Kitchens: Retrofit Refresh

Not quite ready for a total kitchen overhaul? We show you how to make your kitchen look brand new with a few select swap-outs

- Laura Barry

It’s probably no surprise to discover that kitchens are one of the most expensive rooms in your home to renovate. In fact, the 2020 Houzz & Home Study found that, on average, Australians spend up to $15,000 on a kitchen renovation. Yet there are ways to give your kitchen the fresh new look it needs without a hefty price tag. By keeping a kitchen’s floorplan and appliance configuration intact and swapping out tired taps, scratchy sinks, and loose handles for brand new fixtures, you’ll not only breathe new life into a tired cooking space, but there’s no need to call in the demolition crew! Here’s our guide to becoming a retrofit wizard.

REVIVE YOUR SPLASHBACK

Are you a bit over the handmade tiles your home’s previous owner installed back in 1995? Replacing a kitchen splashback can be a quick and easy project to take on, but you do need to hire a professional tradesperson. “Tiling over a splashback will revamp it, but it can be expensive depending on the tiles you choose, and you’ll need some perseverance if you are applying them on top of existing tiles,” says Sarah Comerford, founder and design director of Home by Belle.

PRICE GUIDE * $500–$1500 for mid-range penny round mosaic tile sheets. $210 for white gloss subway tiles.

STYLE NOTES Marble, mirrors, stone and subway tiles have proven to be mainstays in the splashback scene, so if you plan to retrofit this area, ensure you invest in a timeless style or tile.