Cottingham couple's DIY kitchen transformation saves them thousands

A savvy couple saved £8,000 on their kitchen renovation - by doing it themselves.
-Credit: (Image: Amber Morris / SWNS)


A resourceful couple managed to save a whopping £8,000 on their kitchen makeover by taking the DIY route.

Amber Morris, 26, and her husband Dan, 28, settled into their four-bedroom abode in Cottingham, East Yorkshire, back in July.

The house, constructed in 2002, was in dire need of "a refresh" with the kitchen high on their list for a modern, brighter look. Stunned by a hefty £9,000 quote from professional contractors for the kitchen work, they resolved to tackle the project themselves.

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Dan, who works as a systems engineer, and Amber, a social media manager, opted for a budget-friendly solution, purchasing vinyl wraps for their worktops at just £40 instead of opting for full replacements.

Armed with a spray gun they bought off Amazon for another £40, they took on the painting job themselves and even installed a new sink, tap, and extractor fan.

They also managed to shave off £84 from their expenses by getting a custom paint mixed at B&Q, inspired by a Farrow and Ball shade they liked.

All in all, the kitchen's transformation cost them a mere £570, resulting in an almost unrecognisable space, now boasting a fresh, light-filled atmosphere.

Amber and Dan's kitchen before their renovation.
Amber and Dan's kitchen before their renovation. -Credit:Amber Morris / SWNS

Amber shared: "We knew we wanted to make the kitchen brighter because it was quite dark." But £9k was silly money to pay for it - so we decided to do it ourselves even though we're desk job people, not DIY people."

To equip themselves for the task, they turned to TikTok videos and sought guidance from their parents. Amber reflected: "Before this the most we had ever done was painted a wall. We worked out what we needed to buy to do it ourselves and crossed our fingers it would come together."

The couple started planning their DIY kitchen renovation and rolled up their sleeves to get to work. Kicking off their mid-July project, they dedicated a weekend to painting the walls and revamping the cupboards with a spray gun, acquiring their custom colour from B&Q.

Having chosen a particular design for their sink and taps, they parted with £300 but fitted them independently to keep expenses low. Dan recalled: "The sink was quite tough - we had to cut out some of the cabinet underneath to make it fit. The extractor fan was the same - we had to cut a new bit of timber."

Despite the painting being a breeze, applying the vinyl wraps to the countertops proved challenging, with multiple attempts needed to achieve perfection. Dan admitted: "That definitely required patience."

Amber and Dan’s kitchen after their renovation.
Amber and Dan’s kitchen after their renovation. -Credit:Amber Morris / SWNS

Their efforts eventually paid off, unveiling a radically different, more inviting kitchen space to enjoy with their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Emmy.

Amber confessed there were moments of doubt: "There was definitely a point where we thought we couldn't do it. We thought maybe it would be a waste of £600. But £9,000 was ridiculous. We thought, even if it's not perfect, it might be a fun thing to do together."

Amber proudly stated: "We're proud we did manage to do it better ourselves."

Stay updated on the couple's home improvements by following @danandamber on social media platforms.