Rental Kitchen Makeover Using Temporary Decor

The apartment in question is located in an unspecified city, though the project's aesthetic and budget suggest a European setting, given the use of euros in the cost breakdown. The kitchen renovation was part of a broader apartment rental makeover, focusing on transforming a dated ’90s-era kitchen into a more modern, personalized space. The project scope was limited by the landlord’s restrictions, which prohibited permanent alterations such as removing cabinets, drilling, or making structural changes. This constraint required the use of temporary, removable materials like contact paper and peel-and-stick tiles to achieve the desired look without violating the lease agreement. [1]

The kitchen originally featured red-toned cabinets and yellowing laminate countertops, which the tenant found unappealing and anxiety-inducing. The project involved applying black matte contact paper to the cabinets and leftover marble contact paper to the countertops, as well as using stick-on tiles to replace the white backsplash. The tenant also painted three specific areas: the recessed space above the cabinets, a partition near the dining table, and the hallway ceiling with 15-centimeter-wide black stripes. These changes were made to create a moody, cinematic ambiance inspired by a Parisian cocktail bar and a New York loft. [1]

The budget for the entire kitchen transformation was approximately €220 (roughly $250), which included the cost of materials such as contact paper, tiles, paint, and accessories like gold cabinet handles and a €25 gold faucet purchased from Facebook Marketplace. The project also incorporated a blue neon sign and a pendant light that was repurposed with the same striped paint treatment as the ceiling. The tenant emphasized that the project was completed without any permanent modifications, ensuring that the apartment could be returned in its original condition without damaging the deposit. [1]

Daniel (@danielsqueerbau, he/she) moved into an apartment rental and found the kitchen layout unsuitable, with '90s-era red-toned cabinets and yellowing laminate. To avoid permanent alterations, Daniel used black matte contact paper on the cabinets and leftover marble contact paper for the countertops (Apartment Therapy, 2023). [1]

Daniel painted three areas in the kitchen: the recessed area above the cabinets, the partition by the dining table, and the hallway stripes. These changes were aimed at creating a more personalized and visually appealing space, while still adhering to the landlord's restrictions on permanent modifications (Apartment Therapy, 2023). [1]

Gold accents and a blue neon sign completed the kitchen's transformation, adding a touch of luxury and personality. Daniel emphasized the importance of using temporary solutions to personalize a rental space without violating lease terms or damaging the property (Apartment Therapy, 2023). [1]

Sources

Apartment Therapy

Prepared with AI assistance from the cited sources.