A DIY fan has recreated Monica Geller's kitchen - and it only cost £750. With second-hand bargains and some help from her friends, she and her husband kept costs down.
Desiree Elias, a childcare worker from Urbana, Ohio, always wanted a kitchen just like Monica's. Here's how she brought her Friends-themed kitchen ideas to life, dealing with some unexpected challenges.
Before
Previously, the L-shaped kitchen had plenty of natural light, but the wooden cabinetry was dark and outdated. Once Desiree moved in, things soon changed. Speaking to LatestDeals.co.uk, she said, 'Monica’s kitchen from Friends has always been my dream kitchen.
'My husband agreed when we bought our first home that we could make it a reality.' Their home was built pre-1900s, so there were a few surprises along the way on this DIY and decorating project.
This included a giant hole in the wall behind the upper cabinets and water damage. When a storm hit, they lost all power in their home, so Desiree and her husband had to lay new flooring using a torch.
Friends kitchen after
Desiree and her husband also had to move some of the electricals and plumbing, 'feeding the wires through old rock walls in a not very well lit space.' They installed new lower kitchen cabinets, painting them all in 'rushing stream' blue, and added knobs and drawer pulls.
The pair also painted the iconic Friends purple door, and applied the self-adhesive textured wallpaper that gives the illusion of exposed brickwork. Having realised they didn't have enough of the wallpaper, they ordered more and had to wait for the extra rolls to arrive.
Desiree and her husband also built the open shelves and bar area (above) from blonde plywood. Their friend built the upper shelf and breakfast bar in their basement for more room and easy access to tools.
'He used a table saw and set up jigs to make them all the same size, then he used wood glue and a Kreg Jig to assemble them. We then installed the countertop, sink, breakfast bar area and open shelves,' says Desiree.
'We did all the work ourselves with two wonderful friends who know how to do all the things and guided us through it,' she adds. Desiree is over the moon with how her dream kitchen turned out, and says it helps her channel her inner Monica Geller.
'I’m still in shock every time I walk into the kitchen because I can’t believe we actually did it,' she says.
-
This editor-favourite rug brand is having a rare sitewide sale! These are the ones we already have and loveRuggable offering up to 20% off sitewide and you don't want to miss it
-
How to soundproof a garden - 7 ways to block out the noiseStuck with noisy neighbours? Busy road ruining your garden tranquillity? Here’s some effective ways to shut out the sounds
-
The best kitchen island layout ideas for a sociable and practical cooking spaceKitchen designers reveal the ideal kitchen layout ideas to make the most of every inch of space
-
A dull kitchen was given an injection of colour and pattern for less than £250Eye-popping pastels and gallery walls galore make this scheme pretty unique
-
An interiors lover shares her stunning white kitchen makeoverIt's now the kind of room you walk into and exhale
-
A thrifty DIY fan made a kitchen island for free out of an old set of drawers'It took two days to complete and cost me nothing!'
-
For less than £60 this dated kitchen was transformed into a sophisticated spaceNow it's stylish and serene
-
Before and after: reworking the layout creates a kitchen-diner fit for family lifeRethinking the layout created a generous kitchen-diner without the need to extend the space
-
Smart DIYer gave her plain kitchen an on-trend green makeover for just £30A little green paint was all it took
-
Before and after: country kitchen makeover on a budget featuring up cycled furnitureThis renovation saw the patio doors replaced with a window to create a family-friendly kitchen
-
Four rooms knocked into one resulted in this fabulous kitchen extensionA warren of cramped spaces make way for one big, bright and beautiful kitchen
