When presenter Kevin McCloud met Sarah and Pip back in April 2022 as they took part in the TV series Grand Designs – they were determined to build a forever home where they could live with donkeys, goats, and chickens galore. As the project began, though, it didn’t take long for major problems to arise!
Initially, Kevin estimated the full project would cost £700,000 in total, telling the pair that they’d have to spend £1.1million if they wanted a ‘top-class’ finish.
The structure started as, well, exactly that. A structure. ‘Twas merely the bare bones of a barn. You wouldn’t even call it a shed. When Sarah and Pip first laid eyes on the crumbling 150-year-old barn, they saw more than sagging beams and weathered brick - they saw possibility.
A home where history and modernity would collide, where the kitchen wouldn’t just function but command. Yet when quotes for their dream kitchen space hit a staggering £80,000, they faced a choice: compromise or conquer. They chose the latter!
What emerged wasn’t just a kitchen - it was a masterclass in vision, resourcefulness, and the transformative power of quartz. Here’s how two novices built a luxe, high-impact heart of the home for under £15K and why every splurge, sacrifice, and stroke of genius was worth it.
This wasn’t just any kitchen. It was the soul of a barn conversion - a soaring, double-height space flanked by original timber beams and rough-hewn brick. By far, their biggest challenge, without a doubt, was the budget. By the time they got to the kitchen, they’d spent nearly everything they had on the structural work, and yet they still needed the kitchen to deliver a ‘wow’ factor.
Sarah reflects “It’s right at the heart of the open-plan space, surrounded by original beams and characterful materials, so we knew it couldn’t fade into the background. The challenge was finding the most cost-effective way to create something that felt bold, beautiful, and right for the space - without the bespoke price tag”.
"The room demanded drama," Sarah recalls. "But after structural work, our budget was skeletal. We needed magic on a shoestring."
With bespoke quotes eclipsing £80K and even high-street options halving their remaining funds, the couple made a radical decision: They’d build it themselves. The couple had very little DIY experience going into this and absolutely none when it came to building kitchens! But the most valuable thing they learnt was how to use SketchUp for 3D modelling. As Sarah recalls ‘We’re not experts by any means but being able to mock up layouts and test combinations of materials, colours and proportions gave us the confidence to make clear decisions before spending any money. It really helped us refine the design without second-guessing ourselves”. So, with no prior experience. Just determination, a spreadsheet, and an unwavering refusal to sacrifice style, the couple achieved something incredible!
Sarah and Pip’s genius lay in their curation with mixing humble foundations like cabinetry from a well-known flat pack high street retailer to scratch-and-dent appliance bargains with strategic luxe touches like custom fluted door fronts with hand-burnished brass pulls for handles to the game changer hero statement piece of Minerox Gemini Quartz - Calacatta Bianco Superior.
Total spend? £14,872.
"The quartz was our North Star," Pip reflects. "It distracted from the IKEA base, made the brass sing, and gave us that ‘wow’ moment every time we walked in."
In the space teetering between rustic and refined, quartz bridged the gap with quiet opulence. Sarah and Pip chose Minerox Calacatta Bianco Superior for its soft, organic veining - just enough drama without overwhelming the barn’s raw charm. But beauty was only half the appeal:
"It felt like cheating," Sarah laughs. "We spent pennies compared to a bespoke kitchen, but the quartz made it look like we’d splurged six figures."
Time was their biggest investment with extensive shopping around with every supplier, every quote, every finish went into a spreadsheet. That’s how Sarah & Pip came up with the brilliant combination of IKEA cabinets, Foxstow joinery doors, and Gemini quartz worktops. Pip comments “That mix gave us a custom, high-end finish without the high-end cost. But it took a huge amount of time and research to pull it all together”. The whole kitchen took about six months to complete but was part of a much larger project in converting their entire barn.
A year later, the kitchen remains their pride. "That quartz island still gives me a thrill," Sarah says. "It’s proof that with guts and a little glitter, you can outsmart a tight budget."
📦 Order a free sample & get a quote - see how light plays on the surface in your space.
📞 Book a design consult – with one of our design experts who can help you mix high and low like Sarah & Pip.
Your dream kitchen isn’t about the budget. It’s about the vision. And quartz? That’s your secret weapon.
Interested in a Minerox quartz worktop for your kitchen? Get in touch for a free, no obligation quote today.
Arctic Starburst
Aspen Ice
Capri White
Calacatta Gold Superior
