A savvy Scots mum has shared how she managed to get the kitchen of her dreams for just £350, despite being quoted an astronomical price.
Stephanie McCormick, a complex needs assistant in an enhanced provision school, shared how she managed to save thousands of pounds by deciding to transform the kitchen herself. The 33-year-old decided to do the renovation herself with products bought from the high-street after being quoted £8,000 to upgrade her new homes' kitchen.
Taking to Facebook, Stephanie who lives in Clovenfords, said she managed to pull off the stunning DIY transformation by using Frenchic paint, Amazon handles and accessories from Dunelm, The Range and IKEA.
Sharing her DIY journey to the DIY On A Budget UK Group, she wrote: "We made the leap onto the property ladder in October 2021 when we purchased a three-bedroom detached bungalow in the rural village in the Scottish Borders.
"While the house was in a good state of repair, it needed bringing up to date and a bit of our own style splashed onto it.
"The kitchen in particular was your typical 15-year-old, light beech laminate look.
"But it was in great condition and the tiny pot of savings we had left over after purchasing the house certainly wouldn't stretch to the thousands we had been quoted for a re-fit.
"I had used Frenchic previously on wooden furniture that I'd bought on Marketplace and absolutely loved the finish, but I'll admit I was concerned about the longevity of the finish on laminate and in such a high-use area."
The DIY-er said that she had "nothing to lose" by starting the project by herself as the kitchen was "already an eye-sore" that couldn't be made much worse.
The kitchen was transformed from an old-fashioned aesthetic to a modern and sleek finish with dark wood, walls and tiles, geometric shapes and glass cupboards.
The mum-of-two wanted to complete the kitchen while on a budget, so Stephanie did everything herself, including sanding and painting cupboard doors, sanding and scrubbing her floor tiles and painting her walls.
Using matte finish shades "Dazzle Me" and "Smudge" from Frenchic Paint - which can be bought on Amazon - the savvy mum managed to create a kitchen with her desired 'industrial chic' effect.
Stephanie then completed the project by picking up some trailing plants, succulent plants and geometric wall planters from Dunlem, The Range and Ikea. She then further accessorised with hanging bright copper utensils from Studio to hang over the hob and modern downlighters and electric sockets from Screwfix.
The only area to remain the same as the previous kitchen were the floor tiles, as the Scots mum admitted that the "budget did not allow for it", but that the "grey grout ties in nicely".
Overall, the mum-of-two said that the whole journey only took her around two weeks to complete - all while parenting and still working.
Six months on, and the savvy DIY-er has said that the her stunning kitchen renovation has remained free from any chips and scratches, as well as being scrubbable with warm, soapy water.
Stephanie added: "We are absolutely delighted with the overall look and all on a budget of approximately £350.
"The slate grey kitchen that we originally liked was over £8,000 for the number of units we had, and that was the cheaper end of the scale."
Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, comments: “Stephanie’s transformation is incredible - I can’t believe it cost her just £350!
“It just shows that you really don’t need to fork out thousands of pounds to change the look of your home: budget materials, clever ideas and perseverance will do the job for a fraction of the price!"
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