WOW, This Blogger's DIY Kitchen Reno Is Full of Money-Saving Hacks!

Design blogger Gwen of The Makerista has completed some impressive DIYs in her day — her Ikea built-in bookcase will blow you away — but perhaps her most ambitious project to date is her just-completed kitchen reno. From the dusty sage-green cabinets to the matte black pendant lights, you're going to love this space.

"We gutted this dated, poorly maintained space and gave it lots of storage and personality on a budget," Gwen tells us. She and her husband saved big bucks by doing virtually everything themselves, from the demo work to the cabinet installation. Gwen says she freed up money for stunning permanent elements, such as the quartz countertops and antique mirrored backsplash, by picking more affordable accent pieces, like hardware and bar stools. And the show-stopping granite and marble checkered floors only cost a fraction of what you're expecting. "That floor tile is from the home improvement store down the street!" Gwen shares. "By laying it on the diagonal and cutting the black squares down to create a border, we took the look up a notch," Gwen explains of the high-design look. Keep reading to see the dramatic before and after shots, then head over The Makerista to get the reno lowdown on every inch of the kitchen.