Money-Saving Mum Quoted £5k To Redo Kitchen Does It Herself For Just £50
- Gemma Smith, 36, was quoted a whopping £5,000 to replace her kitchen
- However, after being inspired by Instagram, she did it herself for £50 using products from Wilko
- She finished the look with bargain handles from ebay
Kitchen renovations are often the most expensive part of refurbishing a house.
However, one mum has given us a masterclass in savvy saving, redoing her kitchen for just £50 using products from Wilko and ebay after being quoted a whopping £5,000 to replace her units.
Gemma Smith, 36, a mum-of-three from Hillingdon, took matters into her own hands and stuck to a tight budget to give her kitchen a whole new lease of life.
Gemma told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: "I moved into my home three weeks ago with my 19-year-old son who is a British Soldier, and my two autistic children who are 8 and 14.
"I now care for my children as one of my children has been homeschooled for over a year and just recently went back to a specialist school that can meet her needs so I have been unable to work.
"I experience poor episodes of mental health and this was triggered more during the lockdown. Not working means money has been tight so like it has for many others.
"I moved house and was given no support so relied on friends and family. The kitchen was dated and tired.
"I couldn’t afford a new kitchen so after scrolling lots of home accounts and DIY pages I took the plunge and decided to go for it myself.
"I have a home Instagram account at @gemzgaff and so follow lots of accounts such as Mrs Hinch, Little Miss Mops and Natasha Cherie who all use their platforms to show their before and afters.
"I saw an account who used materials from high street shop Wilko, so I messaged her for some hints and tips.
"She was kind enough to give me pointers and I went from there.
"I spent under £50 and purchased furniture and cupboard paint from Wilko which was £20, a bottle of Elbow Grease cleaner, 20 new handles from ebay, which were around £21 and some sandpaper.
"The cupboards were filthy and covered in grease so my first step was to scrub and degrease them using Elbow Grease spray and a scourer. I then lightly sanded them and removed the old handles.
"I removed each door and laid them flat. I used a mini gloss roller and applied a coat of paint on each door.
“Once dried, after six hours, I then applied a second coat. I then left overnight to dry. I placed the doors back on the hinges and used a screwdriver to fit the new handles.
"I painted the ceiling white using Wilko range Matt Emulsion and used a Dulux Kitchen paint on the walls in a similar shade.”
Gemma was delighted with the transformation of her kitchen - and was especially chuffed that it only cost £50.
"I couldn’t believe the transformation!” she adds. "I was quoted over £5,000 for new units but instead I spent £50 and transformed the kitchen myself.
"Although the look of the old units was dated, the condition was good, so it seemed pointless to throw them away and replace a new kitchen when I knew I could do it myself.
"My son Dane has grown up all his life watching me do the DIY and he is now a qualified plasterer and tiler in the army, so he has been able to plaster the rest of the house and work his magic too.
"During the pandemic he had leave and he has really motivated me to get the house looking the best it can.
"I’m not a professional, I’m just a regular mum trying her best. I honestly believe anyone could do the same and it really gave me such a boost of confidence knowing I did it without any help and at such a low cost.
"Wilko is a local high street store that sell the materials in-store and online so it’s perfect for those home makeovers and for those who can’t get out to the shops.
"My top tip is to have some space that you can allow the doors to dry in.
“If you’re restricted for space and have children or pets, try doing one or two doors each evening when everyone goes to bed and allow them to dry overnight.”
Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, comments: “We’ve all been on the receiving end of eye-watering quotes from builders and suppliers, especially when it comes to refitting parts of the house such as the kitchen or bathrooms.
“However, Gemma’s amazing transformation is proof you really don’t need to spend thousands to breathe new life into your home.
“Using budget materials such as Wilko furniture paint and ebay cupboard handles gives the kitchen an expensive new look - and all for under £50!"
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