Although we don't have pictures to share with you, our kitchen was a hot mess when we moved in. First off, no refrigerator (for those of you who don't live in Los Angeles, many apartments here don't come with refrigerators or stoves, a big surprise to this New Yorker). Then, there was the peeling vinyl floor, the hot yellow plywood cabinets...need we go on? The changes we made were through trial and error. To help you out and keep you from making some of the same mistakes we did (chipping off that flooring piece by piece), we've rounded up some of our best DIY tips for the kitchen.
The cabinets
- Creative coverup for white cabinets
- How to: cover the kitchen cabinets in fabric
- How to: paint kitchen cabinets
- How to: paint plastic laminate cabinets
The Floor
- Stripping Linoleum with boiling water
- How to: create a colourful kitchen floor
- How to: paint and stencil a kitchen floor
- Ugly kitchen floor? Paint it with a floor cloth
Decor and Storage
- DIY pot rack spices up tiny kitchen
- Look! Alexis' DIY Spice Rack
- How to make a kitchen cupboard message center
- Patchwork Tea Towel Kitchen curtain
Creating More Space
Tiles and Backsplash
The Ultimate Used Furniture Cleaning Kit
Ana Creates a Community at Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
Soda Recipe: Homemade Ginger Ale
Recipe: Spring Fruit and Nut Tabouli
I can't remember which post it was from, but there was talk a while back of covering ugly appliances with contact paper. We have a truly hideous yet awesomely functional Kitchen Aid dishwasher circa 1986 with a black glass door and lower panel that I covered with stainless steel contact paper and I could not believe how great it looked. Also, contact paper has not peeled or bubbled since I put it up almost 6 months ago. Highly recommend this project -- very quick and easy DIY.
That makes no sense why they wouldnt include a fride or stove.....if you own your own appliances whats the appeal of renting?
Love the black and white curtain in that pic...and some awesome DIY tips!!
Kindle@redesigndiva.com
there's a plant growing in your sink...
RedesignDiva - check out the recent post on how to recreate the beautiful black and white window treatments.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/how-to/jenikas-diy-window-coverings-111731
I wish there were tips on the most difficult part, the counter tops! I am currently looking for a house and it's usually the counter tops that need some sprucing.
Giggit - where did you get your contact paper from? I read reviews for some on sale at Amazon, but people complained that it arrived all creased and unusable...thanks!
How have you hanged the curtains? Have you used a rod? Nice picture!
I love this kitchen. Are the cabinets Ikea? If so, which kind?