I was quoted £18,000 for a new kitchen so I did it myself for £155 using MDF and paint

WE ARE a proud nation that has gotten very lucky during the pandemic – and almost four years later, many of us are still sharpening 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 an effort to save money she sought the courage to tackle such a large project.

And it paid off as the Durham housewife was able to create her dream kitchen on a 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 had him for eighteen years and I was just ready for a change.”

Jill got some eye-watering amounts of money for the renovation, but she wasn't willing to spend too much money on it.

So she put on her helmet and took matters into her own hands… literally.

Her first visit was to a local timber merchant, who cut some MDF boards for her for just £30.

Then she cut it into panels and glued the MDF to a flat cabinet to resemble shaker doors.

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

The versatile design offers a lot of design freedom; dark swing doors give a modern look, while cream colors create a cozy atmosphere.

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

“I am very happy with them.”

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

Her third task was tackling the peach-colored tiles lining her kitchen, which she painted white with tile paint.

Jill grew in confidence and then paneled the only plain wall in her kitchen to bring it to life.

“Once I paneled the kitchen, I thought I could put panels everywhere,” she beamed.

Jill's final task was to sand her existing dining room table and lather it with light oil to match the new brightness in her kitchen.

She also painted the legs of her chairs white to complete the renovation.

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

“When I walk through the kitchen, I know I did it,” Jill said.

“I'm very proud and I'm glad I was brave enough to try.”

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