Mum’s amazing DIY kitchen makeover costs just £350 UK News

A mom of two has found an amazing way to get her dream kitchen without breaking the bank. Stephanie McCormick, 33, who works as a complex needs assistant, has transformed her lackluster kitchen into a beauty for just £350.

Before putting her handyman skills to the test. she received a quote of £8,000 for the same effect. She managed to save a lot of money by shrewdly shopping for items from Amazon, Dunlem, The Range and IKEA, as well as a bit of creativity, reports Bristol Live.

Stephanie posted on a Facebook group called DIY On A Budget UK: “We took the leap onto the property ladder in October 2021 when we bought a three bedroom detached bungalow in the rural village of Clovenfords in the Scottish Borders Whilst the house was in a good state of maintenance, it needed to be brought up to date and added a bit of our own style! year.

Read more: DIY SOS: The Longframlington family home has had a facelift for four generations

“But it was in great condition and the little pot of savings we had left after buying the house certainly wouldn’t extend to the thousands we had been quoted for a refit. I had used Frenchic before on some wooden furniture that I had bought from Marketplace and absolutely loved the finish, but I admit I was concerned about the longevity of the finish on the laminate and in such a high traffic area.We have two young kids, two big dogs and three kids, so the units take a hit.”

The kitchen had definitely seen better days, but Stephanie was determined not to let a small budget stop her from achieving the look she wanted. She posted: “We debated for a long time whether we should go for such a dark color but ultimately decided to lighten it up with light white walls, tiles and blinds.

“I love industrial chic, so the dark gray Smudge shade from Frenchic paired with copper T-handles from Amazon and accessories was a natural fit for me. I incorporated geometric shapes with the shade from English Blinds Online and vinyl inside glass closet doors.

“The process started with removing all the doors from the cupboards. Be sure to number them so you can put them back in the right place!

“Everything was scrubbed with sugar soap and lightly sanded with 120 grit paper. I chose to paint the inside of the doors and the edges of the carcass for a more professional finish.

“The inside of the doors received three coats, the outside of the doors and all more visible areas received four coats with a two hour dry time between coats. I used a Frenchic oval brush. I didn’t didn’t like the bobbly finish of a roller.

“As this is the Al Fresco range it doesn’t need to be sealed and I love the matte finish. The tiles were scrubbed and lightly sanded and given three coats of Dazzle Me using of a brush.

“The walls also had two coats of Dazzle Me. It contrasts nicely with Smudge and keeps the room nice and bright.

“I bought lots of trendy trailing plants and succulents from Dunelm, The Range and IKEA, as well as geometric wall planters to accessorize. I also found some lovely shiny copper utensils at the Studio that look fabulous hung above the hob as a focal point.

“We decided not to change the floor tiles as the budget didn’t allow it. The gray grout blends in well though.

“We changed the sockets and ceiling lights to more modern black nickel fixtures which also gave Screwfix a nice high end finish. The kettle, toaster, cup tree and paper towel pole are part of the Tower Cavalletto range.They are the perfect shade of gray with copper accents.

“The whole process took about two weeks, between working and parenting. The paint takes three weeks to harden, so we tried to treat it gently during that time. Six months later, no chips or scratches! I can’t believe it!It’s perfectly scrubbable with warm soapy water too.

“We are absolutely delighted with the overall look and all on a budget of around £350. The slate gray kitchen we originally liked was over £8,000 for the number of units we had, and it was the cheapest part of the scale. the money we saved means we have enough to redecorate the rest of the house now!”

Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said: “Stephanie’s transformation is amazing – I can’t believe it only cost her £350! It just goes to show that you really don’t need to shell out thousands of pounds to change the look of your home: economical materials, clever ideas and perseverance will do the trick for a fraction of the cost.”

Read more :