A Builder-Grade Galley Kitchen Felt Uninspiring — Color-Maxxing Changed Everything
Digital creator, interior decorator, and color-lover Devin Downs quickly realized that the somewhat basic kitchen in his New York City rental wasn’t going to work for him.
“The kitchen had no personality — it felt purely functional and uninspiring,” he explains. “I was cooking in a sea of beige and stainless steel.”
He Was a Mission to Add Personality and Energy to the Kitchen
After painting the adjoining hallway with Behr’s “Young Green,” Devin knew the kitchen needed to mirror that energy. Instead of crafting a vision board or looking to other designers for inspiration, Devin based the makeover purely on feeling. (Refreshing, right?) When he discovered Behr’s “Rhodes,” a bright blue the brand compares to the Aegean Sea, he knew it was the perfect fit for the kitchen.
When Checkered Peel-And-Stick Wallpaper Didn’t Work Out, His Backup Was the Perfect Fix
What Devin appreciated most about painting the large wall in the kitchen blue was that the color didn’t dominate but rather shared the spotlight with other shades. Because it was a rental, he wanted to use contact paper to color the cabinets. At first, Devin attempted a checkered vinyl paper, which didn’t pan out, and he lost $160 in the process.
“The lavender vinyl I ended up using was actually a backup option — but it became the perfect solution. It was easier to work with and added a softness that balanced the space,” Devin says. “The leopard wall in the living room wasn’t originally designed to complement the kitchen, but seeing how it plays with the blue and lavender feels like a happy accident. I really just followed my instincts throughout the entire process.”
He Wanted His Kitchen to Be Whimsical and Full of Nostalgia
Once color was added to the room with paint, it was time to accessorize. “I wanted to build a gallery wall filled with lived experiences, whimsy, and nostalgia to make the space feel personal and real,” Devin explains.
So he purchased artwork from an Etsy shop and arranged it around a shelf he also found on Etsy. That shelf now holds Devin’s Labubu dolls, which he jokingly calls his “cooking assistants.”
However, the most important piece on display is Devin’s grandmother’s framed quiche recipe, which adds sentimental value to the room. “It holds decades of memories and grounds the entire room. The kitchen doesn’t just look vibrant — it feels like something,” he continues.
Everything Came Together by Accident, but He Doesn’t Regret a Thing
It took around three months for Devin to get the kitchen to its current iteration, but he admits it’s always changing. So far, he’s invested around $1,000 in the room — all worth it to him.
“I love that it’s the most authentic introduction to Saint Nerd Studios,” he shares. “It’s the first thing you see when you walk in, and it immediately pulls you into the world I’ve created — a pop-culture palace that came together almost by accident.”
To see more of Devin’s colorful home, visit the full House Tour. Inspired? Submit your own project here.
This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: “A Sea of Beige and Stainless Steel”: $1,000 Color-Maxxed This Bland Kitchen
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