and finishes
- Improved loft access above the kitchen for extra household storage
As with all our high-ticket projects, the expectation was for Cutwood to look after design, planning, all trades and project management from start to finish.
Our Solution
We proposed a full strip-out and reconfiguration:
- Remove all existing units, worktops, tiles and boxing
- Reboard and plaster the walls and ceilings for a clean, level starting point
- Re-wire the room with new lighting layout, sockets and appliance points
- Install a new, insulated loft hatch and ladder for safe storage access above
- Fit a bespoke kitchen: tall appliance wall, feature oak elements and large central island run
- Lay a continuous herringbone timber floor to visually link the kitchen with the rest of the ground floor
- Finish with subtle, warm lighting and simple wall colours to let the cabinetry and flooring shine
Throughout the project, our team coordinated all trades – joinery, plumbing, electrics, plastering and decorating – so the client dealt with one point of contact and one clear programme.
Before: Stripped Back to Shell
The first phase was to strip everything out:
- Existing cabinets, worktops and appliances removed
- Old splashback areas hacked off, damaged plaster cut out
- Services exposed and rationalised in preparation for the new layout
- Existing tiled floor assessed and prepared for the new herringbone finish
At this stage the room was essentially an empty shell – bare walls, exposed pipework and wiring – ready for Cutwood to rebuild it to modern standards.
We also took the opportunity to install a new insulated loft hatch and timber ladder in the circulation area, giving the household safe, easy access to new storage space above.
During: Rebuilding the Space
With the room stripped out, we moved into the construction phase:
- Ceilings reboarded and plastered, ready for a new grid of recessed LED downlights
- Walls repaired, lined and plastered to provide a perfect surface for painting and tall cabinetry
- First-fix electrics run for ovens, induction hob, extractor, fridge/freezer, wine cooler and general sockets
- Plumbing adjusted and brought to the correct positions for the new sink and appliances
Carcasses and tall units were then assembled and dry-fitted on site to fine-tune the layout before final fixing. You can see this clearly in the progress photos – a full wall of tall oak units, with painted feature doors and open shelving starting to take shape.
The Finished Kitchen
The completed kitchen is a calm, contemporary space that feels tailored to the home:
- A full height appliance & storage wall with painted shaker fronts hides ovens, fridge/freezer and pantry storage
- Warm oak-effect cabinetry and open shelving add texture and soften the run of tall units
- A discreet wine cooler is built into the end of the tall bank – ideal for entertaining
- New herringbone timber flooring (running through to the adjacent zone) ties the whole space together and adds a boutique feel
- Recessed LED downlights provide clean, even light, with potential for under-cabinet/task lighting if desired
- Freshly plastered ceilings and walls keep the room feeling light and modern, ready for the client’s own styling
The result is a space that works equally well for cooking, family time and hosting friends – a huge step up from the tired, cluttered room we started with.
Scope of Works
- Full kitchen strip-out and disposal
- Removal of existing wall tiles, boxing and redundant services
- New insulated loft hatch and timber loft ladder installation
- Ceiling re-boarding and plastering
- Wall repairs, lining and plastering
- First- and second-fix electrics (lighting, sockets, appliance feeds)
- First- and second-fix plumbing for sink and appliances
- Supply and installation of all kitchen carcasses, doors and internal fittings
- Custom tall unit and open shelving details
- Supply and fit of new herringbone floor to kitchen and adjacent area
- Skirting and finishing joinery
- Final decoration to walls and timberwork (where included in the package)
- Full clean down and handover
All work was carried out under our usual project management, with sequencing carefully planned to minimise disruption and keep the programme on track.
Challenges & How We Resolved Them
- Existing services and previous alterations
As with many older kitchens, previous works had left a mixture of ad-hoc wiring and pipework. We rationalised all services, bringing everything up to current standards before closing in the walls. - Integrating storage and circulation
The room had to stay practical for everyday use, not just look good in photos. Careful planning of tall units, door swings and the position of the new loft ladder ensured circulation stayed generous and access remained clear.
Outcome
The clients now have:
- A high-end kitchen that feels like part of a modern, open-plan living space rather than a separate, tired room
- Properly organised storage, with clutter hidden away and worktops kept clear
- A warm, inviting room that adds both lifestyle and resale value to the property
- Confidence that everything behind the scenes – structure, electrics, plumbing and finishes – has been done correctly by a single, coordinated team
Thinking About a New Kitchen of Your Own?
Cutwood Joinery specialises in fully project-managed kitchen renovations across Kilmarnock, Ayrshire & Glasgow – from design and layout planning through to final handover.
If you’d like to:
- Replace a tired kitchen with something that truly suits how you live
- Combine kitchen, dining and living space into one multi-purpose room
- Work with one team who manages all trades, scheduling and quality
