Oh my goodness, the paint in your hair 😜 Your kitchen is beautiful, I love the white and clean look. And it goes with the rest of your lovely home as well. You guys did an amazing job!
Beautiful Kitchen! You guys are great to watch. Your creativity is exceptional and we're learning so much from your videos. Many thanks for sharing. We hope to move to New Zealand ourselves once the pandemic lifts.
@@AThousandWords That's about a days work over here in europe. At least in the sticks where i live ;) Maybe "big city" plumbers are more expensive but even for a total-sh*tshow-omg-omg-what-did-explode-in-here-repair i have bills of about €500-700+parts ...
Hi, l'm a 60+ y.o male New Zealander and have watched a number of your videos because l'm always interested in what people who have immigrated here feel about their move to Nz. Some tend to make the transition without too much fuss while l have heard of cases where it has been a trying and difficult experience. Love the videos you've uploaded They help fill in and entertain moments in my day when l need a nice distraction. I have already watched the video where the kitchen reno was finished and would like to say congrats on a job well done. Great give it a go attitude guys. Cheers
Thanks so much! We've loved it here from the very beginning, it just feels like home to us and we could not be more grateful that we get to live here. I've had some homesickness for England, not that I want to move back there, just feeling the loss, but overall we settled well and quickly.
Firstly, thank you so much for blogging the whole process and sharing your experience!! Your kitchen looks fab!! I nearly fell off my chair when you said how much the gas fitter charged, that sounds like extortion!! Plus some other things were so expensive but I remember when we lived in Sydney it was the same. You were right though to switch to gas despite the expense (I can't wait to get rid of my electric cooker and have gas again)and make all the finishes so perfect, it looks like a brand new kitchen!! Those Fintorp rails are only EUR 7 here and the hooks are EUR 3 for a pack of 5. If you ever needed anything small like that again I'd be happy to buy and post from Ireland :-)
This was super helpful looking ahead to our kitchen reno which we purposefully left until last. We are still saving for it after our bathroom reno that cost more than we anticipated or budgeted for! How do you and Grant manage unexpected costs in your reno budget? We cashflow everything but I’ve been tempted to borrow from the bank because I’m so impatient, my husband is far too sensible for that though!! I think I remember a vlog where you mentioned you guys do the same and save until you have the budget for something before purchasing. In the end I always appreciate walking out of a reno debt free, I hope thats your experience too. Enjoy your beautiful kitchen 😁
We also cashflow everything and don't start on the project until we know we have some money set aside. If costs start racking up then we space out the stages and tackle them as and when we have the funds. We are very anti-debt, we just feel more comfortable that way. Hope you get to tackle your kitchen soon, and that you're enjoying your bathroom :)
As always a really good result from your hard work. Be proud of all that you have achieved since you arrived here in NZ. Yes it is expensive for many things - but instead of complaining you just make a plan - that’s what we folks do !!! Congratulations and enjoy your lovely new space !!
It's so true - I don't like doing DIY, but also love that feeling of accomplishment. The kitchen looks fabulous - you must love walking into it every morning. You and Grant are able to do so much - how did you learn your skills?
It's beautiful and so much better than the green. Looks amazing! Love the white look for a kitchen. It's looks clean and makes it look big and easy flowing on the eye. Well done! You guys did well.
While I was watching your video, I went to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee and you guys got me thinking of my kitchen. You guys changed so little stuff and yet it looks like a brand new kitchen. Awesome work, thanks for sharing.
You’ve inspired me to start to look at my kitchen. It’s a lot smaller than yours but I’m thinking that will present me with other issues! Great job you two
Love how it came together and enjoyed seeing the process! Do either of you have experience in construction jobs or is this just experience you’ve gained from your DIY through the years? I’m currently in the process of putting laminate plank in my guest bathroom and taking my sweet time at it haha 10 days in now. Also SHOCKED at the cost of the gas fitter, we have unions in my state (South Dakota) and that job would have cost maybe $150 at the very maximum.
