I Can’t Get Over This Kitchen’s $400 Paint Makeover (It Looks Like a Sunset!)

Using paint to transform a kitchen isn’t a fringe decision, by any means. Over the years I’ve seen countless rooms look like entirely different spaces after being painted — just look at this New York City rental’s makeover, for instance. While paint isn’t extraordinary, how you use it can absolutely be. 

When Averie Cole (@averiephoto) moved into an industrial loft in New Jersey, the kitchen — much like the rest of the home — looked like a “vast, white, concrete canvas.” Being that her home is a rental, she couldn’t change much about the kitchen — and it hadn’t been updated for 20 years. But that wasn’t going to stop her from making the home feel warmer and happier. At the time of the tour, Averie said “[the loft] just begged for color and life.” 

Averie had already painted a gorgeous mural in her living room, but wanted to find a way to connect the two spaces. The living room accent is full of vibrant colors, like pink, orange, gray, and yellow, and is a geometric-esque design with clean lines. She knew the mural would stop in the living room, but wasn’t sure how to create a flow between the two spaces.

She contemplated creating a terracotta limewash look between the two spaces, but the colors wouldn’t mesh well together. Spotting two sample paints, she mixed the colors, and was able to create four shades that look like a gradient. In the end, she painted the most gorgeous ombré wall that’s reminiscent of summertime sorbets.

The fact that I feel something new every time I look at the ombré space is what makes it so special to me. The soft blending of colors encourages relaxation and, to me, the feeling of days spent at the beach — happy, warm, and safe. I’d imagine that the ombré design looks different depending on the light, too. It would be dreamy to witness a sunset against the pink and orange colors. 

What was born out of an artistic brainstorm became such a unique way to imagine how paint colors can co-exist and create an even better version of themselves. Averie spent around $400 on the paint, and it came out like a true piece of artwork. To see more of her gorgeous home, visit the full House Tour.