Our Budget Kitchen Makeover As Promised!

As promised yesterday…the kitchen makeover photos. I thought I would start with this photo though – one of my Christmas gifts from Mic and the boys. This was bought from The Vintage Rose (my favourite shop). It now has pride of place here in our kitchen/dining and I love it.

Now onto the makeover…

Eeeew! Very 70’s and very wood. Not that I don’t like wood…just not this wood. I have had to look at this for 7 years and I was OVER it!

BEFORE

This is it before. The wood doors made the space very heavy and dark even though it is not a dark space.
Now you remember what it used to look like!

Mic was given a gift voucher from a big hardware store in town and he let me loose with it! I went off and bought this wonderful product called B.I.N. It is a sealer, primer and sander that you basically paint on and it stops tannin etc bleeding through your paint, the top coat, handles

etc, raced home and got to work. Oh, and the whole makeover cost us $23.61!!! (that was after the $131.00 that was left from the gift voucher was taken off)

I gave the doors a good scrub, filled the old handle holes and gave the whole thing a light sand and a wipe down. This part was really easy as the varnish on the doors was so old.
Next up was the coat of B.I.N. As this stuff is metho based, it dried super quick and I was able to get the first coat of enamel on that evening once the boys went to bed. I need shares in this stuff!!
AFTER

What a difference!
After hanging some curtains to soften the blinds and adding some hydrangeas from the garden it looks even better.
Much brighter and lighter.

The next morning I rolled on the second coat and today was able to move all the things back onto the benches etc (not that there is much. I am all about clean, uncluttered bench spaces). These photos are from this morning. Please excuse the stuff on the top of the pantry doors, but that is the time out shelf and being the Summer holidays, there is a fair bit up there!

Now, I know the kitchen isn’t a keeper, but for now it is and I happy to look past the uneven door tops of the pantry cupboards because I know it is not forever. It is a really sturdy kitchen and it now looks great with my blackboard makeover on the side of the pantry- I am just glad to be rid of those danky looking wood doors. =0)

Now looking into the living area, it is such a nicer scene. There are still things to do, add the handles and paint the island drawer fronts. The runners on the drawers need replacing and that is something I am not confident of doing myself, so I will let Mic do that one.
I still have to paint the chairs to match the table and now I have the B.I.N primer, it may actually get done a lot quicker than I thought.

From this side you don’t even know the drawer fronts aren’t done and it will be done soon anyway so I am not fussed. I am just so happy at how much brighter it is and even with the creepy glow from the fires, it still looks fresh.

The fires are even closer now and I have spent the day getting important things together in case we get told to leave…I hope it doesn’t get to that.
I would love to hear what you think of our ‘new’ kitchen
Ness xx

Comments

comments

Comments (39)

  • Hi Ness,

    I should be doing bookwork but thought I’d do a quick call in just to see if you have posted. I think your kitchen makeover looks fantastic, so much fresher and brighter. It gives you a lift doesn’t it. I’m with you, I don’t like clutter on my benches either. It was also nice to see a photo looking the other way into your lounge room, for some reason I visualised it different from other photo’s. Nice flow from kitchen to lounge room. I’d better go as I promised myself a quick visit. Hope those bushfires stay away. Scary stuff when you have to start packing to leave.
    Take care
    Janine
    XXOO

    Reply
  • Thanks Janine,
    I was always too scared to show you all the real view with those horrid wood doors into our living room, but I am really happy with the space now…so you will see more of it.
    I should do a tour of our house (except the bathroom as it still isnt done) so you can all see it.
    xx

    Reply
  • What a difference, it is looking great. Well done, hope the bush fires stay away 🙂

    Reply
  • Wow Ness! Your kitchen looks fantastic, so much lighter and brighter! You have done a wonderful job on your makeover, thanks so much for sharing your amazing pics, you have the loveliest home and I am so inspired:) My kitchen is already done and I absolutely love it, so onto the rest of my house now… Well done to you, enjoy your ‘new kitchen’. Hope the bushfires ease asap. Stay safe – Tx

    Reply
  • Good Skills Ness! This is a fantastic before and after…and gold star for putting up with the brown 70’s kitchen for as long as you did…I would have been the same.
    It just looks amazing now…what a transformation.

    Reply
  • Dear Ness,
    what a difference ! Your kitchen looks now very light and friendly ! I love it and your Christmas gift is wonderful ! I need to visit your favourite shop and see if I can get something for me there shipped to Germany 😉
    Best greetings from
    Eve

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  • Ness,
    A wonderful job!! It’s light and airy and beautiful! Great job!!
    xx-Gina

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  • Wow, what a transformation. It looks fabulous!

    Reply
  • It looks great! So clean and uncluttered. Your floors are gorgeous!

    Reply
  • Your kitchen is incredible – you have a real working fireplace! The paint really transformed the look. I love everything about it including that great color that you used on the walls, it is so warm & cozy. All the best, Lori

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  • Awesome!! It looks really fabulous, great job!!

