9 Kitchen Reno “Sneaky Shortcuts” From Cherie Barber That Can Save You Thousands

Posted by RG Sayson on 09 Nov 2020

Renovating for Profit’s Cherie Barber is quite the expert in finding ways to save on renovations, which is a really a sought after skill when the budget is limited. She’s laid out “Savvy Ways to Save on Your Kitchen Reno” with easier and cheaper paths to an equally great kitchen remodel.

“Australia’s top renovator” had provided similar advice before in previous years, and we’ve curated many of her top tips in this article so you can finally move ahead with renovating your kitchen.

1. Project manage your own renovation.

If you are organised enough, have at least the basic project management skills and the guts to manage your own kitchen renovation, then do so. You can instantly save half the amount you’d have to pay for a professional, and maybe even cut the reno time significantly.

Need help project managing your kitchen renovation? Check out these tips in managing your renovation and watch the video at the bottom of Cherie’s article.

2. Change cupboard fronts only.

If there’s really nothing wrong with your cupboard except it looks outdated, then you can just simply replace the cupboard fronts. You can do this for all your kitchen cabinets, and while you’re at it you can get some great minimalist stainless steel cabinet handles at a good price.

3. Buy off-the-shelf cabinets.

If you really want to replace your cabinets, then the less expensive option would be to buy them off-the-shelf instead of getting custom made cabinets. Not only will you save when buying ready-made cabinets, they’ll also be easier and faster to install.

4. Add just one “WOW”, not a dozen.

Many first-time renovators may want to do a lot of changes in their kitchen, but sometimes just adding one or two “wow factors” will do a good job in changing the look of your kitchen. Maybe you can upgrade the kitchen splashback, buy a couple of sleek kitchen appliances, or add some functional storage.

5. Repaint with fresh colours.

If your kitchen really just needs a cosmetic makeover, some fresh paint can get it done. This the classic way to upgrade your kitchen and make it look like new without having to spend as much. If you prefer, you can also wallpaper one or all your kitchen walls.

6. Use a ceiling exhaust fan.

Remember that your kitchen is primarily a practical and functional space, and unless it would totally ruin the room you can always opt for alternatives. In one of Cherie Barber’s projects, she installed a simple ceiling exhaust fan instead of a canopy rangehood. Look at your kitchen renovation plan and see what less pricey options you have for some items in your list.

7. Upgrade your kitchen lighting.

Aside from repainting, changing your lights can also dramatically transform your kitchen. Maybe you just need to remove those old light fixtures and add some downlights as Cherie did in another project.

Check out these LED lighting solutions on Renovator Store.

8. Re-use the old wood flooring (or other).

Maybe there’s no wood flooring beneath your lino (which was the case here), but look around your kitchen and see what you can re-use, refurbish, or repurpose. A few dollars saved here and there will soon add up to thousands of dollars.

9. Get premium tapware at great prices.

Did you know you can actually get the same high-quality kitchen tapware like a Franke mixer tap but at a much lower price? For one, the Swedia Signatur is a stainless steel kitchen mixer tap that’s exactly the same as Franke’s Professional Reach tap - but you can buy the Signatur at less than half the price!

Shop modern kitchen tapware that won’t drain your budget at Renovator Store.

If you want to read Cherie Barber’s article on Renovating for Profit, you can find it here: Savvy Ways to Save on Your Kitchen Reno

Enjoy renovating your kitchen!