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Need ideas for budget-friendly kitchen facelift

jenna1988

Hi! We have just bought and moved into a little workers cottage in Sydney’s Inner West. One day we intend to do a much larger reno but I don’t think I can live with this kitchen for the next 10 years as it is! Could you recommend any easy improvements? Is it easier to get new cabinet doors to fit any kitchen cabinets? I’m also keen to make all the cabinets go to the ceiling somehow, can’t stand the grease/dust collecting gaps. How about replacing the kitchen bench and sink, or is it worth ripping everything out and starting again if we’re going that far? I don’t want to spend more than 5-10k right now. As you can see in the picture, the fridge has to go right next to the oven too! I’ve seen on another post here that the Bunnings team has recommended putting a melamine panel in between the fridge and oven, I’ll look into that too. Any advice on how to make our kitchen a more enjoyable space on a budget would be greatly appreciated, given the Sydney-house-sized-mortgage we’ve just taken on! Thanks. Oh and please excuse the Christmas mess pictured!

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jenna1988

Woops, image didn’t attach the first time, here you go! We have a small dining table under the mess on the right hand side, under the cabinets. I dislike the cabinets being there but it’s crucial kitchen storage space!

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @jenna1988. It's a pleasure to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about kitchen renovations.

Here's a great place to start: How to plan a kitchen renovation. Also, you might like to check out our Top 10 most popular kitchen projects for some inspiration.

Cutting out the ceiling cornice to shift the wall cabinets higher is a fantastic way to eliminate the gap and create a cleaner, more modern look. Closing off that dust and grease trap will instantly make the space feel fresher.

With your budget of $5-10k, you can certainly make impactful changes. Replacing the benchtop, cabinetry doors, and handles can give the kitchen a brand-new appearance without the expense of a full renovation. Depending on the size of your cabinets, you might directly replace them with Kaboodle, making replacement a practical and cost-effective solution. Upgrading the sink and tapware are excellent choices, as these focal points can elevate the space with minimal investment. Look for high-quality but budget-friendly options to get the best value.

If the kitchen layout is functional and mostly works for you, it’s smart to focus on fixing the major issues—like that fridge and oven placement. A melamine panel between the two will help with heat and insulation concerns and create a more polished appearance. You could also explore alternative layouts for the fridge, but if space is tight, the panel is a great solution.

Rather than ripping everything out right now, it’s more practical to tackle the immediate issues you find intolerable and spruce up the space within your budget. This approach keeps the kitchen functional and pleasant while allowing you to save and plan for a full renovation down the track. When the time comes, you can then address bigger changes like reconfiguring the layout or upgrading appliances such as the rangehood, oven and dishwasher.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Jason

Hi @jenna1988,

Congratulations on your house purchase and welcome to the community.

Just thought I'd check in and make sure you found Mitch's advice helpful. Please feel free to post again if we can help further. We are keen to see how you can transform your kitchen on a budget.

Thanks,

Jason

EricL

Hello @jenna1988

I've just seen your kitchen and have drawn up a quick layout for you using the kaboodle kitchen cabinetry. This kitchen technically is under $10,000 and if you are wise with materials used could be even less. The layout is almost the same, but I've moved your fridge to the other wall and have provided you with full pantries. You'll need to trade in your large round table for a narrow rectangular one, but with backless seats you get more people to sit in it. Please have a look and tell me what you think.

Please note that in order to stay under budget you'll need to assemble and install the kitchen yourself. I've included a budget for the plumber and electrician and its within your $10,000 budget.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

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