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

We received an email from Robert Garneau of Studio Garneau, an architecture firm in New York, about one of their award-winning renovation projects called Transformer (a derelict pre-war studio apartment). This is one of the coolest and most efficient uses of a small space I have seen in a LONG time. Here is a quick breakdown of what they did and the features of the space. 

1. Sliding a wall carves a bedroom from the living room, while revealing a library or a home office.
2. Sliding wall transforms into surface for projector for movie-watching.
3. Tilting down a wall-bed unveils a walnut clad sleeping nook complete with bedside niches.
4. Wall-bed tucks away tp create yoga niche.
5. A tiled washroom wall opens to expose walnut clad laundry hampers and linen closets.
6. Pressing a button converts a dining table into a countertop, complete with secret compartment inside.
7. Custom modular sofa can be configured into queen size bed. 

If you’d like to send me photos to include in next week’s “pets on furniture” post, please ensure your photos follow my basic rules: First, the pet must be on a piece of furniture. And said piece of furniture must be clearly visible in the photo, so it takes center stage rather than your pet. Think of it more of a photo of a great piece of furniture that you want to show off…and your pet happens to be sitting on it. And second, the photo must be of decent quality. If it’s dark or fuzzy (from a camera phone) then it may not make the cut. Photos, your name, location and a brief description can be sent to desiretoinspirekim@hotmail.comand PLEASE don’t send closeups of your pet! Thanks!

This is “Lua” (which means moon in Portuguese) on her second favourite place in the whole house (her first is our bed).
– Natascha (São Paulo, Brazil)

Here are my two adorable babies. Leo, the devilish Maine Coon mix, posing for me on the mid century modern couch I inherited from my grandma. The upholstery is from 1971 and Leo absolutely LOVES to use it as a scratching couch… The other picture features little girl Eva a.k.a. Queen of the House, lounging on her throne which is actually another piece of furniture I got from my grandma and that my mom patiently reupholstered.
– Stephanie

Finley relaxing after a long day
– Maria (Los Angeles, CA)

This is Billie – she is tuckered out on the blue couch after a dinner party!
– Ashley (Denver, CO)

Here’s Jayda, my recent 2 year old mini dachshund rescue, pondering which MCM designer is her favorite.
– Amy (Chicago, IL)

Dog: Barclay – Molly Gibson Lodge dog
– Michael (Aspen)

This is Elliot (top) and Emma (bottom). Elliot has a habit of draping his body in odd places around the house and Emma is usually close-by looking like the softest rag doll ever.
– Michelle

This is a photo of Delilah, my mother’s rescue, lab/pit bull mix in Charlotte, NC.  She was attacked in the face by a porcupine which is why she has no fur on her muzzle.
– Cindy

If you’d like to send me photos to include in next week’s “pets on furniture” post, please ensure your photos follow my basic rules: First, the pet must be on a piece of furniture. And said piece of furniture must be clearly visible in the photo, so it takes center stage rather than your pet. Think of it more of a photo of a great piece of furniture that you want to show off…and your pet happens to be sitting on it. And second, the photo must be of decent quality. If it’s dark or fuzzy (from a camera phone) then it may not make the cut. Photos, your name, location and a brief description can be sent to desiretoinspirekim@hotmail.comand PLEASE don’t send closeups of your pet! Thanks!

We babysat my parents beautiful Norwegian forest cat a few weeks ago and snapped this pic of him.
– Sacha (Ottawa)

Attached is a picture of my cats Oscar and Alfred, who are bengal-manx brothers, on a bench in my living room. A rare sunny afternoon in Portland, OR in June.
– Morgan

Attached is a pic of Lupita on the Barcelona chair in my office. Lupita comes to work with me every day and while she has her own bed she usually ends up sleeping on this chair.
– Jeffrey

Whenever my dog misbehaves, I send her outside to “reflect” on her bad deed 😛 When I do, she wants to peep into the house, and watch what’s going on inside, so she jumps on the garden table and peeps through the kitchen windows. Hope you like the picture!!! PS. It’s quite funny because she is enormous!!!! Her name is Foca (seal in spanish, because she looks like a plumpy little seal and loves the sea!!!), she’s a 5 year old Bernese Mountain Dog, and really really smart and funny. Always wants to play and go out for a walk. And she tends to steal yummy stuff from the kitchen.
– Clari (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

I am a terrible bunny-torturer: I put Buster up on this table for the picture.  He normally sticks to the couches, but they’re not as cute as this little corner.
– Brianna

Ho hum
– Leah

Alphie is our 2 year old Collie Shepard and his sidekick is our new pup, Rincon.  We adopted Rincon during our Easter vacation in Rincon, Puerto Rico and she is a mix with a lot of Jack Russell in her.  They both have their own leather pub chair but in this photo Rincon has decided that on top of the chair gives her a much needed advantage on Alphie. 
– Kris

Micaela on the dining table‏
– Simone

I have just a quick post for you all today as I am trying to enjoy a gorgeous warm and sunny weekend. I spent yesterday at my sister’s cottage and today I’ve got some yard work, spray painting (my shoe shelves need another coat of sealant as many of my shoes ended up with random neon pink marks) and other random chores to get through – anything I can think of to do outdoors. I saw this home on Nuevo Estilo and fell in love. It’s my favourite scenario – and old home that has been renovated and brought to life with mostly contemporary decor. It’s extra special as it’s located on the stunning island of Mallorca, in the Mediterranean Sea. Oh, and it’s available for rent as a vacation home here.