Renovating my Victorian London Home *ON A BUDGET* 1: New Flooring & Kitchen plans | MR CARRINGTON

Hi everyone! I'm back with a renovation vlog this week. New flooring has been on my list for a few years but I always knew it was going to involve some upheaval.. so why not tackle the kitchen at the same time ;) Lots is happening at once (what have I started!) so I thought it would be best to vlog it as a video diary rather than complete room makeovers, to share the ups and downs of living in a renovation in my London Victorian home. Hope you enjoy & please subscribe if you're not already for weekly videos and more renovation vlogs!
If you are also renovating on a budget I have a back catalogue of DIY renovations & room makeovers you might find helpful here, including transforming my kitchen for under £200: • HOW TO PAINT A ROOM FA...
I will share some individual room makeovers once the 'big' works are out of the way. Hope you find this useful, and please share any tips or suggestions in the comments :)
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#MrCarrington #renovation #victorianhome #remodel #homerenovation #flooring #kitchenmakeover

[@candywoodgate1269]

Hi Mr Cx, just a thought; the door into your kitchen could become a sliding door running into the open space at the end of the worktop. It is amazing how that opens a space when the ‘slab’ of the door isn’t occupying your eye. The hanging brackets that the door runs on can also look really good. Love your style, xx

[@DevonMel]

I agree - those barn doors are a great space saver

[@crystalsdance]

I thought the same thing. In a small space, an open door is a hassle. Another option is to just take it off. That's what I did with my kitchen and hallway doors. Then, I had the space for storage without having to lose it to the the sliding door taking the wall space. I did put a barn door in my living room. There, I had a large wall In a large space, so it was really attractive and made sense.

[@supermum2kids233]

Just a thought about the space on the worktop and wall behind the kitchen door... If you have microwave, kettle, air fryer - anything which generates heat/steam in that corner, bare in mind where the heat/steam will go as it rises. You don't want buckled woodwork from steam/heat damage. It's going to look awesome once finished - loving the thought processes & it's great to be able to share tips. 💞

[@SILVIATHEGIRLS]

Iwan, I would put a mirror where the cupboards were before, it would give the impression of a huge space. With glass shelves for glasses will be lovely ! 💖💚💙💛🩵🩷🧡

[@johart8922]

When I had my floors sanded and my fireplace and hearth installed, my cats christened the cement hearth with their paw prints when my back was turned. Luckily it was covered by the marble hearth installed on top. It's difficult to find any cemented works without paw prints on them. I read somewhere that paw prints had been found on Roman tiles. Those felines don't miss a thing 😂

[@sarahpearsall2248]

Wow amazing about the cat prints on the Roman tiles

[@tammiestumbo3445]

I was thinking how cute it would be to allow the cats to put a print into the cement and then whenever somebody in the future remodeled they would find them

[@jennifergraham3752]

So true and puppy prints as well. There are little paw prints in the concrete in front of my parent’s house and in the basement from when it was being built in 1969 ❤. It’s very cute

[@daleduerden1185]

And you’re still smiling!it’s going to look fabulous,can’t wait for more

[@christinasmyth5674]

It’s amazing how the kittens have such different personalities ❤❤

[@AmandaStone-wk3uv]

Cats and any Reno or DIY is a challenge. When I was painting my bathroom vanity I painted the doors and drawer fronts in my office. One cat walked across a door and part of the floor. I couldn't bring myself to clear her prints off the floor, so they are secretly hidden under the rug and I have a memory of a kitty who as since passed.

