In honour of the impending finale of everyone's favourite home renovation show The Block, I thought I'd post about our own home renovation with a quick before and after of our kitchen.
This is the before shot from the real estate agent photos.
It was well worn but certainly liveable... however we were doing so much to the house already we figured we'd overhaul the kitchen too before we moved in.
Whenever I see these pics I'm certain they used a crazy fish eye lens - and I have no idea how the previous owner ever used that table - its such a small space..
Then Mr Tchotchke went to work as a demolition apprentice.
Mr T and my wonderful Dad pulling down the awful ceilings.
And then the walls...
Yup we took it right back to its bare bones.
After the plastering and painting in went the IKEA kitchen! We hired a guy to put it in for us (note: not their recommended installation company) - and for a kitchen that the pro's should be able to assemble in a day - he took five weeks. Enough said.
Ahh my lovely Domsjo sink.. it was so much cheaper than other butler sinks I was slightly wary - but over one year on it still looks the goods.
See that wiring hole in the back of the microwave cupboard? Our kitchen dude drilled it in two other places too. #shouldhavedoneitourselves
We used the Numerar worktops and Lidingo cabinets, with Varde handles and Grej drawer pulls (don't you love IKEA names?)
And here is how it looks today!
It's a great little kitchen - warm and practical - hampton's-esque but not too snooty.
I think the subway tile and butcher block counters are pretty timeless - and if we ever get sick of the pistachio green paint and stripey curtain (made it myself from IKEA fabric) we can change them relatively easily for a whole new look.
I think IKEA cops a bad rap sometimes - but I'm a big fan of their kitchens. The downloadable planning tool was fantastic - it let me change the layout twenty times to ensure I decided on the best combination of cabinets, and their products are really designed for maximising small spaces. Our kitchen has all the bells and whistles - soft close drawers, corner pull outs and carousels, in and under cabinet lightning and crazy storage - and there's no way we would have been able to afford those features with other brands. And who else gives you a 25 year guarantee?
(I swear I don't work for IKEA's PR department.)
