I transformed my council house kitchen with paint & a £13 B&Q buy – after we were left waiting 4 years for a free update
A THRIFTY DIY fan has wowed people with her epic council house kitchen makeover on the cheap.
According to data by HiF Kitchens, the average cost of a mid-range kitchen transformation is around £20,000-£30,000 - but one woman has proved a house transformation doesn't necessarily require spending thousands.
2
2
Sarah B. was able to give her kitchen a mega overhaul under £250, thanks to shopping at the popular home goods store, B&Q.
Thrilled with the DIY makeover, Sarah took to her TikTok page to share a before and after look at her jaw-dropping project - and it's left many open-mouthed.
Before the epic glow-up, the council house kitchen was pretty basic, featuring standard light wooden cupboards, grey tile flooring and cream walls.
But thanks to shopping smart and doing everything herself, Sarah was able to give the outdated room a fresh and modern feel.
Breaking down the costs and sharing the steps, Sarah said: ''Can you believe we transformed this kitchen for under £250?
''Of course this didn't include accessories, but we already had most of this prior to moving.
''Our kitchen was due to be replaced in 2021 but hasn't been done as of yet so we were given free reign to "spruce it up" and that's exactly what we did!''
The DIY fan kicked off the process with cleaning the cupboards with sugar soap before going over the surface with Kitchen Cupboard Paint - Steamed Milk & All Green by Rust-Oleum.
This matt paint set her back £46 and Sarah needed only two layers to achieve the perfect look she was after.
Another rental-friendly tip Sarah shared was covering the old worktops with DC Fix - a self-adhesive vinyl wrap that's a cheap and cheerful way to spruce your kitchen with no faff.
I transformed my council house hallway for under £60 - the old laminate has vanished but critics say it 'looks cheap'
In the clip, the thrifty woman explained she used the wrap in Ribbeck Oak effect from B&Q, where it set her back £26 (or £13 per roll).
Raving about the kitchen bargain, Sarah said in another video: ''It is durable and waterproof, the only thing you cannot do is put hot pans on it (yay for worktop protectors).''
She also shared top tips for achieving a smooth finish: ''Clean your worktops with sugar soap to remove any grease.
How to do your council house up on the cheap
Take inspiration from pricier shops and head to B&M, Home Bargains for interior decorations.
Head to YouTube for easy to follow tutorials on how to decorate rather than paying for professionals.
For a quick glow-up for your floors or anywhere with tiles, opt for stick-on vinyl to save on costs.
A lick of paint does wonders to make a room feel brand-new.
Switch out kitchen cupboard knobs for modern ones instead of buying brand-new cupboards.
''Lay the product out first to make sure you're happy with it. Once you remove the backing use a bank card or smoothing tool to get out any air bubbles. It can be removed easily to correct any errors.
''Make cuts as necessary, around the sink can be a little fiddly. I recommend using a hairdryer to seal around the edges.
''It can make it more stretchy and adheres better to those awkward spaces.
''Make sure you try and match the joins or hide them as best as possible.
''It is so easy to remove afterwards and just needs a quick clean to remove any residue.''
Rather than replacing the white splash-back tiles, Sarah gave them a brand new look creating a geometrical pattern with a gorgeous mustard-coloured paint that cost her £50.
Another new feature in the jaw-dropping kitchen glow-up were GoodHome Dukkah Brass cupboard handles, £84 from B&Q.
This brought the total costs to just £248 - significantly cheaper than forking out for a new, professionally-done kitchen.
'Unbelievable job'
The video has since taken the internet by storm, winning Sarah close to 70k views, over 3,200 likes and more than 1,000 shares.
Hundreds of social media users - a total of 322 - flooded to comments to praise Sarah for the DIY job and her skills.
One viewer exclaimed: ''Honestly I think it's an absolute triumph!''
Another chimed in: ''Can I just say, I've literally copied ur [your] whole kitchen. went out and got the same vinyl and paint as u cuz I loved it that much!''
''Unbelievable job tbh, tiles brought it all together,'' someone else thought.
