A Mint Green Kitchen Went from Dated to Boho Thanks to a Renter-Friendly Redo
A home — regardless of whether it’s rented or owned — should be a reflection of the people who live there. Content creator Élise needed that to be the case in her house, especially in the kitchen. When she moved in, the room had mint green cabinets and floral wallpaper, which she described as “grandma chic in a cutesy way.” It wasn’t going to work for her.
“It definitely had character … just not a character I’d play,” Élise says. “I spend a lot of time in my kitchen, so I wanted it to feel like a place I could be fully engulfed by. I needed it to feel warmer, more lived-in, and more like me.”
It Had Good Bones but a Retro Design
While the existing kitchen might’ve had a retro design, Élise estimates it was probably updated two to three years ago, so the bones were likely good.
She Was Inspired by Her “Lived-In” Childhood Kitchen
Her landlord approved her making changes, so she started dreaming up what her future space would look like. She drew inspiration from her childhood kitchen, which her mom designed, and from European-inspired details to make it feel “lived-in.”
Initially, Élise thought that pink tile would be a great way to cover the floral wallpaper. As it started to take shape, though, she decided it wasn’t working with her vision. “I chose a coral-orange tile that was more like a warm rust; it immediately added more dimension to the walls. Everything clicked pretty quickly after that,” she explains.
Knowing that her favorite color is green, Élise hired painters to paint the mint-green cabinets with Sherwin-Williams’ “Oakmoss.” Tiling an entire wall in rust-colored tile added warmth to the space, and features like new brass hardware and wood-toned vinyl flooring made it feel even cozier. Once the designs were complete, it was time to furnish the space.
She Used IKEA Shelves to Create a Breakfast Nook
Details like collected cookbooks, plants, and cooking appliances add personality and functionality to the space, and a beaded curtain was installed to separate the laundry room from the kitchen. On the other end of the kitchen, a large window beckoned Élise to install a breakfast nook beneath it.
“I used IKEA BESTÅ shelves and plywood to make the benches, then thrifted pieces like the table and kitchen hutch from Facebook Marketplace,” Élise shares. “I added final touches like the curtain, flowers, and little knickknacks to make the area feel complete! Big shout-out to my friend Willie for helping me out through the process!”
When Élise started the process, she challenged herself to transform the space before her family visited. While she didn’t finish the entire house, the kitchen was ready to go in two weeks and cost just under $3,000. “Seeing my family’s reaction when they saw it in person was very rewarding,” she remembers.
The Kitchen Is Now a Peak into Her World
The goal was to make the kitchen reflect who Élise is as a person, and that’s exactly what happened. She notes that everywhere you look — whether it’s photos of her cat, Rice, or nods to eggs, which are her favorite food — there’s something that’s reminiscent of her.
“I love that it gives people a peek into my world. It’s whimsical, inviting, layered, colorful, and warm, which feels very true to me,” Élise says.
This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: A Grandma Chic Kitchen Is Now a Chic Oasis After a $3,000 Makeover (Including Newly Painted Green Cabinets)
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