For less than £60 this dated kitchen was transformed into a sophisticated space
Now it's stylish and serene
Armed with some budget supplies and a determination to change her dated kitchen, one homeowner created a whole new look with this less than £60 grey kitchen makeover.
Julie Pentelow from Swindon was desperate for some kitchen ideas to revamp her old, plain wood cabinetry on a budget. To keep costs as low as possible she set about learning how to paint kitchen cabinets.
'I saw people in Facebook groups, particularly the "DIY on a Budget" page, saving money by painting their kitchen cabinets to give them a new look, so I decided to give it a go myself,' Julie told the money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk.
£60 Grey kitchen makeover
Before she got started, Julie started shopping for some supplies, making sure to keep costs down with smart choices at stores such as Asda, B&M and IKEA.
Before
'I picked up some small bits, like sugar soap and mini foam rollers from B&M,' she says. 'I already had the handle part for the rollers so that saved a little money. I used V33 Renovation Loft Grey Satin Cupboard & Cabinet paint from B&Q, which cost £39 for two litres, and it was enough for all of my kitchen cupboards with some leftovers – I even managed to paint my bannister and kitchen table with the same tub!'
When it came to the walls, Julie chose Dulux Rock Salt emulsion, along with a Dark Grey Grout Pen, £3.80 from Amazon that she used to go around her old kitchen tiles.
'The first step was to prep the kitchen cabinets using the sugar soap,' Julie explains. 'This gave them a good clean and ensured there wasn’t any greasy residue before I started painting.'
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'Then I used a mini foam roller to apply the V33 paint – it went on so well and gave it a really smooth finish. In fact, everything now feels great and not like it’s been painted at all.'
'The grout pen was a bit fiddly and hard to keep straight, but I found going along the lines with a piece of kitchen towel afterwards helped straighten up the pen line.'
After
It may not have been a 10-minute job, but Julie's new chic-looking painted cupboards is certainly giving us some grey kitchen ideas. The grouted tiles are a small update but has proven to be a really effective kitchen splashback idea.
Above the newly-painted dining table, Julie added a gallery wall of framed prints and a small shelf for displaying knick-knacks.
‘I made some artworks as I do a bit of graphic design in my spare time,' Julie says. 'I have an Etsy shop selling prints and wedding stationery, so I enjoyed making some to add to the picture wall.'
'I also picked up an artificial hanging plant from Ikea for £6 and a hanging plant in a glass jar for £4 from B&M to give a natural look to the room and add some colour.'
‘I'm really happy with the way the room turned out,' she says. 'It feels like I have a brand new kitchen! The shade of grey I picked adds sophistication and now the drawers match the oven, making it look much more coordinated. I have had plenty of compliments from family and friends!’
Laurie Davidson is a professional stylist, writer and content creator, who lives and breathes interiors. Having worked for some of the UK’s leading interior magazines, styled homes up and down the country and produced sets for TV shows, adverts and top brands, it’s safe to say Laurie has had a pretty exciting career. Find her on Instagram at @lifeofaninteriorstylist or over at lauriedavidson.co.uk
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