Mum Of 2 Transforms Kitchen For Just £57 Using £2 B&M Bargains
- Julie, 32, transformed her kitchen cabinets and drawers for just £57
- She picked up bargains from ASDA, B&M and IKEA
- Supplies include £2 sugar soap and £3 paint rollers
- The job was completed while juggling family life with two young children
It’s easy to be put off doing any work to your kitchen when the quotes for a professional job are eye-wateringly high, but one thrifty mum has proven that it’s possible to do a makeover on the cheap with just a few budget supplies.
Julie Pentelow, 32 from Swindon who works as a teaching assistant and is mum to two children aged 5 and 2, told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: ‘I saw people in Facebook groups, particularly the DIY on a Budget page, saving money by painting their kitchen cabinets to give them a new look, so I decided to give it a go myself! I browsed the internet for different ideas and fell in love with monochrome and minimalist designs.'
While browsing for supplies, Julie was able to pick several up on a budget from stores such as ASDA, B&M and IKEA. ‘I used Loft Grey Satin V33 Cupboard and Cabinet paint from B&Q, a 2L tub cost £38 and it did all of my kitchen cupboards with some left over – I managed to paint my bannister and kitchen table with the same tub. I used Dulux Rock Salt on the walls. I also used a Dark Grey Grout Pen off Amazon which cost £3.99 to go around my old kitchen tiles which made them look new.
‘I also made some art prints to go up on the wall. I do a bit of graphic design in my spare time and have an Etsy shop selling art prints and wedding stationery, so I enjoyed making some simple prints to add to the Scandinavian picture wall. I also picked up an artificial hanging plant from IKEA for £6 and a hanging plant in a glass jar for £4 from B&M to give a natural look to the room and add some colour.
‘Before I got started, I picked up some other small bits - sugar soap from B&M for £2 and mini foam rollers in a pack of 4 for £3 from B&M. I already had the handle part so that saved a little money too.
‘The first step was to prep the kitchen cabinets using the sugar soap. This gave them a good clean and ensured there wasn’t any greasy residue before I started painting. Then I used a mini foam roller to apply the V33 paint, it went on so well and gave it a really smooth finish. In fact everything now feels great and not like it’s been painted at all. The grout pen was a bit fiddly and hard to keep straight, but I found going along the lines with a piece of kitchen towel afterwards helped straighten up the pen line.
‘It wasn’t always easy to get this project done as I have two young children. Sometimes I didn’t have time to work on it as they would either be near the wet paint or distract me. Fortunately my husband did his best to keep them out of the way so I could work undisturbed, and I made the most of the fact I have a day off during the week to fit in some work. This meant I had some windows of time to get the job done while my youngest was napping.
‘I got used to the pattern of painting one section before needing to return to parenting duties such as picking up my 5 year old from school. This meant there were times when the kitchen looked unfinished and quite chaotic - the cupboards would be partially painted or the grout work would only be half done! However the pandemic worked to our advantage because we couldn’t have house guests round anyway to see the mess!
‘I am really happy with the way my kitchen turned out. The cupboards were a plain and boring colour beforehand and now it feels like I have a brand new kitchen. The shade of grey I picked adds a feel of sophistication to the room and now the drawers match the oven, making it look much more coordinated. I have had plenty of compliments from family and friends!’
Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said: ‘Julie should be proud of the professional job she’s completed while juggling a busy family life. The cupboards look very chic now in grey and the kitchen looks completely transformed.
‘Here are my top tips for painting kitchen cabinets which will ensure they last.
‘1. Clean the wood first. It’s vital to use a good grease remover before applying water-based paint, or you risk trying to apply paint which won’t stick.
‘2. Remove the doors and drawers. Taking off the knobs and hinges is also a good idea. This means you’ll avoid issues such as the hardware starting to chip and showing wear.
‘3. Sand them down. You don’t need to go in too hard - just take the surface off so it goes from glossy to matte. This will ensure the paint sticks.
‘4. Elevate your cabinets. Use equipment such as painter’s pyramids to ensure you get an overview of what you’re working on. Otherwise, you risk issues such as missing corners.
‘5. Use a primer. As the paint cures over time, you run the risk of seeing knots in the wood begin to bleed through. Avoid this problem by using a primer designed to block stains.’
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