Building your own kitchen – RUC style

Last year I moved an old house to the farm. It was once a Rugby Union Club, hence I aptly named it the RUC (because I couldn’t think of another name I’m so creative). The RUC is over 100 years old and because it had been vacant for about 8 years (apart from squatters who must have played with guns because they left some lovely bullet holes around the place) it required a lot of work.

I’ve put a few pictures below of the kitchen in case any of you are thinking of building your own (yes – I know you want to, it’s so much work fun!). It still needs a final coat of paint and the skirting boards but it’s very functional.

BEFORE – Sorry it’s a little dark. This must have reflected my mood at the time, knowing how much work fun was involved.

I bought the flat-pack draws, cupboards, bench tops, paint, sink, fixings, wood and flooring from Bunnings (they smile every time I walk into the place).

AFTER – taken from the same angle looking out onto my writer’s nook. The glass in the windows is green but it doesn’t show up in the shot

I put tongue and groove wood on the walls and ceiling and used an old hutch for my pantry.

An old hutch I found at the dump and brought back to life

I found the hutch at the buy-back shop at the local dump. I didn’t get a before picture of it (give myself a stiff uppercut) so you’ll have to use your imagination – it’s was just untreated pine. I removed the glass and replaced it with the same glass that is in my windows. I painted it antique white. In the back of the shed under a load of dust and mud I found some old blue tiles (I’ve always wanted to be an archaeologist) so I cleaned them and grouted them onto the top and back and put one each in the doors.

A close-up of the glass and old tiles – they came up a treat!

Because this place used to be an old club it still has the original bar. This bar is set above my work bench so I actually have two work benches together (space man!)

A view from the lounge room which also features the bar (where I sat last night enjoying a glass of champagne after I took this shot!)

It was a lot of work – but well worth the blood, sweat and tears.

If you’re ever thinking of building your own kitchen I have a load of tips to make things a little easier.