At this time of year, many of us are looking for creative ways to beat the January blues. With budgets feeling the pinch and most of our time spent indoors where it’s warm (and thankfully free!), it’s the perfect opportunity to start planning ahead for home improvements and projects. January might not feel like the best time for big spending, and perhaps this isn’t the year for a major renovation, but even a small splurge on refreshing your kitchen can make your home feel revitalised and ready for 2025.
If your kitchen is looking tired but your budget isn’t stretching far, there’s no need to replace everything. A simple facelift can work wonders. With a fresh coat of paint or cupboard wraps and a modern, affordable worktop upgrade, you can completely transform your kitchen without breaking the bank. The result? A space that looks and feels brand new.
Laminate worktops, for example, have come a long way since their heyday in the 1950s. When we think of laminate, many of us picture outdated, speckled surfaces or cheap-looking wood imitations with peeling edges. But today’s laminate worktops are a world away from that. With stunning designs, impressive durability, and stylish finishes from trusted brands like Egger and Bushboard, laminate can give your kitchen a premium look without the premium price tag.
In this two-part blog, we’ll showcase two kitchens transformed on a tight budget. All the worktops, sinks, taps, and splashbacks were sourced through us, and we think they look fantastic! We’ll also share tips on how you can recreate these stylish looks in your own home. So, read on—and don’t miss the second instalment!
Our client owns a 1970s bungalow in Stourbridge with a small galley kitchen. The space was quite limited in size, and the original dark green decor made it feel even more cramped. The walls were tired and worn, with no water-resistant coverings, so the room was in dire need of a refresh. The goal was to lighten the space to create the illusion of more room, while incorporating a modern twist on a traditional laminate worktop kitchen.
With two small children, a dog, and a modest budget of just £1,800 to cover sourcing and fitting, the project needed to be completed quickly and with minimal disruption. After exploring various options, the client chose the Bushboard Omega range. Omega offers a fantastic selection of contemporary finishes, including square-edge and slimline worktops. In the end, the sleek, slimline square-edge design won them over, perfectly balancing style and practicality for their needs.
Laminate worktops paired with matching upstands and a laminate splashback not only make the space more water-resistant but also maintain a consistent design flow. This approach is a more affordable and hassle-free alternative to tiles and the tiling process. Choosing a laminate splashback offers a cost-effective way to clad your kitchen walls, ensuring ease of maintenance and durability in areas used for food preparation and cooking.
While laminate worktops, upstands, and splashbacks are water-resistant on their surface, their cores are not. However, when properly cut, fitted, sealed, and maintained, these materials can stand the test of time and remain in excellent condition, providing both practicality and style in your kitchen.
The inset sink and gold tap were also sourced through us. The client wanted a durable sink with more elegance than a standard stainless-steel option, so we recommended a granite sink. Granite sinks are an excellent choice for kitchens due to their resilience and stain resistance (though it’s best to keep paintbrushes away to avoid rust!).
Given that the kitchen is in Stourbridge, located in the West Midlands, we had to consider the region’s hard water and the presence of limescale. This is an important factor when choosing a sink style and colour, as darker sinks are more likely to show limescale marks when water dries on the surface. Taking this into account, the client opted for a white granite sink. The light colour not only helped to reduce the visibility of limescale but also added a much-needed sense of space to the compact kitchen, enhancing the overall design.
To complement the sink and match the gold kitchen handles, the client selected a gold-finished tap, which we sourced for them as well.
Leaving a happy client with a brand-new space is always our favourite part. The photos speak for themselves, and we believe the design truly came to life at a remarkably low cost. This project proves that not only can you achieve a stunning renovation on a tight budget, but it’s also possible to complete the work in a very short timeframe. All in all, a successful, quick, and affordable kitchen transformation!