renter friendly kitchen makeover

I've pulled out ALL of the renter hacks for this room makeover! Our kitchen was the ugliest room in the house for sure but with some fairly straightforward, inexpensive tweaks it's become light, bright and homely. Possibly the biggest transformation so far!
Products featured...
D-C-Fix Matt white marble vinyl bit.ly/3qLU5Sp
D-C-Fix Matt ivory cream vinyl 122cm bit.ly/3uAoXGv
Peel and stick tiles amzn.to/3r6zw3t
Black handles amzn.to/3tPjv3i
Colron wood dye in American walnut bit.ly/3IHKYs8
Brackets amzn.to/3tLXlPr
Black hooks amzn.to/3JU1tTi
Peg rail bit.ly/38bw0ht
Dry food jars bit.ly/3DlT8Fx
Oven gloves bit.ly/3qJ82kb
Art etsy.me/38bwCDN
LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE below if you love DIY projects as much as I do!
Follow me on...
Instagram @thelovelydrawer
My blog thelovelydrawer.com/blog/
Pinterest www.pinterest.co.uk/thelovely...
Twitter @thelovelydrawer
Shop my products...
thelovelydrawer.com/shop/

[@AlwaysHappy4278]

Hello. One good for everyone who is thinking to do this,before you apply contact paper,spray the surfice with water or mixture of water and dishsoap. This will allow you to avoid air bubbles coz water will push air out. Ive done lots of times this at any surface(vertical and horizontal), wood,laminate,etc. Advice worth a million.

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Oh thank you. I didn't know that so really helpful. I had way less problem with air bubbles then I expected but this sounds like a good way to make it even smoother

[@sayestthou]

Hmm, your "before" is what I'm currently trying to achieve.

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Oh haha well each to their own :) Just wasn't to our taste

[@Mejiaelis]

Me too

[@sugardelights_yb]

😂😂

[@silviazambrana]

I’m actually getting rid of something similar to your actually to get the before 😂😅

[@beyondview]

Exactly those cabinets before were nice

[@Vitagirl]

I like the before cabinets

[@dylanheffernan4054]

Your perseverance & determination to keep going made me subscribe straight away! Love the transformation

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Aww thanks so much! I'm very stubborn about finishing something once I've started! haha

[@vanessakirkley8527]

Omg love your tea and coffee jars! Very impressed with the transformation, wow what a difference! Well done! x

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Thank you!! Ahh yes some good charity shop finds! x

[@madisonhynes2642]

Would you be able to tell us what the coffee and tea ceramic creator name is?@@TheLovelyDrawerYT

[@annalp7520]

Looks really fab!! Love your attention to detail (which I imagine you would need for this job!) 😊

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Thank you! I'm definitely into detail!

[@26Rache]

You’ve inspired me to try some vinyl. Great transformation Teri x

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Yes do it!! x

[@TheCraftedLife]

You did such an amazing job! I still cant get over what that flower art and two different doors 😂

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

aww thanks lovely!!

[@cem8205]

Love it, great job!! :)

[@imprsk6729]

Excellent result...careful neat work... love it all... only 1 tiny thing... the shelving (with the scales) looks very cluttered...too many objects on it. You did an amazing transformation.😊😊

[@MarySpain1958]

Beautiful job well done

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

thank you!

[@JasmineRaeHome]

You’re adorable!! And I love this kitchen makeover!! You’re so good friend!!🤍✨

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Aww thank you lovely. Massive compliment coming from you!

[@markellwilliams3594]

It came out beautifully!!! Hello 👋🏾 I’m new to the channel and I love it. Thank u so much for sharing and I hope you have a blessed day darling ❤️🙏🏽

[@adviceologie]

Woowww! What a transformation 🌸💆🏽‍♀️😍😍😍 i’m in the process of renovating my kitchen and you inspired me even more, I mean that countertop😱 it looks soooo real🔥🔥🔥

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Haha thanks! It is amazing what a bit of vinyl can do!

[@shoshannah777]

It looks really nice! My favourite part is the Devotional dippers on the counter top 😂 well done 🎉

[@zoeburt1172]

Just found your channel!this looks lovely!x

[@peggymohr7899]

It was a lot of work but turned out beautiful. Great job.

