Before and after: our New Orleans apartment kitchen budget makeover

I've shared the story of how one December morning, I found a real estate listing for a modest apartment in the Garden District. That listing became our beloved Petit Coeur, the heart of countless wonderful, warm moments.

The historic building was originally constructed around 1900 to house female nursing students (just down the street from the hospital where I was born!). Inside, the hardwood floors, thick plaster walls, brass knobs, plank stairs, and vintage tile captured my old soul. I deeply prefer old things to new because they bear tangible witness to stories and life. But old things usually come with wear. This is what the kitchen looked like the first time we saw it:

Here's a short list of all the issues I clocked:

• dishwasher removed with the rough space left exposed

• wall cabinets torn off, majorly reducing storage

• wood cabinets dinged and scuffed (and super boring)

• a naked light bulb on a wobbly fan

• peeling stick-on "wallpaper" that looked like crumbling tile (and the job had been abandoned about 2/3 of the way through)

• mustard paint on the vintage pressed tin ceiling (whyyyyyy)

• oh, and bizarre, mismatched partial tiling with crooked lines and unfinished edges

Adjacent was a dining room (if you can call a closet-sized space a "room") with its own issues:

• no storage

• challenging layout

• malfunctioning light fixture

• exposed circuit box

• uncovered windows

Working on a tight budget, I developed a plan to address all of these issues and—way more fun—add some beautiful design. Here's what she looks like now:

First, I knocked out some quick fixes: a new fan; a beautiful striped skirt for the exposed dishwasher cutout; polish and oversized heavyweight brass knobs for the wood cabinets. I chose a matte black fan with a globe light because round shapes soften, angular small spaces and fit any design style from vintage to modern. Matte black is one of the most important budget design choices you can make—it won't look cheap or dated like metallics often do unless you invest a small fortune.

To make the cabinet skirt, I used a tension rod and set of super affordable pre-hemmed café curtains. I lightly sanded and "fed" the cabinets with this product that restores rich color and shine. A tip for cabinet hardware: choose something with heft and substance; the best bang for your design buck is upgrading the things you touch most. The oversized knob shape also adds some character. Use this foolproof tool to drill perfectly centered holes.

Next we pulled off all the mismatched funky stickers and patchy tile to achieve a clean slate. In such a tiny space, I wanted a generous backsplash to protect against inevitable bumped-coffee cup spills, so I designed tiled wall that extended to the floor. I chose the most inexpensive white square tiles with a basic black bullnose border, but even the cheapest tile looks classic if it's rendered in black and white. Black and white also pairs well with every kind of architecture and won't get outdated with any future decor changes. We hired out this project for the sake of speed, but you could easily diy something like this. Pro tip: in a tiny space, keep the tile lines in a straight stack instead of offset—the more your eyes can rest, the roomier a space will feel.

I also very intentionally equipped the kitchen with pretty tools so that they could be left visible. This eliminated the need for more closed storage and added a cozy cottage charm. This petite knife set is insanely good for the price and looks adorable on the wall. I've loved and used these bamboo dish racks for years—they have the same pretty warmth as decorative baskets. I also chose black and white pots, kettles, and utensil holders so they would blend into the background instead of create more busy sight points. The black dish towels are from my favorite store in Paris.

In a stroke of pure providence, I found this incredible handmade table on Facebook Marketplace for $30 (!!!). I love the chunky legs and solid wood, but the real miracle was its length and depth that fit perfectly into the kitchen as an "island." More pretty and functional things live on top, including our favorite French press and these cute rechargeable lamps that are ideal for a room without many outlets (similiar here). Pro tip: I thrifted the brass mirror a million years ago and installed it here 1) to increase the light in a space without windows and 2) to tie in with the brass cabinet hardware. We use it as a Christmas card holder, too.

Finally: paint. Forever and always, paint offers the single greatest design impact on a budget. In a small space without natural light, choose a mid-tone color instead of white or light colors. White and other lights look washed out and dead unless they're flooded with natural light. Mid-tone colors (or even dark colors) bring the space to life. Another tip for a small space: I also drenched every surface—walls, door, casings, and ceiling—in the same color for one running sight line. This trick won't fool you into thinking it's a palace, but it will eliminate choppiness that makes space feel crowded and cramped. This chef's kiss French blue is Sherwin Williams Sleepy Blue.

I hope you take some helpful ideas from our kitchen design. Making a space beautiful and functional on a budget is very achievable with the right planning and choices. Come back next week to see how I problem-solved and designed the dining area.

Subscribe to get the weekly newsletter with exclusive essays and other content.

__________

Contact me. I am a Catholic author, artist, speaker, traveler, and pilgrimage leader.

I'd love to collaborate with you on your next retreat, day of reflection, pilgrimage, trip, or event.