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Andrew and David Harrison-Colley refreshed their existing kitchen for less than £400, about $542, while planning a larger kitchen extension. They stripped and painted the lower cabinets, added open shelving and wall paneling, and replaced damaged countertops and a broken oven. The couple said they expect to reuse some additions in the future kitchen.
Andrew and David Harrison-Colley updated their existing kitchen for less than £400, about $542, while they wait for a planned kitchen extension, according to a report by Apartment Therapy. The makeover included refinishing the lower cabinets, replacing upper cabinets with open shelves and covering an old tiled backsplash with paneling, giving the room a cottage-style look without rebuilding the kitchen.
The couple began with the existing lower cabinets, whose light oak-look thermofoil exterior was peeling. David wrote on Instagram that the underlying MDF cabinets were still in good condition. They used a hairdryer to loosen and remove the outer layer, then patched holes, sanded, primed and painted the cabinet fronts in Farrow & Ball’s Pigeon, a muted gray shade.
They removed the upper cabinets and installed open shelving across the wall. To update the backsplash without risking damage to the wall, they fitted paneling over the existing white square tiles and painted it, along with the walls, in Coat Paint’s Good Intentions, a creamy tan. The couple said on Instagram that they did not want to remove the tiles and potentially harm the walls.
The work also addressed practical problems. They replaced a water-damaged countertop with an oak slab, sealed with Osmo TopOil, and swapped a nonworking oven for one found on Facebook Marketplace. A linen skirt now screens the white washing machine. Apartment Therapy reported that the total was under £400, or about $542; the couple did not provide a detailed cost breakdown in the supplied account.
A Temporary Kitchen Made More Usable
The project shows how a kitchen can be made more functional and visually cohesive without replacing every cabinet or committing to a full renovation. Reusing the existing lower cabinets and covering rather than removing the tile helped the couple work within a limited budget while making changes suited to everyday use.
The makeover is also tied to a specific renovation timeline: the couple are planning a new kitchen extension, but that work is not happening immediately. They told Apartment Therapy that some additions, including the shelves, faucet and a cupboard built to conceal the refrigerator, are intended to be transferred to the new kitchen. That makes the project more than a cosmetic update, though the report does not say when the extension will be completed.
The stated budget provides a useful reference for readers, but it should not be read as a standard price for a similar renovation. Costs depend on existing conditions, materials and local labor. In this case, the reported total includes a mix of DIY work and purchases such as the replacement countertop and secondhand oven.
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Updates Made While Awaiting an Extension
According to Apartment Therapy, the Harrison-Colleys chose to improve the kitchen that came with their home while planning a larger extension. They treated the current room as an interim space: the goal was to make it more attractive and functional without spending as though it were the final kitchen.
The source describes a combination of repair, reuse and new work. The cabinet boxes remained, while their peeling exterior was removed; the old tile stayed in place beneath paneling; and the broken oven was replaced with a secondhand one. The oak countertop was a more substantial replacement, bought after the original surface suffered water damage. The couple said it had stood up well over the two-year interim period after being sealed with Osmo TopOil.
“The cabinets were still in great condition.”
— David Harrison-Colley, in an Instagram post cited by Apartment Therapy
Final Extension Plans Remain Unspecified
The report does not give a schedule, final design or projected cost for the planned kitchen extension. It also does not provide an itemized budget, so readers cannot tell how much of the under-£400 total went to each material or fixture, or whether the figure includes every tool and supply.
The couple’s account that the oak countertop has held up well reflects their experience; the source does not describe independent testing or provide details about maintenance beyond the reported application of Osmo TopOil. The article also does not specify the faucet model or the full construction details for the shelves and refrigerator cupboard.
Some Features May Move to the New Kitchen
Andrew and David said they plan to reuse the open shelving, faucet and refrigerator-concealing cupboard in the kitchen extension. The source does not say when construction will begin or whether those plans have changed. For now, the updated existing kitchen serves as the couple’s working space while they wait for the larger project.
Key Questions
How much did the kitchen makeover cost?
Apartment Therapy reported that the couple spent less than £400, approximately $542. The report does not include an itemized breakdown.
Did the couple replace the lower kitchen cabinets?
No. They kept the existing MDF cabinet boxes, removed the peeling thermofoil exterior, repaired and sanded the surfaces, then primed and painted them.
How did they cover the old backsplash?
They installed paneling over the existing white square tiles and painted it. The couple said they wanted to avoid the risk of damaging the walls by removing the tiles.
Which parts may be reused in the extension?
The couple said they plan to take the open shelves, the faucet and a cupboard made to conceal the refrigerator into the new kitchen. The report gives no construction schedule for the extension.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