[@mwilliamson3989]

❤so nice to see your home becoming more functional for you. You really deserve it. It will come together and look fabulous! Trust the process 👍🏻. You’re doing great on choices. Giving us good advice. Thank you for sharing the process. I love your channel! ❤

[@faysalkus1083]

A year ago I had my kitchen redone. They removed a U shaped kitchen and I replaced it with a wide galley style with a movable island. All upper cupboards go now to the ceiling. All the lowers have drawers. At the end is the huge French door fridge built in with floor to ceiling pantries. The ceiling was re drywalled and pot lights on dimmers were installed. I also had under cabinet lighting put in. Flooring was replaced through the main floor all with luxury vinyl. That was kitchen, living room and three bedrooms. I had had the bathroom redone 6 months prior I bought all new kitchen appliances as well. It took 6 weeks for kitchen alone. Good thing was I have a basement with a second bathroom and a small sink in the bar countertops. I used an electric fry pan a convection hot plate and electric kettle and microwave oven to make meals during that 6 weeks. It looks fabulous now and inconveniences seem a distant memory. Oh and when they pulled up old flooring they found asbestos tiles which meant staying at a hotel on 2 occasions while they removed them and used an air scrubber for 24 hours each time. Yes there are unexpected things but you work through them. I have one question why don't you remove the door into the kitchen? Here in Canada that is something everyone does.

[@WoW-JojoVlog]

One really high shelf above the sink would look great but I’m always looking a new place to pop a plant.

[@ehpeachylove]

Iwan I am very excited for you with the downstairs upgrade all through the rooms. You work so very hard and deserve this so much. Love the light color of the flooring plus the kitchen will look Amazing. The kittens are so interested in what is going on, they will wonder where the carpet has gone once they get full run of the place. Looking forward to the final reveal and happy all the leaks have been fixed. Will be fun to see the outdoor garden. Love from our house to yours. ❤❤❤

[@crystalsdance]

Everything is looking great. I'm excited to see that this is happeing! You deserve it! I have a small kitchen with mostly only lower cabinets and only a few upper cabinets around the fridge. But, I do have wall to wall windows on one side over the sink, side of sink on one side, and dishwasher on the other. They are amazing and look over my garden, which was a huge selling point. On the back wall, I've hung a large piece of art that I love. It is a lighter piece, and the glass reflects the light from the windows. I'd suggest maybe change a nice piece if art to live with for now (the glass will also reflect light from the back window), while you study designs out there. Some might say to put mirrors, but then you just have a tunnel with everything the same on both sides and you seeing your bedraggled self bone tired at the end of the day trying to cook noodles. Or, you find you're reaching up to the wrong wall to grab your Starbuck's "Mug of the day!". Not good first thing in the morning! Of course, open shelving is the big thing now. I'd consider glass shelving throughout if you choose this. You may have it cut to length and choose a depth (and even color) rather inexpensively at a local glass shop. And you may hang it, or have it installed, where it is not very intrusive. That will keep the walls looking very airy and not heavy. Decant into nice glass jars (quick and inexpensive) and use other clean lines and neat storage Also, I suggest ... maybe in the meantime while deciding .... using the window and door walls for storage of some sort. Perhaps shallow shelves with glass doors? Maybe put a nice mIrror by the door, if you do not do shelves (or,at the back of the shelves), to pull the light from that small window. I think you may miss that storage more than you think. If you decide to keep the wall free, you'll at least have some minimum but most helpful storage. Any light that you are able to steal in a space is fantastic! As you have built up your funds again. You'll know better what you want, if anything, over the now empty wall! Now, make sure those babies have their window perch and you're in the home stretch! I look forward to the reveal (your making great choices) and seeing you put your feet up for a spell! 😊

[@sharronlewis3429]

🤩 Wow, how exciting getting a new kitchen, plus flooring, I'm excited myself, hopefully I'll be moving sometime this year, I'm saving, getting everything new, underlay, new carpets, new bed, & new settees, 2 , 2 seaters. Romon blinds, can't wait. I'd leave a little bit of carpet for the 🐈 cats to scratch. Cant wait to see the finishing touches. The flooring will be easier to clean. 🙋🏼‍♀️

[@cyniror]

Sooo exciting. As someone who has had a ton of Reno’s in the last 5 years…I appreciate what you are going thru 😅

[@susandibble3525]

Wow you’re brave taking on that much work at once. But you know what! I think hell at least it’s done in one fell swoop right! I’m loving it so far and your colour scheme is going to be lovely 🤗

[@philipo5259]

