Fiona sent us an email about her bathroom and kitchen renovations that she did on a budget. She even included a breakdown of costs and the after photos are a big improvement, particularly the bathroom which you’llsee after the jump. First up, Fiona’s kitchen. 

I couldn’t afford $20-$25K for a brand new kitchen, so I spruced up what I already had. My blue laminate bench top was covered with 12mm thick stone (fitted in a few hours), the kitchen splashback tiles were removed & the same stone was fixed to the walls. I had an overhead cupboard made which included a hidden under cupboard range hood. I scoured Google images to find a design I liked and had it made by a cabinet maker. I had the floor tiles replaced (and extended to include the dining & entrance way). Finally, I had my oven and cook top professionally cleaned to fit in with my ‘new’ kitchen. I kept all my appliances and existing sink with mixer to keep costs low. My price breakdown was:-

* Kitchen, entrance & dining floor tile removal & laying $1950
* Kitchen floor tiles & grout $1012
* Range hood including ducting kit $442
* Stone bench top & splashback $3830
* Floating cabinet $3500 (included installation of cabinet, installation of range hood & removal, patching & painting of old ceiling fan)
* Kitchen wall tile removal $400

BEFORE

AFTER

I thought I’d share with you my bathroom renovation also – all with the help of Ebay! It all came as a shock to me when I received quotes for between $18-$20K.  I thought about ways to keep costs down for materials down & sourced most items on eBay.  My price break down was as follows:-
2 x Caroma Basins & chrome pop ups $584 (ebay)
Wall mounted soap dispenser & tumbler $15 (ebay)
2 x Chrome towels rails $80 (ebay)
Wall mount bath tap set $269 (ebay)
2 x Tower Basin Taps $310 (ebay)
Shower Mixer $89 (ebay)
Sliding Shower Rail $159 (ebay)
Polymarble shower base with stainless steel grille $199 (ebay)
Chrome ceiling fan $165 (online)
Mirror Cabinet $159 (ebay)
Floor & wall tiles 60 x 30cm + grout $820
Mosaic Tiles $380
Downlights $240
Bathroom labour/plumbing (4 weeks), custom made vanity & semi-frameless shower screen $11.5K.

We kept the existing the bath & re-configured the space so that the bath sits under the window & the vanity is now where the bath is.  We wouldn’t have been able to accommodate two basins where the old vanity was with the window in the way – I  thought about a sliding mirror across the window, but everyone convinced me otherwise & I’m happy I listened!

BEFORE

AFTER