Thank you! We've just learned over the years - and now that you see how expensive tradesmen are you can see how glad we are that we're able to do most of the work ourselves. Have fun with your guest bathroom, hope it turns out well :)
Great job. I can not tell if you guys did it or you hired a contractor. Looks professional done. Great savings on keeping your fridge, sink and dishwasher(?).
I love the finished look, you’ve done so well to do it all yourself. What a difference having a built in stove and oven makes. I live the look of the wooden planks on the wall. I’m wondering if it will be a good option for our hall way and upstairs onto the landing. Although I’m not sure how we’d do the high up ones. Not sure I’d like to stand on a ladder that was balanced on the stairs.
Thanks so much! 😊 Might be v tricky to do in a high place, not sure I'd recommend it. Maybe one wall somewhere that doesn't go all the way up? Like the new wall you put in next to the stairs.
@@AThousandWords we need to take the wallpaper off and if we do that we will probably need to plaster as I don’t imagine the walls being smooth. I was trying to avoid doing that haha. We’ve got quite a few other jobs before we do the hall anyway. It’s so hard doing it around the kids and Keith’s work.
Was so looking forward to seeing this video and it did not disappoint! Made some time to sit and watch with a drink and a slice of cake and thoroughly enjoyed it - the video that is (well the cake was good too). It's quite amazing what a massive difference just changing the countertops made - I could feel your satisfaction coming through the screen when they were finally removed! The laminate planking is such a fantastic idea and creates a really beautiful effect - I loved that bit just after you'd finished the first coat of paint on them, with the sun coming through the window, it was lovely as already you could see the glow and brightness the kitchen would end up having. You've both done a really professional looking job. I don't know how you managed to live with the 'chaos' during the whole processes though I think I would have gone crazy - that's the thing that puts me off the most about diy renovation - perhaps I'm just too impatient. I wonder did recording the process for the purpose of vlogging help make it easier in some way, gave you some extra motivation when things felt overwhelming for example? Thanks so much for sharing this little adventure with us all, and congratulations for ending up with a really beautiful kitchen. And thumbs up for the clear countertops: negative space and clutter free areas are wonderful on the mind as well as being practical and they give such a fresh clean look.
Thank you so much! And now you know I want to know what kind of cake you were eating ;) I'm very much a get-things-done type of person, once I get started I want to get finished, especially when there's chaos in the house. Vlogging didn't make a difference in that regard; in fact I sometimes realised I'd forgotten to vlog a step and then would pick up the camera to show you what we'd done. As far as the chaos everywhere, I can tolerate it for a short time before I reach my limit - I guess over the years I have come to accept that it's part of doing a project. It makes it that much more satisfying when it's all done and we can clear everything away and enjoy the fruits of our labours :)
Do you get a say in how many ads are in your videos? I find they have become annoyingly many. I understand this is how you make money and I will keep watching but wheeeew. I can‘t stand the German stock sales guy 😅 Nice video btw! Love seeing the process and how it turned out!
Sorry you're having that annoyance, RUclips decides which ads, how many, and where they're placed and I believe they're increased things lately from what I've heard people saying.
@@AThousandWords Wait, they just increase the ads and you can't do anything about it while still making nothing or the same amount of money off it? That stinks :(
Fridge is looking good!! Huh...The dishwasher was plugged into the side of the stove? That’s so weird. Ooh the wood did look pretty before you painted! Definitely like the white more! Did the kick board cover that whole section or was it just the size of that small whole under the oven? Omg...that backsplash looks really nice!! I love Formica, it’s heat resistant and durable. I love the look of the bare kitchen, it just looks cleaner!!
Thank you! The kickboard goes across the whole width, we just left the old kickboard in place as it was difficult to get off, and put the new on on the front of it.
Absolutely love your white kitchen - I like the clean look. And so nice not to see just another ugly grey kitchen -(makes everything look dirty). Wonderful redo, and you did it yourself - you should be proud!!!!
