KITCHEN KARMA
Fitted cupboards left the couple too little space so they opted for a mix of lower units and shelving. Jermel made the units out of MDF with an oak veneer finish. The worktop is reclaimed scaffolding cut to fit with a metal strip protecting it from water around the sink. The shelves are also scaffolding, and reach almost to the ceiling to use all the space. Wire baskets provide extra storage. The terracotta tiles were bought on ebay for the bathroom, ‘But we had some leftover so we created a splashback with them,’ says Africa.
■ Be sure to check that any wear and tear is cosmetic only and won’t require a great deal of investment to be usable. Costing is subjective, though – think of cost per use; eg, if I plan to have this dresser at least 10 years, how much will it cost me on average per year?
■ Take some time to think functionally what it is you need. Then invest a bit more time into thinking about your style. Don’t get sucked into a short-term trend; have a think about how that piece would work in your space with your current pieces.
■ I use Any Van for ebay delivery, which makes it easy. You just give them the ebay serial number for a delivery cost quote.
■ When it comes to DIY, know your limitations. We would never attempt electrical or plumbing work ourselves for obvious safety reasons and Jermel always does a trial small scale practice when it’s a ‘skill’ he hasn’t used in a long time.
■ Paint your walls before laying new flooring – we didn’t and found out the hard way the order it should be in.
■ Measure three times so you only have to cut once.
■ While you may be able to scrimp on salvaged materials, don’t scrimp on DIY tools – it’s often better to hire something if you don’t think you will be getting regular use out of it than to buy a cheap tool.