Want a kitchen straight out of your favourite interior mag without the designer price tag? With clever ideas and careful project management, it’s possible to have it all.

Your kitchen is one of the most critical rooms in your property for adding value, hence the need to get everything right – from your initial idea, to the layout, to construction, and everything else in-between. If you stick to a tight budget and manage your design and trades well, your new kitchen can return you $2 – $3 for every dollar that you spend. That’s no chump change, but it can so easily go wrong!

To take the guess work out of your next kitchen renovation project, check out my step-by-step process of how to plan and project manage your very own kitchen renovation like a true professional, HERE.

For this renovation in one of my Western Sydney rental properties, the scope of works included;

• Complete demolition of the old kitchen
• Installation of new wall framing & sheeting (block off old hallway)
• New waterproof laminate floorboards
• New kitchen cabinetry
• New laminate bench tops
• Tile splash back
• Re-install existing appliances
• New fixtures & fittings (sink, sink tap, cabinet handles, blind)
• New lighting (down lights & feature light)
• New timber frame around kitchen window
• New storage accessories

This kitchen might look high spec, but it’s a basic flat pack purchased ‘off the shelf’ at Bunnings.

(HINT: Students of my Cosmetic Renovations For Profit Course receive 15% off Kaboodle Kitchens at Bunnings. Find out how here).

keys to making this design a stand out:

• Design your layout with a ‘perfect working triangle’. Here; my sink, cook top and fridge all have bench space in between, creating the working triangle. The breakfast bar makes this a great layout for family functionality.
• Contrast light upper cabinet doors with dark lower and full height cabinet doors. I achieved this by purchasing low cost white doors and having the lower cabinet doors, drawers and end-panels vinyl wrapped in navy blue.
• Mix metals by contrasting brass door handles and tapware, with stainless appliances, sink and accessories. Copper accessories and stools continue the theme.
• Create interest in your design with a bevel edge subway tiled splash back and dark grey grout.
• Save with a marble-look laminate bench top. Calacutta and Statuario are very on trend, but in low budget properties you can get the look with a laminate instead.
• Warm up the look with timber detail. Waterproof laminate floors in ‘spotted gum’, a timber frame around the window, and floating timber shelves have been used for repetition in my design.
• Don’t forget your feature light. This industrial style metal feature light is practical and whimsical, and the linear shape works well with the bench top beneath.

Missed my my Step-By-Step Guide to Plan & Project Manage Your Kitchen Renovation like a true professional? Download your copy HERE.

PAINT PALETTE

Love the look of this hi-spec, low cost kitchen? Get the look with my colour palette below.

Kitchen Ceiling      

• Taubmans Endure Kitchen & Bathroom: Ceiling Paint
• Colour: White

Internal Walls                   

• Taubmans Endure – Kitchen & Bathroom: Acrylic – Low Sheen
• Colour: White Shaver

Door & Door Architraves

• Taubmans Endure Interior: Acrylic Semi Gloss
• Colour: Crisp White