Gold Coast mum’s simple hack transforms $35 Kmart drawers into ‘something special’

GOLD Coast mum Kylie Hughes has revealed a simple “hack” that instantly transforms a $35 piece of Kmart furniture into “something special”.

A GOLD Coast mum has revealed a “hack” to transform a $35 Kmart side table into something “classy and elegant” using simple stick-on fretwork.

Kylie Hughes from Stylkea, which launched last year selling peel-and-stick panels that turn simple Ikea furniture into something resembling a $5000 Jonathan Adler piece, has now branched into the world of “Kmart mums”.

She said the reaction online had been “fantastic”. “This is the first Kmart hack I’ve done,” she said. “On social media there is this whole avid group of mainly women following Kmart like devotees. I think it’s because Kmart’s whole home decor range is super on-point and on-trend and affordable.”

The gold panels for the $35 Kmart Two-Drawer Side Unit cost $4.95 each, meaning the “makeover” costs less than $10. Ms Hughes said she decided to branch into the Kmart range following requests from customers.

The Kmart side unit costs $35.

Stylkea adds peel-and-stick fretwork panels.

Stylkea is branching from Ikea into Kmart furniture.

‘Something more bespoke and special.’

“Even just little metallic corners like these can turn a fairly basic set of drawers into something more bespoke and special,” she said.

“Australians are becoming more budget-conscious and Stylkea panels can help you create luxury-look furniture without the price tag. Consumers are also becoming more interested in upcycling or recycling instead of throwing things away.

“This new range of corner pieces are designed to be very adaptable so it’s not just Ikea and Kmart you can customise with them. There’s a lot more in the pipeline.

“We’re completing our Styl-Panel range for all of Ikea’s Hemnes bedroom dressers and we have new designs in the works to help people create classic and Hamptons-style looks without breaking the bank.”

Ms Hughes said the online business was now bringing in $4000 a month, and she planned to quit her day job to focus on it full-time from July 1. “I think I’ve proved the concept,” she said.

“If I really give my full attention to it, I can bring out more ranges. My next step is to do more collaborations with interior designers. There are a lot of creative avenues.”

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