Island Kitchen in Highbury N5. Bespoke kitchen design and installation for victorian terraces, some georgian properties, edwardian houses, mansion blocks and the highbury new park estate. From open-plan kitchen-diners to heritage kitchen restorations.
Kitchen renovation in Highbury transforms the heart of the home. The victorian terraces, some georgian properties, edwardian houses, mansion blocks and the highbury new park estate in Highbury often have separate galley kitchens that can be opened up into spacious kitchen-diners with structural alterations.
Many island kitchens in Highbury involve removing internal walls (requiring structural engineering), extending into side returns or rear gardens, and creating open-plan living spaces. Our in-house kitchen designers, architects and engineers work together from day one.
Desirable residential area in Islington centred around Highbury Fields. Conservation area with handsome Victorian terraces, good schools and a village-like atmosphere around Highbury Barn.
Islington · N5
Kitchen Renovation projects in Highbury may require Islington planning permission depending on the scope of work. As a conservation area, Highbury has additional restrictions on external alterations. Our planning team assesses requirements at the initial consultation and manages all applications.
All kitchen renovation work in Highbury must comply with building regulations. We manage the building control process, from initial notice through inspections to the completion certificate. Our in-house engineers ensure all structural work meets current standards.
Our RIBA architects design kitchen renovation projects in Highbury that respect the character of victorian terraces, some georgian properties, edwardian houses, mansion blocks and the highbury new park estate. Conservation area policies require sympathetic design and appropriate materials. We balance contemporary living requirements with the architectural heritage of the area.
Every kitchen renovation project in Highbury is managed by a dedicated project manager from design through to completion. We coordinate all trades, manage Islington inspections and keep you informed with weekly progress reports. Our fixed-price contracts mean no surprises.
Our in-house planning team has a 97% approval rate across Islington. View our planning track record →
Islington · N5
London's period homes deserve kitchens designed with the same care as the houses themselves. Our in-house designers, architects and build teams create bespoke kitchens that combine handcrafted cabinetry, premium appliances and considered material palettes — delivered on a fixed-price contract from first sketch to final worktop.
A kitchen renovation in a London period home is rarely just a kitchen renovation. It usually involves structural work — removing a load-bearing wall between the kitchen and dining room, opening up to a rear extension, lowering a floor level or relocating services that have been in the same place since the house was built. This is where a design-and-build firm outperforms a kitchen design studio: we handle the architecture, the structural engineering and the construction alongside the kitchen design itself.
Our dedicated kitchen designers work from our Finchley Road studio, surrounded by material samples, stone offcuts, cabinet finish swatches and appliance catalogues from every major manufacturer. They design kitchens that respond to how you actually cook, entertain and live — not kitchens that look good in a brochure but fail the first time you need to carry a roasting tin from the oven to the island without crossing a traffic lane.
We offer three tiers of kitchen specification — Essential, Premium and Luxury — each with a clear price range so you can make informed decisions early. But within every tier, the kitchen is fully bespoke: cabinetry dimensions, door profiles, handle selections, worktop materials, splashback treatments, lighting design and appliance integration are all tailored to your space, your cooking style and your aesthetic preferences.
Every kitchen renovation is delivered under a single fixed-price contract covering design, structural alterations, plumbing, electrics, tiling, flooring, cabinetry, appliances, worktops and decoration. We don't issue a kitchen quote and then add extras for building work — it's all one price, agreed before we start.
Every kitchen layout starts with the work triangle — the relationship between hob, sink and fridge. We then optimise for storage, circulation, seating and the way your household actually uses the room.
Two runs along adjacent walls, opening the room for a dining table or island. The most versatile layout for London's Victorian and Edwardian rear extensions.
Best for: side-return extensions, open-plan dinersA central island combines prep space, seating and storage with a perimeter run behind. The aspirational London kitchen layout — requires at least 4m width for comfortable circulation.
Best for: rear extensions, open-plan kitchen-dinersTwo parallel runs in a narrower space — the most efficient layout for smaller London kitchens. Minimises wasted movement and maximises worktop and storage within a compact footprint.
Best for: narrow rooms, apartments, cottagesA structured process that gives you complete clarity at every stage — no surprises, no ambiguity, no "we'll figure that out on site" moments.
