Low-budget 2000s kitchen makeover

[Sbrodolina]

We bought an ex-rental built in 2008. The builder's grade kitchen was very functional in layout but very plain and we didn't like the expresso colour of the cabinets. Moreover, counter space for little appliances was limited. With no money available to renovate the kitchen completely other than replacing the old inbuilt appliances, we decided to do a mini makeover ourselves:  

• opened up the corner pantry and made into a mini butler pantry. Made own wood shelving with Specrite acacia panels and fixed with brackets.
• cooking area: removed inbuilt cooker and cabinets, overhead cabinets and inbuilt extractor to make room for a larger free-standing cooker and suitable canopy. Added two side cabinets (Kaboodle 30cm wide) both sides. We tiled the tops to rest hot pots over.
• painted existing cabinets, splashbacks and countertop with Dulux Renovation range - Spanish Olive for cabinets and Natural white for countertop. Kaboodle heritage handles black
• changed sink and upgraded tapware.

Materials

• Paint: Dulux renovation range. Spanish Olive & Natural White https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-2l-renovation-range-cabinet-doors-satin-white_p0116477?store=8076&... https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-1l-renovation-range-tiles-benchtops-gloss-deep_p0116497?store=8212... 
• Kaboodle base cabinets & plain doors https://www.bunnings.com.au/kaboodle-300mm-base-cabinet_p2662597 
• Handles https://www.bunnings.com.au/kaboodle-96mm-antique-bow-handle-matt-black_p2667731 
• SpecRite  brown acacia multiuse panel 400 https://www.bunnings.com.au/specrite-1800-x-600-x-18mm-brown-acacia-multi-use-panel_p0446743  & brackets https://www.bunnings.com.au/carinya-100-x-125-x-25-x-6mm-black-heavy-duty-manhattan-angle-bracket-si... 
• Tiles: https://www.bunnings.com.au/decor8-200-x-200mm-gabana-rubeli-matt-floor-tile_p0289545 

Tools

Steps

Step 1

 This is the kitchen before makeover

Step 2

 Removing wire shelves from pantry. On the right hand corner you can see the raw gyrprock where we removed the top cabinets, and below, the new Smeg 90cm cooker already delivered. 

Step 3

 Tiling the new countertop area

Step 4

 

 Painted existing cabinet doors and laminate countertop. (we added a cabinet to cover the counter corner). We may add shelves over the microwave at some point.

Replaced old sink and faucet with a more modern one.

Step 5

 

 Completed at this point. We may do splashback new or add shelves, and also we're planning to repurpose the overhead cabinets into a kitchen trolley to be housed under the corner pantry new countertop.

[JacobZ]

Hi @Sbrodolina,

Thank you for sharing your kitchen renovation project and welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

A cost effective, but fantastic way to bring some nice new changes to your old kitchen.

Opening up the cupboard for use as a butler's pantry is a great way to utilise what little space you have.

The Kaboodle cabinets look great with a few coats of the Spanish Olive paint, and I love the tiles you've used on the benchtop.

I'm sure this will be a wonderful place for you to cook up a storm. 

Congratulations on a brilliant project.

Jacob