🖼️
The project:
From the most neglected room in the house to the heart of the home. My 120-year-old homes' kitchen had survived decades, but after 10 years of living with barely any bench space or storage, it was finally time for a transformation. Armed with determination, hundreds of Bunnings trips, countless YouTube tutorials, and a willingness to learn as I went, I tackled this entire renovation almost completely on my own. Every challenge was worth it. What was once a cramped, outdated space is now a light-filled, functional kitchen that honours the character of this beautiful old home while creating a warm, welcoming place.
- Materials:
Kaboodle wall and base cabinets- colour Matchamisu, alpine profile
Benchtop- Hevea timber (island)
Benchtop- Vena Cloud
Salento worn Gold Kitchen Handle
Southern Cross Ceramics Antique White KitKat tiles
Dulux low sheen kitchen and bathroom paint
Dulux Metalshield Rust Defense
Specrite Hevea Multiuse panel (for floating shelves)
Dunlop Ready-to-Go Render (for above fireplace and range hood)
Dunlop wall premix tile adhesive
Woodhouse Edgeline Moulding (for architraves)
brushes, rollers, liquid nails, sanding blocks, hundreds of various screws and nails
- Tools:
Ryobi one Drill
Ryobi Brad nailer
Ozito Drop saw
Ryobi Circular saw
Floor Edger (hired)
Ryobi vacuum
Ozito planer
hammer, spirit level, tape measure, tile cutter,
- Step 1:
Demolition! The old main bathroom sat awkwardly beside the kitchen, so it was the first thing to go. Once the horsehair plaster came down, I discovered pine boards being used as insulation, and a closer look revealed every wall was crooked and needed rebuilding. There was extensive rust on the pressed tin ceiling and significant rot in the floorboards where the bathroom had been, caused by years of poor waterproofing. What started as a simple renovation quickly turned into a much bigger project, but uncovering these issues meant I could restore the space properly and build it back to last.
- Step 2:
New Window, Insulation & Plaster
With the structural work complete, it was time to close everything in. I know my DIY limits, so I called in the professionals to tackle all the electrical and plumbing work, and to install the new bifold window and plaster the 12-foot walls. Once that was done, the room finally started to take shape, with fresh insulation, smooth walls, and plenty of natural light transforming the space.
- Step 3:
Paint, Paint, Paint!
Before I could paint the room, I had to restore the original pressed tin ceiling. I was determined to preserve this beautiful feature, so I removed the rust, filled the holes, and sealed it with a metal shield coating before painting. It was a huge job, but well worth the effort. To finish the space, I used render above the old fireplace to create a subtle feature wall that complements the home's character.
- Step 4:
New Timber Floorboards
What started as replacing a few rotten floorboards quickly turned into laying an entirely new floor. With most of the original boards too damaged to save, I removed them all, levelled the subfloor, installed new timber boards, then sanded, filled, and coated them. It was one of the biggest jobs of the entire renovation, but the finished floor completely transformed the space.
- Step 5:
Cabinet Installation
With the hard work done, it was finally time to bring the kitchen to life. I assembled and installed the Kaboodle cabinets, cupboards, and doors in the warm, earthy Matchamisu colour, which perfectly complemented the character of my 120-year-old home. I then installed the island bench, benchtops, kickboards, and sink. This was one of the most rewarding stages, as the room finally transformed into the kitchen I'd envisioned.
- Step 6:
Tiling the Splashback
Another first for me—tiling! I chose KitKat-style tiles to bring texture and personality to the kitchen. While it tested my patience and attention to detail, the finished result was worth every minute and tied the whole space together beautifully.
- Step 7:
The Finishing Touches
The most exciting stage of the entire project was finally seeing all the details come together. Installing the cabinet doors and drawer fronts, adding the kickboards, creating the floating shelves, and finishing the island with timber panelling brought warmth and character back into the space. The final step was styling and decorating, adding those personal touches that transformed the kitchen from a renovation project into the heart of the home.
