
18. This Philadelphia Apartment Makeover is Inspiring
We don’t get to see the “before” photos of this apartment, but I wanted to include it, because this is a perfect example of how great taste in art and clever item placing can totally transform a space, even if your security deposit prevents you from making a lot of changes. Zoe Rayn and her boyfriend Eddie Russel live together in an apartment in Philadelphia. The building was from the 1920’s, and it was filled with wood and dark colors. They kept the older door knobs, since they loved the 1920’s character, but colored the apartment white. Instead of trying to change the original characteristics of the building, they embraced the architecture and felt grateful for the natural light it provided.

They added modern furniture, which was a great blend of old and new. Much of what they bought in the apartment was from Ikea, or thrift stores. And the artwork isn’t expensive, with most of them being posters in frames. But one of the most noticeable transformations was their kitchen. The landlord gave them permission to swap out the dark wooden cabinets for open shelving. Along the back wall where the cabinets used to be, they created a blue and white stripe pattern, which looks like wallpaper. Just looking at the photo, you can imagine what the small apartment kitchen must have looked like before, and how much of a difference their creativity made in the space. If you want to see the full budget and product list for this makeover, click here.