...and Id get a spark in quick and put an extra double socket in where you want to put the microwave and switch the existing socket for one that has 2x USB charging sockets. ❤

[@Laylabhummkg467oohv]

Watching this video it gives me so much home coziness, peace and love where I used to feel in certain houses that I have been in, unfortunately I don't feel it in my current place, living with a narcissistic husband takes everything nice from you

[@sallyturner1669]

In the US, the edging strip is called quarter round. 1/4 of a circle. I’ve no idea why I know that. 😂 Cats love a closed door. They are curious about the other side. The hutch in your kitchen is probably my favorite item in your house. I just love it.

[@faysalkus1083]

Amazing the different names we use in North America. Baseboards not skirting, tackstrip not nail board, vacuuming not hoovering. I was married to an English man and I was always translating. Lol

[@kitchenworker446]

@@faysalkus1083 I agree and in the UK a hutch is were you keep a guinea pig or a hamster!! We call these things cabinets or shelving units or sideboards...

[@janehenney1946]

Looking forward to seeing the final results. How about turning the new shelfing upside down so that the decorative trim is along the floor edge and can be seen.

[@dianeprice5798]

Morning Mr Carrington, just catching up on your vlog, thanks for sharing, looking forward to seeing when all is finished and after all that hard work it will be beautiful and amazing, have a good day 👍

[@lilymccool1]

Oh your wee home is gonna look fab when it's finished 😊

[@sarak1087]

I can't wait to see the finished product! You have such nice taste. The loft renovation was amazing. This will be too. There are of lot of things I need to do;however, there has to be a huge decluttering first. I don't wanna! Have a great week, Iwan.

[@carolscott9973]

I’m jumping in at the 10:10 moment to ask if you have thought about also taking the laminate into the kitchen? Laminate is extremely durable and is also good for kitchens and bathrooms. With only the different floorings removed from the office, hallway and living room, you mentioned that already your house was feeling like it had a better flow because the flooring was the same. It will flow even better and feeling even bigger if the kitchen is the same flooring as the rest of the main floor. I was told by a flooring designer that in small spaces having the flooring all the same makes the place look so much larger, so we put the vinyl flooring all throughout our 1100 square foot condo (even the kitchen and the bathrooms have the vinyl flooring - which looks very similar to your laminate flooring) and it makes our condo look so much bigger than 1100 square feet. Edited to add, someone had mentioned an issue they’d had in their kitchen with a water leak from their water connection on their fridge. If you are going to the expense of putting in new flooring (whether it’s tile, laminate, wood, etc.), it always pays to take up all the old flooring (tile, laminate, etc.) to see what’s underneath. Water will go to the lowest point and even if you have tile floors, the water will seep under the baseboards and cause damage. So if you remove all your old kitchen flooring first, like you removed all the old flooring in the rest of the main floor, you will know what you are dealing with. I personally think that continuing the laminate flooring from the rest of the main floor into your kitchen will look so nice.

[@marybethschraders173]

Love your reno! It’s going to be gorgeous. I think I would remove the kitchen door altogether to open up the kitchen even more. At the end of the counter (by the hob), I would add in some shelving and put my spices all in matching jars with labels on them, my oils and vinegars, some pretty glass jars to store pastas. It would be close to the hob and within reach when cooking. I can’t wait to see the finished rooms! You also seem to be surviving and in good spirits as a reno, especially a multi room one, can be so stressful.

[@nelliemelba4967]

This what I love about your vlog - the warts and all! Showing us all the stages, the mess, the upheaval and the problems that we all experience when doing a major home project, and it's so good to share that! You've made fantastic progress already, the floor looks stunning and you WILL get it all back together, and looking fresh and new in no time! Thanks Iwan, for the inspiration to crack on with the things I have to do soon!

[@nelliemelba4967]

Just a thought about the wall next to your kitchen window, near the sink. Have you thought of a plate rack and shelves, to put your everyday crocks, plates and glassware? I have something like this and its so useful to have everything washed up and immediately to hand. And it would go well in your Victorian home!

