Need Some Help with Updating The Bathroom and Kitchen

idonteven on 29/09/2018 - 08:56
Last edited 30/09/2018 - 18:00 by 1 other user

Have just bought a 2 bedroom unit in a 20yo apartment. Need some help on sprucing up the kitchen and bathroom. Functionally they are perfectly fine, just dated, old and could use with some new life.

I'm no handyman but I'd like to use the opportunity to try my hand at some DIY.

Kitchen

  • Laminate benchtops
  • Laminate cupboards
  • Cracked tiles in the splashback

In regards to the laminate benchtops and cupboards, I am highly considering the Rustoleum transformation kits available from Bunnings. The seem decently priced and easy to do for a novice.

Bathroom

  • Dull, pinkish peached coloured tiles on the floor/wall.
  • Shower stall is old and mouldy (there is no shower base, just a drain cut into the floor tiles and the glass screen is held together by cheap plastic frames. how do I replace these? what are they callled? advice is greatly appreciated!)
  • Old shower fixtures

I'd like to paint over the wall tiles, am thinking about the Rustoleum tile transformation kit. Will probably just leave the floor tiles as I don't want to go through the effort of painting, only for it to wear away.

I'm happy to pay good money for high quality fixtures as I'm sick of cheap fixtures that are hard to tighten, leak, fall apart etc. So suggestions for brands of fixtures to look into will be great.

Basically, please help me to get my first property that I will be moving into in tip top shape. I've got the time and enthusiasm to give things a go but just am not quite sure where to start! Feel free to throw in any suggestions that has worked for you!

Home & Garden Bathroom Kitchen

Comments

  • payton on 29/09/2018 - 09:07
    +3

    Upload photos and you'll get more responses

  • 87percent on 29/09/2018 - 09:22
    +4

    Don't diy the bathroom, especially if you haven't done it before. If you mess it up, you'll be in for a big bill when you discover water damage

    • hawkeye on 29/09/2018 - 09:29

      back in those days they used to use fiberglass waterproofing it would crack and leak if a wall or joint had a bit of movement.
      That's why they went to membrane

  • hawkeye on 29/09/2018 - 09:23

    glass screen is held together by cheap plastic frames.

    O'brien glass could help with ID but being that old it's probably superseded.

  • altomic on 29/09/2018 - 10:13
    +2

    photos would be great.

    2 months ago I renovated the kitchen in my old house. - I am not a handyman - my ethos is "I'm not an idiot and other people can do this stuff so i should be able to. and use youtube"

    It was an ikea kitchen with the wood bench tops. and laminate cupboards.

    the laminate cupbroard doors I removed, removed handles, cleaned down with whiteknight tile&laminate cleaner and then rollered 3 coats of whiteknight laminate paint - with a light sanding between coats. use a small roller - i.e. ~10 or 12 cms wide.

    I followed this great youtube video

    replaced the original handles with these handles I grabbed from aliexpress for 22cents each

    the wood bench tops - removed benches, took them out side, sanded them back, 3 layers of food grade stain (with a light sanding in between). yes I removed the sink. did extra stain around the sink for splash and residual water.

    I had previously replaced the kitchen tap with a new tap (with in built water filter outlet, and installed the dual filter system below the sink.)

    the splash back was old and crappy tiles from 1980. I ripped out the tiles and had already bought the new tiles (20cmx10cm subway) when masters was closing for 80% off. put an ad on gumtree for a tiler and found one to tile the 3 wall splashback for $250.

    also updated the rangehood (was white and dinted) with a new stainless steel one to match the updated stove from 2 years ago.

    replaced 2 crap discoloured power points to match the ones we had replaced 5 years ago.

    all up it cost: ~$260
    tiles - $40
    laminate paint $55
    laminate cleaner $15
    handles $6
    rangehood $115
    food grade wood stain - $25
    powerpoint - $14
    rollers + sandpaper - ~$15

    here are 2 average quality photos 1 and 2

    I don't have any prior photos - but everything was beige and sad.

    the kitchen , in person, just feels and looks way more modern and clean.

    I'd hit up other renovation forums e.g. homeone - what i did. here is a whirlpool post with some great forums

    • ihbh on 29/09/2018 - 12:11

      Looks very professional!

  • idonteven on 29/09/2018 - 17:29

    Here are some photos

    https://imgur.com/a/u6BxKe2

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