A “Stark White” Kitchen Gets a “Cozy French Country Aesthetic” Makeover

Finding a reasonably sized kitchen in a New York City apartment is like finding a diamond in the rough. Even if you find a “big” one by New York standards, it’s natural to want to maximize that space to the fullest — especially if you’re an avid cook. That was copywriter and artist Justine Berger’s plan in the kitchen of her 600-square-foot Manhattan apartment. 

Although Justine was glad the kitchen had been recently renovated (she guesses within the past eight years) with amenities like stainless steel appliances, modern cabinets and hardware, and even soft-close drawers, she described the kitchen as “kind of cold, with stark white cabinets, gray floor tiles, and dark laminate countertops.” And while it was relatively large, the space wasn’t used in the best way. 

“My biggest qualm was that there was a lot of empty real estate — the cabinetry just kind of ended, leaving this oddly shaped vacancy,” Justine says. “It might have been meant for a breakfast table, but given how much I utilize the kitchen, I knew I had to maximize the entire space.” 

At first, it was Justine’s goal to create “maximum functionality” within the space. She purchased a butcher-block prep table with shelving, and a huge wire rack shelf that doubles as pot storage and a pantry. Swapping out the existing kitchen faucet for a pull-down spray nozzle made washing dishes a breeze. Once she finished making the more practical functional additions, it was time to add warmth to the room. 

The colors from the butcher block and woven baskets immediately added texture and warmth to the room, as well as other vintage details, like Justine’s thrifted copper pots on the wall and her grandmother’s paintings. However, lighting was a bigger design challenge, so she added a floor lamp to the room, hung under-cabinet lighting, and replaced the “ugly overhead boob light” with a crystal fixture from Ballard Designs.

After being influenced by TikTok, Justine installed removable peel-and-stick green tiles to her backsplash. The rich hue adds so much depth and drama to the room, perfectly complementing the striped cafe curtains hanging from the prep table and washable area rug. 

She loves that she was able to add the tiles herself. “It took about two and a half hours and some elbow grease, but I’m so glad I stuck it out,” Justine says. “It’s really made an impact on my kitchen aesthetic. And most folks who see it are shocked to learn they’re vinyl!” 

Even though Justine has built on the “good bones” of the kitchen and added warmth, functionality, and personality over the past four years, she says she’ll likely keep tweaking the space as long as she lives there. The makeover cost around $1,700 so far, which she says has “honestly been totally worth it.”

“It’s beautifully functional. I think I’ve taken full advantage of almost every renter-friendly upgrade in order to maximize its potential and achieve that cozy, French-country aesthetic that I’ve been coveting,” Justine says. “It feels like a real home kitchen now.” To see more of her wonderful apartment, visit the full house tour on Apartment Therapy. 

This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: Before & After: A “Cold” White Kitchen Gets a Rustic Facelift (for Less Than $2,000!)