I saved thousands on my kitchen renovation just by watching a few DIY videos — it was easy

Real Estate

Don’t be afraid to take whisks.

Jess and Connor, a crafty couple from England, needed a new kitchen — but couldn’t stomach the sky-high quotes of more than $18,000 to renovate. So they did it themselves, saving thousands in the process.

“I had always said that the kitchen would be the first ‘big job’ we would do when we bought this house as I always hated how bland and cold it was,” Jess, 29, told Jam Press.

“After getting quotes for three or four different places, all around the £15,000 mark, we decided that we couldn’t justify those costs for such a small space, and decided we’d have a go at doing it ourselves,” she continued.

For inspiration, they turned to TikTok, YouTube and Pinterest— in the end, they were able to totally transform the space into something stylish and beautiful, all for just $1,800.

BEFORE: Jess and Connor, a couple from England, saved thousands on their kitchen renovations by doing it themselves.
Jam Press/@homeinthetoon
AFTER: They were quoted over $18,000 to renovate their kitchen — but decided to do it themselves, with their total coming out to $1,800.
Jam Press/@homeinthetoon

When they first moved in, the kitchen was drab and bland, featuring gray tiled flooring, silver hardware and white-painted cabinets.

To give the place a different feel, Jess and Connor first painted the cupboards an adorable olive green color, adding in a new, solid oak wood floor purchased from B&Q, a home improvement store in England.

They recently told interior brand Ruggable that their style was a mix of a whole bunch of different concepts, and wasn’t limited to just one approach.

“We take a lot of inspiration from ’70s earthy color palettes and love natural materials such as wood,” the 29-year-old said.

But the new floors and paint weren’t the only things they changed around.

They painted the cupboards a new color, though they were originally white.
Jam Press/@homeinthetoon
They watched online tutorials to learn tips and tricks in order to DIY the space.
Jam Press/@homeinthetoon
The crafty couple did everything by themselves.
Jam Press/@homeinthetoon

The couple also installed a black sink from IKEA and added some gold hardware into the kitchen for some finishing touches, like a Wodar tap for boiling water.

Jess and Connor even got rid of their boring white fridge, opting to purchase a secondhand unit from the trendy brand SMEG that only cost a little over $500.

“Painting both the kitchen tiles and cupboards has completely changed the look of this space,” Jess said.

“Something as simple as changing the chrome handles out for brass also added something extra.”

The two replaced silver hardware with gold hardware instead.
Jam Press/@homeinthetoon
“I had always said that the kitchen would be the first ‘big job’ we would do when we bought this house as I always hated how bland and cold it was,” Jess said.
Jam Press/@homeinthetoon

And, for others looking to start a renovation on a budget, Jess suggested that homeowners have a “clear vision” of what the want to change before they get started.

“It’s a messy, time-consuming thing to do, so having a clear vision helped speed that up,” she offered.

“Also, always make sure to spend time doing prep work – it’s potentially the worst part, but it makes such a difference to the finish and durability of things.”

Here’s a complete breakdown of Jess and Connor’s affordable renovation.

Cost breakdown:

  • Kitchen cupboard paints – £45 ($54.61).
  • Kitchen tile paint – 3 tins – £68.97 ($83.70).
  • Primer for cupboards – 1 tin – £20 ($24.27).
  • Worktops – IKEA VRENA – £300 ($364.08).
  • Solid Oak flooring – B&Q – £230.40 ($279.61).
  • Handles – Amazon 2 boxes – £30 ($36.41).
  • Tile trim – B&Q – £12 ($14.56).
  • SMEG fridge freezer secondhand – £430 ($521.84).
  • Wodar boiling water tap – £300 ($364.08).
  • Black sink – IKEA circular hub – £65 ($78.88).
  • Total: £1,501.37 ($1,822.03).

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