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The Sun
7 days ago
- General
- The Sun
I transformed my dark and gloomy kitchen for just £150 using B&Q bargains with NO experience
A SAVVY woman has revealed that she saved herself thousands of pounds by transforming her kitchen all by herself. Natalie Stainthorpe, a dental nurse from Middlesbrough, estimated that it would cost her £3,000 to rip out her dark and dingy kitchen and start from scratch. 4 4 After moving into her new home, the 34-year-old was desperate to add some light to the dark and gloomy kitchen without it costing a fortune. The kitchen had barely any natural light as an extension had been built and the dark wood furnishings didn't help either. Armed with TikTok tutorials and a dream, she set out to transform the space without breaking the bank – and managed to come in a whole £100 under her original £250 budget. 'I just couldn't stand how dark and gloomy it felt – I wanted a fresh, light space where I'd actually enjoy cooking and spending time with my family,' she told What's The Jam. 'The kitchen before was in good condition, but needed a little bit of TLC and I had a vision for the room. 'We did a rough estimate of how much it would cost to completely replace the kitchen from a family friend and we were looking at quite a lot of money - around £2,000 to £3,000 - which was money we didn't have. 'I decided that I was going to do a budget-friendly makeover instead.' She decided not to get new units and opted for a few tins of paint and rolls of vinyl. Natalie roped in her partner and sister to help freshen up the cupboards, wrap the worktops and breathe new life into the handles. She bagged cupboard paint for under £15 a tin, snapped up bargain vinyl from B&Q and picked up all her decorating bits from B&M to keep costs down. The makeover took around a month, squeezed in between shifts and weekends, but the results speak for themselves – the once gloomy kitchen now bright, airy and looking brand new. Natalie said: 'Our original budget was £250 – I didn't want to spend more than that, so to come so far under budget was amazing. 'It was quite a dark room – dark floors, worktops and cupboards and I really wanted to lighten the space up as because of the extension on the back we don't get that much natural light. 'We found the vinyl easy on the straight parts of the worktops, around the sink was a bit fiddly, we watched a few tutorials on YouTube on how to do it around the sink to try and minimise any mistakes. 'My partner Chris actually did most of the sink area as I ran out of patience with it. We repurposed the handles that were already on the units as to replace 14 handles in matte black was quite expensive. 'We gave them a light sand and then we sprayed them with Rust-Oleum black matte spray paint and then sealed with a matte sealant spray. 'We got all our painting supplies from B&M to keep the costs down and budget-friendly – they sell such an amazing range of painting and decorating tools to help with projects like this. 4 'I spent some time researching how to vinyl worktops watching videos on YouTube and TikTok. 'I also got lots of tips from my friend who has done lots of vinyling to change up her rental home.' Natalie, who documented her journey on TikTok, says the whole project took around three to four weeks to complete as she picked it up on days off and weekends. She said: 'It definitely wasn't a quick transformation but that was fine with us, we loved seeing it slowly come together. 'The hardest part for me was probably the vinyling, simply because it took more brain power than the rest, and a lot of patience - something I'm known to not have a lot of. 'We didn't encounter any mistakes, we just took our time with the project - apart from when I spilt paint on my hob. 'If I was to start this project again, I wouldn't change anything – I love how we took our time and worked together to get our final look in here. Rome wasn't built in a day and sometimes time and money restrict a quick transformation. 'I'm all for realistic budget makeovers and those take time. 'The difference it's made is amazing, it's now light and airy, it's really brightened up the room, I'm still obsessed with it now two months down the line.' 'We've had such an amazing reaction to our makeover, my friends and family said it looks like a brand new kitchen and it's had such a good response both on my Instagram and TikTok. 'My advice would be to take your time, it's okay if you don't get a transformation like this done in a day like you can sometimes see on social media. 'My second piece of advice to make sure the longevity of your makeover is prep, prep, prep. 'Spend time prepping your units and surfaces for painting, you'll thank yourself later. 'It just goes to show, you don't always need a big budget – sometimes a bit of patience and a few clever tricks can completely change your home.'
