Corstorphine Flat Renovation: Open-Plan Kitchen and New Ensuite

This Corstorphine flat renovation reorganised the existing layout to create a bright open-plan kitchen and living room, an additional bedroom with a private ensuite and more practical kitchen storage. The project demonstrates how a carefully planned home renovation in Edinburgh can transform an existing property without increasing its external footprint.

The renovation involved relocating the kitchen, removing an internal brick wall and introducing new plumbing and drainage connections. Original floorboards were reused to integrate the altered areas, while a bespoke curved pantry added storage without interrupting movement through the room.

The result is a considerably more functional home that makes better use of the available floor area. It demonstrates the possibilities of carefully planned property renovations in Edinburgh, particularly in the top-floor flats found throughout Corstorphine.

For homeowners considering an apartment renovation in Edinburgh, this project illustrates the benefits of coordinating building alterations, kitchen installation, bathroom fitting and bespoke joinery as part of one managed refurbishment.

Reconfiguring the Existing Flat for Open-Plan Living

The original arrangement separated the kitchen and living room, limiting natural light and making the principal living spaces feel disconnected.

To create the new layout, we removed the non-load-bearing brick wall dividing the two rooms. This formed one larger space with enough room for a new kitchen, central island, dining area and comfortable living zone.

Although the wall was not load-bearing, its removal still required controlled demolition and careful making good around the ceiling, walls and floor. Services also had to be rerouted to suit the kitchen's new location.

The completed open-plan layout provides a much clearer connection between cooking, dining and relaxing while allowing daylight to travel more freely through the flat.

Internal reconfiguration is a common feature of Edinburgh property renovations, particularly where older layouts no longer suit the way homeowners use their living spaces. By coordinating the wall removal, service alterations and subsequent kitchen installation, we were able to create a more practical arrangement within the existing structure.

Creating a Seamless Floor Transition

Removing the wall left a break in the existing floor where the masonry had previously stood. Rather than introducing a visibly different material, we carefully reused original floorboards from elsewhere in the property.

The reclaimed boards were fitted into the affected area to create a more consistent transition between the former kitchen and living room. This helped the new open-plan arrangement feel like a single room rather than two spaces that had simply been joined together.

Retaining and reusing existing materials can be particularly valuable during a home refurbishment in Edinburgh, where original timber flooring and other period details contribute to the character of a property. Here, careful joinery helped integrate the new layout with the existing interior.

Kitchen Installation Edinburgh: A New Open-Plan Kitchen

The relocated kitchen was designed to become the focal point of the enlarged living space. Its position allows the person using the kitchen to remain connected to the dining and seating areas rather than working in a separate room.

A large kitchen island provides additional preparation space, storage and a natural social centre within the room. Its proportions and position were carefully considered to preserve comfortable movement around the kitchen.

The finished arrangement provides a practical working layout while maintaining the open character of the wider living area.

For homeowners planning a kitchen installation in Edinburgh, this project demonstrates the advantages of considering the kitchen alongside the wider layout of the property. Relocating the kitchen required coordinated building work, plumbing alterations, new drainage connections and carefully planned cabinetry.

Rather than treating kitchen fitting as an isolated installation, we incorporated it into the wider flat renovation. This allowed the new kitchen, central island, bespoke pantry and adjoining living space to be designed and constructed as one connected project.

Learn more about our approach to kitchen renovation and installation in Edinburgh.

Bespoke Joinery Edinburgh: A Custom-Built Curved Pantry

Additional kitchen storage was provided through a custom-built pantry positioned at the edge of the new kitchen.

The unit was designed with a curved external corner, softening its transition into the adjoining circulation space. This made it possible to introduce substantial storage without creating an abrupt obstruction or making the open-plan room feel crowded.

The finished pantry combines practical internal storage with a distinctive piece of bespoke joinery tailored to the shape and movement of the room.

