It’s Incredible How Good This Boston Rental’s DIY Peel and Stick Kitchen Floor Looks

Name: Megan Lenneman, my husband, and dog
Location: Back Bay — Boston, Massachusetts
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 600 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My husband and I moved to Boston a year ago from Chicago. We had heard a lot about how tricky the Boston market is and knew that we’d be downsizing to get the location we wanted in the city. We fell in love with the Back Bay neighborhood with its charming brownstones, historic character, and foliage. It’s also a central spot for us as we both walk to work, so you can’t beat the convenience! We found our apartment on Craigslist and immediately fell in love with the apartment’s bay windows, molding, and arched window in the kitchen. At 600 square feet, our apartment is well-appointed and not a single square foot is lost space.

We got creative with storage and dual functionality so it doesn’t feel too tight. Although we don’t have a dishwasher or designated dining room, we never let this stop us from from exploring new recipes or hosting dinner parties—two of our favorite pastimes! We also wanted a place that was comfortable for our dog Watson. There are a lot of other dogs in the neighborhood, so that was a good sign when we moved in. Watson is particularly fond of people watching from the living room windows, and we think she tries to time her walks outside to coincide with her friends.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Traditional character with cozy charm.

What is your favorite room and why? Well, the kitchen window is the feature that initially caught my attention when browsing dozens of apartment listings. I was drawn to the light it brought into the space and thought it was a neat focal point. After a few rental-friendly upgrades to our kitchen (adding a standing pantry, updating the cabinet hardware and backsplash, and redoing the floors with fun tiles), it has definitely become my favorite room. It’s the first space you walk into when entering our apartment, so we really wanted it to stand out. The bones of the kitchen already had functionality—with plenty of prep space and a window into the living room that allows for both entertaining and multitasking—and my husband and I took time to add design elements to brighten up the space even more. This kitchen will always be special to me because it was the room where my husband and I cooked our first Thanksgiving meal together, and I feel like that’s a rite of passage!

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? My husband and I recently upgraded our kitchen floors because the existing tiles were in rough shape. We bought these vinyl peel and stick tiles on Amazon and are amazed that such a simple and affordable solution has made such a huge difference!

Any advice for creating a home you love? Have fun with your process and pick design elements that reflect your personality. In my opinion, the best compliment you can get is when someone says, “That is so you!”—let that be something people say about your home!

This submission’s responses have been edited for length and clarity.