[@clairekinney4133]

Scaffolding boards are also great to use for your shelving i got the brackets from b&q which looks like pipes x

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

I was actually searching on facebook marketplace for some put people were really overpricing them. Love that look though

[@clairekinney4133]

@@TheLovelyDrawerYT if you see a building site just ask one of the builders for one lol x

[@greatbritishpippa8854]

Great upload👍🏼 I would have found seeing(or even u telling us) how you overcame the tricky bits like the fridge/freezer doors/underside of top cabinets; what the costs/quantities/time line and usability/ cleaning of products are, really helpful since you’ve been using kitchen for a while though. I like your precision in the application 👏🏼

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Thanks for that feed back, perhaps I could do a future video on the specifics

[@OrganizedWithJoy]

Wow! This turned out amazing! Such a creative idea to use vinyl to cover the cabinets. Love your style! Thanks for sharing!🙂

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

aww thanks so much!!

[@gezk1696]

Pierce it and hairdryer it love x looks fab x

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Thank you! x

[@maryschmitt8786]

Place foil or parchment paper on top f cupboards to prevent the dori grease and grime form accumulating again.

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

So clever, thanks for the tip!

[@brookelyndilldine6892]

This is exactly what I was thinking for my kitchen! Thank you for putting this video together for inspiration. Where did u get your peel and stick tile?? It looks so real 😊

[@bitak2095]

First time viewer - you are very talented and very patient with your work! Well done! I was about to stop watching when there was no sounds which I would’ve done a voice over instead of releasing it this way, but happy I fast forward it to the part I could hear and see your beautiful result of makeover. You have me hooked 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Sorry were you watching with one headphone in? It seems there were some issues with headphones on the voice over sections which I think I've sorted for future...phew!

[@bitak2095]

@@TheLovelyDrawerYT yes, I was using my headphones and I think when I was watching your bedroom makeover I figured it out 🤣😂 much love to you and thank you for your reply 🥰 Also, I am a subscriber now. Your sweet and kind personality and of course your talent made me a follower to your channel. 👍🏻🤩🙏🏻

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

@@bitak2095 Aww that's so kind thank you!!!

[@MB-du4jb]

Nice. You have a good eye and I think your styling is similar to deVOL Kitchens. Quite good.

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

I didn't know who that was but just checked and my goodness their kitchens are gorgeous!

[@MB-du4jb]

@@TheLovelyDrawerYT I recently watched a series of tv shows about some of their projects. Their work is beautiful and full of stunning craftsmanship.

[@kaylamarie9443]

When it comes time to take it down will it be able to be good as new ?

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

I think with a bit of cleaning sticky residue from the vinyl, fill the holes from the shelves, swap the handles back. The only thing that is likely to be trickier is the peel and stick tile as we stuck straight onto painted wall so I think there will be some refilling and painting to be done. Apparently it comes off much more easily without issue when it's stuck onto existing tile.

[@beverleyhirst9380]

Can peel and stick vinyl be easily removed from doors, as it's a rental?

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

That's the idea and it was very easy to peel off parts where I went wrong.

[@amberfrazier575]

You could just lay a white linoleum down over the floor and calk around the edges or trim it with 1/4 round and just roll it up when you leave, it will settle and stay down. That way it does not fight with the cabinet color

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

I hated the cabinet colour regardless, it was just made worse by the mix of dark wood

[@chris...9497]

Peel-and-stick floor tiles are also available these days. They're waterproof, sturdy, and they can be acquired with a thin layer of cushioning foam to make them easier on the feet. And the nice thing is they come up easily if you want to change the pattern/color or when you move out.

[@Jodi-hx9qw]

Just my opinion, but I think you are covering beautiful worktops and the wood cabinets are nice, maybe a new back splash and color on the walls would help, I like the wood

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Well each to there own. It probably wasn't clear but the cabinets were in awful condition in places

[@SebMakeup]

Do you put it back to how it was when you leave? Did you clear it with the landlord first?

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

That's my plan. Everything was thought out so that is possible but I'm hoping my landlord might prefer it and we can just leave it. Either way it's fine so I didn't clear it with him first but he's been round and really liked what I'd done.

[@Kiwiclegg]

@@TheLovelyDrawerYT Hi, So being rental friendly, how do you remove the primer and gloss from the kickboards?

