When Gemma Berlyn and her husband Piet bought their Victorian terrace in Bournville, West Midlands, two years ago, the kitchen was the first thing they planned to tear out. The galley‑style room felt dark, dated, and short on storage. With two young children and a dog, a full renovation wasn’t practical, so they spent under £1,000 on paint, stick‑on tiles, and secondhand furniture.
The old kitchen had a pale blue and white scheme with hand‑built cabinets from the previous owner. “The pokey galley kitchen had to go,” she explained, but after living with the space for a few months, they realized the room was actually long enough. More square footage wasn’t needed; a smarter look was.
Painting cabinets black was the biggest change
She painted the existing cabinet doors black. The walls received a fresh coat of white paint in the kitchen area, while the dining section was treated with a two‑tone white and dark green effect.
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The former green wall tiles and window sills were given a quick makeover with tile stickers.
Storage posed a real problem. They installed white wall cabinets from IKEA on the right side of the kitchen. Additionally, shelving was built from old scaffolding boards left over from a previous extension project, providing space for vintage finds and houseplants.
Secondhand furniture and flea market finds shaped the look
The dining area features a reclaimed wooden table and bench made by a craftsperson on eBay, paired with another bench bought in France. “We holiday there every year, and I love visiting the flea markets for vintage bargains,” she said. The original tiled and wooden flooring stayed in place, and rugs were added for color and pattern.
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Separating the kitchen from the dining area was achieved with paint rather than a wall. Using masking tape and a spirit level, a clean line was created where the white kitchen ends and the dark green dining section begins. Different rugs reinforce the zone change.
The boiler is still hidden behind hanging plants
Berlyn said the dining area is her favorite part of the makeover. “It’s so cosy now with the dark walls, rustic furniture and plants. It’s a great space for having friends and family round for dinner.” She noted a few unfinished jobs remain—the boiler still needs to be boxed in—but hanging houseplants cover it for now.
The total cost came in well under £1,000, with most of the budget going to paint, new handles, tile stickers, and a few IKEA cabinets.
