A mum-of-three has shared how she transformed her old, dated kitchen into a fun-filled, colourful oasis for only £260.
Hannah Beeson, 37, and her partner Ryan, bought the 1940’s home in November 2020 as their “forever home”.
But soon after buying the blank canvas, they realised it needed some colour injected into it with some simple DIY and upcycling.
Before being renovated, the kitchen was decorated with neutral and white tones, looking clean and crisp but rather dated – and not at all suiting the couple’s tastes.
The renovations started in late February 2021, with the couple undertaking all the work themselves and getting stuck in.
They first removed the old tiles from the kitchen walls, plastered the walls, added a hob splash back and a fresh coat of paint.
Later that year, in October, they removed the wall units to create open shelves.
They first tried out a blue colour scheme but ended up swapping to a fun, colourful pink palette.
“There wasn’t a particular ‘style’ we were going for, I was simply inspired by creating an inviting and open plan design to entertain friends and family,” Hannah said.
“I love how much of a sociable space it is.
Everyone always gathers around the island, it’s been great for celebrations and entertaining.”
Altogether, the transformation cost the pair just over £260.
Ryan used plaster they had left over from a previous job while the kitchen units were 15 years old and in perfect condition, so didn’t require any additional work.
Giving some tips, Hannah recommends ordering paint samples and painting them onto craft paper and moving them around the room to see them in a different light.
She also tested them directly over the colour she was covering to check if that affected the finished look.
But above all, her best piece of advice is to do the right preparation before you start painting.
She said: “Proper preparation makes all the difference!
“Thoroughly clean the item first using sugar soap, sand it and then clean again.
“Remove any hardware and moving parts, such as doors and drawers, and use masking tape to mark off any areas you don’t want to be painted unless you have a very steady hand and choose a suitable brush for the task.
“Don’t rush and follow the product guidelines.”
Hannah also advises that if you have tiles you aren’t keen on, you may be able to get away with covering them up with tile paint.
She added: “Removing the kitchen drawers and cupboard doors made the job so much easier, there is a little catch to release the hinge on the doors so you don’t even need a screwdriver.”
Changing the hardware of kitchen drawers and cupboards is also a quick and effective way of modernising the overall look and Hannah found hers on Amazon.
Over the past couple of years, she has developed a passion for up-cycling and says platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are great for snagging a bargain.
She said: “We didn’t buy any new furniture for this house other than our snug sofas and dining table.
“We bought wardrobes, drawers, bureaus, a sideboard and a huge display cabinet, all second hand, and I have up-cycled them to work beautifully in our home and at a fraction of the cost of buying new.”
Over time, she has found herself becoming braver and bolder in her colour choice.
Speaking to kitchenware specialists Joseph Joseph, Hannah added: “Don’t be afraid to give something a go, especially if the only cost is your time and a tin of paint – it can always be changed!
“I don’t know that I have a particular style and our home certainly isn’t as polished as many that I follow, but it’s our home and we love it and that is what matters.”
COST BREAKDOWN:
Cupboard paint – ‘Serenity’ by Make it Rustoleum, 750ml tin: £22.99
Dusky blush paint – ‘Dusky Blush’ by Frenchic Paints, 750ml tin: £19.95
Tiles for the splash back: £43.08
Scaffold boards: £100
Shelf brackets: £75
Total: £261.02
