Kitchen Renovation on a Budget
As an interior designer, with a particular passion for hi-end, ergonomically designed kitchens, it was a real deal breaker when looking for a new rental home in Harare. Our first house when we moved here was fresh and new, but the kitchen wasn’t quite right. We loved living there and welcoming our twins into the world. So, when looking for a new home to live in, with a growing family that needed more space, it was a very particular ask!
I had first set my sights on a new build that seemed perfect for our needs as a family but also ticked the boxes from an aesthetic point of view. The house that I wanted was no longer up for rent but on sale! I was gung-ho on getting an estate agent…. Any estate agent to convince the owners that they should rent this property to us and not sell it.
I walked into Kennan properties whilst standing in line to pay my ZOL bill. And as luck would have it, I met the lovely Helen from Kennan Properties! My long list of requirements must have made her eyes pop but she very patiently showed me what she had on her books. I kept saying no, no, no! I had my dream rental house in mind, and I didn’t want anything else.
To Helen’s great credit, she looked into what I wanted, asked all the right questions and just knew that she had the perfect house for us. She was so patient and I’m extremely grateful for that.
Fast forward a few days – I had been looking at the particulars and photos of the property that she had suggested. I started falling in love with this house. I was thinking of where our furniture would fit and all the new rooms that we would have.
So off I went for a viewing. You know that feeling of being at home as soon as you walk through the front door? A beautiful light and bright entrance hall with a pitched roof skylight atrium. Artwork all over in just the right places.
Each step of the way I felt more and more like this was our new home. The garden was beautiful, the rooms were spacious, the light and bright feel was just perfect!
And then came the kitchen….. it was clean and lively. But it was dated. It had wear and tear from many happy years of home cooked meals. This was a deal breaker for me but I just loved this house! What was I going to do?
Of all of the options that we had looked at, that were perfectly suitable for a young and growing family, I wanted this house!
So, I went to work on costing various options to improve this space, so that it would work for us.
Fast forward - once we had costed everything out and discussed it with our potential landlord, we came to an agreement that we would replace the kitchen on a budget. Our landlord was very accommodating and helped us towards this. Exciting times! I was getting a new kitchen that was functional and our family could start a new life in a beautiful home.
Replacing the kitchen- What we did
Redesigned and replaced the cabinetry to make it more practical, visually appealing and user friendly.
without moving the main gas, electrical and plumbing points. {Had we not done this on a budget I would have knocked walls down and redesigned this space in a totally different way).
Removed all wall tiles and skimmed walls with Halsteds
Sourced everything locally including
- Cabinets- Plan Solutions
- Worktops- Stone Warehouse
- Tiles- Bathroom Boutique
- Paint- Dulux
- Appliances- Defy
- Plumbing- Halsted’s
Worktops had to be composite stone. They are so hard wearing and last. This is a great investment long term.
We used the same material for the sink splash back. Ask your stone supplier for tips on getting the most out of a slab. You pay for the whole slab anyway.
There are so many tile options that are locally available, at a reasonable price. Make a feature out of this. You don’t need to completely retile the room. That’s a bit old hat.
Replaced appliances with all new built in from Defy and we had an existing fridge that we incorporated into the design.
Lastly - Don’t try to do this on your own! I thought it would be an easy job considering it has been my profession for the past 25years. I was new to Zim! I wasn’t prepared for a drunk tiler, a plumber without a wrench and an electrician who didn’t know what a DB was. Get a good all-round contractor to facilitate. You’ll save money in the long run! Precision Plumbing Zimbabwe
Tips on making a rental refurb work for you
Work out what your monthly rental amount would be on the perfect house. Then take the amount that you’ll have to spend to make it your own. Divide that over the lease period and make a big decision! You do need to clear all of this with your landlord. Don’t just go ahead and rip their house apart 😊
How to Upgrade Your Kitchen on a Budget
Change the worktops
There are lots of different materials that you can use for worktops. They each have pros and cons and varying price ranges.
From left to right: concrete laminate, marble, granite, quartz, wooden worktop
Laminate- this is cost effective material and there are some beautiful new laminates available that have textures & funky colours. They aren’t cold to the touch and can be easily installed. The drawback is that they aren’t heat resistant and if not sealed correctly on all edges, are not water resistant. Boardex
Marble & granite – These are natural materials and come in many colours with unusual textures and veining which are different in each slab. This is the beauty of using natural stone. You can visit a stone yard and choose the exact slab for fabrication. This material is extremely durable and long lasting. Stone Warehouse
Quartz– this looks and feels like a stone worktop but it’s a manmade material. There are many different manufacturers of quartz material. They are not all made of the same quality though. Be sure to go with a reputable supplier of the stone and a really good fabricator who cuts worktops regularly, or you may be disappointed! Stone Warehouse .
