From sh*t to chic

I've been spending most of my time lately trying to improve the look of our holiday cottage. It's an 80s-vintage conversion of an old granary, and the style remains very much of that era. The kitchen has standard brown and cream fittings and as it's the first place you see on entering it doesn't really cut the mustard. I asked a kitchen company for advice on remodelling it but when I said that my expenditure limit was £1000 the guy laughed at me and put down his measuring tape.

So I've been focusing on minor improvements in the hope that a few attractive items will give a favourable impression..  I was excited to find this shiny kitchen pedal bin to replace the old standard flip-top. Isn't it chic? Yes, that's what it's called,  'Chic Bin'. I'm so pleased with it I keep going in and out of the door to recapture the thrill. I kid myself that no one will notice the woodlice that lurk under the skirting board, and the spiders that play hide-and-seek around the lighting track, not to mention the more material flaws in the decor.

And my other brainwave was to cover the stained old table top with cheerful checked oil cloth (extra) - so very retro, non?
Another pic added to show lay-out of tiny kitchen.

(The cottage is, by the way, very reasonably priced and there are  vacancies if you're tempted.)