CNA
07-05-2025
- Health
- CNA
You could start losing teeth in your 30s – how to keep the rest of them before it's too late
Remember squatting over the drain and brushing your teeth after recess in primary school back in the 80s? And the mixed emotions you'd get when the school's dental nurse called you out of class? (Yay, you get to skip a period but uh-oh, will there be pain?) Your dental needs were taken care of back then, but after you'd traded your backpack for a briefcase and entered the workforce, you're pretty much on your own. And as it turns out, many Singaporeans aren't taking care of their teeth as well as they should: Only 56 per cent of people aged 55 and above in Singapore have 20 or more natural teeth as opposed to the full set of 32 adult teeth, according to the Ministry of Health. And it doesn't help that many Singaporeans with tooth decay opted for the easier and cheaper way out: Extraction rather than a root canal procedure, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung at the MediSave update announcement a short while back. "We will have fewer and fewer teeth as we grow old if we take this approach. This diminishes our ability to chew effectively and in our old age, affects our nutritional intake," he said. How can you ensure you won't be "bo geh" (toothless in Hokkien) or still retain most of your natural teeth when you hit your senior years? We find out from the dental experts. IS GOING TOOTHLESS A NATURAL PART OF GROWING OLDER? A resounding 'no', said all the doctors that CNA Lifestyle spoke to. Becoming toothless 'is a common misbelief and I understand why many people might think that way, especially since tooth loss becomes more prevalent as people get older', said Dr Kong Rui Ling, an associate consultant with National Dental Centre Singapore's Department of Restorative Dentistry, Prosthodontic Unit. Neglect, rather than age, plays a bigger role in tooth loss, said Dr Wong Li Beng, a senior consultant with Ng Teng Fong General Hospital's Dentistry department. 'We have seen patients with 28 healthy teeth well into their late 80s. Conversely, we have also seen patients in their 20s having fewer than 20 functional teeth due to neglect.' His colleague, consultant Dr Madeleine Tan, agreed. 'You can still have your full complement of teeth in your later years if you take good care of them.' HOW MANY TEETH CAN YOU EXPECT TO LOSE IN YOUR LIFETIME? Unfortunately, even with good dental care, 'adults can lose anywhere from five to 10 teeth by the time they reach their late 60s or early 70s', according to Dr Kong. And you'll need to maintain at least 20 natural teeth for effective chewing, she said. The teeth that you tend to lose are the molars, said Dr Lee Jun Sheng, the founder of Smilee Dental Clinic. 'These are the large teeth at the back of the mouth that are responsible for grinding and crushing food.' Dr Lee explained that there are several reasons for that: Difficulty in cleaning and the pressure they're subjected to when chewing. 'Molars have more pits and grooves where food particles can get trapped, making them more susceptible to cavities,' he said. 'Molars are also considered high-pressure zones as they endure 90 per cent of the chewing force. Heavy usage over the years can lead to cracks, decay and eventual tooth loss.' Moreover, seniors with reduced dexterity caused by conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, stroke or Parkinson's disease may have difficulty cleaning the molars, said Dr Tan. It can also be challenging for caregivers to adequately brush a dependent senior's molars, she said. That doesn't mean the incisors or front teeth are completely spared. 'The incisors tend to be preserved longer because they are easier to clean and are less prone to the same issues, though they can still be affected by gum disease or trauma,' said Dr Lee. WHEN CAN TOOTH LOSS BEGIN? WHAT ARE THE CAUSES? It can begin as early as in your late 30s to early 40s, said Dr Kong, particularly if there is dental neglect, poor oral hygiene habits or a genetic predisposition to conditions such as periodontal disease. 'However, most tooth loss happens after age 60 when gum disease, tooth decay and other factors become more pronounced,' he said. 'This happens due to changes in oral care habits.' Here's a breakdown on the various common causes and how big an impact they have on tooth loss, according to Dr Lee: 1. Cavities: 96 per cent This is often due to developing a dry mouth and weakened enamel with age, said Dr Lee. 