The kitchen looks great!! I love that you decided to put a gas hob in, I'm really considering doing that at mine. On a side note, I know you got your microwave a few months ago but could you please tell me what brand/model it is? Thanks so much I'm looking for a new one
Thank you :) Our microwave is by LG and it says "Smart Invertor Magnetron" on the front. We like it. Just don't get one like our last one which was a complete dud and fell apart (it was by Sharp, don't know the model though).
I would like to have seen how Noah made the seam tight (Btw he has grown so tall since I last saw him). Did the project come with factory brackets made for that purpose or was this something you thought of? Was there also a seam in the far corner to the right where the kettle goes? Also, what does "Keep Window Sill Clear" signs mean. I'm guessing it's quality control due to the fact there are men potentially cluttering about and you want the fresh paint job to cure. Just a guess... because I have this man urge to set a 2nd cold can of beer there while I drink my first one. The kitchen turned out beautifully....
Thank you! The counters were cut to fit together at the corners. Underneath there are holes with brackets that fit into them and then you tighten a nut which pulls them together and squeezes the seam closed. Yes, there was another seam in the other corner. And you guessed right about the sign :)
I really liked the house you posted 9 years ago .is that house in London UK or New Zealand ? I have seen many beautiful houses in London but yours is like winning a jackpot
Well sure, if you want to focus on the negative. Unfortunately it wasn't in the budget. Plus it would have taken way longer as tradespeople around here are booked months out - I'm sure they didn't miss our small project.
Why do you care who they used or did it themselves ?? Mind your own business!! These people have worked hard and have tried to save money good for them !! Their home is stunning and they have done it all by themselves! You really are very uncalled for !
LizzyK no need for such a torrent of abuse. I expressed an opinion. At these difficult times, tradespeople are finding it very difficult to keep their businesses afloat, it is imperative to support them when and where we can. I appreciate Jens budget comment.
linda ashford your comment was uncalled for and very rude! I’m not going to waste my time with you ! Maybe if local tradesmen didn’t charge an arm and leg more of us would use them ! Now go on your merry way and you do yours and leave this woman in peace ! Shame on you!!
Wow. As if money grows on trees. Sensible people budget as much as possible & do the work they can do themselves. Obviously one needs professionals (electricians, gas fitters etc.) at times, but labour is always the biggest expense in any project. I find your comment really inappropriate.
I really liked those new canister downlight especially the feature that allows you to adjust the light color.
Painted timber backsplash?
Oh Jen
Oh my goodness, the paint in your hair 😜 Your kitchen is beautiful, I love the white and clean look. And it goes with the rest of your lovely home as well. You guys did an amazing job!
Oh thank you!
Beautiful!!!!! Well done.
Thank you! 😊
Looks fabulous Jen you're very talented! I actually liked your kitchen before but now it's just stunning.
Thanks so much! 😊
Beautiful Kitchen! You guys are great to watch. Your creativity is exceptional and we're learning so much from your videos. Many thanks for sharing. We hope to move to New Zealand ourselves once the pandemic lifts.
I can't believe the plumber cost $1500. Plumbers must be millionaires in. NZ.
Right?! You can appreciate how much we saved by doing most of the work ourselves.
@@AThousandWords That's about a days work over here in europe. At least in the sticks where i live ;) Maybe "big city" plumbers are more expensive but even for a total-sh*tshow-omg-omg-what-did-explode-in-here-repair i have bills of about €500-700+parts ...
The wood colored planks looked so nice. I loved it.
But of course your white kitchen is beautiful.
Thanks so much! 😊
Hi, l'm a 60+ y.o male New Zealander and have watched a number of your videos because l'm always interested in what people who have immigrated here feel about their move to Nz. Some tend to make the transition without too much fuss while l have heard of cases where it has been a trying and difficult experience.
Love the videos you've uploaded They help fill in and entertain moments in my day when l need a nice distraction. I have already watched the video where the kitchen reno was finished and would like to say congrats on a job well done. Great give it a go attitude guys.
Cheers
Thanks so much!