[@BLK2000]

fab job! was wondering how much/how many rolls of vinal u used, as in, was it pretty costly, if you totalled up what u spent? just a ruff idea sorta thing :) xx

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

So I found 2 packs for of 2.1m x 90cm for £19.00 and bought 3 lots although have a fair amount left over. So cheaper to paint of your landlord allows it but not too pricey if not

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Oh and the marble vinyl was £7 for 45cm x 2m and I ordered 3 lots of that and had a decent amount left over

[@BLK2000]

@@TheLovelyDrawerYT we're allowed to do anything here, as just weighing up options, and thinking if painting would be easier and quicker? but the finish of the vinyl looks so beautiful, no wonky brush strokes etc, so im still on the fence. love your style hun! xx

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

@@BLK2000 thank you! It may take a similar amount of time if you imagine having to take cupboard doors off, prime and do multiple layers for painting. It does look very smooth xx

[@chris...9497]

The work looks amazing! Great design, great results. Please excuse a couple comments in critique. Don't let it cast a shadow on the excellent results you achieved; this is just what I would have done differently. 1. I would have painted the kickboards black or a dark charcoal. Reason being that kickboards get kicked, so they show dirt, meaning you may be spending more time cleaning them than you would something darker and less noticeable. Also, if the kickboards are deeply-dark, they recede in notice while also giving a subliminal sense of the base cabinets 'floating'. 2. I would have run the counter application from the edge of the wall on down, rather than cut the counter backsplash separately and caulked it. Caulking tends to crack and leak, so it's good to avoid it when possible. If that crack had been one long fold, there would be no chance of liquids (especially spilled oils or grease, which would dissolve the contact paper adhesive) getting in there. 3. I would have taken the doors down to apply the contact paper. You can then control application better, including any heating required for better stick or stretch and easier and more accurate cutting and fitting of the contact paper. Also, it's safer than standing on ladders/stepstools/chairs while struggling with paper and tools. 4. I would have taken the peel-and-stick tile up to the bottom edge of the wall cabinets, rather than terminate in the chevron pattern. You could have created a line of horizontal tiles as a top 'capping' edge for the chevron pattern to die into by cutting out individual tiles and running them like boxcars. 5. The sink cabinet doors appear to be edged along the perimeter with a 1/8th to 1/4 inch banding that sits 'proud' (beyond) the flat surface of the doors. I have to wonder if there is a material (adhesive-backed corkboard?) available in the exact depth that could have been cut and inset as filler before applying the contact paper. 6. Did you consider doing the base cabinets in a darker or different color than the wall cabinets? Uniform color is fine, and this is a HUGE improvement from what you had previously, but I just wanted to know if you considered going beyond a uniform beige. 7. You did an excellent job and the kitchen now looks larger, airier, and more pleasant to be in. It really pulls in a lot of light from the windows! This will inspire a lot of people to do this for themselves. I'm speaking as someone with a background as a cabinetmaker, drafter, and designer of living spaces, so my interest and observations are professionally-based. I also feel there's no 'wrong' answers or methods so long as the results are safe and what was desired by the end user. And I must emphasize what an incredible job you did.

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

2. definitely would have been better in hindsight although trickier to lay. 3. we actually tried taking one cabinet door off to vinyl and found it way harder. There was something helpful about working from the top and using gravity that made it simpler. 4. yes thought about it and was just so worn out from those tiles. I asked my husband to not cut a straight edge at either end but he did anyway so oh well haha! 6. someone suggested it but I'm not a fan of the colour block look it creates so decided not to. Thanks for all your comments :) May redo the counter tops in the future and would definitely know how to do them better

[@ToeKnife166]

I have Indian friends who utilise a portable cook top outdoor to minimise the smells, because it will stick to everything.

[@hsoderberg6505]

How did you arrange things with your landlord to make the changes? Were there certain things you were not allowed to do?

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

So when we moved in we got approval to paint certain rooms, as well as put laminate down in the living room and asked if it was ok to hang things on the walls. He said what all of our other landlords said which was as long as you put it back to how you found it then it's all fine which is why I've tried to work with reversible options... aside from the laminate haha

[@CJ-gp9cn]

@@TheLovelyDrawerYT but you painted the kick boards! And stuck fake tiles onto plasterboard! And even cut away the silicone around existing worktop! Omg 😳 If I was your landlord I would 100% break lease immediately and not return any bond money. If you didn’t like the style of the kitchen you shouldn’t have rented the property. There was nothing wrong with the kitchen, is in great condition, it was just not your personal taste.

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

@@CJ-gp9cn I have to say I should have just vinyled the kickboards from the start but they along with the cupboard doors were all in pretty bad shape, so not to our personal taste but also not in good condition. We asked about the silicone sealant actually because we wanted him to redo it when we moved in as it was also grim but we agree with him we'd do it ourselves.

[@andreakerry3411]

Loved your makeover but your. Using choice drove me nuts. 😂

[@MarySpain1958]

What country is this.? UK SOMEWHERE. 🇬🇧 she mentioned hiring professional cleaners so shouldnt the landlord be responsible for his/ her cleanout when tenets move?

