Back in the summer of 2017, the star of BBC's The Little Paris Kitchen programme and Editor-in-Chief of her online lifestyle website Khoollect, Rachel Khoo, decided to renovate her ground floor apartment in Bethnal Green, London. We take a tour around the multi-functioning, all-purpose home. 

The Croydon-born, 37-year-old has always lived in small spaces starting off in Paris and then moving to Hoxton, London to eventually settle in Kensal Green. The British cook bought the one-bed Victorian garden flat for £535,000 but realised it needed extensive work to make it into the two-bed flat that she really needed.

The 560-square-foot flat was going to be a challenge to renovate, but being a master of the multi-functional space, Rachel had plenty of ideas. The project had a small budget of £150,000, so the most cost-effective way to extend the property was with a standard side return extension. Rachel also had a few changes to make to the interior design...

By switching the bathroom from the end of the flat to the middle and extending to the side, Rachel created a larger area for the open-plan kitchen and living space that leads out to the garden. The old living room and bedroom were opened up to make a multi-functional bedroom/studio with a movable wall disguised as a bookshelf. Let's see how the re-design turned out...

Sometimes the hallway can be a forgotten space and having a stylish entrance sets the tone for Rachel's flat. Classic tiles and rich blue paint give it an old-world glamour feel. Offset with gold lamps, door handles and light switches, the design has made the hallway a statement feature complete with a graphic chequerboard tiled floor.

It was clear from the start of the project that the extended kitchen and living space would be the hub of the Khoollect HQ Studio. The project involved knocking two rooms into one and extending out into the side return, so that one large space was created for the new kitchen and living area big enough for camera crews on shoot days.

Before the refurb, the dark blue paint made the old living room feel small and cramped. The workspace also wasn't sufficient for Rachel, so she decided to move the new studio to the lounge at the front of the flat.

Due to the open-plan nature of the new design, Rachel wanted something extra special to transform the kitchen-cum-living-room from a place of work to a cosy, homely space. She chose a few key pieces to bring the tiny spot together, including a vintage rug, vintage chandelier and a squashy sofa filled with an abundance of cushions and throws.

To add an art deco feel to what is essentially a white room Rachel added the brass mirrored cabinet (pictured left), which took six men to get into the flat. It adds a vintage touch and comes in handy to display all the crockery that she has collected over the years.

For a TV chef, there is no place more important than the kitchen and the area needed a major overhaul if the team were to use it for shooting.

Before the side extension and re-design the kitchen space was small, dingy and used little colour. By choosing to create one large space for the kitchen and living area it transformed the flat into a much more usable space, with the flexibility that she needed for the space to function as a working studio.

To gain more light in the space, she added three roof windows which have turned the once-dark space into a light and bright area. The bi-fold doors which lead out into the paved garden also provide the perfect natural light for shooting with her team.

The new design, a modern country look with a twist, has always been a dream for Rachel and it forms a beautiful backdrop for all the essential ingredients she needs and quirky kitchen equipment she's amassed over the years.

The timeless Shaker-style cabinets from deVOL kitchens, open shelving and stylish ceramic sink bring the whole room together and offer practical storage solutions to keep clutter out of sight for shoots.

Rachel has used all her small-space tricks to make the square-footage work harder; this kitchen island extension is made from two coffee tables that rachet up when she needs more counter space. See our space-saving hacks for tiny kitchens if you're feeling inspired! 

As the rest of the kitchen is so colourful and bright with the use of a custom shade from Little Greene Paint Company, the floor needed something a little more muted. The slate floor continues into the garden, helping to elongate the space.

Before the renovation, the front of the house was divided into a lounge and bedroom but Rachel really needed it to work as a multi-functional work and living space, with room for a bed that she can use when she wants to stay in the flat overnight.

As the area was split into two separate rooms, the best idea for the new design was to knock down the middle wall to make a multi-functional space.

The new space is filled with bespoke storage spaces, including a fold-down bed complete with lamps, shelves and USB plugs.

A huge bespoke bookcase complete with fold-down work desks stands where the old dividing wall used to be. Built on wheels, the unit moves aside to open up the space into one large room.

Cool convertible furniture adds possibilities to the smallest of spaces, and this navy blue ottoman transforms into a single bed for when extra guests are staying. Much like the other rooms in the house it changes from day-to-day. 

Perfect for guests and decorated with its very own vintage wallpaper to help separate it from the studio, the space behind the moving bookcase doubles-up as another bedroom for when Rachel has visitors.

As the smallest space in the property, the bathroom was the biggest challenge. The original layout and design had limited light and is the most restricted space in the entire flat. However, when Rachel lived in 'The Little Paris Kitchen', she had an even smaller bathroom and still managed to squeeze in a mini washing machine, a tiny tub, toilet and a sink. Now, all these years later she was able to take on the giant task of renovating this one.

Taking inspiration from all the places she'd lived, Rachel was able to combine everything that she'd learned. One of her top tricks? To snoop around boutique hotel bathrooms as they are experts at utilising a small space while still giving it a luxury feel. With this ethos in mind combined with the idea that the more floor you see, the bigger the room looks, she settled on a wall-hung toilet and a sink with chrome legs.

Rachel decided that a free-standing bath would be an obvious option for the tiny space and she selected a small-scale design from the Albion Bath Company. With its lavish claw feet and deep tub, it was the perfect option for the mini spa theme she had in mind. The floor, in a Morrocan design, adds subtle colour, whilst the hanging plant adds some greenery without taking up precious floor space.

It was a huge amount of work but Rachel is now in her home studio, shooting videos with guests like her chef Skye McAlpine (pictured right). Proof that all the planning and expense was worth it the end! Feeling inspired? Take a look at these amazing kitchen extensions.