80s kitchen redecorated on a budget! Any ideas?

[maybeyoushoulddrive]

Hi

We have recently bought a lovely Victorian semi which has had nothing done to it since the 80s. I'd like to make the kitchen habitable asap but we have no money left after buying and I lack imagination. So lovely MNers, I would love some help please!

It's quite a big room, with units on four walls. The units are a 'lovely' olive green melamine type stuff with wooden integral handles. There are dark green 'moorish' type tiles and mock marble worktops. There was floral wall paper but I've stripped that off already.

I don't think I could repaint the tiles - they are exactly like this www.firedearth.com/tiles/suitability/wall/bahia-aqua but dark green with black grout...

Any ideas? I wondered about painting the walls white, red accessories and black and white checkerboard flooring, but not sure...

Thank you am desperate!

i would go with what you have planned but am not too sure red accessories goes with olive green...dont know why but always thought red and green just dont go together

Can you put a pic on your profile so we can have a nosey and make some suggestions?

WOuld changing the doors be an option? They sound a bit dated...

Yes am not convinced about the red, although we have a red jug on the window sill which looks OK...

We've decorated the rest of downstairs so far in shabby chic pastels/flowers/dots etc and walls magnolia as a quick cheer up and it looks quite pretty. For some reason I can't see an answer for the kitchen and it's embarassingly gloomy and grotty

what about the pastel accessories you can get now that are basically like ice cream colours...they may brighten it up..

Or how about re-painting the doors in a pale colour?
Think the tiles look rather good from that link.

Do you like the tiles? Could you get rid of these and just repair the wall and paint it? Would help to make it lighter. Are there wall units that you could do without? Again would make it seem lighter.

pannacotta yes deffo an option... and i liked the tiles too but think they may be bit too ben 10is with black grout...could always regrout or use white grout pen

My camera isn't working just now so I can't put a photo on my profile I'm afraid! I did wonder about painting the doors...but what would I do with the handle bit (doesn't come off)? We definitely can't afford new doors!

I did wonder about just painting it cream like the rest of the house...

Thank you for your ideas so far - dh isn't interested and I'm feeling blank!

Well, for a start it should be possible to re-grout in a less offensive colour, you probably wouldn't get away with white but grey shouldn't be a problem.

Could you post a couple of photos? I'm finding the whole picture hard to imagine.

x posts

I suppose another option is to work with what you have and go for a more moody look, with dark tiles and units, but pale walls, perhaps with some steel accessories.
Will look on Houzz and see if I can find a pic or two.

I wouldn't paint the doors - quite like the sound of olive green. I'd just remove as many other dark features as you could. Could you replace the worktop to something plain? Just laminate would do.

I like the idea of losing some of the units. They are quite top heavy.

I quite like the tiles in a wierdy masochistic kind of way I'm hoping by decorating the rest of the room they will 'recede' a bit. They're in really good condition.... I don't think I'd get away with painting the grout, but hadn't thought of regrouting...It's actually more grey than black if that makes a difference?!

I think it would be hard to shange the grout and very time consuming.
I think we need a photo of the room though, very hard to comment otherwise - dont be shy!

I'm not being shy - no camera at the moment. I do have a camera on my mobile but no idea how to get photos off that and on to MN! Any ideas???

Send it to your email address - open it there and transfer it across? Something like that.

Not having seen photos it's hard to say really, but I'd ride out the dated thing. Make it your own IYSWIM.

Remove some of the wall units by all means, sounds like a good plan. The checkerboard floor sounds about right too, although I'd lay it corner to corner rather than square, does thar make sense? If teh grout is grey and not black I'd stick with that as well. As far as the walls go then white sounds OK, I think.

Accessories in primary and secondary colours with maybe gingam or (wild) print twee-ish curtains and wee bit of open storage as well could work really well. I'd try and pick up a few 50s / 60s / 70s and 'old' bits for decoration in charity shops, car boots and the like.

Remove all the wall units and the tiles. Get a plaster in to give you a superb finish.

Replace the units with open shelves and store all your best bit on there for show.

Red is good with green, but use as an accent colour rather than go overboard. Use neutral wood etc shelving and some plain black slimline tiles on the walls.

Do they do quarry tile lino? That'd be much better than checkerboard.

Sorry cant help with the photos but am sure someone can.
Feels a bit like we are all pissing in the wind without actually seeing it, the decor does sound quite unusual!

Not sure either re painting the handles, but it sounds possible if they are plastic?

Thank you for your ideas - food for thought!

A good plasterer can work wonders. If you decide to re-plaster get some new sockets while you're at it. It should cost around £300 for the plastering (depending on how much you need doing).

I'm afraid replastering is out of the question. We just can't afford any major works, we're going to save up so we can do a new kitchen properly in a couple of years...
I'm just wanting to jolly up what is there just now. It's so gloomy in there.

If you can get a pic from your phone on yor profile am sure we can help you work out ways to make it look nicer.
DO you have a USB lead for your phone, to upload pics to your laptop/pc?

We have a 1980s pine kitchen with cheap worktop and nasty tiles. We havent done much as it will be ripped out soon (though have lived with it 4 years now!). But I stripped the textured wallpaper, painted the walls a pale stone colour, put in a new white light fitting and replaced the carpet with cheap vinyl, which has ripped already.
I also draped pretty fairy lights over a bookcase and try and have fresh flowers every week. We have a smart toaster, kettle and bread bin and these all help.

It is still ugly but at least it looks vaguely cared for. I also try and keep it clean and tidy which is quite an effort as I am no fly-lady type!

I'm having my old kitchen removed tomorrow and I don't have any money to buy a new one. I'm getting a B&Q kitchen on a buy now, pay in a year (or start paying in a year but with interest). It's not the kitchen I want but I'm poor so I don't have many options.

Just another idea for you OP