Kitchen Makeover: 10 Real Stories with Before and After Photos

Renovation in a rented Khrushchev-era apartment

This renovation was done by a girl, a novice designer, with her own hands. The oil paint on the walls had to be covered with sand concrete and then putty, since the old coating was difficult to remove. The tiles on the apron are painted with durable alkyd paint.

Instead of wall cabinets, rails and an open shelf made of furniture board were used. A mini-fridge and microwave fit into a wooden shelving unit. The window between the kitchen and bathroom was left untouched so that natural light could enter the bathroom. Ordinary lamps serve as illumination of the work surface.

Kitchen in pistachio tones

In this project, the old kitchen set was integrated into the new environment, but the apron was replaced: instead of mosaic, bright tiles were used, harmonizing with the new color of the walls. A round mirror was used to disguise the mosaic above the table, which began to look out of place. Moldings were added.

The glass rectangular table was replaced with a round one to smooth out the corners and free up space. The microwave oven was removed down to open up the view from the window. We replaced the stove and hung a shelf above the apron, and hid the small refrigerator under the hob.

A kitchen with a Scandinavian character

The apartment with high ceilings was bought by a young couple in an old building. The design was created independently, in accordance with the favorite style of the new owners.

During the renovation, both the furniture and the decoration were replaced. The walls were painted white so that the cream facades would seem to dissolve in space, reflecting the light and not overloading the kitchen. The hob, oven and chairs with graphite-colored velvet upholstery served as contrasts. Mustard-yellow accents added brightness. All horizontal surfaces have a wood texture, including the window sill.

A kitchen for an art lover

This 7 sq m kitchen is located in a one-room apartment. Previously, it was an unremarkable “grandmother’s option”.

The new owner, a young girl, loves avant-garde painting, which served as the motive for choosing the apron. The rest of the space is less active: a white kitchen set, an artificial stone countertop, and the walls become a background for contrasting elements.

The special feature of the interior is the dining table, which is an extension of the windowsill. Only 3 people can sit at it, but it is extremely practical, as it saves space.

From a pink kitchen to a stylish dining room

The owner of this kitchen does not cook very often, but loves to receive guests. The addition of the room made the kitchen much more spacious. It housed a dining table with chairs and a living room. The trim, pipes and sink were completely replaced. The previous set was old, so IKEA modules with custom-made fronts were used instead. The apron and countertop were tiled with the same tiles.

The main feature of the kitchen is the wall painted emerald. It adds visual depth to the room and goes perfectly with wood-toned furniture.

Kitchen renovation in a Khrushchev-era building

Another example of expanding the space at the expense of the room. Since the kitchen is gasified, a sliding partition with doors from a sliding wardrobe is provided between the rooms.

A storage water heater is located right under the ceiling, and below is a low refrigerator. The structure is masked by the facade, so it looks integral. The sink was installed near the window, since the radiator was already missing when the apartment was purchased. Instead, there was a heating pipe, which was painted the same color as the wall: this allowed us to avoid constructing a massive box.

The lighting in the kitchen was organized using spotlights, since the ceiling in the Khrushchev building is only 2.5 m. The TV on the bracket can be turned both towards the kitchen and towards the living room.

Kitchen with a bar counter

The owner of this apartment has created an incredibly cozy kitchen-living room. Subtle natural colors are used, the refrigerator is built into the wood-textured furniture. There is not much space for cooking, but the windowsill serves as additional space. The hob consists of two burners, which also saves valuable space.

Instead of a dining table, there is a bar counter that divides the room into zones. The solid wood countertop is treated with protective oil, it is beautiful and pleasant to the touch. The radiator is spray-painted to match the wall color: thanks to this, there was no need to install a protective screen that would “eat up” space.

Loft plus minimalism

The “before” photo shows that the kitchen takes up part of the living room and cannot boast of its dimensions. The facades in the new kitchen do not have handles, and are slightly lighter in color than the gray walls, so the kitchen looks stylish and laconic. The walls are covered with high-quality paint, including the apron, which can be washed.

The brickwork is real, it gives the interior texture. The industrial style is also traced through the use of wood: the window sills and tabletop are made of heat-treated birch and varnished. A concrete beam was left under the ceiling: it was cleaned and also varnished.

Kitchen-dining room in a one-room apartment

This interior belongs to a middle-aged couple who dreamed of a bright dining room. The elongated room was zoned using different floor coverings: tiles and solid wood boards. The kitchen furniture was arranged in the shape of the letter “G” and all the necessary appliances were installed.

Thanks to the lilac apron, which distracts from the massive set, the kitchen-dining room turned out stylish and cheerful.

New kitchen with a green accent

The owners of the apartment are travel enthusiasts, and they tried to reflect their hobby in the interior. The old kitchen was not very attractive, so it was completely dismantled and added to the living room.

Tiles with ethnic patterns were used as an apron. Its shade harmoniously echoes the color of the dining table, beige walls and rug. The kitchen set is the latest fashion, two-color.

The decor is modern, but with bright details that give it originality.

These stories prove that even a small kitchen area is not an obstacle to creating a comfortable, beautiful and cozy space.