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Welcome to Show the Receipts. In this series, we ask interesting people to share exactly how much it costs to do their work. No matter the task, we track every last penny from start to finish. Next up is a DIY remodel of the kitchen.
Renovating your kitchen as a renter can seem like a hassle, especially when you consider the cost, potential damage to the property, and realistic planning.
When I first moved into a one-bedroom apartment in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, I was excited about the space, but I also really wanted to modernize the outdated kitchen. The ’60s linoleum flooring and barn-style latches on the cabinets left me with a lot to complain about, not to mention the old white refrigerator that glared at me. They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, and I found that to be true. Tweaking the kitchen has infused a sense of joy and livability throughout the apartment.
I’m not the only one venturing into the DIY home space these days. DIY projects in the home space have skyrocketed over the past few years. The National Association of Realtors estimated that Americans spent an average of $420 billion on home improvements in 2020, with 22 percent of those completed to help homeowners manage costs.
A report published by Houzz this year highlighted the kitchen as the top space for upgrades among homeowners. However, many report having difficulty sticking to a budget, with 39% citing rising costs of materials and products as a significant issue during renovations.
We faced several challenges in meeting our budget to remodel our kitchen for less than $1,000. I felt I needed to scale back my original large plans and settle on something that was cost effective and easy to accomplish with little to no remodeling skills on my part.
Task: Renovate the kitchen
Occupation: Freelance writer
Location: Chicago
Schedule: 2 months
receipt
Custom kitchen mat: $441
New spice organizer: $40
Pan rack: $51
Refrigerator decal: $100
New cabinet knobs: $225
Total: $857
how did you do it
where you splurged
I spent several weeks thinking about how to redo the flooring in my kitchen. Unfortunately, we were unable to ask the landlord to replace the floor. The linoleum tiles used were made before the 80’s and are likely to contain asbestos. They cost thousands of dollars to remove and pose health risks. I briefly considered temporary floor tiles, but quickly realized they weren’t practical or durable for high-traffic areas or areas exposed to water.
Eventually, I found a reasonable solution. Custom size V-mat kitchen floor mat ($400). To ensure a perfect fit, I measured my kitchen floor with a tape measure and it was 83 inches long and 45 inches wide. I chose a stylish chevron marble style mat made from durable, water-resistant vinyl that is easy to clean. This simple fix transformed our kitchen and allowed us to completely cover the floor without damaging the surfaces below. This was one of my main concerns.
Affordability adjustments that have a big impact
A thorough organizational overhaul can significantly refresh the look of every space in your home. I incorporated a sophisticated silver bread rack to keep my spices organized. Instead of scattering spices haphazardly around the microwave, they are now neatly arranged on Umbra’s Bellwood Lazy Susan Countertop Spice Rack ($40).
To supplement this, I found a much-needed bread rack organizer like this one on Amazon. The 2-tier pot rack comes with 10 hanging hooks, perfect for holding a variety of pots and pans. For just $51, it adds a seamless, modern appeal to my kitchen. Installation required drilling holes in the wall, but this can be easily repaired with wall putty.
look for creative solutions
My plain white refrigerator was making the whole kitchen look bad, so I looked for a creative solution to improve the look without having to replace it. My options were limited, but I finally found an Etsy shop that offers stylish refrigerator decals. My eye was glued to the Gold Ginkgo Leaf ($65-$242) design, confident that it would totally revitalize the exterior.
However, applying the decal was a little difficult and I had to trim some of the vinyl to get it to fit the fridge perfectly. The decals are basically large stickers, so I applied them by gently smoothing each part by hand, being careful not to introduce any air bubbles.
Trust your inner handyman
The most complex task I tackled on this kitchenette renovation was replacing the hideous barn-style latches with new knobs, which transformed my kitchen to a whole new level. We combined Emtek’s high-end knobs with Amazon’s affordable knobs. For the pull-out cabinet drawers, I used Emtek’s Knurled Cabinet Pulls (flat black, $25 each, 4 total). For the upper cabinets, I chose Emtek’s Cadet Cabinet Knobs (1 ¾ inch, $10 each, 10 total). The color is also flat black. Finally, I attached Ravinte Cabinet Pulls ($21) from Amazon to the lower cabinets. For installation, I used a cordless drill set and ordered Dewalt’s 3/16-inch titanium nitride-coated drill bits ($4) to install each knob.
final thoughts
Renovating this space to stay within budget and keeping it as renter-friendly as possible was certainly a challenge. There were a lot of things I wanted to add, but I was worried it wouldn’t work or would cost me money when I moved out. I learned that I shouldn’t feel pressured to build the “perfect” home, or one that seems unattainable in my current life. Instead, focus on making small, impactful changes that will help enhance the spirit and atmosphere of the place you call home.
Jada Jackson is a Chicago-based freelance journalist specializing in fashion, beauty, identity, and culture. She is passionate about covering stories that showcase Black creatives and the Black experience from a global perspective. Her work can be seen in publications such as Vogue Business, Allure, Teen Vogue, and South China Morning Post.
