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These seven TikTok-linked and social-creator kitchen makeovers show how paint, peel-and-stick materials, and a few carefully chosen changes can reshape a kitchen without replacing every cabinet. The projects range from a renter-friendly refresh for under $100 to a $7,000 redesign that changes the room’s storage and layout. Their reported budgets and approaches make them useful inspiration—but they are individual projects, not standardized cost estimates.
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What can these kitchen makeovers teach you at a glance?
| Makeover | Reported budget or standout cost | Main change | Commitment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaarin Joy | About $300 for floor tiles and $300 for chandelier materials | Green cabinets, playful details, peel-and-stick floor | DIY color and surface updates |
| Courtney Hierath | About $600 total | Two-tone cabinets, faux Shaker trim, backsplash | DIY refresh with several material changes |
| Rachel Connelly | Under $100 total | Countertop film, backsplash tiles, glass-front stickers | Low-commitment rental update |
| Kasey Repass | About $600 | Painted cabinets and real tile backsplash | DIY painting plus tile installation |
| Sheri Abernathy | $7,000 total; bookcases $200 each | Removed upper cabinets and added open shelving | Broader layout and surface changes |
| Kathleen Martin | Under $2,000 | Blue paint scheme, stenciled floor, added dishwasher | Paint-led DIY with an appliance addition |
| Rachel Motola | $250 total; counter film under $20 | Pink backsplash, counter film, painted floors | Small-space, largely reversible color experiment |
Budgets and item costs are owner-reported figures in Apartment Therapy’s project accounts, not comparable estimates. Figures checked November 2026; publication dates are not available for every account.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →1. How did Kaarin Joy give a plain kitchen colorful diner energy?
Kaarin Joy made color the organizing idea rather than treating it as an accent. In her builder-grade Texas home, she and her husband painted the cabinets Sherwin-Williams Mesclun Green and the walls Extra White, then added a green wall squiggle, cereal-bowl wall art, a DIY resin-spoon chandelier, peel-and-stick floor tiles, an IKEA dining table, and fruit-shaped stools. The result followed her aim for a “colorful diner vibe.” Apartment Therapy’s account of Joy’s makeover reports about $300 for the floor tiles and about $300 for chandelier materials.
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For painters, the useful idea is the way a bold cabinet color is balanced by white walls and repeated green details. The accessories reinforce the palette, so the cabinets do not have to carry the entire room alone. Joy’s advice was to prioritize joy and work gradually: she said a space need not be transformed immediately, and that taking a month to make changes is an option. Her project is a reminder to price materials separately and account for the DIY labor that makes a low-cost makeover possible.
2. What makes Courtney Hierath’s $600 two-tone kitchen feel so different?
Courtney Hierath replaced a dated combination of buttermilk-yellow walls and dark wood cabinets with a brighter, more graphic scheme. Her approximately $600 DIY project used peel-and-stick backsplash tile, pine trim glued to cabinet fronts to suggest Shaker-style panels, white upper cabinets, Behr Eastern Bamboo green lower cabinets, black hardware, a commercial-style pull-down faucet, black track lighting, and bamboo blinds. Apartment Therapy’s makeover report gives the project budget and materials.
The two-tone treatment divides the color decision: green anchors the lower half while white keeps the upper cabinets light. Trim added to flat fronts changes their appearance without replacing the doors, and black details repeat across hardware and lighting. Hierath said she wanted something bold and fun that would complement the white. If you adapt the approach, decide first which elements should repeat—color, dark accents, or natural materials—so the result feels intentional rather than like a collection of unrelated purchases.
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3. Which renter-friendly changes made Rachel Connelly’s kitchen feel new for under $100?
Rachel Connelly and her husband refreshed a 1930s rental without painting its cabinets, which the landlord prohibited. They used patterned privacy-film stickers on the glass cabinet fronts, swapped white knobs for brass marketplace finds, covered the laminate counter with wood-grain peel-and-stick film, and applied off-white peel-and-stick backsplash tiles over a beige backsplash. The reported total was under $100. Apartment Therapy’s report on the rental makeover describes the materials and constraints.
