Latest news with #VictoriaPlumbing
The Sun
22-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
We spruced up our kitchen with Facebook Marketplace and £10 Amazon bargains – people say it ‘looks so much better now'
ARE you keen to give your home a revamp this year - but don't want fork our a small mortgage? Now, one woman has proved a house transformation doesn't necessarily require spending thousands. 2 2 Lauren Marie, from Batley, near Leeds, was able to give her kitchen a quick and easy overhaul ''on a semi budget'', thanks to shopping on Facebook Marketplace and Amazon. Thrilled with her DIY makeover, Lauren took to social media and posted on DIY On A Budget Official, a private Facebook group with 2.2million members, to share a before and after look at her jaw-dropping project - and it's left many open-mouthed. The DIY fan also explained how she was able to keep the costs as low - which included not just scoring epic deals online but also upcycling her current furniture. One of the main features that social media users love are the brick-effect slips that Lauren had attached as a splash feature. These, as well as the modern kitchen table, were spotted on Facebook Marketplace and set her back just £30. While Lauren didn't replace cupboards, they still looked brand new - thanks to chic black handles to replace the existing white ones. Another fabulous element that tied everything together was the wooden-effect worktop - which immediately gave the room that cottage feel. Lauren wrote in the post: ''Chairs were my old grey ones but bought black chair covers from Amazon £10!'' As well as this, she also purchased a new sink from Victoria Plumbing and paid £80 for it - still keeping things relatively affordable. Showcasing the gorgeous makeover, the thrifty DIY fan said: ''It's taken a lot of patience and time but so happy with it.'' I transformed my council house hallway for under £60 - the old laminate has vanished but critics say it 'looks cheap' 'Looks so much better' The epic transformation has since taken the internet by storm, with the post amassing over 40 likes and heaps of comments. Social media users flooded to share their thoughts, as many praised Lauren. One person said: ''Fab.. kitchen looks soooo warm.'' ''Great job, looks so much better, love it,'' another chimed in. ''Looks lovely,'' a third wrote, adding a thumbs-up emoji. 10 DIY hacks for under £1 each These simple and affordable DIY hacks can help you get creative while saving money Homemade Air Freshener: Mix baking soda with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Place it in a small jar with a perforated lid to keep your home smelling fresh. Upcycled Tin Can Planters: Clean and paint empty tin cans to use as stylish planters for herbs or small plants. Custom Phone Stand: Use a sturdy piece of cardboard or an old plastic credit card to create a custom phone stand. Decorate it with washi tape or paint. DIY Lip Scrub: Combine sugar and a bit of honey or coconut oil to make a natural lip scrub. Store in a small container. Personalised Bookmarks: Use old greeting cards or decorative paper to create unique bookmarks. Punch a hole at the top and add a ribbon for a finishing touch. Decorative Mason Jars: Paint or decoupage old mason jars to use as decorative vases, storage containers, or candle holders. Easy Cable Organiser: Use empty toilet paper rolls to organize cables and cords. Decorate the rolls with colorful paper or tape. Magnetic Spice Jars: Attach small magnets to the lids of small jars and stick them to a metal board or fridge for easy-access spice storage. Handmade Coasters: Cut out squares from old corkboard or felt and decorate them with paint or fabric to create custom coasters. Natural All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of essential oil for a pleasant scent. Use it to clean surfaces around your home. More budget-friendly makeovers With Brits looking to spruce up their homes on the cheap, hundreds have taken to social media to show off their wallet-friendly home glow-ups. Recently, one woman shared how she did up her kitchen for just £30 after she was quoted a whopping £600. Meanwhile, someone else made their council house go from drab to fab with a lick of paint, spending a mere £75 in the process. Another woman stunned people with her kitchen reno that came up to under £100.
Scottish Sun
22-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
We spruced up our kitchen with Facebook Marketplace and £10 Amazon bargains – people say it ‘looks so much better now'
Plus, ten easy DIY hacks that will transform your home for under £1 each DRAB TO FAB We spruced up our kitchen with Facebook Marketplace and £10 Amazon bargains – people say it 'looks so much better now' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ARE you keen to give your home a revamp this year - but don't want fork our a small mortgage? Now, one woman has proved a house transformation doesn't necessarily require spending thousands. 2 One thrifty woman shared how she gave her kitchen a brand new look without spending thousands Credit: facebook/diy on a budget official 2 The makeover, which included using Amazon bargains, has left people with their jaws on the floor Credit: facebook/diy on a budget official Lauren Marie, from Batley, near Leeds, was able to give her kitchen a quick and easy overhaul ''on a semi budget'', thanks to shopping on Facebook Marketplace and Amazon. Thrilled with her DIY makeover, Lauren took to social media and posted on DIY On A Budget Official, a private Facebook group with 2.2million members, to share a before and after look at her jaw-dropping project - and it's left many open-mouthed. The DIY fan also explained how she was able to keep the costs as low - which included not just scoring epic deals online but also upcycling her current furniture. One of the main features that social media users love are the brick-effect slips that Lauren had attached as a splash feature. These, as well as the modern kitchen table, were spotted on Facebook Marketplace and set her back just £30. While Lauren didn't replace cupboards, they still looked brand new - thanks to chic black handles to replace the existing white ones. Another fabulous element that tied everything together was the wooden-effect worktop - which immediately gave the room that cottage feel. Lauren wrote in the post: ''Chairs were my old grey ones but bought black chair covers from Amazon £10!'' As well as this, she also purchased a new sink from Victoria Plumbing and paid £80 for it - still keeping things relatively affordable. Showcasing the gorgeous makeover, the thrifty DIY fan said: ''It's taken a lot of patience and time but so happy with it.'' I transformed my council house hallway for under £60 - the old laminate has vanished but critics say it 'looks cheap' 'Looks so much better' The epic transformation has since taken the internet by storm, with the post amassing over 40 likes and heaps of comments. Social media users flooded to share their thoughts, as many praised Lauren. One person said: ''Fab.. kitchen looks soooo warm.'' ''Great job, looks so much better, love it,'' another chimed in. ''Looks lovely,'' a third wrote, adding a thumbs-up emoji. 