My Renter Friendly Kitchen Upgrades with Behr Paint

So. You’ve probably been wondering where in the heck I’ve been on the design front over the past few weeks. I’ve been here! Chained to my  computer and running back and forth to Home Depot downtown to plan two room makeovers. If I was a meme, I would be this one // here // I am so totally pleased to announced that Behr Paint has asked to work with me on their new challenge called Splurge vs. Save in which bloggers are provided with a 1000$ budget to redo a space from top to bottom.

*Behr Paint sponsored this post, but all thoughts are my own.  Thank you for supporting the brands that make PMQ for two possible.

Now here’s the rub. We’re renters, and I can’t very well paint my kitchen cabinets and re-do the floor plan. If I could, I would have already done it, trust me. Instead, I proposed that I split the budget in two and re-do two spaces instead of one. Today I’m unveiling my plans for our updated kitchen, and tomorrow I’m sharing our plans for an updated bathroom on the main floor. You can see what the bathroom currently looks like // here //.

The kitchen is a mystery space though! I haven’t shared more than a few tight shots as part of seasonal tours, and nothing in great detail. For good reason. I literally cried when I first saw this PMQ because of the kitchen. You can read all about our HHT last spring // here //. Basically, I was not prepared for such a small space with dark cabinets. It has been rather hard to work around the very dark space in the middle of our otherwise bright and colourful living space on the main floor.

I can’t do much to change the cabinets or countertops (sample picture above????????), because as renters, I’d have to re-do everything when we move. The kitchen is also brand-new as far as PMQ kitchens go. Instead, I’ve spent HOURS if not days on Pinterest and blogs, looking for inspiriation on how to make the space mine. Like, really mine, and I think I’ve got it.

The plan is to work around the dark wood and embrace the suck. I’ve assembled the images and spaces that inspired me so that you can get a better idea of where we’re going with this, and then added my product board for those of you that are curious!

The Peckham Rye Kitchen by deVOL Kitchens // here // was the final nail in the coffin of this kitchen design. Basically, this kitchen’s fate was sealed once I saw this space on Pinterest a few months ago. I had to have it. Everything. It’s also the reason we’re going for brushed brass pulls and knobs from the Home Depot in the space.

It’s not every day you see a space and it makes you rethink your colour of choice. To be honest, this is what started me down my green path! I’m only just now catching-up too.

 

This shot from The Remodelista // here // is the source of inspiration for what will be our faux-marble backsplash behind the stove. Once again, we can’t tile and there are too many outlets and panels to easily do what we did in the bathroom upstairs // here //. Instead, we’ll be using contact paper and some MDF to create the illusion for a fraction of the cost. Trust me,  I would do marble if I could.

We’ll also be adding a bead board panel on the only open wall in the small galley kitchen. It’s going to solve a few issues for us, and you’ll see why! Needless to say, I’m glad I’m working with Behr & the Home Depot on these room makeovers, because paint is literally the key to transforming spaces as renters.

Because the main floor has an open floor-plan, this space will feed directly into our family room which you can see in greater detail // here // it’s also why we’re leaning towards using the green that’s un the back of the bookshelves, as the green in the kitchen. Consistency is the name of the game friends, so with that in mind we’re off to the races!

 

Art // Picture Light // Bead Board // Premium Plus Ultra // Hosta Leaf MQ6-09 // Marble Contact Paper * // Brass Switch Plates // Brass Knobs // Brass Handles

*Sold in stores, but not listed online
I am so so excited to get going in this space! In true PMQ for two fashion, DH and I will be tackling all of this over a weekend. I could try it during the week, but we move so much faster as a team, and he’s only available starting Friday evening. So come Friday at 5pm you’ll find us dry-fiting pieces and painting them for installation the next day.