Budget Kitchen Makeover at the Airbnb

From dull and dark to happy and bright on a tiny budget.

A super affordable kitchen update.  My favorite kind!  The budget is small when you're working with an investment property, and our new airbnb property is no exception.  We purchased this 100 year old beauty after someone had updated it to flip it, but the kitchen was an update from the late 90's.  Bad lighting from a ceiling fan that was too large, dark cabinets and tiled countertops were a dark khaki green. 

To get this look I used only 3 different paints and changed out the lighting.  Paint #1 (in two colors), was for the cabinets, which are painted with Valspar cabinet paint from Lowes, and I used the same paint to go over the copper colored backsplash.   OH wait!  I used 4 paints! I forgot the primer.  I did a light hand sanding on the cabinets and used a primer first.

​Paint #2 was a tub and tile paint I used to go over the dark tile and grout (wear a respirator!).  We've used this many times, including redoing entire tubs, and it works great!

And paint #3 was rustoleum spray paint in a gold that I used for all the copper hardware.  I just HAD to put gold with that beautiful blue!  ​​

Chris installed the new school house style lights and it made a huge change!  I've used this style in other spaces, including our flip house.  They are a "vintage style" but look great in more modern spaces too.  An update to the little breakfast nook, adding bamboo shade and more open airy light made from hemp twine, make it  more casual and I think our Airbnb guests will enjoy eating there.

I think the changes are simple but make a big impact and now I"m on a mission to figure out where I can use that blue in my house.  There's got to be a wall somewhere! 

​

I added the schoolhouse style lights to my Amazon Favorites shop, under "renovations/diy".  Just select "Amazon Faves" at the top of this page!