15k home reno - please advise!

[cluelessinteriors]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to renovate my home over the next 12 months and am feeling overwhelmed. This is my first property, and I have the diy skills of a toddler (I managed to botch grouting the other day).

I'm thinking a new kitchen from DIY kitchens (maybe Norton or Helmsley) and a new bathroom suite (possibly from Victorian Plumbing).

I live in a Victorian flat, and would like a minimalist home that feels like a sanctuary. Love the living room here:

https://themodernhouse.com/sales-list/underhill-road/

Any advice on choosing colour schemes? How can I make my home feel like a cohesive space rather than a mish mash?

Also, does anyone have advice on accessories (tiles, light switches, sockets, lamp shades, door handles and knobs, taps etc.)?

I love Devol accessories

https://www.devolkitchens.co.uk/shop/knobs-handles?srsltid=AfmBOoqU59yW9_WFyVMEAYZvSAj_Smjr7wBSOVqO4VK8FE2U5J4AkF3D

but unfortunately don't have the budget.

Are you sure 15k will be enough for a kitchen, decorating and any other bits you're planning to do?

My advice is getting samples of everything, collating mood boards, and taking your time with the colour scheme. Make sure you see the paint in different lights / different times of the day.

I used Victorian Plumbing for bathroom hardware and it was higher quality than I'd expected and for a good price.

Have fun!

@AgingLikeGazpacho Thank you for the advice. I'm not sure £15k will cover it! I'll have to do the renovation in stages over the next year, as I don't have enough money at the moment. Ideally, I'd love to get the bulk done by Christmas next year.

Good to know Victorian Plumbing was a pleasant surprise.

At £15k you’re likely to get either a new bathroom or a new kitchen and not both. We paid £7k for our bathroom four years ago and £5k for our en suite, and things will only have got more expensive.

@hannahisaspanner Yes, I think it might be more than I hoped. I live in a one bed flat. The kitchen and bathroom are quite small so I thought that may push the price down a little.

Start with a spreadsheet. It's amazing how it all adds up very quickly. I wouldn't start off too much. Lounge or bedroom might be best to start as you can probably do everything yourself. Have a think about what you like and use chatgpt to produce images so you have a plan. I used it recently for a bathroom and it did a good job.

Do one room at a time. Finish everything in that room before moving onto the next room. For colours we picked curtains /blinds and worked from those. Most of these were bought from Dunelm so not paying lots. Paint can be very expensive. If you buy the trade versions the coverage is so much better especially if you're wanting to change colour significantly. It's also amazing what you can pick up cheaply on places like Facebook marketplace or eBay or even car boot sales.

For bigger projects such as bathrooms a plumbers merchant is best. Go in have a look and get lots of catalogues. You can always wander round bathroom showrooms to find what you like but source it elsewhere.

@CarolineKnappShappeyShipwright thank you, appreciate the advice. I'm almost too scared to draw up a spreadsheet as I know this will go over budget. Perhaps it's a blessing in disguise that I don't have the money for all the works now, and will have to do it in stages.

I like the idea of using AI for the colour scheme/interiors. Before I begin, I want an idea of what I'm working towards. I want the space to look somewhat unified rather than bitty.