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Andrew and David Harrison-Colley updated the small kitchen in their home for less than £400, about $542, while they wait for a planned kitchen extension. The work included repainting existing lower cabinets, adding open shelving and paneling, and replacing a broken oven with a secondhand one. The couple said the temporary makeover has also produced features they plan to reuse in the new kitchen.
Andrew and David Harrison-Colley refreshed the small kitchen in their home for less than £400, about $542, while they wait for a planned kitchen extension. Their update kept the existing lower cabinets, added open shelving and painted paneling, and replaced a broken oven with a secondhand model, according to Apartment Therapy’s report on the project.
The couple began by removing the peeling, light oak-look thermofoil from the lower cabinets. David wrote on Instagram that the cabinets beneath were MDF and still in good condition. They used heat from a hairdryer to loosen the outer layer, then patched holes, sanded, primed and painted the cabinet fronts Farrow & Ball’s Pigeon gray.
They removed the upper cabinets and installed open shelving across the wall. To change the look of the backsplash without pulling off the existing white square tiles, they covered the area with paneling and painted it a creamy tan, Coat Paint’s Good Intentions. The couple said on Instagram they did not want to risk damaging the walls by removing the tiles.
The work also included replacing water-damaged countertops with an oak slab, which the couple sealed with Osmo TopOil. Apartment Therapy reported that Andrew and David said the surface had held up during the two-year interim. They also installed a faucet, made a cupboard to conceal the refrigerator, sewed a linen skirt to cover the washing machine and replaced a nonworking oven with one found on Facebook Marketplace.
A Temporary Kitchen With Reusable Parts
The makeover was designed to make a small kitchen more functional while the owners wait for a larger renovation, not to serve as a permanent replacement for the planned extension. The couple told Apartment Therapy they intend to bring the open shelves, faucet and refrigerator cupboard into the new kitchen, giving some purchases and labor a second use.
The project also shows how the condition of existing materials can shape a renovation budget. Rather than replacing the lower cabinets, the couple retained the MDF carcasses and changed the finish. That approach kept the reported cost below £400, roughly $542, although the source does not itemize every expense or establish how readily another household could match that total.
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Why They Kept the Existing Kitchen
The couple are planning a new kitchen extension, but the project had not been completed when they updated the smaller kitchen already in the home. Apartment Therapy reported that they made the changes to improve everyday use during the wait, keeping spending low because much of the room was temporary.
That plan influenced several choices: the cabinets were refinished rather than replaced, the tiled backsplash was covered rather than removed, and selected fittings were chosen for reuse. The oak countertop was an exception to the low-cost approach: it replaced a water-damaged surface. The couple’s makeover combines those practical repairs with cosmetic changes such as the painted cabinets and linen skirt.
“The cabinets were still in great condition.”
— David Harrison-Colley, writing on Instagram, as quoted by Apartment Therapy
Costs and Extension Details Not Listed
Apartment Therapy reports a total below £400, or about $542, but does not provide a complete itemized budget. The account also does not say whether the total includes tools, supplies already owned, delivery charges or the value of the couple’s labor. The reported dollar figure is an approximate conversion, not a separate U.S. project budget.
The source does not specify when the kitchen extension will begin or finish, what it will cost, or whether all the listed features will fit into the new layout. The couple’s comments describe plans to reuse some items; completion of that reuse is not confirmed in the report.
The Planned Extension Remains Ahead
The next major step is the couple’s planned kitchen extension, which Apartment Therapy said was still in the planning stage described by the report. Andrew and David have said they intend to carry the open shelves, faucet and refrigerator cupboard into that kitchen. No construction timetable or final design was provided, so it is not clear when the extension will be finished or which other parts of the temporary room will be retained.
Key Questions
How much did the kitchen makeover cost?
Apartment Therapy reported that the total was under £400, about $542. The article did not provide an itemized list of expenses.
What did the couple change?
They removed the peeling thermofoil and painted the existing lower cabinets, installed open shelves, covered the tiled backsplash with paneling, replaced a damaged countertop and added several other updates, including a secondhand oven and a linen washing-machine skirt.
Did they replace the lower cabinets?
No. David said the MDF cabinets were still in good condition. The couple removed the outer finish, repaired and sanded the surfaces, then primed and painted them.
Why did they cover the old backsplash tiles?
The couple said they did not want to risk damaging the walls by removing the tiles. They covered them with paneling and painted it a creamy tan.
Will any features move into the new kitchen?
The couple said they plan to reuse the open shelves, faucet and cupboard made to conceal the refrigerator. The report does not confirm when the extension will be built or whether those plans have been carried out.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
