It’s amazing what a crafty person can achieve with a little imagination.

Geneva Vanderzeil, DIY creator and founder of Geneva’s DIY School, is one of those people with both the vision and skills to turn ordinary spaces into something special, as seen in her recent makeover of this North Brisbane kitchen.

This kitchen belongs to a social media follower of Geneva’s – who lives here with her partner and newborn – and offered the dated space to the DIY expert to transform for a content series sponsored by Benjamin Moore.

‘The cabinetry was laminate, the palette felt heavy and it lacked personality. It was a classic case of a space that didn’t need ripping out, just reimagining,’ says Geneva.

‘The goal was to create a fresh, warm, lived-in kitchen that felt like them, without the cost or disruption of a full renovation. I wanted to prove that you can completely transform a space using paint and styling.’

Mission accomplished. In just seven days, including drying time, Geneva completely visually transformed the kitchen cabinetry with paint, new handles, and a DIY roman blind for less than $1000.

The secret to this transformation: properly prepping all the existing laminate doors, cabinets, and benchtops with bonding primer Benjamin Moore STIX.

‘You need the right prep and products or it won’t last. Using a strong primer designed for tricky surfaces made all the difference,’ says Geneva.

Once prepped, Geneva painted the cabinetry doors a dusty blue (Cape Blue), and the benchtop in cream (Swiss Coffee).

‘I also painted the coloured strips of feature splashback tile with primer and gloss white paint to blend it with the existing tiles,’ says Geneva. ‘The family also wanted to remove the old security grate on the window, which really opened up the space.

The cost of the paint and primer came to about $500. Timber handles by Handle House (about $300) add a warmth and slightly mid-century look.

The easiest part of the project for Geneva was the styling. She explains, ‘Once the foundation is right, bringing in those final layers – objects, texture, colour – is the fun part. It’s where the space really comes to life.

‘Layering on that DIY roman blind (about $100 in materials), a seagrass rug, and then other warm styling items like vases, bowls and plants brought the whole space together.’

Through little more than some paint and elbow grease, Geneva dramatically changed how this kitchen looks and feels, without changing the layout, or breaking the bank.

‘It feels lighter, calmer and much more personal. I’m most proud of showing that you don’t need to gut a kitchen to make it feel new again.’