This 2006 Kitchen’s Moody Makeover Feels “Like a Beautiful Hotel Bar”

It’s a hot design trend to illuminate your kitchen, whether by adding windows or painting the cabinets a bold, vibrant color. And while ultra-bright kitchens are stunning, there’s something about a dark, moody space that can also be striking. The drama and depth that stem from a dark kitchen feels bold and a bit daring. 

Designer Eric Drozd‘s transformation of the 2006 original kitchen in his Illinois apartment, for example, is completely entrancing. Eric explains that originally the kitchen had “cherry cabinetry, tan-colored granite, and awful lighting.” Because he owns a design business, Drozd Design, it was a no-brainer that he’d have fun putting his spin on a reimagined kitchen. 

“I wanted the space to feel like a beautiful hotel bar,” Eric explains. “The palette was meant to be deep and sultry but warm and textured. The mix of the clean cabinetry, leathered counters, tumbled backsplash, and polished plumbing creates a story that feels perfect in this space.”

Eric considered the kitchen update’s longevity, too, and used them to inform his design choices. Knowing that he plans to keep the apartment forever and eventually turn it into a luxury rental, he chose leathered black granite, which he says is a “practical selection that will wear with each renter.” 

Next, Eric chose a deep green-gray (Sherwin-Williams’ Rock Bottom) for the cabinets. He saved money on the cupboard transformation by spraying them with paint himself. “I fell in love with the deep hue that seems to change throughout the day as the sun moves across the space,” he says. On the trim, he used a beige-gray, Sherwin-Williams’ Jogging Path 7638), and, on the walls, Benjamin Moore’s Gray Mist. 

To add more texture to the space, he added a travertine backsplash and tongue-and-groove paneling on the custom range hood. He also replaced the pendant lights with larger, round hanging orbs. The apartment’s overall renovation took around four months to finish, and the kitchen project alone cost around $25,000, Eric says. 

While Eric’s favorite room in his home is actually the living room, it’s nice how the kitchen connects so fluidly with every other space. To see more of Eric’s moody apartment, visit the full house tour on Apartment Therapy.

This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: Before & After: This Bland, Boring Kitchen Gets the Most Dramatic Makeover (It’s So Moody!)