I moved into my house nearly five years ago with very little funds. In fact at the time we were just living hand to mouth. The kitchen wasn’t great when we moved in. A council property. The fitted kitchen consisted of two and a half floor cupboards, a larder cupboard and very little work surface space. It’s a fairly spacious room – classed as a kitchen diner. But it was unworkable and unpleasant to eat in because everything was on top of each other. To serve meals up for myself and children I was using an old ironing board as a serving side board. Later I progressed to a breakfast bar.
I managed to get the funds together to paint the kitchen at the time. The walls looked nice and fresh but I have always been dismayed by the kitchen tiles, the lack of work surface space and cupboard space. I had to keep half of my kitchen plates etc… in a cabinet that I bought and made over for the front room. The kitchen never felt pleasant to work in at times, fairly impossible.
As you can see from the picture – stuff everywhere because nothing had a home!

I phoned the council and I’m not due a kitchen upgrade for several more years. I’m not patient enough to keep my kitchen as it is so it’s time for a revamp!
This year I decided that I would turn the front room into a front room diner. Bought a lovely second hand oak table and mix matched chairs. Got rid of a sofa and I am now in the process of trying to get funds together for a corner sofa.
This decision has meant that my kitchen can now be ‘just a kitchen.’ My daughter and I love baking so how I’m designing the kitchen means that I can incorporate this. I also want it to be the sort of kitchen that means I can utilise from the garden (simple herbs, veg and flowers) to the kitchen.
My funds are in much better shape than five years ago but I’m still not in a position to pay for a new built in kitchen. So I’m rolling my sleeves up and making changes, challenging myself with DIY.
I’ve re-sprayed the tiles. First using a primer followed by spray paint. Having never done anything like this before, I was a little worried about the outcome but I told myself that it couldn’t be worse than the current condition.
I’ve gone from a harsh grubby white.
The tiles really reminded me of those from a public toilet block. To a much warmer antique white. 
The walls I have opted for a strong matt kitchen paint in Barbados blue.

Very bold but vibrant.

I’m still keeping a section of retro tiles.

I adore those tiles. It’s funny how our tastes change. I had these tiles in my first house and totally hated them. But now vintage is very in. I think they look great with the choice of paint.
I then took the top off my old living room cabinet and painted the cabinet with a chalk and clay paint, topped off with finishing wax.


I’ve had a habit of picking up bargains over the years. A few years ago somebody was selling some tiles they had left over. I adored the colours so snapped their hands off thinking how one day I would find a use. I now have a use. They are in the process of being stuck to what will be my kitchen island.
I’ve decided to match my dated fitted kitchen cupboards with the kitchen island colour scheme.
I have started painting them with the chalk and clay paint but this time rather than wax, I want them to have a sheen so I’m going over those with clear varnish. It’s going to take roughly four coats but we are getting there.
Still more jobs to do in the kitchen. These include:
Finishing the kitchen island.
Painting the work tops with floor paint.
Creating a kitchen blind.
Putting up a fancy shelving unit – which I’ve again bought second hand and will shabby chic.
The glossing of paint work.
Making over the fridge and doors.
Plus all the finishing and fancy bits.
All a work in progress which is being fitted around current commitments.
I do feel like I’ve cheated slightly on my makeover. I’ve bought a wonderful stand alone oak cabinet which is already painted in grey for cooking utensils. Brand new! I think it’s the only piece of furniture in my house which has been bought brand new!
But as you can see, I’m going to have much more to blog about over the coming weeks.
A kitchen makeover which will mix the old with the new and gain, five new cabinets, a new work surface, five new drawers and four new wall shelves!
I must go and get on with it!!!
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