A man moved into a 1970s home that had been “flipped” – but he felt it lacked “charm” and “character”, with the kitchen proving particularly problematic. He decided to make a bold design choice to restore it
A new homeowner “took a risk” after deciding to dramatically revamp his “charmless” kitchen, which had only recently been given a facelift. Many people dream of bagging a home that’s already been renovated, thinking they’re getting a property ready to move into – with no need for a major DIY overhaul.
Sadly, the truth can often be quite different. Some homeowners discover the properties they’ve scrimped and saved for have been stripped of their charm in favour of a clean, hassle-free look. This was the case for Dawson, a man who moved into a 1970s house that had been “flipped”. Flipping is a common practice where people buy properties in need of a bit of TLC, then flog them for profit after sprucing up their appearance.
Typically, they’re put back on the market within a year of being “flipped” so the renovator can pocket their profits and move on.
Dawson has been sharing his own DIY journey on TikTok, where he regularly posts videos detailing the transformations he’s made to his home so far.
In a recent video, he showed off his kitchen – and the effort he put into it in an attempt to bring back some “charm” and “character” to the room.
Narrating the clip, Dawson explained: “This is what my kitchen looked like two years ago and I cannot wait to show you what it looks like now.
“My house was previously owned by a flipper who just took all of the charm out of it by painting the entire kitchen grey, so it’s been my life mission the last couple of months to bring a little bit more character and charm back into the space.”
The kitchen had been fitted with dated, grey kitchen cupboards which he has since stripped out in favour of chic walnut-toned timber units, complete with elegant gold handles and cabinetry.
Recently, Dawson opted to incorporate a tiled backsplash in a deep, olive green shade which has dramatically transformed the space.
A floating shelf sits above one section of units, but the DIY-enthusiast chose to tile above the shelf and extend right up to the ceiling to achieve a more high-end and professional look.
He also incorporated lighting to help ensure the area stays bright, despite the dark tiles.
In the caption accompanying the clip, he penned: “I DID IT. I’ve been working SO hard to install this backsplash over the last week and I’m so so grateful for all your encouragement and advice along the way! What do you think? Did I make the right call?”
In the comments section, people were keen to share their thoughts. One person said: “That green tile is SO good it hurts.”
Another said: “I was skeptical, but the lights prevent it from looking too dark.”
A third shared: “I’m glad you took the risk!”
Commenting on his choice to ditch the grey, one TikTok user said: “The world is healing.” Another admirer added: “It’s so beautiful I’m so jealous.”