[@binfacelardgod1906]

Such vision and foresight. It will all look beautiful when it is finished. Well done for maintaining the calm and fitting your lifestyle around the temporary disruption. It will all come good, and look nice in the end.

[@margaretdrew2844]

It will look so lovely,all you want is for it to be finished .as the days go seeing it come together, is going to be a lovely feeling .it will be like living in a new property ❤

[@katefox7692]

On the wall next to the sink you could do what they do in Japan with their tiny kitchens - have the glasses on a rack so they go straight on there wet and stay where they are. Means you don’t have to put them away!

[@lindamercer1736]

OMG LOL I know exactly what it is like living during renovations. That was my Dad's trade, but he and Mum would buy a bungalow or house and he would not quite, but almost gut the whole property and then start building extensions, plastering, electrics, plumbing, flooring, roofing etc etc - Mum would be doing the washing up in the bath ha ha. But at the end of all the chaos, we would have a stunning home and then guess what? yep you have guessed, I hear the words "shall we move" grrrrr and here we go again ha ha. Oh my, I must admit I have learnt a lot living through those experiences. It is all worth it in the end. I would go round taking photographs before, during and after - great to look back on. Really do wish you luck, you will be SO HAPPY once all completed and the little kitties will have fun investigating all the new little corners, shelving and smells. Really looking forward to next update. Thank you x

[@vintiago]

You might want to hang onto a few pieces of the left over bits of wood for a DIY things that you might want to make.

[@barbarahaines7661]

Living in a construction zone can try the soul,I'm sure you are aware.Great plans!Good luck

[@sarahb3606]

It's good fun seeing it all come together and love everything you have chosen. I can imagine the upheaval was significant! I am nervous about a simple new carpet install never mind all the work you had done 😂

[@rachels9598]

Quite the makeover!! May is all fall into place as you wish asap!! It'll be lovely!!

[@lizranwell422]

It's so exciting, it's like having a complete new flat.

[@newfoundland3238]

love it ,.....the open wall in kitchen😃🌻🌻🌻🔨 Hello from Connecticut USA

[@suecox2308]

Those floors look gorgeous. That's a huge amount of work to be doing all at once--You're a brave man!

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Loving the floor boards! Thank you for the video

[@alisonh890]

Hi Mr C, your home will be lovely when it’s finished. I remember a few years ago having a new bathroom installed which took five weeks and we had a porta loo outside in January- not funny in the middle of the night when you have to don woolly hats and coats to go to the loo! It was all worth it though when the work was finished and the bathroom looked great. I like your thinking with the beading on the floors, the different colours giving width or height. ❤xxx

[@louisetaylor2889]

Such an enjoyable vlog to watch. Looking forward to seeing it all completed. Am sure will be just what suits your needs.👍

[@Yvonneb_]

Use Matt emulsion on your freshly plastered wall and ceiling, I've just had a wall plastered after a bad leak and the council who did it told me only use Matt emulsion. I'm sure your kitchen / home is going to look lovely ❤ xx

[@annhollis130]

Morning looking fab can't wait to see it all finished ❤

[@karinfeicke]

Amazing that you are still so calm and relaxed within all these changes, issues and plans It will look great when its finished

[@d.d.mac.3773]

Such an exciting reno job. I'm thoroughly enjoying it. It's so much better to watch someone else do renos, not so much when it's happening at my house. 😉

[@Kari_B61ex]

Morning Mr C! It's going to look great - I once lived in a similarly aged building. I was lucky as I refurbished it before I officially moved in (I stayed with my daughter) It was still chaos though.

[@Steffie8110]

Yay! It's all happening, so exciting, 😍.

[@judyelkins2424]

Excited for all your changes!

[@tisa6193]

Is looking so good! Excited to see it completed!❤

[@sashsash6679]

Very excited about the renovation...i know its going to look great😊

[@jackysandy7399]

Looking great,cant wait for next episode.