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Connelly said the countertop made the biggest difference. That is a useful lesson in prioritization: a large, visually prominent surface may change the room’s impression more than several small decorative purchases. The project also demonstrates the value of checking restrictions before choosing a finish. Film and stickers avoid cabinet paint, but they are still applied materials; renters should confirm what their lease permits and whether removal is expected before installing them. Do not assume a product is residue-free or approved for every surface simply because it is peel-and-stick.
4. How did Kasey Repass update a kitchen that felt “stuck in 2007”?
Kasey Repass tackled orange-oak cabinets and dark beige walls with about $600 in DIY work. She painted the cabinets Magnolia Embossed Leather and installed a light-blue square-tile backsplash with grout. In Apartment Therapy’s account of the project, she identifies cabinet painting as the change that made the biggest difference.
Repass’s preparation advice is especially relevant if painting cabinets is on your list: clean and scuff-sand every surface, use liquid sandpaper in hard-to-reach areas, and choose the correct sheen. She also recommends comparing paint swatches before committing and ordering tile samples. Those steps help you assess the color and material in your actual kitchen before committing to a full surface. A sample is not a substitute for following the paint manufacturer’s preparation and application instructions, but it can help avoid choosing a shade or tile that clashes with the room’s light and existing finishes.
Her project also illustrates a practical difference between paint and tile. Cabinet paint changes the look of a large existing surface; a real tile backsplash introduces a separate installation task, including grout. If you want the visual effect but not the added installation, consider whether a removable backsplash treatment fits your space and rules.
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5. Why did Sheri Abernathy’s $7,000 project change more than the color?
Sheri Abernathy’s 20-year-old builder-grade kitchen had orange-toned maple cabinets, tan tile floors, laminate counters, and a cramped microwave wall. For a reported $7,000, she painted the cabinets Amy Howard Home One-Step Paint in Graphite, removed upper cabinets, installed two clearance maple bookcases at $200 each, added rechargeable sconces and a white tile backsplash, replaced the floor with laminate wood-plank flooring, and added butcher-block counters and new hardware. Apartment Therapy’s project report says Abernathy estimated that painting rather than replacing cabinet doors saved her more than $10,000.
This is the most substantial redesign in the group because it changes storage and the wall arrangement, not just the surfaces. Removing upper cabinets can create an open-shelf display and make a cramped area feel different, but it also means giving up enclosed storage. Abernathy’s two bookcases became part of the solution; she called the open shelving one of her favorite parts. Before copying the idea, consider what you currently store in upper cabinets and where it would go. A visual gain can create a practical trade-off.
The project is also a useful example of allocating budget: paint preserved existing cabinet doors, while counters, flooring, lighting, backsplash, and storage received investment. The reported savings are Abernathy’s account, not a general estimate for every kitchen; replacement costs vary with the room and chosen materials.
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6. How did Kathleen Martin use blue paint to unify a kitchen under $2,000?
Kathleen Martin wanted more counter space, a dishwasher, and a brighter design. Her under-$2,000 project painted oak cabinets and trim Fusion Mineral Paint Champness, painted the ceiling Clare’s Good Jeans, and gave the refrigerator and dishwasher a blue finish. She painted the backsplash white and emphasized the grout lines with a dark-gray paint pen, then stenciled the linoleum floor white and gray and sealed it. Much of the work was DIY, according to Apartment Therapy’s account of Martin’s makeover.
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Martin’s approach shows how a palette can connect surfaces that might otherwise seem mismatched: blue appears on cabinets, ceiling, and appliances, while the white backsplash and patterned floor provide contrast. It also makes the distinction between a cosmetic refresh and a functional upgrade. Her goals included a dishwasher and more countertop space, not simply a different color. When planning your own version, list the functional problems alongside the visual ones; a color scheme cannot create more usable counter area by itself.
Her floor treatment depended on stenciling and sealing existing linoleum. Surface preparation and product compatibility matter for any painted floor, so check that a chosen coating is intended for the substrate and follow its directions, including curing and sealing requirements. The source gives the project’s broad approach and budget but does not provide a universal floor-paint specification.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.7. What can Rachel Motola’s 35-square-foot makeover teach small-kitchen owners?