''You make my heart glad because you have a vision and then make it happen without just chucking money about… honestly you have huge talent,'' a fourth wrote.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
30 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Kelsey Parker announces her baby has died
Podcast host Kelsey Parker has announced that her baby has died. Parker revealed she was expecting her third child in January, and on Sunday, shared an Instagram post with the news that her son was 'born sleeping'. Advertisement She lost her husband, The Wanted star Tom Parker, in 2022 after he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, and the baby was her first with her new partner Will Lindsay. Parker, who is mother to Aurelia, five, and Bodhi, four, with the late singer, shared a poem on Instagram about the boy she was expecting, whom she and Lindsay had named Phoenix. 'For Phoenix, Born Sleeping, Forever Loved,' the poem began, with a caption: 'Phoenix Parker-Lindsay, you will forever be loved.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kelsey Parker (@being_kelsey) After sharing the post, Parker also put up an Instagram story which read: 'Before I receive an influx of lovely messages and heart-felt well wishes, I want to just say that I truly appreciate everything you are all going to say and share. Advertisement 'But with the news being so raw, I would really like to ensure that we as a family are given space and time to process this devastating and earth-shattering news. 'I love you all and thank you for your understanding and space. 'Love always, Kelsey, Will and The Parker Family.' Parker has previously spoken candidly about how trolls have made her feel guilty for having a new partner. Advertisement She said in March: 'I'm always going to have guilt but what's so hard is that Tom's not here any more, so what do people want me to do? 'Our house was full of so much sadness but now it's full of happiness, the kids deserve that more than anything.' Following her husband's death, Parker has raised money for a brain tumour charity by organising annual charity football matches in his memory. The 34-year-old hosts a podcast with model Georgia Jones called Mum's the Word! where the pair share parenting advice with celebrity guests. Advertisement
BBC News
38 minutes ago
- BBC News
Wales' papers: Hospital disrepair and tunnel blaze visit
Copyright 2025 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
My fiance lost six stone on fat jabs but secret sex side effect forced me to take drastic action in the bedroom
CRAIG Cooper's relentless advances are met with an exhausted sigh from his fiancee Kayla Goodearl as she nestles deeper into the sofa cushions. 'Not tonight, please,' the mum-of-six groans, dodging his eager attempts. 5 5 But social media manager Craig's newfound ' Mounjaro Mojo ' — a turbocharged libido sparked by his astonishing six-stone weight loss — is relentless. The bedroom has become a battleground of desire versus exhaustion, where a temporary sex ban — initiated by stay-at-home mum Kayla, 35 — was the only thing standing between them and chaos. 'It had to be done, it was driving me crazy,' says Kayla, from Rochester, Kent. 'The weight-loss jabs had got him pumped up and he now has a superman libido. 'It was like he was taking daily doses of Viagra, so I had to put him on a sex ban so I could catch up with him. 'His new mojo was initially fun. 'But having to be a full-time mum to six kids, while having a super-active sex life became exhausting.' Before Craig, 42, started taking the Mounjaro jabs, the couple's sex life had dipped dramatically due to having two babies under two. 'Our youngest child is 14 months, and we also have a two-year-old daughter, so we're constantly running around, plus they are co-sleeping with us,' says Kayla, who also has four children of her own. 'They want mine and Craig's attention at all times, so our sex life took a nose dive. Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons 'We would have high hopes at the beginning of the day, but as the hours passed sex became the last thing on my mind.' When the pair first met back in January 2022, they enjoyed regular sex — but that soon felt like a long distance memory. She says: 'Before our two kids, I would say we had a healthy sex life and did it around once a week, maybe twice. "But having such young kids kept us busy, while also taking up most of our energy. 'Of course at the time, I would wish for it to be better as we would go weeks — sometimes even two months — without doing the deed, and that thought would always be at the back of my mind. 'I didn't want things to fizzle out, but naturally the kids took all my time up.' But when Craig began taking Mounjaro in December last year things quickly changed. The decision to start the jabs came after he reached 20st and, at 5ft 2in, had a BMI of 51.4, making him morbidly obese and at risk of type two diabetes and heart disease. 'I soon realised I needed to be careful of what I wished for,' she says. 'Since he has taken on Mounjaro, Craig's libido has the activation button on at all times. 'I COULDN'T KEEP UP' 'He asks for it morning, noon and night. But I've got six kids. 