'Seniors might not have as much saliva to neutralise the acids in the mouth or help with remineralisation.' They may also be on medications that can cause dry mouth such as some antihypertensives, antihistamines, antidepressants, pain relievers and diuretics, he said. Dr Kong highlighted that plaque buildup becomes harder to manage when dental visits often decline as people age. 2. Gum recession: 60 to 85 per cent Long-term gum diseases (gingivitis or periodontitis), poor oral hygiene and ageing are common causes. 'When the gums recede, the tooth roots become exposed, which can increase sensitivity and the risk of decay,' said Dr Lee. 3. Poor diet: 30 to 50 per cent "The typical Singaporean diet has added sugars, which may not be apparent to the older adult, such as 3-in-1 coffee or tea, desserts like cheng tng and ice kachang, herbal teas from traditional medicine halls, kaya, jam, kuehs and Swiss rolls,' said Dr Tan. Even some medicines like the cough drops or throat soothers that they suck on through the day can have added sugars, she said. 'The frequency at which the seniors eat the aforementioned foods also matter,' continued Dr Tan. 'Continuously snacking or sipping small quantities throughout the day is detrimental as the teeth are always coated with sugars. I usually advise my patients to limit their sweet treats, and to have them at mealtimes, rather than frequently grazing on the treats in-between meals.' 4. Enamel wearing down: 25 per cent This is due to the long-term exposure to the acids in foods and drinks as well as from the normal wearing down caused by chewing, said Dr Lee. 5. Smoking: 9 per cent 'Smoking reduces blood flow to the gums, and weakens the body's ability to fight infections and heal from injuries. It also contributes to gum disease and can stain teeth,' said Dr Lee. WHAT OTHER HABITS CAN MAKE OR BREAK SENIORS' TEETH IN OLD AGE? Beyond missing regular dental visits and forgoing daily brushing, there are some habits that seniors have in Singapore that can contribute to tooth loss, said Dr Kong. They include chewing on ice cubes, gnawing on bones, biting crab shells and cracking seeds. 'These actions can lead to the wear and tear of their teeth and most commonly, cause fractures and cracks in the long run,' said Dr Kong. Seniors who wear dentures may also neglect proper care and cleaning, said Dr Lee, which can lead to bacteria and plaque buildup that cause gum irritation, infection and discomfort. Teeth grinding during sleep can be another issue that bothers seniors due to stress, anxiety or poorly fitted dental work, highlighted Dr Lee. 'Some seniors may try to 'adjust' their dentures themselves, which can worsen their fit and lead to further oral health issues.' The use of traditional herbal remedies or home treatments may seem harmless but they may not be effective and instead, damage their teeth, said Dr Lee. 'For instance, some herbal or natural remedies could be abrasive or acidic, which further damage the enamel and inadvertently worsen oral health problems such as erosion, sensitivity or bacterial buildup.' WHAT CAN YOU DO TO BETTER RETAIN YOUR TEETH AS YOU AGE? 'I may sound like a broken record but prevention is always better than cure,' said Dr Wong. 'Regular visit to the dentist is highly recommended.' Those twice-yearly dental visits still apply whether you have fewer or more than 20 teeth, or no teeth at all, said Dr Tan. 'Your dentist can help to identify oral problems early.' She continued: 'Oral problems can be treated with relatively simple and minimal procedures. If left untreated, these oral problems can worsen, requiring complex and costly procedures, or even tooth loss'. In the meantime, Dr Kong recommends the following ways to improve your odds of retaining your pearly whites: 1. Protect your teeth from grinding If you suspect you are grinding your teeth, especially at night, talk to your dentist about getting a custom-made nightguard. 2. Eat for better dental health A tooth-strengthening diet includes food rich in calcium, Vitamin D and phosphorus but low on sugar and acid. 3. Do not abuse your teeth That means no opening packages and bottles, or biting on hard objects such as pens and hard candy with your teeth. 4. Avoid smoking or using tobacco Smoking and using tobacco products can cause gum disease, bad breath and oral cancers. 5. Stay hydrated Saliva plays a crucial role in keeping your mouth healthy by neutralising acids and washing away food particles. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. 6. Be aware of your medications Some medications, such as antihistamines, antidepressants and painkillers, can lead to dry mouth, which can cause cavities and gum disease over time. If you are on any medications that cause dry mouth, talk to your doctor or dentist. 7. Do regular self-checkups
