A woman has given her dated kitchen a modern overhaul – spending just £200 on the transformation.
Leanne Ward, 33, from Derbyshire, and husband Ash decided to upgrade their kitchen, wanting to give it a taste of their “eclectic boho with a modern deco twist” style.
“When we moved in, the kitchen was the one area that I thought we were going to have to rip out and start completely from scratch,” Leanne said.
“Our plan was to live with it whilst we saved, then look at removing the adjoining wall and making a kitchen diner space.
“I think I lasted around eight months before looking at budget-friendly ways to update it.”
The kitchen was initially painted cream with dated wooden cupboards.
Deciding to tweak it with a tight budget, Leanne took inspiration from Pinterest, focusing on tiles and cupboards for a quick fix, so then she could afford to buy more and collect more ideas.
The couple painted their cupboards, tiles and floor using specialist paints, bought new cupboard handles, added worktop vinyl to refresh the countertops, added terrazzo chips to give a modern edge, sealed the floor and added tile trim and splashback D-mould.
Afterwards, the space was unrecognisable, with chic black cupboards, fresh cream tiles, a classic wooden-style countertop, and a light floor with elegant terazzo detail.
Leanne said: “Even if you can afford to only do a little bit at a time, small changes can still make a big difference.”
Her top tip for transforming a space on a budget is to research your products.
She said: “There are so many options available nowadays it doesn’t always mean the most expensive is the best.
“My favourite part of the kitchen has to either be the open shelving or the Terrazzo effect floor, I think both were integral parts of the design that has made the Kitchen feel more modern.
“The floor was the last job I did.
I was a little nervous about painting over the original tiles but knew it would make all the difference to the overall feel of the kitchen.”
Of taking risks when doing DIY work, Leanne said: “At the end of the day it’s only paint, some ideas don’t always work – believe me I have had few disasters – but there isn’t much that can’t be painted over or sanded back.”
Speaking to homeware brand Joseph Joseph about her transformation, Leanne added: “Sometimes it can be scary to make drastic changes or there are limitations with rental properties etc, however they are ways to update a space that aren’t permanent.
“Artwork and soft furnishing are a great way to bring colour and pattern into a space without commitment, also there are some great products on the marker such as removable wallpaper and vinyl.
“There are always ways to create a happy space without breaking the bank.”
COST BREAKDOWN
Cupboard paint Frenchic in Black jack £20
Tile paint Rustoleum White £15
Cupboard handles £1.25 each from a local DIY store.
Worktop Vinyl £45
Floor paint B&Q £22
Terrazzo chips Rustoleum £17
Floor Sealant HG £16
Tile trim and Splashback D-mould £35
