Does my DIY kitchen look rubbish?

[Bigcuddlybearmummy]

We spent the higher end of our budget for our house due to it being in a good location for DH’s work, but it meant we had no spare cash to do anything to it. I was fed up of my dated kitchen so decided to paint it and fablon the work tops. I’m not sure if I’ve made a mistake now and if it looks naff or not. I know how ungrateful it sounds but I feel so down about my house at the moment compared to all the lovely houses of people I know on Facebook and all the things they’re doing to them!

Ignore middle image.. posted by mistake!

I think it's a big improvement!! Well done!!

It looks lovely! Well done 👍

I think it looks great, a massive improvement

I think you've done a great job!

I know what you mean about house envy. I'm very lucky to live where I do but I look on FB & Insta, and all the property TV programmes and I know my house looks very tatty in comparison.

You’ve done a great job there, well done!

I think it looks good, losing the brown wood makes a big difference.
It might not be your ideal but as a temporary fix it's a big improvement.

It’s lightened up the whole space. I like what you’ve done.

The pictures on fb are always from far away. You can see yours close up. I bet other people can see all the imperfections that others can’t see too. Don’t be hard on yourself, it looks great!

I’ve posted before and after I’m the wrong order too the wood is before.. think I need to go back to bed today
Thank you everyone.. I suppose I know where the mistakes in the painting and chips etc are so they stand out to me more than they would to someone else. I know I watch these house programmes or see people doing these extensions or big improvements and I just think how are you affording this! We had to remortgage for a new boiler! x

I had to do this to my kitchen too. It had to last about 4 years till I could replace it and I'm so glad I did it

I think it's a vast improvement on what you had. The kitchen doors date the kitchen but unless you buy just new doors there's nothing more you could have done and I think it looks great.

Well done 🥳

I'm not a fan of the blue lights, but think everything else looks great!

It's a great improvement, well done. Are you worried because photos of makeovers are often nicked by the Daily Fail and the poor DIY'ers, who never asked for their photos to be published to a worldwide audience in the first place, then get loads of mean comments from DM readers?

I'm planning to do over my kitchen and fablon the worktops (when I've watched some You Tube videos) due to lack of cash. I'm also going to do the floor myself, somehow... might try my hand at tiling, might just stick down sticky down tiles, world is my oyster

I think it looks much better! What about replacing the handles with something a bit more modern?

What's the plug-in thing OP? I'm curious. It's a gadget I don't seem to have in my life and I might need one too

If it were me I would take the metal handles off as the lacy base they are on is old fashioned; new knobs will be inexpensive and make a huge additional difference.

I had to do this in our kitchen. I painted the tiles, swapped the door knobs and coped with it for 4 extra years. It was fine 😊

You've done a great job! Comparison really is the thief of joy, you should be proud of yourself. Remember that the pics you will see on social media will be filtered and showing off people's work in the best light, try not to be too hard on yourself!

Looks good.

Do the lights make you say 'there is a Klingon on the starboard bow'.

I think it's a great improvement and actually, we can't afford to do ours either and you've given me a great idea as the cupboards are fine but look very worn. Is it a lot of work to paint them? Could also really do with a new oven and worktop.

Thanks everyone. I tried to get the bloody lacy surround of the handles off but they are fully glued on with some kind of industrial strength glue! I thought if I try to rip them off it might damage the wood so I just painted over them and just changed the handles.
@Innittogether The plug in thing is a wax melt plug in. That’s one is a scentsy one (not a rep!) but I’m sure you can get them from amazon etc. Hopefully in 5 years or so we’ll be able to afford another kitchen or look at moving again. I think lockdown has made me more fed up as you’re just staring at the same 4 walls all day and have more time to pick what you don’t like! x

It looks fab OP.

What brand/type of paint did you use?
Did it take a lot of coats to cover up the dark wood?

I think it looks good. The only thing I’d say is that your accessories might be better in a more punchy colour. They are cute but blend in a bit.

A lot of these improvements and extensions that you see on TV end up being finished by people borrowing from parents/relatives or using credit cards. That definitely isn’t a good road to go down!
You’ve done a great job, the lights finish it off nicely

Doesn't look horrendous but being honest doesn't look any better.

Problem is you've gone grey trendy colour on traditional style door. White would be a better choice with original worktops .

@Coffeecrumb Thank you. It’s B&Q’s own brand multi surface paint. It only needed 2 coats and it is self priming so I just put it straight on x