We visit your home, measure the existing kitchen and any adjoining spaces, photograph the room from every angle and discuss your brief in detail. How do you cook? Do you entertain? Do the children do homework at the island? Do you need a utility area? A pantry? We want to understand how this room functions in your daily life — not just how you'd like it to look. If structural alterations are involved (wall removal, extension, floor lowering), our architects and engineers assess feasibility at this stage.
Our kitchen designer produces a full concept layout: plan view, elevations and photorealistic 3D renders showing your kitchen from multiple angles with your chosen cabinetry style, worktop material, splashback and flooring. You'll see exactly where every appliance sits, how the lighting scheme works, where the bins live and how the drawers are organised. We present two to three layout options and refine your preferred direction based on feedback. Materials and finishes are selected from physical samples in our studio.
The existing kitchen is carefully stripped out — including any walls, floors or services that are being altered. If your project involves removing a load-bearing wall (the most common structural element in a kitchen-diner conversion), our engineers' steelwork is installed during this phase. New drainage routes, gas supplies, electrical circuits and water feeds are roughed in to the positions specified in the design. This is the messiest phase — typically one to two weeks — after which the space is clean, level and ready for the kitchen installation.
Cabinetry is delivered and installed by our specialist kitchen fitters — not general carpenters. Worktops are templated, fabricated and fitted (stone worktops require a template visit after cabinet installation to ensure a perfect fit). Appliances are connected, tiling and splashbacks completed, flooring laid, second fix electrics and plumbing finished, and the kitchen is decorated. Lighting is commissioned — including under-cabinet, pendant and any architectural lighting — and the final clean brings everything to handover standard.
We conduct a thorough snag inspection before inviting you to walk through the finished kitchen. Every detail is checked: drawer alignment, door gaps, worktop joints, grouting, appliance function, light dimming, tap flow and socket positions. Any items are resolved before formal handover. You receive a complete kitchen pack: appliance manuals and warranties, material care guides, paint and grout references, and our 12-month defects liability guarantee.
Guide prices for complete kitchen renovations in London. Every tier includes design, all building work, cabinetry, worktops, appliances, tiling, flooring and decoration.
Every material has trade-offs. This guide compares the six most popular worktop options we install in London kitchens.
| Material | Price / sqm | Durability | Heat Resistance | Maintenance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz | £250 – £500 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | Very low — non-porous, no sealing | Busy family kitchens, low-maintenance luxury |
| Granite | £250 – £450 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Low — seal annually | Heavy-use kitchens, hot pan tolerance |
| Marble | £350 – £800 | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | High — porous, stains, etches with acid | Statement islands, baking, period kitchens |
| Dekton / Neolith | £350 – £600 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Very low — UV stable, scratch-proof | Indoor-outdoor kitchens, minimal aesthetic |
| Solid Wood | £150 – £350 | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | Medium — oil regularly, sand scratches | Cottage & country kitchens, prep islands |
| Corian | £300 – £500 | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | Low — seamless joints, repairable | Seamless sinks, curved designs, hygiene |
A typical 10-week kitchen renovation programme for a mid-range to premium project with structural alterations.
London kitchens are often compact — but a well-designed small kitchen can outperform a poorly planned large one. Five strategies we use to maximise every square metre.
Two parallel runs with carefully zoned work triangle — the most efficient layout for narrow London kitchens under 10sqm.
Clean, flush fronts with push-to-open or J-profile rails eliminate handle protrusion, making narrow spaces feel wider and more streamlined.
Panel-fronted dishwashers, fridges and microwaves sit flush with cabinetry — eliminating visual clutter and creating a seamless run.
Internal pull-out larders, corner carousels, drawer dividers and under-sink organisers recover up to 30% more usable storage.
Opening the rear wall with bi-fold or sliding doors floods the kitchen with natural light and extends the living space visually into the garden.