This is an example of how bespoke joinery in Edinburgh can address the practical challenges of an individual property. Unlike standard kitchen cabinetry, the curved pantry was designed specifically for its position, providing additional storage while maintaining comfortable circulation around the open-plan space.

Our approach to property renovation brings building work and made-to-measure joinery together, allowing fitted furniture and storage to be incorporated into the overall design rather than added as an afterthought.

Installing New Waste Connections for the Relocated Kitchen

Relocating the kitchen introduced a practical challenge: there was no suitable gravity drainage connection in its new position.

To resolve this, a pumped waste system was installed to carry wastewater from the kitchen sink through the attic to the available drainage connection. The pipework and equipment were carefully coordinated with the kitchen installation so they remained accessible without detracting from the finished interior.

This allowed the kitchen to occupy the position best suited to the new layout rather than allowing the original plumbing arrangement to dictate the design.

For more extensive property renovations in Edinburgh, changes to the kitchen or bathroom layout frequently involve alterations to existing services. Coordinating plumbing, drainage, electrical work and construction from the outset is essential when creating a completely different internal arrangement.

Converting the Former Kitchen into an Additional Bedroom

Once the kitchen had been relocated, its former room was converted into an additional bedroom with a private ensuite.

The conversion required new hot and cold water supplies, bathroom waste connections and ventilation. A 120mm opening was cored through the external wall so the new WC could be connected to the existing soil stack.

Because the drainage work was situated on the upper level of the building, scaffolding was required to install the external pipework safely.

Creating an additional bedroom without extending the property was one of the most significant benefits of this home renovation in Edinburgh. By reconsidering the existing layout, we were able to increase the usable accommodation while retaining a generous open-plan kitchen and living area.

This approach can be particularly effective for apartment renovations in Edinburgh, where extending the external footprint is often impractical or impossible.

Bathroom Renovation Edinburgh: Creating the New Ensuite

The new ensuite was fitted with a shower, WC and basin, giving the additional bedroom its own self-contained bathroom facilities.

Forming a bathroom in the former kitchen required the layout of the sanitaryware, pipework and enclosure to be carefully coordinated within the available footprint. The result is a compact but comfortable ensuite that adds useful accommodation without compromising the rest of the flat.

The work formed part of the wider bathroom installation and internal reconfiguration of the property.

Unlike a straightforward bathroom remodel in Edinburgh, creating an entirely new ensuite in a different part of a property can require substantial changes to plumbing, drainage and ventilation. In this case, the new bathroom also required an external soil connection and scaffolding to complete the drainage installation.

By managing the bathroom installation alongside the wider renovation, we could coordinate the new services, building work and internal finishes without requiring the homeowner to organise separate contractors for each stage.

The Completed Corstorphine Renovation

The completed project makes significantly better use of the flat's existing footprint.

The previously separated kitchen and living room now form a bright, sociable open-plan space centred around a generous island. The bespoke curved pantry adds valuable storage, while the careful reuse of original floorboards provides a cohesive transition between the altered rooms.

Relocating the kitchen also made it possible to create an additional bedroom with its own ensuite, increasing the flexibility of the home without extending its external footprint.

This is an example of how a carefully coordinated Edinburgh flat renovation can improve layout, storage and accommodation within the existing structure.

From the initial wall removal and kitchen relocation through to the new ensuite, drainage installation and bespoke joinery, each element was planned as part of a complete property refurbishment.

Planning a Home Renovation in Edinburgh?

Johnstone Joinery & Building is an Edinburgh building company providing fully managed residential renovations, structural alterations, kitchen and bathroom installations, and bespoke joinery.

Whether you're planning a flat refurbishment, a whole house renovation in Edinburgh or a complete house renovation, Martin can coordinate the building work and specialist trades involved. Our approach brings the different construction stages together under one experienced team.

If you're comparing builders in Edinburgh or looking for a building company to manage a substantial property renovation, explore more of our completed renovation projects or contact Johnstone Joinery & Building to discuss your property.