5 Minutes and $50 Made My Cold, Cookie-Cutter Kitchen So Much Cuter!

The exterior of my 1920s Brooklyn apartment is full of character and charm, with ornamental lintels, bay windows, and a purple façade. You might expect to see the same iconic period details inside, too — but instead of deep mahogany woods, curved archways, and ornate moldings, you’d find a completely gut-renovated interior. 

At first, I was happy to know that my husband and I would be the very first people to live in this new, sleek, upgraded space. Plus, new electrical, updated closets, and a walk-in shower are never a bad thing. But after a few months in, I realized I was missing the rich personality that can be found in so many similar New York City homes, and I was feeling a bit stifled by the streamlined, neutral framework of the space. And this was especially true in the kitchen. 

A faux-marble backsplash, all-white cabinetry, and black hardware turned what should be the heart of our home into a cold and impersonal rectangle. The stainless steel dishwasher was the cherry on top; while I was happy to retire from hand-washing my dishes, that gleaming appliance was a glaring reminder of how uninspired and awkward the kitchen really felt. 

Thankfully, my nightly TikTok scrolling came to the rescue when I stumbled upon another creator in the same boat. Her solution? A skirt, of course!

While dressing up my dishwasher wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card, it totally made sense once I saw that it was possible. I’m a fashion editor by trade — I already style and curate the world around me, so why stop at appliances? Plus, I wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to bring my stale kitchen to life.

I sprinted to Amazon and secured a two-pack of magnetic curtain rods. I chose a soft champagne hue to really add some warmth to the space. These beauties are also adjustable, magnetic, and renter-friendly, which eliminates the need for screws and adhesives, and makes them way easier to use than contact paper or appliance paint.

Then came the really fun part. I scoured the site for a cozy cafe curtain, knowing the fabric and print I chose would set the tone of the whole space. I landed on a classic striped biscotti-and-cream design — a versatile and timeless touch. It really brings a cozy, farmhouse-chic vibe to the whole room.

If I could change anything, I might have gotten slightly longer curtains to reach all the way to the floor. But I’m so glad I took the plunge with this super-easy, damage-free upgrade. Who would’ve thought such a small and affordable tweak would restore so much warmth and intentionality to such a cold and unfeeling space? 

In just five minutes (and that’s including the time it took to open the packages) my humdrum dishwasher was a thing of the past. This definitely feels like my first step towards creating a welcoming environment for our new home — proof that a small, easy DIY project can make all the difference.