Kitchen

They even removed the upper cabinets!

“All the sudden, it felt like a proper kitchen and not just a rental with a hodgepodge of random cabinets and appliances,” the homeowner says.

The renter decided to lean in to the features her apartment came with.

Let these nine New York City kitchens inspire you.

“Doing this project ourselves felt very rewarding,” the homeowner says.

The facelift brought the space into the 21st century but honored the homeowner's love of vintage.

It’s unrecognizable!

The "after" is totally unlike the all-white before.

The renter calls it a "mini renovation."

They range from budget-savvy refreshes to total transformations — and all are stunning.

The quirkier the better, according to the homeowners.

The cabinets had been pristinely maintained by the previous owners but were still looking pretty dated.

The transformation brings the outdoors in.

This interior designer got to be her own client for a change.

The homeowners were intent on increasing storage in the kitchen.

There are so many clever small-space solutions.

The backsplash hack is so clever!

The goal was to make the kitchen a “happier place to cook.”

In Germany, where this renter lives, it’s common for rental units to not come with a kitchen — the renter must build their own!

This is major inspiration to work with what you’ve got.

"We spent as little time as possible in the kitchen,” the homeowner says of the before.

“The cabinets were the classic orange oak color, and the walls were a dark beige color,” the homeowner describes. “It felt like a nice space, but just very dated.”

The new colors tie in the cabinets and appliances.

A recipe developer's new kitchen is beautiful for filming — and functional, too.

It’s avoidable!

The “after” has mid-century modern touches.

It's DIY-packed.

The kitchen becomes far more functional.

A disco ball in the kitchen? Sounds like a party!

The original kitchen felt “dark and very boxed in.”

“It’s like a permanent rainbow,” the homeowner says of the after — especially the tile backsplash.