Ok. This is our kitchen.
Well, not literally our kitchen. I got this photo off of our apartment complex's website. I Photoshopped out some of the unnecessary frou frou that some "stylist" put on the counters for staging. I've got my own frou frou (my wooden kitchen angel I bought in Kenya, the "VINO" sign that sits next to her on the back of the stove), but my kitchen isn't camera ready right now. Just know that this is pretty much what it looks like. It's not the worst kitchen in the world, as apartment kitchens go. It's not a tiny galley kitchen. It's not closed off from the rest of the apartment. It's not hideous colors. So no complaints there.
If this were my very own kitchen to do with as I please, I would paint the walls, paint the cabinets, replace the counters, replace the floors... But this is not my very own. And I'm not allowed to paint. At all. And as it turns out, we will not be selling our house in Nebraska that we've had on the market for a few months. We will be renting it, which means that we will continue renting an apartment here in Colorado until we can save a hefty down payment for a house. Thus the very average kitchen. And I don't think I'm average, when it comes to my home. For some reason, I always have to do something different.
So here is the challenge: make this space not boring in a way that is in no way permanent. My solution?
Contact paper.
Yes, contact paper. But not the orange & yellow & avocado floral variety from the 70s. Not the typical "wood grain" variety, either. Have you heard that they're making the stuff in Chalkboard?? Chalkboard on a roll, with a sticky back! It comes 18 inches wide and 6 feet long. As long as it doesn't damage the walls (I've been researching in blogtown), I'm going for it.
But wait...did I forget to mention the stainless steel look contact paper? They make that, too! Oh, the possibilities. Both of them you can get all over. For sure on Amazon. I saw the stainless steel stuff at Home Depot today.
I've been kinda inspired by this post from apartmenttherapy.com about fridge modifications.
I took the liberty of mocking up several combinations of chalkboard/stainless steel looks in this kitchen.
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| original - no modifications |
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| Chalkboard back splash ( added at utensil rail over the range. Can I do that??) |
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| Chalkboard back splash and cabinets |
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| Stainless steel back splash and chalkboard cabinets |
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| Stainless steel back splash and chalkboard fridge |
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| Stainless steel and chalkboard back splash and chalkboard cabinets |
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| Stainless steel and chalkboard back splash and chalkboard fridge |
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| Too much chalkboard! |
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| Thought I'd try another style of contact paper... |
You know, I wouldn't necessarily have to attach the contact paper directly to the wall. I could use luan plywood or some other light-weight surface. Maybe I could attach that with sticky tack. Is that tacky? ??
Or I could use these wall panels from Ikea. They are supposed to go up with a rail system. Not sure if that would work in this kitchen, but I'll see - when Colorado's very first Ikea opens in July! I'm a little giddy about it.
What do you think? Which one do you like best? Or should I scrap the idea all together? What are your ideas for non-permanent changes??
4 comments:
I love the chalkboard ideas. I never knew there was such a thing and think it's great. Go for it. Can't wait to see the final product.
I think at least doing the backsplash and the frig is a good start! the ideas are so fun too play with. and your kitchen is a nice size for an apartment. it's the same size as the one in our duplex... don't they all know we're gourmet cooks??? lol. can't wait to see what all you do with yours... i'm not planning much with mine, because we only plan to be in the duplex a year.
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What a fabulous idea! It looks like fun! Have a beautiful weekend, Kellie xx
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