A Paris-Inspired Kitchen Makeover Replaced the Dark Cabinets That Dominated This Rental

A Paris-Inspired Kitchen Makeover Replaced the Dark Cabinets That Dominated This Rental

Content creator Jillian Sayegh has lived in the same 1910 apartment for the past five years, so it’s gone through several design iterations as her tastes grow and change — especially the kitchen. The 38-square-foot room has seen several makeovers in just five years, and it’s no surprise that the original version of the kitchen was just not going to work.

“When I moved in five years ago, the kitchen was such a sad room in the apartment,” Jillian explains. “The cabinets were falling off their hinges, made of stained beige particle board, and the walls were an equally yellowish beige. The whole room felt depressing and neglected.”

The First DIY Kitchen Makeover Leaned More Modern and Minimalist

Jillian’s first kitchen makeover was one she was proud of, but it never quite felt like the design of her dreams. She looked at the original beige space and wanted to lean into a dark, moody aesthetic by applying contact paper — which was quite an exhaustive ordeal — to the cabinets. But over the years, her taste changed, and what was once sleek and modern became “more oppressive than inviting.” She decided to take on a makeover that would make her happy while still being functional, since it’s a galley. “I truly need my home to be a place that makes me feel proud and excited to come home to,” Jillian explains of the main goal of the redo.

Parisian Kitchens Inspired the Second Makeover

Before starting on the second kitchen redo, Jillian looked at what she’d been saving online. She realized that much of her inspiration came from “Parisian, classical, and airy” spaces. Taking inventory of what she currently owned, including blue-and-white china and vintage kitchenware, she realized that she’d “slowly been moving in that direction without even realizing it.”

At first, Jillian worried that adding trim and painting the cabinets would be trickier than the contact paper, but it was surprisingly easier (just took a little longer). Her uncle helped cut the trim, and then she painted with Beyond Paint’s “Off White,” which was gifted to her. The walls are colored with Behr’s “Bit of Sugar.”

“Since I’m renting, I wanted to leave the apartment knowing that I had done the work thoughtfully and that the kitchen would be beautiful and well-finished,” Jillian shares.

Brass Hardware Gave the Kitchen a “European Feel”

After painting the kitchen cabinets and adding trim, Jillian added brass hardware. She feels strongly that DIYers should never skip replacing their hardware. But there’s an important step you should take instead of tossing the previous hardware in the garbage — especially if you’re renting.

“Changing cabinet hardware is such a small detail, but it can make a surprisingly big difference. Just save the original hardware somewhere safe and switch it back before you move out,” Jillian recommends.

Jillian’s Only Regret Is Not Updating Her Kitchen Sooner

“I only wish I had made the jump and done this newest transformation sooner,” Jillian notes. “At the same time, I’m really proud of the journey this small kitchen has had over the five years I’ve lived here. It’s gone through several different iterations, and each one has brought me closer to understanding my own style.”

What surprised Jillian the most was how achievable the project was. She learned you don’t need to be a professional or a DIY expert to create a space you’re proud of. Plus, it cost less than she expected. Although Jillian got some items sponsored, like the Moen faucet from Ferguson Home and Two Pages curtains, she estimates she spent around $200 on the redo, and she kept the total low by thrifting kitchenware.

The best part? The project is something she can be proud of, as she did it mostly on her own. “It makes me feel proud, joyous — honestly, insert every happy emotion here,” Jillian says. “I’ve worked very hard to make my small apartment feel like a dream space ever since I signed that lease five years ago, and the kitchen was always the one room where I felt like I hadn’t quite gotten it right.”