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  • You are a brave woman. One of my main obstacles is starting any big projects in the house with the kids around. But when does life just stop so that you can start something? NEVER, that is when. Way to go on the kitchen. Glad to know about the B.I.N. product. Sounds like what I need. Your kitchen looks beautiful. I admire your attitude to be so ok with where you are now. You have inspired me to see the beauty in what I have now. I’m new to the creative blogging thing. Hope you will stop by my little blog too. Blessings,
    Glory

    Reply
  • Congrats – you did a really great job! Have lots of fun in your new home,

    Angelika

    Reply
  • Hi Ness – wow that looks so much better. I really must do the same for my DREADFUL marroon laminate kitchen (what where the previous owners thinking). somehow i have put up with it for 5 yrs but think this is the year. can you use this BIN on laminate do you know? Mel xx

    Reply
  • Bonjour Ness,
    You did a fabulous job! The white makes everything look so inviting, great table too. Enjoy!

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  • What a fantasti job you have done, Ness and, what a difference. It looks great. A bit of white paint just makes everything look so much better, doesn’t it ?
    Rather scary for you with the bush fires. Does this happen every year? We hear about it here in the U.K. most years. I am thinking of you. Keep positive. I’m sure that everything will be fine. XXXX

    Reply
  • Ness your kitchen looks amazing. I have just done the same with mine and given it the white paint treatment. Beats forking out for a new kitchen at this point in time. My next job is to paint my blue tiles white. Thought I could live with them but no such luck – they will see the white paint next week for sure. Have a good week – love your blog and look forward to visiting Tassie sometime soon. Sandy

    Reply
  • Eve, Amanda from The Vintage Rose is a sweetheart and if you click on the link it will take you to her blog and you will be able to see some of the items she has in store and her gorgeous home. Then if you interested in anything just send her an email…she is a lovely person to deal with and very helpful.
    Ness xx

    Reply
  • ah Lori, the fireplace! It is amazing and we are lucky enough to have 5 through the house. This one in the kitchen makes the best stew in winter and gives off amazing heat…it melts the candles above the table all the time (should do something about that).

    Reply
  • Glory and Mel,
    The B.I.N primer works on everything alluminium, mould, varnish, plastic, stone, concrete, wood, laminate…everything. Just be sure to follows the instructions. It is so easy. I am a convert to the stuff. Think I might tackle some of our horrid bathroom with it.
    Ness xx

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  • Jacqueline,
    The fires are still looming. In the nearly 7 years we have lived here this is the first time we have had a bush fire and we are surounded on 2 sides by it. It is usually the other side of the Tamar River that gets bad ones. It was lit on purpose…one of the bad things about School holidays!
    Thanks for thinking of us.
    Ness xx

    Reply
  • It’s lovely, amazing what a lick of paint will do. I love the blackboard makeover and can’t wait to see your kitchen chairs white – i have never heard of B.I.N primer so thanks for the tip!
    Rachael

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  • Looks great!! Do hope the fire misses you,all the best,Chrissy

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  • The kitchen looks great. What a transformation. I am going to get onto B.I.N!!! I hope the fires settle down and that you all remain safe.
    Erin xx

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  • Looks terrific – I’d say it’s a keeper! Will hope that the fires you mentioned don’t become a problem.

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  • The kitchen looks great! So fresh and airy. I love it. The B.I.N primer has always been a favorite. It is some good stuff. Isn’t it amazing how a coat of paint can change a whole room? Hope the fires go out soon! Be safe!

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  • Hi Ness, the kitchen looks fantastic, what a great job! Where did you get your light fitting, its beatiful?
    Bel

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  • Lighter and brighter is right! It really brings attention to the gorgeous floor!

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  • Thanks Rachael,
    I was thinking of doing them today, but with the fires on, I think I will leave it a few more days. I am haning to do them now…I need to get out more!
    Ness xx

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  • hi bel,
    Do you mean the iron one above our table? If so, I picked it up in a discount store for $10.00 and have had it for about 12 years now. The one in the living room is from buysterlighting.com.au
    xx

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  • Alvn,
    It does bring attention to them doesnt it? Which is great because they are from an old ship apparently and are an inch thick, very wide and the most wonderful warm colour.
    xx

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  • What an amazing transformation! Thanks for sharing the photos of your lovely kitchen with us. We had hideous brown kitchen cupboards which we replaced with white ones too and it is just so light and fresh now. Love the colour on your living room walls too.

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  • Wow, you have given me hope for my 70’s kitchen. We are going to replace it eventually but I’d love to freshen it up in the meantime. Must show hubby.
    Hope the fires don’t get too close, its a scary feeling that we went through here last Summer.

    Reply
  • ness it look amazing!!!! what a deal and i need some of that bin!!!

    also love your LR pendant- perfect.

    Happy New Year and I’ll be praying for you about the fires. 🙁

    xoxo.
    lauren

    Reply
  • Feeeeaking awesome transformation! Wow, paint is my favourite thing in the world cos it can change everything. Bet you are rapt!

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  • Now I really am looking forward to sitting down in your kitchen for a natter & a coffee when MOTH hit Tassie next time! You are a star Ness, the kitchen looks fab, you need your own DIY telly show girl, you should pitch the concept to the ABC boys in Hobart pronto.
    Millie ^_^

    Reply
  • it really looks great! I love the shade too – that adds a great element to the room!!! and color of the walls looks great too – love the ceiling, is that beadboard!!!!

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  • Fabulous makeover. Sounds like we all need a can of BIN – our answer to so many problems.
    Alison

    Reply
  • What I most like about this is that the color even makes the fridge blend in, so that your eye rests on the pretties in the room.

    Reply

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