“They transformed it in just 4 days—without tearing anything out.” Alice and Leo’s outdated kitchen got a fresh, stunning makeover on a tiny budget 🛠️💙 See the incredible before-and-after photos in the article 👇
When Alice and Leo moved into their 65 m² apartment in the heart of Brussels, they quickly turned their attention to the outdated kitchen, which had clearly seen better days. Instead of ripping everything out, they managed to breathe new life into the space in just four days—without heavy renovations or a big budget.
Why didn’t they replace the old kitchen completely? Because the layout still worked, and they saw potential in what was already there. With a bit of creativity and some paint, the tired room started to feel fresh and full of character again.
First, they gave everything a deep clean. In kitchens, where grease and grime collect, it’s important to scrub thoroughly before adding paint. Only after the surfaces were spotless did they start painting.
They picked a calm pastel blue-grey for the cabinets, using paint made for kitchens and bathrooms so it would hold up over time. Even the outdated floral tiles got a refresh with special tile paint.
Their paint choices included:
Matte white for the walls
Satin white for the woodwork
Heat-resistant paint for the radiator
Kitchen-grade blue-grey for the cabinets
White tile paint for the backsplash
While peeling up the old linoleum, they discovered a hidden parquet floor—unfortunately, it was in bad shape. But with patience and elbow grease, they scraped, stripped, sanded, and restored the wood, turning it into one of the kitchen’s best features.
To restore the parquet, they used:
Heavy-duty paint remover
Natural wood oil
Instead of buying all new furniture, they added charm with second-hand and vintage pieces. Metal pendant lights, old boxes, and quirky flea market finds gave the kitchen a cozy, retro feel without making it look old-fashioned.
With just a few days and a modest budget, Alice and Leo gave their kitchen a whole new life. Encouraged by the results, they went on to update the rest of their apartment—including the living room, bedroom, and dining area—in just three months. Their story proves that with a little creativity and effort, you can make a big change without tearing everything down.