'Where does he think I find the time? "'At first I didn't think much of it, I thought it was more that he had this new-found confidence. 'It was exhilarating and it really did reignite the spark between us — it was like we were teenagers all over again. 'It could be anywhere in the house. 'In the laundry room, the bathroom or even the kitchen, you name it, he wanted it there. 'Sometimes we have guests over, or the kids are in the house and he wants a quickie. 'Don't get me wrong, I love his new body — and the attraction is certainly there but I couldn't keep up. 'I would never get anything done if I hadn't put the sex ban in place. 'Four months down the line, in March, I had no other option but to ban Craig from the bedroom and make him sleep on the sofa. 'I also felt that soon enough we were going to get caught by one of the kids.' 'Initially he was gobsmacked. 'Then he groaned that I didn't understand. His increased libido combined with his body going completely 'off script' put me off sex even more Kayla Goodearl 'I stood my ground and, he realised: happy wife, happy life. And I needed space.' A new study from Lloyds Pharmacy reveals that over three-quarters of people say their body image affects their sex drive, rising to 82 per cent for women. Interestingly, 30 per cent of respondents discussed how weight loss improved their libido, with an equal amount commenting on their improved confidence and self-esteem, as well as increased energy levels, and improved relationship dynamics. Dr Tom Curtis, Clinical Head of Obesity at weight-loss programme Voy, says that it's not uncommon for patients taking weight-loss medications such as Mounjaro to report an increase in their sex drive. 'It's usually as a result of the weight loss itself rather than a direct effect of the medication,' he explains. 'Significant weight loss can have a powerful effect on confidence, self-image, and energy levels, all of which can reignite desire and intimacy. 'Biologically, there are also benefits. 'In men, weight loss can improve testosterone levels and blood flow. 'In women, it can help rebalance hormones such as oestrogen and insulin, which may improve mood and sexual responsiveness.' More typical side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea, stomach upset, heartburn and even hair loss. 'Craig had a tsunami of side effects, from Mounjaro moodiness, to constipation, farting, diarrhoea and bad breath,' Kayla explains. 'His increased libido combined with his body going completely 'off script' put me off sex even more. 5 Craig says: 'The jab has the same effect on me as taking Viagra - I used it once as a laugh and it was great. 'Imagine wanting sex constantly but everything is preventing it. 'At times I wanted to cry but I just had to laugh. 'I couldn't even get a snog from the missus. 'The jabs got me all pumped up and Kayla had had enough, so I understand it can get tiring for her. 'No one tells you about the secret Viagra-like effect of the jabs. 'I was hot to trot but Kayla was not.' A new study published in Andrologia, a research journal focusing on male infertility and sexual disorders, has confirmed that weight loss, particularly in obese or overweight individuals using weight-loss jabs, leads to improved erectile function. This is attributed to better cardiovascular health, reduced inflammation, and increased testosterone levels. This finding comes despite some men reporting erectile dysfunction while using these jabs. Craig pays £160 a month for his private prescription, and noticed changes in his weight in the first week, he lost five inches around his belly. Now, six months in, he has lost more than a third of his body weight and tips the scales at 14st 8lb. As well as a change to their sex life, Kayla has also noticed the family's food bill halved to £100 a week and Craig seems more focused. She says: 'That is also another plus from the jabs. 'I used to send Craig to the shops for milk, eggs and nappies and he'd come back with chocolate, crisps and unhealthy snacks and forget the milk and nappies. 'Now his memory is amazing, and he only eats salads and healthy lean meats.' He says: 'I feel amazing having lost more than a third of my body weight. 'I have more energy, I am no longer vague, and feel sexier than I ever have.' Craig isn't sure how long his 'Mounjaro Mojo' side effect will last for, but the pair are now learning to live with it — and last month, the sex ban was lifted. Kayla felt energised enough to get back into the bedroom, and the bonking had begun again — up to six times a week. She says: 'I have gone from zero to a hero between the sheets.' 'I did miss sleeping with him,' Kayla says. 'I fancy my new-look Craig more than ever. 'It's tiring, but it's been a huge reboot to our sex life and who would want to let that go? 'If I am in the mood, five to six times a week is great. 'But half a dozen kids at home means we have to plan when to have sex. 'So, when the school run is over and the little ones are napping, we enjoy a quickie.' Craig adds: 'The best thing is I have my mojo back. 'Our sex life is better than ever. 'From no sex to sex six times a week. 'It's so great I may need a lie down.'