Use this table to understand which kitchen layout suits your space, lifestyle and budget.
| Layout | Min Space | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L-Shaped | 12 sqm | Side-return extensions, open-plan diners | Versatile, natural work triangle, room for dining table | Corner storage can be awkward without carousel solutions |
| Island | 18 sqm | Rear extensions, kitchen-diners, entertaining | Social centrepiece, extra storage and prep space, seating | Requires 4m+ width for comfortable circulation |
| Galley | 7 sqm | Narrow rooms, apartments, Victorian terraces | Most efficient workflow, maximises storage in compact spaces | Can feel enclosed, limited seating options |
| U-Shaped | 14 sqm | Dedicated kitchen rooms, period properties | Maximum worktop and storage, three-sided work zone | Can feel closed-in, needs careful lighting design |
| Open-Plan | 25 sqm | New extensions, whole-floor remodels | Connects kitchen, dining and living, light and spacious | Cooking smells and noise carry, requires good extraction |
What separates a Hampstead Renovations kitchen from a kitchen design studio or a builder with a catalogue.
Kitchen design studios design but don't build. Builders build but don't design. We do both — which means the kitchen is designed knowing exactly how the structural work, services and finishes will be delivered. No handoff gaps, no miscommunication, no surprises.
Every kitchen is rendered in photorealistic 3D before any work begins. You see exactly how your stone, cabinetry, lighting and appliances work together — and can make changes at no cost while the design is still on screen.
Most London kitchen renovations involve removing at least one wall. Our in-house structural engineers design the steelwork, our builders install it and the kitchen designer plans around it from the start. One contract, one price, one team.
We hold accounts with Miele, Gaggenau, NEFF, Bosch, Sub-Zero, Wolf, Fisher & Paykel, Bora, Quooker and more. Trade pricing is passed directly to you — typically 15–25% below retail.
We source, template and install marble, granite, quartzite and Dekton worktops. Our stone specialist accompanies you to the yard to hand-select your exact slab — no surprises with veining or colour.
Under-cabinet task lighting, pendant features, recessed ceiling spots and architectural accent lighting are designed as part of the kitchen — not bolted on as an afterthought.
In Victorian and Georgian homes, we design kitchens that respect the building's proportions — ceiling heights, sightlines and joinery detailing that acknowledge the property's period character.
We design adjacent utility rooms, boot rooms and walk-in pantries as part of the kitchen scheme — maximising working storage and keeping the main kitchen uncluttered.
Multi-room audio, smart lighting control, boiling/chilled water taps and integrated charging stations designed into the kitchen from the outset — wired, not retrofitted.
We install electric or wet underfloor heating beneath kitchen flooring as standard on most projects — eliminating radiators and freeing up wall space for cabinetry.
Integrated waste sorting, recycling drawers and composting solutions designed into the cabinetry — because bin placement is one of the most underestimated details in kitchen design.
Selected kitchen renovations completed by our design-and-build team across London.
Full side-return extension creating a 35sqm open-plan kitchen-diner with bespoke island, Gaggenau appliances and Calacatta marble worktops.
Handpainted Shaker kitchen with integrated pantry, natural stone floor and period-appropriate joinery details in a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse.
High-specification galley kitchen with German handleless cabinetry, integrated Miele appliances and Dekton worktops in a compact but beautifully optimised layout.
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Visit Hampstead On Demand →We spent months going round kitchen design studios and getting quotes that didn't include the building work. Hampstead Renovations quoted one fixed price for everything — the wall removal, the steelwork, the electrics, the kitchen itself and the decoration. The 3D renders were so accurate that the finished kitchen looked identical to what we'd approved on screen.
The designer spent a full morning understanding how we cook before drawing a single line. The island positioning, the pan drawer layout, the concealed spice rack next to the hob — these aren't details you get from a catalogue kitchen. Six months on and every single design decision has proven right.
Our galley kitchen in a small Victorian terrace was transformed into something that works brilliantly despite only being 12 square metres. They managed to fit in a full-height fridge-freezer, integrated dishwasher, oven stack and more drawer storage than we had in our old kitchen which was twice the size. Exceptional space planning.
Common questions from London homeowners planning a kitchen renovation.
Use these area-specific guide pages to compare the next build routes, planning questions and cost topics people commonly research in Highbury N5.
Visit our Finchley Road studio to see material samples, discuss your vision and receive expert guidance on layout, specification and budget — completely free and with no obligation.
Bring your kitchen ideas, Pinterest boards or floor plans to our NW3 studio for a complimentary design discussion with our kitchen team.
Book Kitchen ConsultationOur design studio is 20 minutes from Highbury. Islington planning specialists.