Brand New Kitchen on a Tight Budget

Here is a before and after of my brand new fitted kitchen that was undertaken on a very tight budget. I do not have a large kitchen and an even smaller budget so all the cupboards and extra work was done myself. In this post - which you will also find here https://www.home-dzine.co.za/kitchen/kitchen-renovation-from-scratch.html - I will explain how I removed and replaced the kitchen over a period of 3 months (weekends only) using supplies you can purchase at any hardware store.

Supplies

MDF, 16mm sheets that you will cut to size

Screws and hardware

Drill, sander, circular or table saw

Paint and spray painting system

Tape measure

Spirit level

OPTIONAL: SketchUp or Make drawing program

A detailed list of supplies can be found here: https://www.home-dzine.co.za/kitchen/kitchen-renovation-from-scratch.html

Step 1: MAKING THE FLOOR CABINETS

It is important to remember that the cabinet frame will be exactly the same for every cabinet you make for the floor units. The only changes are the door (width) and what the cupboard will be used for (shelves, pullouts, etc). After making one cupboard, you will repeat this, only changing the width or length of the cupboard if it needs to be a custom size. It's not that difficult after all, hey!

Follow the steps shown in the images above to build the cabinets and paint them to finish. By having the cabinets ready to fit, you can rip out the old units and immediately install the newly built ones.

GOOD TO KNOW:

Cutting and joinery need to be done accurately so that the cabinets fit and line up perfectly. So be sure to measure twice and cut once. Don't rush the assembly, make sure joints are aligned and flush.

Step 2: MAKING DRAWER UNITS

Make the frame for the drawer unit in the exact same way as for the plain cabinet above. The only difference will be to add dividers for each drawer and measure accurately for fitting drawer runners. These are temporarily fitted and then removed for the painting process. You will also need to cut and assemble the drawers. Find full instructions here: https://www.home-dzine.co.za/kitchen/kitchen-cabinet-drawer.html.

GOOD TO KNOW:

Using a quality paint sprayer with quality paint will give a professional finish but there is no reason why you cannot hand paint if you prefer a rustic finish.

Step 3: FITTING THE KITCHEN

As mentioned previously, this kitchen remodel was done over several weekends. As the cabinets for one section were finished, the old ones were ripped out and new ones fitted. Once all the cabinetry was done, the new countertop was installed and all additional work was done. You will find full details and additional information here: https://www.home-dzine.co.za/kitchen/kitchen-renovation-from-scratch.html