Rachel Motola transformed a 35-square-foot New York City kitchen with marble-look contact paper on the counters, light-pink peel-and-stick backsplash tile, a replacement faucet, and painted floors. The reported makeover cost was $250, and the countertop contact paper cost less than $20. Apartment Therapy’s account of the small-kitchen makeover describes the project as a reversible color experiment.
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How should you choose a makeover approach for your own kitchen?
Start by matching the project to the condition of the room, your permission to alter it, and the amount of change you actually need. The seven examples point to different levels of commitment rather than a single best formula.
- For a rental or a low-commitment update: Connelly’s under-$100 project uses film, stickers, knobs, and peel-and-stick tile instead of cabinet paint. Confirm landlord rules first and check how a material can be removed from your specific surface.
- For a paint-led color transformation: Joy, Repass, and Martin show how cabinet paint can carry a new palette. Preparation, surface compatibility, and color sampling deserve attention before buying enough paint for the whole room.
- For a more finished backsplash: Repass used real tile and grout; other projects used peel-and-stick tile. These are different installation commitments, so choose based on the finish you want, your skill, and the rules or conditions of the home.
- For storage or layout problems: Abernathy’s open shelving changed where items were stored as well as how the kitchen looked. Decide what you will lose or gain functionally before removing cabinets.
- For a small kitchen: Motola’s project favors color and surface treatments rather than a large layout change. Precise measurements and extra tile matter when every cut affects a short run.
For painting projects, use a basic planning sequence:
- Photograph the room and make a mood board. Record existing colors, surfaces, and the visual problem you want to solve before shopping.
- Confirm permission. Check landlord rules before painting cabinets or attaching film, tile, or other materials.
- Prepare and sample. Clean and scuff-sand cabinet surfaces as appropriate, test color and sheen, and follow the selected paint’s label for compatible surfaces and application.
- Measure and order thoughtfully. Measure counters and backsplash runs before purchasing film or tile; order tile samples and extra material for cuts and mistakes.
- Separate cosmetic work from higher-skill work. Painting and decorative updates differ from plumbing, electrical work, demolition, or structural changes. Treat the latter as higher-skill tasks and seek qualified help where needed.
- Budget materials and labor separately. These makeovers are largely DIY, but the reported totals do not establish a standard market cost or consistently account for labor.
How were these seven makeovers selected?
This roundup follows the seven kitchen transformations documented in the supplied Apartment Therapy reports, with priority given to the variety of approaches readers can learn from: renter-friendly film and stickers, cabinet painting, backsplash choices, bold color, small-space updates, and a project that changes storage and layout. The order moves from color-led and low-cost refreshes toward broader interventions; it is not a ranking of quality. Apartment Therapy explicitly links TikTok for Kaarin Joy, Rachel Connelly, and Rachel Motola; the other featured creators are presented through Instagram or broader social profiles, so “TikTok-linked and social-creator makeovers” is the more precise description for the group.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do the makeover budgets include the value of the owners’ labor?
The reports describe these as DIY projects, but they do not provide a consistent accounting of labor across all seven budgets. Treat the figures as reported project amounts, not as a quote for hiring a contractor.
Can I paint kitchen cabinets without sanding them?
The cabinet-painting advice in these projects emphasizes cleaning and scuff-sanding, with liquid sandpaper suggested for difficult areas. Surface and paint requirements vary, so follow the coating manufacturer’s preparation instructions rather than assuming sanding can be skipped.
How much extra peel-and-stick tile should I buy?
The reports do not give a universal percentage or quantity. Measure the backsplash and floor as separate areas, account for cuts and obstacles, and order extra; Motola specifically ran short on both her floor and backsplash tile.
Are these makeovers evidence that a kitchen renovation will increase home value?
No. These are editorial before-and-after accounts and owner-reported project figures, not studies of resale value or return on investment. Use them for design and project-planning ideas, not as a prediction of what a renovation will add to a home’s price.
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