Wooden worktops– This will produce a stunning, natural look. Water and heat damage are the most common problems. They are not suitable for wet sink areas. A hot plate or bowl will also mark the tops quite easily. The tops will need to be oiled every few months to keep them in tip top condition. So, although beautiful the maintenance and day to day use can be tiresome.
Change the splashbacks
Natural stone or quartz- if you are replacing your worktops you may want to consider having the splashbacks done in the same material. The beauty of a single piece of stone is that you won’t have grimy grout joints appear over time in cooking and wet areas. The cost is going to be substantially more than a mid-range tile would cost. Stone Warehouse.
Glass- you can have a glass back painted splash back. Again, you will need to find a really good company as a template needs to be done. Once this is done the glass needs to be toughened for safety reasons. After this it is painted, and a film is applied. The supplier will then come and install the glass onto your wall with a silicone adhesive. The drawback of this is that if the glass is even a few millimeters out it cannot be re-cut. Be sure to check that the paint work is perfect before they install.
Tiles- there are so many trendy new tile shapes and finishes available from hexagonal marble to slithers of natural stone. Of course, the cost range on these can vary greatly. If you don't want to break the bank there are options which are reasonably priced and can easily be installed by a contractor. The downside is the grout lines. These may get dirty over time, especially in your cooking and sink areas. Make sure the contractor who installs it uses a waterproof grout. Life Style Ceramics.
From left to right: natural quartz, glass, tiles
Change the flooring
Many properties in Zimbabwe are looking a little tired, especially the flooring- there is a great product called LVT which is perfect for use in a kitchen. It has the appearance of a very realistic wooden floor. It is only 6mm thick so can be applied directly over your existing tiles. The surface is waterproof making it the ideal choice for a kitchen area. The installation is fast and clean. No need to lift the existing flooring. Tier Flooring there is a local agent in Harare.
A resin or concrete floor can be applied over your existing tiles in several colours. This is a very thin layer in a multitude of colours giving you a more industrial look throughout. Again, it is quick and won’t require you to lift the existing tiles which is a very messy job! You will however need a stable surface to begin with. If any of your tiles are cracked or seem hollow when you walk on them, this won’t be an option for you. Artisan
If tiling or using a coating product for a natural effect, It is always better to remove the existing floor first. If this isn’t possible then speak to your chosen supplier about going over the top instead. They will be able to advise you accordingly.
Change the lighting
Bad lighting is one of the most common issues in a kitchen. It can make everything look dull and unappealing. Changing the ceiling from that awful, stippled surface to a freshly painted, flush plasterer board finish could be just the answer. You can get warm lighting which is movable (I call them rock and roll lights). You can angle the lights to highlight the features. For instance, if you have a funky piece of art or furniture in your kitchen. Make it a feature.
Whatever you do make sure you spend time planning the lighting around the final design of the room. A grid of bright white spotlights is going to be awful. Be strategic about where the lights are placed.
Under cabinet lights make a huge difference as they bring a different light source into the mix. You can switch them separately for mood lighting when the kitchen isn’t being used to cook or do anything that requires full task lighting. Prime World
Re-decoration & internals
Painting- Clean freshly painted walls in neutral colours are always good. There are no rules! Choose 2 different colours for the walls or to create a feature wall.
Wallpaper- If you wanted to do something a little different you can use wallpaper create a feature wall and really make it stand out. There are so many beautiful designs available. These won’t break the bank. If you use wallpaper in a kitchen, make sure that it is suitable for areas with a high moisture content. Try not to put these anywhere near the cooking or washing up stations. Wallpaper and water or steam don’t mix. Beware of going too out there! Bold pattern and colour choices can date quickly.
Coating products- these are absolutely my favorite thing in the design world at the moment! Take a look at some of the applications. Artisan
Hardware- You can change your knobs or handles on the kitchen doors. Just be sure that you line up the holes with the same size as before. RocoZim .
Clever storage solutions inside the cabinets - reorganise your cabinets internally with baskets and additional shelves - plan in advance what you’re going to store in each cabinet and create spaces for items to fit in. RocoZim .
Plumbing- Replace the sink and tap. By replacing an old dull sink and tap you can make the entire space feel clean, fresh and more user friendly. Halsted’s .
Deep cleaning- Call in a steam cleaning company to give your tiles a good once over. They will come back to life and feel fresh. Even if they aren’t brand new! Good old elbow grease and sunlight liquid should do the job on the cabinetry. Use a soft cloth though and not anything abrasive for wooden frontals. If they are laminated, you can be a bit harder with the scrubbing.
Find the before and after photos below of our Harare kitchen renovation!
