Homeowner saved £1000s on this black and white Scandi-style kitchen makeover

Working to a tight budget isn’t always easy but for some people it’s a chance to step up, take on the challenge and flex their creative skills. This was the case for Sarah Weds, a mum of two from Newcastle upon Tyne, whose small kitchen ideas had seen better days. 

‘It’s always so inspiring to hear about these drastic transformations,’ Sarah told LatestDeals.co.uk ‘And it shows you really can totally change the look and feel of a room without spending a fortune.’

Before

With lipstick-red walls and cabinets that were in desperate need of replacing, Sarah couldn’t wait to give her kitchen a makeover. ‘With the council agreeing to fit a new kitchen, it gave me the chance to get it looking just how I wanted it,’ she says. ‘I supplied my own worktops, oven and hob and the council fitted them for me.’ 

While DIY of this sort may look daunting, for Sarah it was a challenge she couldn’t resist, and she looked for ideas on how to design a kitchen. 

‘The phrase “I can’t do that” isn’t in my vocabulary,’ she says. ‘I showed a huge interest while watching my dad when I was young, and I was decorating my parents' house from the age of 11! Now I try to do most of the work myself wherever possible.

'I’ll try my hand at anything – you save a fortune on labour by learning to do it yourself. I enjoy being creative and trying out what different textures and designs go best together, too.’ 

After

The new room is almost unrecognisable from the outdated, tired design it was before. Sarah has painted the walls, fitted vinyl tiles on the floor and gradually bought accessories to turn this space into a stylish, homely and modern-looking family kitchen.

The black and white kitchen ideas has been given a cosy feel with the odd pop of blush pink, while plants, artworks and even a string of star-shaped fairy lights add personality to the room. ‘I love boho style with a bit of Scandi thrown in,’ says Sarah.

‘The council fitted the new units and tiles, but I saved a lot by doing the decorating, floor, blinds and shelf myself. The paint was £50 from Wilko, and the worktops were £90 for three metres from Wickes. I also shopped around for bargains in the sale from Amazon, eBay, B&M and supermarkets.’

The grey patterned tiles behind the splashback are actually wall tiles, and a similar design has been used behind the sink, too. On the floor, vinyl floor tiles continue the monochrome look and were another low-cost addition. 

‘The vinyl floor tiles were £25 for 4 packs from Studio,’ says Sarah, ‘and the tile stickers for the splashback were £6.50 for 24 stickers from Amazon.’

On the other side of the room, you’ll notice that the same pretty pink colour has been used on the inside of the front door. 

‘I got ideas from looking at Instagram, Pinterest and home magazines,’ says Sarah. ‘I’ve always had an interest in interior design and spend a lot of my spare time on Instagram where I have a home account (@interior_design_on_a_budget) and share photos and tips.’

Even the appliances were affordable, with Sarah buying an oven, hob and cooker hood for £350 from Argos.  

‘The blinds were £60, made to measure and fitted by me from Blinds2go,’ Sarah says. ‘The rug was £25 from eBay, the shelf was £40 from eBay, and the accessories were £100 from Tesco, B&M, Amazon and eBay. I even made my own prints for the walls. In total, it cost me under £800.’

‘I’m on a very tight budget so I try to hunt for bargains,’ she continues. ‘B&M is a godsend! You can also pick up some bargains in the local supermarkets too, and I keep an eye out for end-of-season sales.’ 

With the kitchen finished, Sarah couldn’t be happier. ‘I’m so pleased with the finished results,’ she says. ‘And also with how much I saved – I love shopping for bargains!’

‘My next project is panelling a wall in my bedroom,’ Sarah continues. ‘I’ve just finished doing a scalloped wall in the spare bedroom.’  

We can’t wait to see it.