Kitchens are traditionally THE most expensive room in the house to renovate, with most renos starting at around $10,000 and moving sharply upward from there. However, if you want to bring your dated kitchen bang up to date on a budget, you can, with a fantastic facelift for less than $1500.
Watch the video of Tara’s amazing transformation here:
The secret is to resurface and replace. You won’t believe what you can do with specialist paint. There is no demolition work, and no exxy tradies involved, just lots of clever DIY ideas and some simple styling tips.
Easy steps to your instant kitchen makeover
Gather your supplies
- Dulux Renovation Range Tiles and Benchtop Satin Paint in Flooded Gum (benchtop) and Lexicon (tiles)
- Dulux Renovation Range Satin Clear Coat
- Stain-blocking primer
- Dulux Renovation Range Cabinet Doors in Lexicon
- Primer for flooring
- Senso Rustic vinyl flooring planks
- Door handles
- 6mm MDF for kickboards
- Metal cover strip
You’ll also need
- Scraper
- Sugar soap
- Mould killer
- Drill
- Marking pen
- 400 grit sandpaper
- Masking tape
- Paintbrush and microfibre rollers
- Masonite (optional)
- Roller tray
- Utility knife
- Combination square
- Construction adhesive
- White silicone
- Caulking gun
Here’s how
Step 1
Remove any silicone between the tiles and kitchen benchtop using a scraper. Remove handles and knobs from doors and drawers.
Step 2
Thoroughly clean the benchtops, cabinet doors and tiles using a sugar soap solution. If there is any mould, clean it using a mould killer. The surfaces need to be very clean so repeat this process.
Step 3
Remove doors from cabinets by unscrewing the hinge from the door. Use a marking pen to number each of the doors in the bottom of the housing for the hinge, where you won’t be painting.
Step 4
Use 400 grit sandpaper to lightly sand all surfaces to remove the gloss and allow a better adhesion to the surface. Remove dust.
Step 5
On the tiles and benchtop, use masking tape to mask off adjoining areas for each colour of paint. Mix the paint according to product instructions.
Cut in around the edges using a fine brush for smooth strokes. Follow with 2 coats of the benchtop and tile paint using a microfibre roller.
Finish by going over each section in the same direction with an unloaded roller for a consistent finish. Allow to dry for 8 hours after each coat.
Step 6
On the top of the paint, apply the clear coat following product instructions, again laying off at the end with an unloaded roller.
Step 7
Prime your cabinet doors using a primer. When working with timber, use a stain blocker primer to prevent any stains coming through. Leave to dry then follow with finishing coats, laying off at the end.
Step 8
Prime and paint all the visible ends and edges of your cabinets to match the doors.
Step 9
For the floor, first rip up any old flooring. For timber floors, lay down Masonite sheeting to provide a flat smooth surface for the vinyl planks. Prime the floors using a product recommended by the manufacturers.
Step 10
Start laying the flooring planks at the side of the kitchen that is most visible. Leaving a slight gap to the kickboards. To cut the boards use a sharp utility knife and combination square to get straight lines. At the end of the kitchen cover the edge of the flooring with a metal cover strip.
Step 11
Drill holes and screw new handles onto doors and drawers. Reattach them to their corresponding position in the kitchen.
Step 12
To spruce up the kickboards, cut lengths of 6mm MDF to suit then paint them your desired colour. Spread construction adhesive on the back then glue to the existing kickboards.
Step 13
Once the paint on the benchtop has cured, fill the gap between the benchtop and the tiles with white silicone.
That’s it! You’re done.
Now it’s all about the styling to bring it all together
With a focus on texture and hue, small touches such as fresh flowers, pottery, a floor rug and even tea towels can help to turn a work zone into a welcoming space.
Build a holder for pots of culinary herbs that fits neatly in your kitchen windowsill. Pretty and practical, it will create an instant view.
Get the look
You might also like:
3 kitchen renovation mistakes to avoid
Before and after: a budget kitchen renovation
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