I was quoted £18k for a new kitchen so did it myself for £155 with some MDF and paint – safe to say my husband was happy

WE’RE a house proud nation who got very DIY happy during the pandemic - and almost four years later, many of us are still honing our handyman skills. 

That includes Jill, who decided to renovate her kitchen herself after being quoted an eye-watering £18,000 by professionals. 

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She was new to DIY at the time of the renovation but in a bid to save money, sought the courage to take on such a big project. 

And it paid off, because the Durham-based homemaker was able to create her dream kitchen on a shoestring budget of just £155. 

Jill shared her story on Channel 5’s Your Dream Kitchen For Less.

“My old kitchen was just dark and dingy,” she said. “We’d had it for 18 years and I was just ready for a change.”

Jill was quoted a number of eye-watering sums for the renovation but she wasn’t willing to splash too much cash. 

So, she put her hard hat on and took matters into her own hands… literally. 

Her first port of call was to visit a local timber merchant, who cut her some sheets of MDF for a mere £30. 

She then cut it into panels and stuck the MDF onto a flat-panel cupboard to make them look like shaker doors.

Shaker doors are one of the most popular styles of kitchen doors, where a central panel is surrounded by a wide frame. 

The versatile design offers lots of design freedom; dark shaker doors give a modern look, while cream colours create a cosy vibe.

“I borrowed my father-in-law’s 35-year-old mitre saw and used that to cut the wood,” Jill revealed. 

“I’m really pleased with them.”

She spent £30 on a light grey paint for the cupboard doors and stuck some new silver handles on them. 

Her third task was to tackle the peach tiles lining her kitchen, which she painted white with a tile paint. 

Growing in confidence, Jill then panelled the only plain wall in her kitchen to bring it to life. 

“Once I panelled the kitchen, well I thought I could panel anywhere,” she beamed. 

Jill’s final job was to sand down her existing dining table and lather it in light oil so it could match the newfound brightness in her kitchen.

She also painted the legs on her chairs white to finish off the renovation. 

The entire interior facelift cost her just £155 to execute, which she says her husband is “much happier about” than what they quoted by professionals. 

“When I walk in the kitchen, I know I’ve done it,” Jill said. 

“I feel really proud and I’m pleased I was brave enough to give it a go.”

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