Everybody around me is renovating. It’s a bit of a fork in the eye, if you know what I mean, but what can I do? I have to learn to be happy for people. And while I work on that, I thought in the meantime we could start discussing all these renos here on the blog - you know, share some ideas, gawk voyeuristically at others’ interiors and maybe even constructively (no pun intended) criticize certain decisions. Why not, right? If I can’t renovate, I can certainly talk about it, and so I present to you a new Style Sheet feature: Real People Renos.
“Real People” because no matter how real television renovations are, they still have magical construction elves that don’t take off on you at the first whiff of a better job, a great designer with endless ideas, and emergency funds should the old floor reveal a gaping hole in the foundation, etc.
So, to kick off with a bang, I’ve a beautiful kitchen reno to share from a colleague here at the office, whom I shall call Kay, as she’s super private and won’t let me use her real name.
No matter, Kay and her partner took on this colossal job themselves, but don’t feel outdone as her partner has now started his own renovation business based on the success below.
The Stats: Kay, “It was a complete gut. Walls, ceiling, floors, new cabinetry, counter tops, tile, lighting, door, appliances.”
“We splurged on appliances, and to be honest, the whole thing wasn’t that hard to do.”
APPROXIMATE BUDGET
- Cabinets, IKEA: $4500
- Tile, glass: $500
- Floor, pre-finished maple: $250
- Counter-top, slate: $1900
- Pot Lighting, under cabinets and in cabinets: $250
- New door: $200
- Appliances: Jenn Air Pro-Style family fridge, $3200; dishwasher, $1200; wall oven, $2000; 6-burner cooktop, $2200; IKEA hood range, $750; Panasonic microwave, $300.
- Extras: $1500
- Labour: $0
TOTAL APPROXIMATE COST
$18,750
What I love:
- The all-tile walls – looks great!
- The slate counters
- The little book nook beside the convection oven.
- The pot lights – a must if you’re gutting!
You need to upgrade your Flash Player to 9 or greater
What do you guys think? Any similar experiences?
Are you embarking on a kitchen reno yourself? If so, send us your photos! We’d love to see them. Email us at styleshee(@)hgtv(.)ca (make sure the picture is in jpg format and don’t forget to take out the brackets when typing our email address).
Related: