$350 kitchen makeover
What can you do with a few hundred dollars, you ask? Heidi Smith knows something about making a little go a long way.
Here's what her kitchen makeover cost:
- Paint-$15 (dry-brushed to use less)
- Brushes, rollers-$20
- Curtain fabric-$35
- Knobs-$60
- Dishes-$55
- Breadbox-$30
- Rag rug-$35
- Chair fabric-$100
Cashing in
Heidi's tips for creating a charming cottage on a budget:
How much did you spend on paint to transform the kitchen?
About $15 for a can of latex.
How much to paint all the panelling in the cottage?
Only $10. It was a mismatched colour on sale at the hardware store. Plus, I mixed it with water and dry-brushed it on so I didn't need much.
What was the average price you paid per yard for fabric?
$3 to $5 per yard. I tend to buy anything gingham, or vichy as it's called in Quebec and France. Tablecloths come in tons of lengths. Just buy some rings with snaps and voilà, instant curtains. The coordinating napkins make cushions.
The biggest expense in the entire redecoration project?
The sofa. It came with the house in good shape - down-filled and hardwood framed. The new slipcover was $550 to make, the fabric a bargain at $8 a yard from a discount store. The piping fabric from Vie de Campagne cost more than the entire sofa fabric! Total bill: about $775 - and it's kid-proof!
The most expensive piece of furniture in the cottage?
The antique coffee table. It's great for Luke and his cousins to eat, drink, and do the occasional talent show on.
Least expensive piece?
The rocking chairs that I got for between $5 to $20 each.
How much have you spent on your collection of jadeite over the years?
Maybe $800 in all. I have about 100 items, bought mostly on eBay and at Vie de Campagne.
PHOTO ABOVE: The warm red tones in the accessories, fabric and cabinets warm up the mostly white interior, which Smith says would be fluorescent without red. The chandelier was an antique-shop splurge, but it's a favourite piece. She painted it, of course.
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