We've loved it here from the very beginning, it just feels like home to us and we could not be more grateful that we get to live here. I've had some homesickness for England, not that I want to move back there, just feeling the loss, but overall we settled well and quickly.
Firstly, thank you so much for blogging the whole process and sharing your experience!! Your kitchen looks fab!! I nearly fell off my chair when you said how much the gas fitter charged, that sounds like extortion!! Plus some other things were so expensive but I remember when we lived in Sydney it was the same. You were right though to switch to gas despite the expense (I can't wait to get rid of my electric cooker and have gas again)and make all the finishes so perfect, it looks like a brand new kitchen!! Those Fintorp rails are only EUR 7 here and the hooks are EUR 3 for a pack of 5. If you ever needed anything small like that again I'd be happy to buy and post from Ireland :-)
Thank you so much, you are very sweet! I appreciate the offer too, although you would probably be shocked at how much postage would cost. x
This was super helpful looking ahead to our kitchen reno which we purposefully left until last. We are still saving for it after our bathroom reno that cost more than we anticipated or budgeted for! How do you and Grant manage unexpected costs in your reno budget? We cashflow everything but I’ve been tempted to borrow from the bank because I’m so impatient, my husband is far too sensible for that though!! I think I remember a vlog where you mentioned you guys do the same and save until you have the budget for something before purchasing. In the end I always appreciate walking out of a reno debt free, I hope thats your experience too. Enjoy your beautiful kitchen 😁
We also cashflow everything and don't start on the project until we know we have some money set aside. If costs start racking up then we space out the stages and tackle them as and when we have the funds. We are very anti-debt, we just feel more comfortable that way. Hope you get to tackle your kitchen soon, and that you're enjoying your bathroom :)
As always a really good result from your hard work. Be proud of all that you have achieved since you arrived here in NZ. Yes it is expensive for many things - but instead of complaining you just make a plan - that’s what we folks do !!!
Congratulations and enjoy your lovely new space !!
Thank you very much!
It's so true - I don't like doing DIY, but also love that feeling of accomplishment. The kitchen looks fabulous - you must love walking into it every morning. You and Grant are able to do so much - how did you learn your skills?
Thank you! We Google what we don't know how to do and learn from videos and content we find. Or we just give it a go and figure it out as we go along.
It's beautiful and so much better than the green. Looks amazing! Love the white look for a kitchen. It's looks clean and makes it look big and easy flowing on the eye. Well done! You guys did well.
Thanks so much! 😊
Thank you Jen for sharing awesome job that you and Grant did. Your absolutely right trades people in NZ are expensive.
Thank you :)
While I was watching your video, I went to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee and you guys got me thinking of my kitchen. You guys changed so little stuff and yet it looks like a brand new kitchen. Awesome work, thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
I don't think any professional trades(wo)man could have done it any better. Looks like a new kitchen. Thanks for sharing.
Aw thank you!
You’ve inspired me to start to look at my kitchen. It’s a lot smaller than yours but I’m thinking that will present me with other issues! Great job you two
Go for it!
Lovely DIY job, thanks for the videos, will be joining the NZ's soon
Awesome! Thank you!
It looks beautiful Jen,you both did a great job,much cheaper here in the UK as you know x
Thank you! Definitely much cheaper over there.
Love how it came together and enjoyed seeing the process! Do either of you have experience in construction jobs or is this just experience you’ve gained from your DIY through the years?
I’m currently in the process of putting laminate plank in my guest bathroom and taking my sweet time at it haha 10 days in now.
Also SHOCKED at the cost of the gas fitter, we have unions in my state (South Dakota) and that job would have cost maybe $150 at the very maximum.
Thank you! We've just learned over the years - and now that you see how expensive tradesmen are you can see how glad we are that we're able to do most of the work ourselves. Have fun with your guest bathroom, hope it turns out well :)
Great job. I can not tell if you guys did it or you hired a contractor. Looks professional done. Great savings on keeping your fridge, sink and dishwasher(?).