[@sunqueen4080]

Hi Mr C I recently had my bedroom floor done in vinyl looks exactly like your new laminate flooring some staggared lines and colour x

[@agnespm4181]

Great vlog. Lots of great tips. Looking forward to seeing it all completed.

[@pearlmorgan777morgan6]

It will look fabulous when finished, can’t wait to see it 😊

[@BLK2000]

Iv loving ur house renos at the mo, so much fun to watch!! Iv just thought, in the kitchen, its like you've just swapped over the cabinets in the kitchen......So b4 you had, top cupboards on the left, and the concrete wall on the right.....now you've shelves on the right, and potentially nothing will be on the left (like its mirrored, swapped over) cnt wait to see it finished!!! Happy Renovations Mr C!! xxx

[@marilyneaves7044]

Oh my heart goes out to you Mr C, all the work being done at the same time but you are young and resilient and it will be worth it when it's all finished. I am so looking forward to seeing the end result. You did the right thing rejecting the worktop, my late husband was a carpenter and he always refused to accept any timber or work surface with a bow in it, love to Pumpkin and Mittens xxx

[@catherinecollins8220]

Cant wait to see the finished results..going to look gorgeous ❤

[@Raquel_Tejera]

I know construction is different around the different countries, but I'm always amazed on how the wood floor is made of separate planks. Here we have cement floors and then it's usually tiles on, unless in a new construction they put laminate, always on top of cement. We don't use carpet on floors. I have never seen it here in Spain. We did have them thought, when we lived in a flat in South Africa, when I was a child. The good thing about tiles on floor is that laminate flooring can be installed on top of tiles. The bad thing, that if you renovate a flat or house and want to change the old fashioned tiles fo modern ones, you have to pull off all the tiles and it's very noisy, dusty and it takes time, I did it when I renovated my bathroom, all floor and walls tiles removed to lay new ones. We usually have tiles all over the walls in bathrooms and kitchen. Thats one thing I don't like. In my kitchen renovation I managed to only put tiles on the top of the counter tops, rest of the walls just paint, I'm tired of so much tiles. And its less expensive. I had never heard of acclimatising the boards. That's very curious, but makes sense. Your kitchen is sure going to look much bigger and inviting to cook if you have more workspace. Can't wait to see it completely finished. I'm very glad for you. Remember there always has to be chaos before a new start. It will soon be over. I have survived, and I'm quite obsessed with cleaning and organization, so I'm sure that you will come along well too! 💪 Have a great Sunday!

[@traceybradshaw]

We have been renovating our house for a bit over 18 months. It was so nice when we finally got to the point of the flooring going down. Some of our cats have love having tradies around, but others find a dark hides hole and don’t come out until the noisy strangers have gone. We did have one kitty disaster where one of them got into the formal lounge and walked across wet paint on the window sills. Repainting was faster than getting the paint of the kitty paws! Looking forward to seeing how it all turns out.

[@christinemalone]

I can’t wait to see it finished. You have a wonderful sense of style , very inspirational xx

[@tarasnedden806]

I love your confidence and know-how, very inspirational!

[@bec.11]

It's looking amazing. I can't wait to see the final results 💯👍🇦🇺😊

[@DevonMel]

Looking so good already. Can't wait to see it all finished.

[@brendajordan2844]

Can’t wait to see the end results!

[@jenjenkins2936]

So excited for you! So sensible to wait and see how a place works before adding more. 😊

[@helen6477]

Can’t wait to see finished results, going to be so different x

[@autumn1549]

A very well thought out renovation.Looking forward to the next vlog!

[@avacadman2155]

We only have carpet on the stairs and a small section of the upper hallway. Right now we are literally taking everything out of the upstairs bathroom, a total strip out. DIY project, a larger shower, large marble tiles from floor to ceiling ,big updating. 👍😄

[@Stephie99]

Looking good Mr C. Happy Sunday ❤️

[@Jaacck45]

Good advise - always good to hear about a persons reno experience when they have actually been through it 👏🏽👏🏽

[@annisiktas815]

Cannot wait to see it all finished. So enjoy all your vlogs, watching them from Bulgaria , keep them coming.