10 DIY hacks for under £1 each These simple and affordable DIY hacks can help you get creative while saving money Homemade Air Freshener: Mix baking soda with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Place it in a small jar with a perforated lid to keep your home smelling fresh. Upcycled Tin Can Planters: Clean and paint empty tin cans to use as stylish planters for herbs or small plants. Custom Phone Stand: Use a sturdy piece of cardboard or an old plastic credit card to create a custom phone stand. Decorate it with washi tape or paint. DIY Lip Scrub: Combine sugar and a bit of honey or coconut oil to make a natural lip scrub. Store in a small container. Personalised Bookmarks: Use old greeting cards or decorative paper to create unique bookmarks. Punch a hole at the top and add a ribbon for a finishing touch. Decorative Mason Jars: Paint or decoupage old mason jars to use as decorative vases, storage containers, or candle holders. Easy Cable Organiser: Use empty toilet paper rolls to organize cables and cords. Decorate the rolls with colorful paper or tape. Magnetic Spice Jars: Attach small magnets to the lids of small jars and stick them to a metal board or fridge for easy-access spice storage. Handmade Coasters: Cut out squares from old corkboard or felt and decorate them with paint or fabric to create custom coasters. Natural All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of essential oil for a pleasant scent. Use it to clean surfaces around your home. More budget-friendly makeovers With Brits looking to spruce up their homes on the cheap, hundreds have taken to social media to show off their wallet-friendly home glow-ups. Recently, one woman shared how she did up her kitchen for just £30 after she was quoted a whopping £600. Meanwhile, someone else made their council house go from drab to fab with a lick of paint, spending a mere £75 in the process. Another woman stunned people with her kitchen reno that came up to under £100.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
MFI is back from the dead: Furniture company that collapsed two decades ago will be resurrected after Victorian Plumbing made £3million swoop
A homeware retail giant that looked consigned to the history books looks like making a comeback after a £3million swoop by new investors. Kitchens and furniture firm MFI became a favourite for homemakers across the UK since first opening in the mid-Sixties - only to collapse when recession hit in 2008. Intense competition from DIY rivals such as Ikea was also blamed for MFI's failure, 44 years after starting out as a mail order service in 1964 as Mullard Furniture Industries. Yet now its shops could be returning to high streets and retail parks following new investment from Lancashire-based online eCommerce company Victoria Plumbing. That firm took over MFI in May last year and has now revealed plans for relaunches in the second half of 2026. The brand is touted to newly trade as a standalone online homeware coming, offering accessories for bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms and hallways. Victorian Plumbing insisted in a statement to investors that the new MFI would have in charge a 'dedicated and experienced management team'. It remains unclear whether and which physical stores could open or reopen - but the 'reinvented' MFI is expected to make use of two warehouses previously vacated by Victorian Plumbing in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. During its heyday, MFI had more than 200 stores across Britain, while also carrying out 50million home deliveries per year to 2.5million households. It was suggested that, at the company' peak, a third of Sunday lunches across the country would be cooked in MFI-furnished kitchens. The company had been founded in 1964 by British entrepreneurs Noel Lister and Donald Searle, adapting Mullard from the maiden name of the latter's wife. The pair, who previously traded in war surplus products, launched MFI as a mail order business then three years later opened a first shop in Balham, South London. Their company grew to become the largest furniture retailer in the UK, with a value of £1billion at one point. Despite homeware market dominance for the following decades, the new millennium brought difficulties - intensified by the rise of rivals Argos and B&Q as well as expansion across the UK by Swedish retailers Ikea. The MFI Retail group was bought by Merchant Equity Partners for just £1 in September 2006, and then went into administration in November two years later after failing to secure a three-month rent-free period from property landlords. All remaining 111 shops closed their doors in December that year, with 1,200 jobs lost. But now its new owners are declaring MFI back from the dead, with optimistic promises put to investors yesterday. Victorian Plumbing founder and chief executive Mark Radcliffe said: 'I am very excited about the upcoming reinvention of MFI, allowing us to tap in to more of the £20billion UK homewares market. 'Our dedicated and ambitious team, decades of e-commerce knowledge and best-in-class proprietary software, together with the recognisable MFI brand, will help to deliver our strategic ambition over the medium term. 'Having invested significantly in preparing the business for future growth last year, I am pleased with the group's strategic progress in the first half. 'We are fully operational in our new purpose built warehouse and have continued to improve our customer proposition, while expanding product range into other rooms within the home and taking significant market share gains in a subdued trading backdrop.' Mr Radcliffe set up Victorian Plumbing in 2000, having previously made money selling mobile phone accessories on eBay. His 540-employee firm acquired the MFI brand as part of the purchase last May of competitor Victoria Plum who had previously ran it as an online service between 2011 and 2015. Since 2023, Victoria Plumbing has been the sponsor appearing on the shirts worn by League One football club Bolton Wanderers. The new promises to revitalise MFI come against a backdrop of high street retail mainstays struggling to survive. It was recently revealed how more than 13,000 shops shut their doors for good in 2024 – an increase of 28 per cent on the year before. That was the highest figure since the Centre for Retail Research, which compiled the report, began collecting the data in 2015 - and industry experts forecast 17,350 more stores would close this year. Business leaders have raised alarm about Chancellor Rachel Reeves' hikes in National Insurance contributions and minimum wages which came into force last month.
