Toronto Budget Kitchen Renovation: Part 2

Hello everyone, it’s about time I shared another kitchen renovation update with you (P.S you will have to scroll all the way to the end to see the Part 2 kitchen reveal). If you’ve been following along on social media, you know that we recently made the leap from condo life to homeownership in Toronto. We’ve been living in our new west-end home in Toronto for about eight months now. When we first reviewed our renovation plans, we wanted to focus on priorities only!

Setting Priorities

For our kitchen, this meant a fresh coat of paint, plus a new counter and sink while keeping our budget on more expensive foundational updates like updated electrical wiring and new windows.

While I loved our newly painted cabinets (see images below), we noticed some water damage in the cabinetry when we removed our old counter tops in preparation for new ones, warranting a bigger kitchen makeover.

This had me a bit excited and nervous. On one hand, I was looking forward to a more functional, modern kitchen. On the other hand, our original budget of $5000 was looking like it would double or even triple for a kitchen that would suit our lifestyle for years to come. Because only the lower cabinetry was damaged, we decided to update just the lower half and leave the white open shelving on top.

Why IKEA

We did a lot of research and spoke to lots of friends and family and the resounding feedback was IKEA gave the best bang for your buck (this blog is not sponsored). IKEA is notoriously known for their ready to order kitchens but what we discovered was that by booking their design and install service, we worked around our kitchen size, limitations and strengths to build a custom, yet affordable kitchen. Another plus of IKEA’s kitchen design services was that speaking to and working on the designs with a representative allowed us to ask lots of questions… Plus we really wanted to maximize the space in our kitchen with our new built-ins and weren’t experienced enough to do this on our own.

The total kitchen update now comes in at around $12, 000 (this is for half a kitchen as we only replaced our lower cabinetry).

@elis.halenko Kitchen glow-up in progress! ✨ We started with a small update, but a little water damage turned it into a full reno. Loving these oak cabinets & the new pantry! What do you think so far? 👇 #fyp #homerenovation #kitchenreno #modernkitchen #IKEAfinds #pantrygoals #homedecor #torontohomes ♬ original sound - Elis Halenko

Inspiration from Tuscany

As I navigated the challenges of our new home, I found myself reflecting on our honeymoon in Tuscany—one of the most beautiful experiences of our lives. The charm of old-world Europe captivated us, and I knew I wanted to incorporate that into our Toronto home. My vision was to retain some rustic elements while modernizing others, ultimately creating a harmonious blend of old and new. In my mind, I fondly dubbed our new space “Villa Martino.”

This is what we did:

Step 1: Color Palette

Updating the charcoal painted cabinets to a more custom look, I began by selecting a color palette that echoed the earth tones of Tuscany. I opted for warm creams and soft terracotta shades, reminiscent of sun-kissed walls and rustic tiles. These colors not only brightened the space but also created a cozy atmosphere.

Step 2: Cabinet Makeover

About $6000

IKEA kitchen cabinet makeover, we went with their more expensive VEDHAMN collection – it features solid oak frame doors with oak veneer panels. I have a big appreciation for the use of natural materials both for their look and durability.

Step 3: New Counter Tops – $1700

We saved loads by buying our counter tops as a remnant piece from a company called QuartzCo.

The final counters are a 2 inch miter edge, which makes them look so much richer than the standard 1 inch counter. I can look at them all day, they really tie in the colour pallet of the house.

Step 4: A Few Personal Touches

About $1000

To complete the transformation, I incorporated personal touches that reminded us of our honeymoon. I framed a photo from our trip and hung it on the walls. I added a new long kitchen runner from Ruggable (not sponsored).

While homeownership has its ups and downs, my mini kitchen renovation has brought joy and inspiration into our new space. If you’re considering a DIY project, remember that it’s possible to create a beautiful, personalized home on a budget. Just look to your own experiences and travels for inspiration, and let your creativity shine. Stay tuned for more updates as I continue to transform our Toronto home into a little slice of Tuscany!

There will definitely be a Kitchen Renovation part 3!

Some of the remaining tasks include:

Removing and replacing all upper cabinets with 1 long oak shelf.
Replacing the microwave with a beautiful range hood.
Adding a herb garden near the windowsill, bringing both fragrance and a piece of Tuscany into our cooking.

Here are some of my other blogs on home renovations:

DIY-ing My Toronto Home Series (How to paint kitchen cabinets, when to paint kitchen cabinets, & how to organize a mini Kitchen refresh)