Open-Plan Kitchen Renovation
Brentwood, Essex
Before: stripped back and ready The clients had lived with a dark, closed-off Victorian layout for years — a galley kitchen separated from a narrow dining room by a load-bearing wall. They wanted a single, flowing space to cook, eat and spend time together as a family, with proper room for guests and a kitchen island that could serve as the heart of the home. The challenge was to achieve all of this without disrupting the structural integrity of the original building.
RSJ installation in progress With the rooms stripped back to brick and timber, our team installed a full-width RSJ steel beam to carry the load previously held by the party wall. Every brick removed was accounted for, and the temporary propping was managed with precision to ensure the structure above remained safe throughout. This is the phase most contractors underestimate — we treat it with the care it deserves.
Bespoke island with bar seating With the open space secured, our joinery and fit-out team installed a bespoke kitchen with handleless cabinets, integrated appliances and a solid-surface worktop that wraps seamlessly around the room. The centrepiece is a large island in a contrasting dark tone — fitted with an induction hob, wine cooler and bar seating for four. Every detail was agreed with the client and installed to a standard that will last for decades.
Finished kitchen — handover day Once the joinery was in, our plastering, flooring and decorating trades followed in tight sequence. Engineered oak flooring runs throughout, unifying the kitchen and dining areas. Walls were skim-plastered and finished in a warm off-white, and a new full-height bifold doorway was framed and finished to open the space directly onto the garden. The result is a home that feels entirely transformed.
The finished project.
We'd waited years to do this properly, and Claremont made it worth the wait. The whole team were professional from day one — the steelwork was done without a hint of drama, the kitchen is exactly what we imagined and the finish throughout is exceptional. We'd recommend them without hesitation.
Your project could be next.
Let's talk about what you'd like to build — and how we can make it exceptional.