Thank you! x
I love the finished look, you’ve done so well to do it all yourself. What a difference having a built in stove and oven makes. I live the look of the wooden planks on the wall. I’m wondering if it will be a good option for our hall way and upstairs onto the landing. Although I’m not sure how we’d do the high up ones. Not sure I’d like to stand on a ladder that was balanced on the stairs.
Thanks so much! 😊 Might be v tricky to do in a high place, not sure I'd recommend it. Maybe one wall somewhere that doesn't go all the way up? Like the new wall you put in next to the stairs.
@@AThousandWords we need to take the wallpaper off and if we do that we will probably need to plaster as I don’t imagine the walls being smooth. I was trying to avoid doing that haha. We’ve got quite a few other jobs before we do the hall anyway. It’s so hard doing it around the kids and Keith’s work.
Looks absolutely brilliant! The hard work was worth it.
Thank you!
Looks great, well done to you guys. Enjoy your blank slate 🌻
Thanks so much! 😊
💜💜💜tfs💜💜💜 wow what a difference, love it!
Thank you :)
You two are so handy, far handier than us 😂 it looks great 😊
😊 thank you
Love it all what a great job well done both of you.xx
Thank you!
You guys did such a brilliant job! We put flush mount lights throughout almost our entire home this year and I love them so much.
Thank you so much! They really are good.
Was so looking forward to seeing this video and it did not disappoint! Made some time to sit and watch with a drink and a slice of cake and thoroughly enjoyed it - the video that is (well the cake was good too). It's quite amazing what a massive difference just changing the countertops made - I could feel your satisfaction coming through the screen when they were finally removed! The laminate planking is such a fantastic idea and creates a really beautiful effect - I loved that bit just after you'd finished the first coat of paint on them, with the sun coming through the window, it was lovely as already you could see the glow and brightness the kitchen would end up having.
You've both done a really professional looking job. I don't know how you managed to live with the 'chaos' during the whole processes though I think I would have gone crazy - that's the thing that puts me off the most about diy renovation - perhaps I'm just too impatient. I wonder did recording the process for the purpose of vlogging help make it easier in some way, gave you some extra motivation when things felt overwhelming for example?
Thanks so much for sharing this little adventure with us all, and congratulations for ending up with a really beautiful kitchen. And thumbs up for the clear countertops: negative space and clutter free areas are wonderful on the mind as well as being practical and they give such a fresh clean look.
Thank you so much! And now you know I want to know what kind of cake you were eating ;)
I'm very much a get-things-done type of person, once I get started I want to get finished, especially when there's chaos in the house. Vlogging didn't make a difference in that regard; in fact I sometimes realised I'd forgotten to vlog a step and then would pick up the camera to show you what we'd done. As far as the chaos everywhere, I can tolerate it for a short time before I reach my limit - I guess over the years I have come to accept that it's part of doing a project. It makes it that much more satisfying when it's all done and we can clear everything away and enjoy the fruits of our labours :)
@@AThousandWords it was a lemon blueberry cake :-)
@@chrstopherblighton-sande2981 Yum!
Looks amazing! 👍🏻 x
Thank you!! 😊
Absolutely outstanding
Thank you!
Do you get a say in how many ads are in your videos? I find they have become annoyingly many. I understand this is how you make money and I will keep watching but wheeeew. I can‘t stand the German stock sales guy 😅
Nice video btw! Love seeing the process and how it turned out!
Sorry you're having that annoyance, RUclips decides which ads, how many, and where they're placed and I believe they're increased things lately from what I've heard people saying.
I’ve had four ads in the first twelve minutes ☹️
@@AThousandWords Wait, they just increase the ads and you can't do anything about it while still making nothing or the same amount of money off it? That stinks :(
Maybe you could try installing an ad blocker?
Looks great Jen, well done!