[@redgamer2915]

Everything is going to look fantastic x

[@shirleyburnham2782]

Can't wait to see it finished x

[@danielyoung2720]

Love watching your decorating videos. Gives me some inspiration to get my flat done.

[@sarahmorris1939]

Going to look lovely. Can't wait to see it finished 😊

[@janeleach9064]

Loved this video. Love the flooring. The kitchen is going to be looking fab, think putting floating shelves on the wall next to the hob would be good. Behind the door get a vegetable tall rack for there, it’ll be good storage too. Tiktok do fab ones on wheels. But it’s looking so good.

[@user-md8ny8dy2c]

It’s all coming together it’s going to look amazing when it’s all finished ❤

[@shabbysuse7821]

Loving all the alterations and updates, can't wait to see the next update.

[@Cindy7777777]

Wow, fantastic remodeling!!! It's looking really good Mr. C!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@jamiemarsh3422]

Calm, cool and collected, Mr. C ♥️. Love the flooring and seeing the progress, even the necessary chaos. Looking forward to your kitchen decorating and storage solutions. Side note, you look great in that shacket 😘.

[@ladieswhoshoot]

Love this video, flooring is lovely.

[@denisetrigg4216]

Tha nkyou Mr C love what your doing to your lovey home cannot wait too see it all done .I think it's key to prep any room as this does save time and expense later on xxxx

[@donnawaldron3261]

Just relaxing listening to you.

[@theresak9915]

Everything is looking fantastic. Can't wait to see the final reveal.

[@poppysydney3564]

What an excellent video that was! I really enjoyed your explanations and the slow pace you do ... I cant believe how together you are 😮🤔😉

[@karonfrench1012]

It’s all going to look absolutely fabulous! 👍🥰

[@edwardmahony8160]

Busy busy busy!!!!

[@annaking9213]

So happy everything with your work is going well. Your house will be beautiful.

[@elliesuttey1721]

So exciting sweetheart…. Can’t wait to see it all finished it’s going to look amazing lovely xxx♥️

[@christinehodge3608]

Hope everything goes well, just remember it will look great , soon be spring,

[@juliebrown3720]

Wow what a lot going on love the laminate floors looking fabulous can’t wait to see more when work all finished 🌸

[@tinacarrol6702]

Morning Iwan. It's Going To Look Fabulous When It's All Finished, Love The Floor. Looking Forward To See The End Result. Enjoy your Sunday. Xx 😘😊

[@danicacharles4221]

Loved this vlog....so exciting to see a plan coming together. It will look totally fabulous for sure...love your style. Thank you so much for sharing. Love Mittens and Pumpkin having a wander when your vlogging. 😊

[@hillarygroundwell2807]

Wow you are getting a lot done at once. It's a good job you have the loft room to chill in xx

[@Sarcypants]

It's all looking great! Going to be lovely! I can see a shelf the width of the room above the door looking good for cookery books etc. ❤

[@lizparr9927]

Wow you have a lot going on, I'm loving watching how calmly you deal with it all 😊

[@ruthlee7949]

Cant wait to see the end result xx

[@jeanettenfreeland1408]

I admire your perseverance

[@LouciferFlump]

When I redid my kitchen, I removed the vast majority of the upper cabinets and now only have a small cluster that turns one corner of the room. I love the plain expanse of wall above my oven area. I’ve hung a massive piece of art there instead. I would just have the upper shelving on one side of your room and not clutter your new wall above your oven and sink. You might start to lose that lovely sensation of space and airiness you currently feel if you start to add little blocks of shelving here and there, especially next to the sink.

[@nicolelorente332]

Hello your home is going to look amazing it looks very spacious with the lovely flooring and I can't wait to see your kitchen when it's finished .I hope you have a very good week 😊♥️xx

[@estherderozario9991]

What a mess the kitchen was. So glad you hv your loft to hide out in with the kitties🥰. Thanks so much for the update 😁

[@valerielynn3853]

Looking forward to seeing how this turned out,it looks beautiful so far.