A Tiny Galley Kitchen Transforms with the Dreamiest Green Renovation
Fact: Kitchen renovations are expensive, and to have enough money to build your dream kitchen, it might feel like you need to win the lottery. Well, John and Molly Thackery (@the_jolly_reno) won the next best thing: a radio call-in contest granting them £10,000, or about $12,650, which they put toward their dream kitchen reno.
First, they did demo themselves (with the help of Molly’s parents), and then they hired professionals to do some layout and structural changes in the once “small galley kitchen with dodgy wiring, chipped tiles, and make-do shelving.” They combined the kitchen and dining room spaces — both “had not been touched for decades and seriously needed some TLC.”
“We honestly think making these two rooms into one has made this house a home, as it’s the central hub,” John and Molly say. Then they used the remaining money (plus more) on DIY projects to take the kitchen to the finish line.
They installed the “flat-pack” kitchen themselves.
It was helpful to do the demo, John notes on YouTube, because you essentially take the kitchen out in the reverse order that you install the new kitchen. This was helpful to know what was to come. John and Molly’s kitchen is from Wickes, and they installed the boxed furniture themselves.
Molly’s number-one priority for the new space? An island. Once again, her mom, Angela, and stepdad, Barry, helped with installation, especially with the countertops. John and Molly selected black-on-black countertops and cabinets. “If we weren’t working to a budget, we probably would have chosen a quartz worktop. However, that is something that could be upgraded down the line if we wanted,” the duo says.
“Choosing simpler, budget-friendly units saved a lot of money but also didn’t compromise on style; we got a clean, timeless, minimalist design that we easily upgraded with the designer finishing touches,” the couple says. “On a more specific note and for a future hack, we bought a handle jig and this saved sooo much time when fitting the kitchen handles too! … The handles, gold tap, and tiles certainly elevated the space and were worth every penny.”
The tile adds texture and mid-century flair.
Speaking of tile, John and Molly installed their tile backsplash themselves, a textured choice that doubles down on the green in combo with the paint. “The tiles are a stand-out feature for us that gives the mid-century nod to the 1970s building,” the duo says.
The kitchen has new engineered wood floors.
They added some warm tones with the new engineered wood floor, a wood shelf cut from plywood and green (Farrow & Ball’s Bancha) wall paint.
Although they’d never leveled subflooring or installed panel flooring before, the process was fairly straightforward. “We have since fitted it in other rooms as it was such a great option for us,” the couple says.
New (and old!) furniture ties together the kitchen.
John and Molly added another pop of green in the kitchen with velvet barstools from Cult Furniture. They added a dining table from Habitat, and the dining chairs were sourced from Facebook Marketplace and covered in green corduroy.
John and Molly’s renovation advice? “If you’re brave enough to consider it, you’re brave enough to do it! You can honestly do anything you want to do. You’ve just gotta want it enough. Find the right people to help you, get plenty of advice, get creative and be bold.”
Inspired? Submit your own project here.