A kitchen renovation is far and away the most expensive home project you can take on. From months of labor to the cost of materials — not to mention unforeseen hold-ups like water damage and hidden electrical issues — kitchen renovations are considered a massive undertaking for a reason.
But a low-lift DIY reno that you can complete in weeks, not months? That’s a different story. Just ask Havenly designer and Director of Design and Content Heather Goerzen, who just transformed her dark and dated kitchen in Denver for under $4,000.
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After
“With just a few strategic changes and the right mix of color, texture, and detail, the space feels brand-new,” she shares. “We managed to breathe new life into it without having to shell out tens of thousands of dollars or demo a single thing.”
Ahead, see how Heather took her 90s-era kitchen from dark and heavy to light, bright, and airy, all without breaking the bank.
The plan of attack
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After
Heather’s remodel efforts focused primarily on changing the atmosphere of the kitchen and better aligning it with her personal style.
“I love an all-wood kitchen, but when your floors are dark, your cabinetry is darker, and your backsplash is black, the effect isn’t warm and inviting—it’s heavy,” she explains. “I wanted to breathe light and life into the space, while channeling an English country kitchen in the Cotswolds: full of charm, character, and a touch of whimsy.”
To achieve her goals, Heather decided to paint all of the cabinetry, upgrade the backsplash tile, make some minor layout tweaks, and redo the built-ins near the dining room.
The DIY construction
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After
The biggest eye sore in the kitchen? The window seat and surrounding built-ins. “They were basically falling apart,” notes Heather. “It felt like an afterthought — awkward proportions, poor construction, and no real function.”
With guidance from her good friend and DIY pro Kristin of The Colonial Farmhouse, Heather rebuilt the shelving from scratch and added beadboard throughout for a little historic character. Finished with a custom bench cushion and plenty of patterned pillows, the nook is now “a heart of the home space — it’s where we start the morning with coffee and where our daughter curls up with coloring books.”
Heather also made some minor functionality tweaks in the kitchen, like removing the microwave and creating a dedicated cookbook shelf. “This small change made a big difference in making the space feel more considered and less cluttered.”
The power of paint
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After
True to form, the least-expensive update turned out to be the most impactful. After swatching dozens of paint colors, Heather landed on Benjamin Moore’s Wild Blue Yonder for the cabinetry and stove hood, and Mocha Cream for the dining space. “The blue feels nuanced and historic, while the cream blends perfectly with the white-walled living room in our open-concept space.”
Most importantly, her chosen paint colors significantly brightened up the space and added a dose of cool contrast amid the warm-toned hardwood floors and granite countertops. “After painting, the kitchen felt like a completely different space — a full one-eighty,” she notes. “The colors really infused it with a little of that English country charm I was after.”
The details that made all the difference
With the primary design elements updated, Heather honed in on the details. She demo’d the black backsplash tile and replaced it with a white-and-black marble mosaic — a nod to classic French kitchens. “Between the cabinetry paint and the new tile, the existing countertops — which I’d been plotting to replace — looked cool and intentional instead of outdated.”
To finish, she swapped out the old cabinetry hardware with new unlacquered brass knobs and pulls from Rejuvenation. “It was one of those small-but-mighty updates that instantly made the space feel more elevated and layered.”
While a full-on, costly renovation would have allowed Heather to bring her unique, specific vision to life, she loves what she was able to achieve with a scrappy DIY. “Sure, I’ll always have visions of grander upgrades,” she admits. “But this kitchen finally feels like me — and really, isn’t that the whole point?”
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