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

The annoying thing is that the agency told us it had been professionally cleaned before we moved in. I did send photos to show them anything above eyeline had not been done properly

[@kristinalewis281]

It would easier if you take off the outlet covers

[@007mia7]

I thought your “before” was your “after” lol

[@punjabseth260]

hermosa

[@hayleyrichardson3343]

The sound is cracking xx

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Thanks I know, I think I apologised in the video but also lots of mic issues throughout which are now resolved in my later videos, at least as far as I can tell. Newbie problems :) xx

[@actualangel5133]

Great renovation 👍👍 But couldn’t enjoy the video as the audio was bad…. Enjoyed watching nevertheless.

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Thank you! I've had many similar comments and managed to sort the sound for all future videos. Still learning all the time

[@camillamoraes4309]

Which program did you use for plannninng??? That's exactly what I need for my living room transformation... Min 3:05

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

I did it on photoshop by adding layers. Quite a quick, rough job but gives the idea

[@user-wo5hc8sd6t]

Νομίζω πως δεν το έκανες εσύ αλλά κάποιος άλλος...διαφορετικά θα μας έδειχνε το πως το έκανες και όχι λίγο πριν το τελος.....με υγεία να χαρείς την αλλαγή που εκανες

[@shannoncarr7338]

cant really hear it

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

sorry there were some mic issues in this episode so apologies for that

[@michelleadams8891]

Faff? Faffy?

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

It wasn't so much faffy as time consuming. It depends how much you want to make your kitchen space feel like your own

[@dawnshermantech]

Only the music plays in both L and R, voice does not - difficult to listen with headphones :(

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Oh thanks for letting me know and you're right. I just checked it and when I've used my external mic it can only be heard in one earphone! Will definitely see how I can change that

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Thanks again for the heads up as I managed to work out the issue yesterday so all future videos won't have that issue

[@deborahsewell202]

Please speak up. Love your ideas

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

I've sorted the sound issues so all videos after this should be fine

[@pamelafox7677]

Your music is really irritating. But I like you and the redo.

[@amazinggirlvlogs2081]

Sound is horrible. Music is extremely loud yet can’t hear you talk unless I turn my tv all the way up. Love your style but had to click out because I got tired of turning to volume up and down.

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Oh I'm sorry about that. I'll have to look into that because it sounded ok on mine aside from the mic issues

[@Hazel-ch3rn]

it sounds okay for me, a little quiet but that's okay!

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

I think I've sorted the issues so hopefully upcoming videos will be more even.

[@Vk-mm4lf]

You certainly brightened up the room. And I know you did a lot of work to accomplish your preferred look. I hope you will take this as kindly intended. Using words like vile, disgusting and ugly as if they were facts rather than opinion can be off putting to someone who might have a different aesthetic than yours. Like perhaps the persons who chose and paid for the items or others who may have those things in their own home. Do you suppose?

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

Thank you. This was a while ago so I thought I'd said it was my opinion but perhaps I didn't. I'll be more careful with that in future.

[@libbyhale2454]

Not! Renter friendly. Renters cannot paint, screw in shelves, or remove permanent fixtures.

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

I guess it depends on your landlord as I've always been able to do do those things if I get permission and leave everything how I found it when we leave so I try to do things that are easily reversible

[@chris...9497]

It really does depend on the landlord. I have had some landlords say absolutely not, but I've also had others who will purchase or reimburse supplies. Many landlords repaint after a tenant leaves, whether by preference or local regulations, so will approve painting. There's been a revolution in adhesives that allow firm adhesion while ease in removal of everything from picture hangers, hooks, tile, wallpaper even decorative wall trim. They're all removeable with no sign of ever having been there. Not all fixtures are 'permanent'; lighting fixtures and faucets can easily be switched out, saved, and returned at move-out. I've often replaced cabinet door and drawer pulls while in residence, switching them back before vacating. But yes; I've experienced landlords quite happy to have someone improve their property and happy to keep the changes.

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

@@chris...9497 That's been my experience except we've often re-painted rooms when leaving

[@Jean-ni6of]

Sounds interesting. Wake up and tell us about it.

[@CJ-gp9cn]

Omg I would be so pissed off if my tenant painted and put vinyl all over my kitchen! 😳 would break their lease immediately!

[@TheLovelyDrawerYT]

We've done it so that it can be changed back and if any marks are left on removal we will smooth, paint and refill and areas or holes. Our landlord has actually seen it and loves that he has tenants who make his property a home unlike his previous ones who lived in filth, trashed the place and left the property with a moth infestation. He's even asked for advice on decor in one of his other properties. Good thing we're not your tenants I guess