Thank you! x
I love your vlogs.ĺ
So glad you enjoy them, thanks for watching x
Fridge is looking good!! Huh...The dishwasher was plugged into the side of the stove? That’s so weird. Ooh the wood did look pretty before you painted! Definitely like the white more! Did the kick board cover that whole section or was it just the size of that small whole under the oven? Omg...that backsplash looks really nice!! I love Formica, it’s heat resistant and durable. I love the look of the bare kitchen, it just looks cleaner!!
Thank you! The kickboard goes across the whole width, we just left the old kickboard in place as it was difficult to get off, and put the new on on the front of it.
Well done!
Thank you :)
The new kitchen is amazing and I’m so jealous of your DIY skills. So clever! Well done! The kitchen looks very stylish and functional!
Thanks so much! 😊
Absolutely love your white kitchen - I like the clean look. And so nice not to see just another ugly grey kitchen -(makes everything look dirty). Wonderful redo, and you did it yourself - you should be proud!!!!
Thank you so much x
The kitchen looks great!! I love that you decided to put a gas hob in, I'm really considering doing that at mine. On a side note, I know you got your microwave a few months ago but could you please tell me what brand/model it is? Thanks so much I'm looking for a new one
Thank you :)
Our microwave is by LG and it says "Smart Invertor Magnetron" on the front. We like it. Just don't get one like our last one which was a complete dud and fell apart (it was by Sharp, don't know the model though).
I would like to have seen how Noah made the seam tight (Btw he has grown so tall since I last saw him). Did the project come with factory brackets made for that purpose or was this something you thought of? Was there also a seam in the far corner to the right where the kettle goes? Also, what does "Keep Window Sill Clear" signs mean. I'm guessing it's quality control due to the fact there are men potentially cluttering about and you want the fresh paint job to cure. Just a guess... because I have this man urge to set a 2nd cold can of beer there while I drink my first one. The kitchen turned out beautifully....
Thank you! The counters were cut to fit together at the corners. Underneath there are holes with brackets that fit into them and then you tighten a nut which pulls them together and squeezes the seam closed. Yes, there was another seam in the other corner. And you guessed right about the sign :)
I really liked the house you posted 9 years ago .is that house in London UK or New Zealand ? I have seen many beautiful houses in London but yours is like winning a jackpot
If you mean the really tall one it was our house in Lancashire in England :)
Love the new kitchen and thanks for sharing the reveal and process. You two are so impressive! Congratulations on the fab results!
Thanks so much! 😊
You guys work really hard but totally worth it, your kitchen is beautiful.
Thanks so much! 😊
Very nice! You sooo deserve this new beautiful timeless kitchen !!! Bless
Thank you so much 😊
Awesome job! Looks so beautiful. I love a white kitchen.
Thanks so much! 😊
That DIY was beautifully done! 😍
Thank you! 😊
Looks very nice and really would take a lot of patience !
Thank you!
Looks so amazing!! I'm sure we could for sure do it for 1/2 in the US. I love the simpleness of it!
Thank you! Yes, I'm sure it would be so much cheaper over there x
Shame that you didn’t feel able to support local tradespeople
Well sure, if you want to focus on the negative. Unfortunately it wasn't in the budget. Plus it would have taken way longer as tradespeople around here are booked months out - I'm sure they didn't miss our small project.
Why do you care who they used or did it themselves ?? Mind your own business!! These people have worked hard and have tried to save money good for them !! Their home is stunning and they have done it all by themselves! You really are very uncalled for !
LizzyK no need for such a torrent of abuse. I expressed an opinion. At these difficult times, tradespeople are finding it very difficult to keep their businesses afloat, it is imperative to support them when and where we can. I appreciate Jens budget comment.
linda ashford your comment was uncalled for and very rude! I’m not going to waste my time with you ! Maybe if local tradesmen didn’t charge an arm and leg more of us would use them ! Now go on your merry way and you do yours and leave this woman in peace ! Shame on you!!
Wow. As if money grows on trees. Sensible people budget as much as possible & do the work they can do themselves. Obviously one needs professionals (electricians, gas fitters etc.) at times, but labour is always the biggest expense in any project. I find your comment really inappropriate.