I was asked to show the before and after photos of my apartment kitchen. Below here is the photo just after I moved in.

In Before & After Kitchen Photos, this is my plain kitchen just after I moved in.

I had just taken the three cabinet doors down.

Then I called the front office and asked them if they’d come get my stove and take it away. Unfortunately, the stove was the nicest appliance in the kitchen.

But I was planning to order a washer and there wasn’t enough room for both.

In before and after kitchen photos, this was my first attempt at redecorating

Then I got it in my head to redecorate much of the kitchen with the black and white checked contact paper.

I also added black contact paper to the countertops.

Fast Forward:

Fast forward to today, and it isn’t even a year since I moved in. Which would be April 14, 2014.

I recall on that day that it was snowing, oddly enough.

In Before & After Kitchen Photos, the kitchen with the wood island painted white.

I’d painted the butcher block island white at that point and attached hooks to hold my pot holders.

I ordered the bohemian-style plastic backsplash tiles and covered my backsplash with it. Isn’t it colorful?

I’d also given my dishwasher front a new coat of white paint.

My cooking station where I cook meals

My Cooking Station:

My “cooking station,” as I called it, was against the far wall. I cook all my meals with a microwave and a convection countertop oven I purchased.

You see I never needed that stove anyway. I got along just fine without it for the 8 years I lived there.

In Before & After Kitchen Photos, my kitchen countertops white instead of black.

The black contact paper I put on the countertop was gone. Now the countertop is white, like most everything in the kitchen.

I’d taken down the curtain valance and arranged vintage linens over a curtain rod.

I stored my cookbooks in the wicker basket on top of the washing machine I ordered from Austin.

Vertical Storage:

The detergent and fabric softener are stored in the wood “Thyme” box. And bleach is stored in the wood herb box hanging from the side of the cabinet.

See it hanging on the wall on the far right?

The washer I ordered from Austin and had delivered.

I also attached little battery operated lights under the cabinets. That was always a dark area. 

The two little round lights stick to the bottom of the kitchen cabinets. The cost for them was about $20.

In Before & After Kitchen Photos, this is the second time I redid the kitchen. This time with bohemian backsplash plastic tiles.

I’ve found that the lights come in handy because this area of my kitchen is somewhat of a dark spot.

So this makes two kitchen “redo’s” I’ve DIYed in less than two years. I’ve been pretty busy!

Apartment kitchen after two big changes

I hope you enjoyed the tour and the changes.

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I'm Brenda, creator of Cozy Little House. I live with my cat, Ivy, who keeps me laughing. I graduated from journalism school with a degree in professional writing and won awards for feature writing. I practice gratitude and enjoy my solitude. The glass is always half-full.

42 Comments

  1. Hi Brenda, I love you kitchen, it's so cozy and full of style! Can you tell me what kind of lights you put under your cabinets. I need more light too.

  4. brenda, i came over from home talk, i am in major love with your kitchen and most especially with the colorful and gorgeous tiles can you please please share the link where you got them from, our kitchen is ok but has no color and this just sets my heart on fire please xx

  6. Can you believe how the lights under the cabinets highlight the faux tiles. It is unbelievable what a difference that makes. You know what you do best, Brenda? Well, you do so many things well, but I think what your ultimate forte is that you know how to create cozy.

  7. Your little kitchen has been through a lot of change in a short time. I like them all, but I like the current one best. 🙂

  8. Oh my goodness! I love those tiles. I see you like bowls. I am a bowl freak. What a difference those tiles make. I am blown away by your creativity.

  10. Brenda, all the different looks of your kitchen are pretty, but I really love the current one, mostly for the amazing mosaic backsplash!

    Happy Easter, my friend!

    Poppy
    P.S: Your darling grand, Andrew, is adorable!

  12. It looks wonderful, I'm in the white looks clean and uncluttered camp too. You have created something with so much personality, and that's a talent. Giving up the stove …if it works for you great.

    Jen

    Jen

  13. Again, I LOVE the new, fresh, 'clean' look. It really opened up the space, while keeping the Boho flair ~
    Good work!

  14. Love the tile with the white cabinets and the addition of the lights. Every kitchen you've had is full of charm and you make each one look like a fun space to whip up a meal. That's talent!

    1. My favorites are the "tile" and the way the hen fits in. Keep up the good work. Did I miss the cabinet top painting instructions or are you planning to share them later.

  17. You've seriously done an amazing job, Brenda. You're an a testament to using what you have and making it work for you and pretty at the same time 🙂

    xo,
    rue

  20. It looks great, Brenda. I forgot that you got rid of the stove completely so you could have a washer in there. I don;t know if I could give up the stove..but…we I know you made the best choice for you. I love how it turned out. You did a wonderful job. xo Diana

  21. I also loved the black and white check look, but this one is so much brighter! I think putting the white doors back on makes the space look larger to me! Great job Brenda!

  22. Amazing the transformation. Liked the first redo, but really like this latest one. Hard to believe it's the same kitchen! Great job! Also amazing how many people would just live with the original and hate every minute of it but not have the inspiration to do anything with it. Like someone else said, you should go into kitchen design.

  24. I love the newest, clean and sharp look…the other was cute, too.
    Love the under cabinet lighting…and your colorful backsplash…
    You are the Queen of Making Good Use with what You've Got…and I still love the ICE but mine is a side by side so that one wouldn't work for me. Sooo, you had them remove your cook stove. You use microwave and toaster oven…a grill outside for summer…ya got it made in the shade, smart lady.
    I need to look at your living room. Gosh, a lot of us have followed along in your moves…first from the house, to the blue house and now to your apartment….you are such a trooper and seem to roll with the punches. Bless your heart…we all love you.

    1. Well, thank you BJ! You just have to see that glass as half full. I have my Breville Smart Oven that I bake in, a microwave, an electric skillet, a panini maker, an egg maker and a crock pot. I've pretty much got it covered! I drink a lot of protein smoothies using my blender too.

    1. I had the stove taken out right after I moved in. I didn't use it. And I needed room for my washer/dryer. I have a Breville Smart Oven that I bake in.

  26. HI Brenda! Oh, your kitchen looks wonderful! You've worked so hard on it! I still can't believe you just painted those countertops. Hope they hold up well for you. I love the backsplash and it really does look like tiles. I know you're enjoying the light under your cabinets too!! You did good!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 😉

    1. Shelia, I'd probably paint most anything. Why not try it? Paint is cheap. Those pupsters better stay out of the way of my brush. Usually when I paint, they end up with at least a little on them.

    2. Ok, Brenda, I didn't realize you painted your countertops. I'm getting ready to do the same. We have a very dark and ugly shade of green Formica currently. Marble or butcher block is not in the budget right now, so why not paint? I use cutting boards for food prep anyway. Did you just use regular paint or the rust oleum countertop paint? Then you used a coat of poly? Did you roller or use a brush? Thanks so much for any tips!

  27. Love the light and airy look of the window treatment and the laundry area with the washboards. The lights under the cabinets are great. Everything looks so neat and clean!

    1. I'm pretty clumsy, so I'm glad I put polyurethane over the top surfaces of the counter tops and island.

  31. Brenda, this is so pretty! And the space seems larger now, don't you think? I love the backsplash pattern behind the sink and counter. And your window treatment is lovely.

    You could go into the kitchen design business there where you live. I bet no one else has as pretty and interesting a kitchen there as you do!

    1. No one around here has ever been in my apartment, except for Charlie a couple of times.

  32. I thought I had liked the checkered, but I actually LOVE this one! The area above the washer/dryer/whatever else it does is adorable. And I like the potholder dresses in the fame. Very cute all around!

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