A couple has revealed how they saved over £13,000 by renovating their kitchen themselves.
Jess and Connor, both 29, were quoted a staggering £15,000 to renovate their kitchen, but instead decided to tackle it themselves.
“At first we didn't intend to run the kitchen ourselves,” Jess says.
“I always hated how bland and cold the kitchen was, so when I bought this house I always said the first 'big job' I'd do was the kitchen.”
“After getting quotes from three or four different places, all around £15,000, we decided we couldn't justify the cost for such a small space and decided to try it ourselves. Did.”
They started watching DIY tutorials on TikTok and YouTube, and turned to Pinterest for inspiration on how they wanted their kitchens to look.
And in the end, we were able to complete the transformation, as well as adding some new appliances, for just over £1,500.
The old kitchen featured a slightly dated look with bland white cabinets, gray tile floors, and silver hardware.
The couple bought a second-hand Smeg fridge for £430 and fitted it with a new fridge and worktop from IKEA.
We also added new solid oak flooring, purchased from B&Q, and a black sink, purchased from IKEA.
They overhauled the cupboards and painted them a trendy forest green, and refreshed the tiles with antique white tile paint.
To complete the look, we added gold hardware, including a Wodar hot water faucet, to complement the green cupboards.
“I think the whole kitchen has changed a lot, but I think what made the most difference was actually the cheapest thing we could do,” Jess said.
“Painting both the kitchen tiles and cupboards completely changed the look of this space.
“Even something as simple as replacing a chrome handle with brass added something special.
Cost breakdown of Jess and Connor's kitchen remodeling project
Painting cupboards – £45
Kitchen Tile Paint – 3 cans – £68.97
Cupboard Primer – 1 can – £20
Worktop – IKEA Vrena – £300
Solid oak flooring – B&Q – £230.40
Handles – Amazon 2 Boxes – £30
Tile trim – B&Q – £12
Used Smeg Fridge Freezer – £430
Wodar Boiling Water Tap £300
Black Sink – IKEA Circular Hub – £65
Total: £1,501.37
“My biggest tip is to take the time to figure out exactly what you want from your space before you start.
“This is a tedious and time-consuming task, so having a clear vision helped us speed up the process.
“Also, be sure to take your time with the prep work. This is potentially the worst part, but it makes a huge difference in the finish and durability of something.”
