A Honest Review of Embiria – A Toronto based Women’s Social Club
A Honest (not paid) Review of Embiria – A Toronto based Women’s Social Club Written by Dietitian Elis Halenko Spring Reflections & Permission to Pause: My Exper
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 8 months now and when we first reviewed our plans for home renovations, we wanted to focus on priorities only! For our kitchen, this meant a fresh coat of paint and a new counter and sink so we could focus our budget on more expensive foundational updates, like updated electrical and new windows.
While I loved our reimaged painted cabinets and felt the kitchen was much refreshed (see images below), when we removed our old counter tops in preparation for our new counter tops, we noticed some water damage in the cabinetry which warranted a bigger kitchen makeover.
This had me a bit excited and nervous. I was looking forward to a more functional, personalized and modern kitchen, but where our initial budget was $5000 for our kitchen renovation, now we were looking at double or triple for a kitchen that would suit our lifestyle and work for us for years to come.
Since there was only damage on the bottom half of the cabinetry, for now, we decided to update just the lower half and leave the white open shelving up top.
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).
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)
A Balanced & Family-Friendly Easter Lunch: Orange Marmalade Glazed Ham & Pickled Carrot Brioche Sandwiches
A Balanced & Family-Friendly Easter LUNCH: Orange Marmalade Glazed Ham & Pickled Carrot Brioche Sandwiches Written by Dietitian Elis Halenko Sponsored by The Canadian Sug
Nutrition Month and What Steps You Can Take to Flourish
Nutrition Month and What Steps you can take to Flourish Written by Dietitian Elis Halenko Sponsored by Egg Farmers of Ontario As a dietitian, I always look forward to Nutrit
Toronto Budget Kitchen Renovation: Part 2
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 e
"I do not consider myself as anything special unless I am able to achieve success. I strive to keep moving forward, organizing my life, and facing challenges head-on."
Elis Halenko
