This “Plain, Outdated” Kitchen’s $300 Transformation Added an Instant Color Boost

When Elizabeth Pattyn moved into her 300-square-foot Brooklyn apartment, she described the original kitchen as “plain, boring, and drab.” Not only that, but that “it really had no character or personality and consisted of basic builder-grade materials.” It’s safe to say that it was less than exciting — and because Elizabeth is a designer and visual artist, it wasn’t going to work. 

“Because I live in a studio apartment, the kitchen is a prominent feature of my main living space, as it takes up an entire wall span,” Elizabeth says. “Accordingly, I wanted to make sure that the kitchen complemented the rest of my decor stylistically and also add in some additional storage to elevate its functionality.” 

To start, she set out to search for rental-friendly, “happy, colorful, and functional” design ideas on YouTube. “I then did quite a bit of research into products I could purchase to achieve the overall desired look while keeping in mind factors like budget and the ability to reverse the changes when I eventually decide to move out,” she says. 

The first step was installing pink peel-and-stick subway-tile backsplash and using white marble contact paper on the kitchen counters to make the space feel brighter. Three new white metal floating shelves also add vibrancy in a clever way that makes a previously unused space super functional. 

It took a few months to finish revamping the space, and Elizabeth spent only around $300 on the makeover (with the shelves being the biggest investment!). Now the kitchen feels like an extension of her bright, happy apartment. The ultimate bonus? It’s all renter-friendly and can be removed when she moves. 

“Despite working in the fine dining industry, I’m really not a big home cook,” Elizabeth says. “In transforming the look and functionality of my kitchen, I wanted to create a space that would hopefully inspire me to cook more meals at home. Otherwise, when not actively using my kitchen, the space still makes me smile as a beautiful and colorful addition to my apartment.”

To see more of Elizabeth’s delightful apartment, visit the full house tour on Apartment Therapy.

This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: Before & After: This “Plain, Outdated” Kitchen’s $300 Transformation Added So Much Drama