After 15 years, homeowners Jennie and Michael started the work to fix their leaky solarium, but that led to an even bigger problem: In order to tie the solarium in with the rest of the home, contractors told them they’d have to tear up the adjacent kitchen. Since they’d already <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/renovations/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">renovated</a> the kitchen and didn’t want to destroy the parts that were still functional, the couple needed the <em><a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Save My Reno</a></em> team's help to update the entire space — saving the parts that they loved, for a $35,000 budget.

While the solarium's leaks were patched, Jennie and Michael still needed to finish up the room's renovations — particularly when it came to updating the outdated terracotta floor tiles that ran through both the solarium and the kitchen.

Sebastian and the team completed the solarium's renovations, transforming the leaky, terracotta-tiled area into a light-filled, family-focused extension of Jennie and Michael's home. Starting from the ground up, they removed the old tiles and replaced them with waterproof vinyl flooring. Sliding glass doors coaxed in the sunlight and gave easy access to the backyard, while a glass stair railing offered safety without closing off the space. <br><br>Related: <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/real-estate/photos/stunning-landscape-expanding-homes-1927086/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">8 Stunning Homes That Blend in With the Outdoors</a>

While Samantha kept the overall colour palette in the solarium <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/living-rooms/photos/grey-living-room-design-ideas-1918870/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">neutral in greys</a> and whites for a cohesive feel with the kitchen, primary-hued decor accents (including framed art created by Jennie and Michael's daughter) brought a playful feel to the family-oriented space. <br><br>Related: <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/decorating/photos/how-to-pick-art-for-every-room-1922988/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">How to Pick Art for Every Room in Your Home</a>

<a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/renovations/blog/common-renovating-costs-flooring-27087/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Flooring can be expensive</a>, so sourcing salvaged flooring is a smart way to cut costs and reuse resources. After searching online, Samantha and Jennie lucked out by finding a homeowner selling compatible salvaged flooring from a reno — offering 200 square feet for just $75. If bought new, the flooring would have cost at least $1600, making it a major budget-boosting steal.

Not wanting to waste any of the up-cycled flooring, Sebastian used the more-worn pieces to create a unique end-grain step by stacking and gluing the wood pieces together. The finished step coordinates beautifully as a bridge between the wood flooring in the kitchen and the concrete-inspired, waterproof vinyl flooring in the solarium.

Keeping the clean, light and fresh feel for the main floor, Samantha used plenty of <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/tags/plants/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">plants and greenery</a> throughout. <br><br>Related: <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/green-living/photos/easy-to-care-for-indoor-plants-1926218/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">21 Easy-to-Care-for Indoor Plants That Go Beyond Succulents</a>

To get full use of the new solarium space, the team installed <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/living-rooms/photos/living-room-shelving-ideas-1919652/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">shelving</a> cabinets along the side of the stairs that led to the basement. By making the cabinets full height and carrying them all the way up the stairs, the family can use the storage for everything from shoes to decorative items. <br><br>Related: <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/renovations/photos/renovate-space-under-your-stairs-1931402/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">10 Genius Ways to Renovate the Space Under Your Stairs</a>

After completing a partial renovation about a decade ago, there was still plenty to love about the kitchen's cabinetry and countertops, so the goal was to save and refresh as much as possible. But, because the homeowners wanted to replace the outdated flooring, keeping some elements without damaging them was a challenge. <br><br>Related: <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/renovations/photos/where-to-take-used-appliances-cabinets-by-province-1935990/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Where to Take Your Used Appliances and Cabinets, by Province</a>

While keeping the existing cabinetry, sink and countertops was a challenge, it also gave the team a huge opportunity for savings. As Samantha pointed, cabinetry usually accounts for about 30% of the cost of kitchen renovations, so — by painting the current cabinets in a modern soft grey and adding new hardware — they could then allocate a big chunk of the budget to other areas. <br><br>Related: <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/kitchens/blog/how-to-refinish-kitchen-cabinets-1915753/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">How to Refinish Kitchen Cabinets: Bryan Baeumler Breaks it Down</a>

Samantha's choice of <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/kitchens/photos/25-kitchen-backsplash-ideas-for-your-next-reno-1050210/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">kitchen backsplash</a> went a long way towards transforming the look of the kitchen (without tearing it down). The distinctive white penny round tile featured subtle deep-brown edges that tied together beautifully with the browns in the existing countertops, while still turning up the brightness. <br><br>Related: <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/kitchens/photos/backsplash-tile-cabinetry-top-kitchen-trends-2020-1931289/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Backsplash, Tile, Cabinetry: The 15 Top Kitchen Trends for 2020</a>

The natural light from the solarium is spectacular, but there are times when the family wants a touch of shade and privacy from the big solarium windows. The stylish solution? Samantha, Jennie and Jennie's daughter worked together to create custom block-printed <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/sarah-baeumler/photos/sarah-baeumlers-dos-and-donts-for-window-treatments-1926583/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">drapery</a>. While block-printed fabric is usually quite expensive, the team saved by creating their own print on less-costly ready-made panels. <br><br>Related: <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/diy/photos/diy-projects-that-will-set-your-home-apart-1930013/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">9 Easy DIY Projects From HGTV Canada Stars That'll Make Your Home Look Expensive on a Budget</a>