This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

A White Kitchen Renovation From The Beginning

The Original 1980’s Kitchen

Oh, how it needed a white kitchen renovation!!

This was how my kitchen looked 10 years ago when we moved into this house. It still had the original brown laminate and chipboard cupboards, green-mustard laminate bench top and gas stove.

I’m guessing that this look was considered trendy and stylishly back then.

Why on earth did we buy a house with such a dated kitchen? (And that’s not mentioning the bathroom either).

Well after living in 3 rentals prior to buying, with even more dated interior, this house seemed simply modern. Plus, I was just excited that it had an indoor toilet. Anyone remember the old outhouse down the back?

Short On Storage Space

When we first moved in, it wasn’t in our budget to do a white kitchen renovation.

However, with the addition of 2 more babies within 3 years to make 5 of us, I was getting frustrated with the limited storage space and bench space. I know, no wall cupboards, no pantry!

So I decided to go with a cheaper, fairly easy DIY, temporary solution as opposed to more expensive built in kitchen cabinets.

White Kitchen Renovation – Part 1

We pulled out the old cupboards on the right side of the kitchen. (The side opposite the sink). Those original cabinets have now been re-purposed outside for storing power tools.

All we needed to do was add in a small section of floor tiles where the cabinets were. My storage solution was to be freestanding so I didn’t even bother removing the wall tiles. They just got a coat of paint as they can’t really be seen!

I found a large pantry cupboard, for $25 from a second hand store. The orange pine doors got painted with Dulux Antique White USA matte wall paint and black board paint at the top. Great for writing out the shopping list!

Then I bought a large second hand pine hutch or kitchen dresser for about $250. I removed the top doors as I love the look and usefulness of open shelving. Then painted the frame in white and the back in a light bluish- grey.

I painted that half of the kitchen walls in Dulux Honey Dew.

White Kitchen Renovation – Part 2 Is Needed

But the rest of the kitchen still looked like this…

Yes, I had a bit more storage space but I had very limited bench space to work with. These older kitchens had a cabinet depth of 45cm or 17 1/2 inches. Now days kitchen cabinets have a depth of 60cm or 23 1/2 inches. That extra 15 cm makes a big difference!

Notice the small electric oven taking up room on the bench top. That was because the gas oven stopped working not long after we moved in. One of the stove burners didn’t work either.

The wall tiles were chipped and some have come off the wall, they had to go. The remaining chipboard cabinets were crumbling because of water damage. The jarrah wood cupboard frames were solid as ever though.

The taps leaked unless they were turned off so tight, none of the kids can turn them back on. They needed replacing!

The Plan For A White Kitchen Renovation

What Will Stay:

The two things I decided to leave alone, was the flooring and the position of the wall taps and spout. The floor tiles I decided were in pretty good condition and they also extend through most of the house.

Since my style is kind of farmhouse vintage, it didn’t bother me that they didn’t have a modern look. After all I wanted my new kitchen to sort of look kind of old!! 🙂

For the wall taps, I could organize for a plumber to come and change their position so they come up through the bench top. However as I wanted to keep my costs under $5000, they were fine as they were.

I also planned on keeping the curtains and curtain rod I had already, with the idea of replacing the curtains later on.

What Will Be New:

Flat pack kitchen, specifically, matt Antique White Alpine Cabinets by Kaboodle from Bunnings.
Farmhouse White Sink plus tapware
More Open Shelves
White Subway Tile Splashback
Indoor Plants
I would love a white stone bench top. Will see if it fits in the budget.
Industrial Style Pendant Lights
Repaint the kitchen buffet in Dulux Antique White wall paint. Add black knobs from Ikea I already have.
Replacement Chef 60cm Freestanding Stove – Yes, an oven that works!

Oh my gosh, I am excited to finally have a better functioning, pretty kitchen.

I decided, which will reduce my costs A LOT, to do most of the work myself.

Had I ever done anything like this before? Well,… no!

Was I crazy? Probably!

My thinking is that once the cupboards are pulled out, I woud be really motivated to get it finished. Of course, no sink, bench top, stove etc. Yes, that’s motivation!

Plus, I have family members who have done a lot of home renovations. So I reckon I could just ask for help if I got stuck. And there is always Google or You Tube!