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When I bought this little apartment, all I could see was BROWN.
The kitchen was just a giant sea of dark brown timber, and in such a small space it felt quite oppressive. The splashback, rangehood and cupboards, while all clearly of high quality, also felt quite dated.
My aim was to transform this kitchen and make it more current and fun. However, being on a budget I wanted to re-use as much as possible and retain the kitchen cabinetry and marble benchtop.
Because I was keeping the benchtop, I needed cabinet colours that would complement the very yellow, creamy marble benchtop. I immediately thought about a shade of green. With some help, I finally landed on Dulux Great Void for the cupboards (with the Dulux Renovation Range primer) and decided to have a 2nd shade, Dulux Coalition to break up the Great Void (as there were just so many cupboards!).
I also added Lane's brushed brass door knobs to all the cupboards, once again to add some depth and break up the paint colour.
Then, I removed the dated yellow glass splashback, the rangehood and cupboards on the side of the rangehood, to put in a new splashback using distressed white subway tiles and oak floating shelves (from Bunnings, the brand escapes me!) to make this space fresher and more modern. Importantly it also opened up and let in a lot more light through the windows!
I also removed some drawers under the stove top, to allow me (or the electrician) to place a new 70cm oven in the spot! Lots of room for roast dinners now! Using some of the old cabinetry, I enlisted a carpenter to help me make a door to cover where the oven previously was (under the microwave), giving me the perfect spot to hide my airfryer and kettle.
And just like that, with budget friendly paint, some tiles, floating shelves and a new oven (plus reusing some old cabinetry) I was able to say GOODBYE to all the brown and hello to 2022! 
If you have any questions on the process or thoughts on the makeover please don't hesitate to comment!
Hi @Baretta11 !!
Oh I LOVE your appliance cupboards!!! That's such a clever idea and very efficient use of space!!!!
Yes I am obsessed with keeping my new splashback looking clean and new - I am in the grout after every cooking session wiping it clean! More work than a glass splashback but I love the look more than the original tiles...
On the floor, I'm not really sure of the exact process as the acid treatment was done by a professional. All I know is we were kicked out of the place for a week for it to cure but the result has been MUCH better than just sanding alone.
Thank you again for all your great comments, I've loved the interaction
I'm in total agreement with you, it is such a well-thought-out and clever renovation. I can't stop looking at the floors as the bleach effect really draws your eyes to it. I'm definitely adding this kitchen renovation to my bookmarks.
Eric
@theparlourroom I'm so sorry for the delayed response!! Thank you SO much for your kind comments. Yes, my main focus was to keep as much as I could and to make mostly cosmetic changes. I couldn't afford the budget for any major structural changes. I know it's still quite a specific look with all the green but still better than all the brown I think My favourite bit is the appliance garage and that was a completely last minute decision which I'm so happy about. Than you again for reading!
Hi @dorabulldog
I totally agree with you, moving the oven and turning that space into an appliance garage has made the front of the kitchen look very organized.
Eric
