This $400 kitchen makeover preserves brown cabinets and counters – and adds style points

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This 0 kitchen makeover preserves brown cabinets and counters – and adds style points

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Family Type: apartment

Project Type: kitchen

style: Bohemian, eclectic

Skill Level: DIY

Rental friendly: Yes

Two years ago, Marisa (@ArtbyMarxa)’s kitchen 350-square-foot New York rental apartment underwent some makeover: swapping white floor tiles for laminate wood flooring to match the rest of the space.

But Marisa knew she planned to stay there for a while and simple changes weren't what she wanted for a long time. “The kitchen used to be average and the work was done,” she said. But she “wanted to make every inch of my house feel like my own.”

Compact kitchen with wooden cabinets, stainless steel sink, white refrigerator and dark countertops.

A trip to Morocco really cemented Marisa's dream for her new kitchen. Before the adventure, she was not a big fan of patterns, although she always admired the colors. “During the visit, I saw how many personality and energy patterns could give space, so I decided to try merging the patterns without making the space feel too small,” she explained.

Kitchen area, wooden cabinets, white appliances and a pair of black shoes on hardwood floor.

The biggest different manufacturer is the stripped-tile backsplash that adds an old-fashioned vibe. “Since the pattern I ended up picking was mostly blue, I included green with devices like the Air Fryer and Microwave,” Marisa said.

Cozy kitchen with wooden cabinets, patterned tile backsplash, white appliances and green countertop equipment.

She also installed new cabinet knobs for popular colors. “Given how strong the blue and vegetables are on the tiles and appliances, the cabinet knobs feel like a decisive game, so I mixed the blue and green knobs.”

Additionally, Marisa is not a fan of ceiling lights in the kitchen, so she chose LED lights installed under the cabinets. Finally doubled the victory because the chain was so long that she also hung some over the cabinet.

Cozy kitchen corner with wooden cabinets, colorful backsplash, granite countertops and mint green microwave.

IKEA’s kitchen trolley helps make all Marisa’s tools accessible while distributing the space between the living room and the kitchen. She divided the makeover into a small project she had done completely, and the entire refresh cost only $400.

“I love the functionality and comfort of the kitchen,” Marisa said. “I can effectively make coffee in the morning while cherishing memories with friends on the refrigerator and enjoying my favorite color blue.” To view her amazing apartment, visit the entire trip to Apartment Therapy.

The post originally appeared on Kitchn. See it there: In and After: This vibrant $400 makeover adds instant drama