“We haven’t spent that amount on anything to do with our house before, but for what we got, I think it’s an incredibly good value,” homeowner Zed Gant says.

For a decade, Zed Gant postponed a much-needed renovation of her London kitchen because, technically , it’s not hers. The art therapist, along with her husband and two sons, live in the first-floor flat of a 1930s house owned by a family member. Though they expect to inhabit the Wandsworth apartment for the foreseeable future, it’s not their forever home. Zed simply couldn’t justify investing in an impermanent residence—but then lockdown happened.

When the foursome were forced to spend extra time in their cluttered cook space, they knew they needed to make a change. And with a bit of research, they discovered a solution to their conundrum that had been available all along: a modular cabinetry system that could be transferred to and reconfigured in their next place. “Now that I realize it’s possible, we should have done this years ago,” Zed reflects.

A collection of coral and golden yellow cupboards now provide both generous storage and Zed’s desired vibrant aesthetic, while a lavender and birch open-shelving unit allows her to display beloved items such as her father’s pottery. This contemporary color blocking is juxtaposed with antique treasures and quirky, gallery-like hanging art. With a vivid green backdrop and sunlight flowing through the ornate original glass, it’s the ideal union of old and new.

BEFORE: “The old kitchen was perfectly functional; there just wasn’t anything I liked about it,” Zed remembers of the overcrowded room.