How to Spruce Up Your Rental Kitchen

from: http://www.realsimple.com/http://www.realsimple.com/

Rent to Own.ph: Personalizing your kitchen, even if it's not your own, is easy with these simple, affordable ideas.

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Paint

“Since the kitchen is the heart of the home, and the room that probably gets the most use, nothing says fresh like a quick coat of paint,” says interior designer Sam Allen. “Unless you select some crazy color, most landlords would be okay with your painting project, especially if you’re willing to paint it back before you move out.” If your landlord approves and you plan on living there for a while, you can take it one step further and revamp those dull kitchen cabinets with a new paint color as well.

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Add Accents

If you don’t want to take on a DIY project, you can still dramatically change the feel of your kitchen by adding accessories. “Using indoor-outdoor rugs is my favorite way to add a bit of color and pattern. They can be coordinated with dishtowels, teapots, or storage containers,” says interior designerAbbe Fenimore. And try bringing a touch of nature indoors. “Display both decorative and edible plants in your kitchen to add a happy vibe,” says interior stylist and author Jason Grant.

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Organize

A cluttered counter can make an already drab space look worse. “Remove everything from your counters (except for daily essentials) and corral it all on a tray for maximum tidiness,” says interior designer Timothy Brown. Invest in stylish kitchen organizing products, like containers or drawer dividers. To free up cabinet space, hang pots and pans from a wall rack, or install a pegboard with hooks to store cookware and essentials, suggest interior designers Jennifer Beek Hunter and Georgie Hambright.

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Put Up (Temporary) Wallpaper 

“I’ve used decal wallpaper above the counters to fake a geometric backsplash,” says interior designer Cece Barfield. “It was a fun decorative detail and didn’t leave a permanent mark.” You can choose from different designs on sites like Etsy, CB2, orBed Bath and Beyond.

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Swap Out Hardware

“An easy way to customize a rental kitchen is by changing the knobs and pulls of your cabinets and drawers,” says interior designer Trip Haenisch. To avoid losing your security deposit, keep the original hardware so you can re-install it before you move out.

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Add Extra Storage 

Haenisch suggests investing in arolling kitchen island with a butcher-block surface. This way, you have more cooking space but can also easily move it out of the way. Hunter and Hambright also suggest adding a small cart or hutch to store your small appliances, knife block, wine bottles, and cookbooks. This helps clear out your counters and add much needed space.

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Disguise an Ugly Fridge

You might not be able to do anything about the vintage fridge in your rental, but you don’t have to live with it either. Interior designer Sara Story suggests covering the offending door with removable wallpaper—or drape it with happy mementos. “Sticky 9 is an awesome website that will turn your Instagram photos into square prints,” says Barfield. “Use these to make a collage of your favorite pics.”

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Hang Artwork

“If you have a blank wall in your kitchen, hang a large-scale art piece to create a focal point,” says Fenimore. If you can’t choose just one favorite, try the gallery wall technique. “Frame everything in the same type of frame with a mat, so that the collection feels clean. West Elm has great frames already fitted with mats,” says Barfield.

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Install Decorative Lighting

There’s nothing worse than dim fluorescent lighting in the kitchen—it’ll make you never want to cook. “You’ll need an electrician to change out an overhead fixture, but it’s relatively straightforward and can really transform the vibe of a space,” says Story. Just make sure to hang onto the original piece, so you can put it back when it’s time to move, Allen advises. If that seems like too much work, try adding table lamps, plug-in sconces, or battery-operated task lighting. Wayfair has a ton of attractive options.

Upscale 48sq meter Mini Loft

from: http://www.architizer.com

Rent To Own: Clean lines, hidden storage and teak panels five this small apartment a classy ambiance!

Dorsinville Apartment #1
New York City

Located in one of those ubiquitous post war white brick co-op buildings, this one bed room apartment on first site had nothing to recommend it except for its unobstructed view across Chelsea to downtown Manhattan and what was an incredible view of the twin towers. The one bedroom was originally a studio, which had been converted using an absurdly thin wall to divide the bedroom from the living room, and surprisingly divided the panorama window and the HV/AC unit in two.

As with previous projects, we conceived of the design for this apartment as a mini loft, however, this time we wanted to abstract the perception between public and private space. The size of the apartment presented the challenge of obscuring the necessary domestic possessions, its 520 sq ft had to be tailor made for the client with a place for everything and everything in its place. Storage space became the method by which architectural space was defined.  

  

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Sneaky Tips For Small Space Living

from: http://www.listotic.com/

Rent to Own.ph: There are so many ways to make small spaces livable. The list of tips and tricks gets fresh ideas all the time!

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Small Space Dining

No room for a dining room table? Use a console table at the end of a couch in a living area that’s next to the kitchen. It doubles as a place to eat, craft, rest, and work! This would also be a convenient place to set a drink down while you’re on the couch.

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Between The Studs

Small homes and apartments don’t typically have a lot of storage space. Even finding a place for the broom can be challenging! This is where taking advantage of the wall space in between the studs in your walls comes handy. I’ve seen this done in closets for jewelry, bathrooms for small toiletries, kitchens for spices, and laundry rooms for brooms and mops.

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Large Mirrors

No matter the space (big or small), mirrors can completely transform a room. Not only do they create more light, they also give the illusion that the room is much larger than it really is. It’s also a fabulous way to decorate!

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Corner Nightstand

You might not have room for a nightstand, but a small corner shelf can at least give you a place to put a small lamp, store a book or two, keep your chap stick near by (hehe), and charge your phone or tablet.

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Under Bed Storage

Using the space under your bed for storage is a no-brainer, but what if you could make your very own rolling bed drawers to make getting to your things a little easier! Just be sure to get plastic bins that are at least 2 inches shorter than the bottom of your bed frame.

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Ottoman Bed

This is one of the most creative small space solutions I think I’ve ever seen! Even if you’re not hurting for space, this would come in so handy when you have more guests than you could otherwise sleep. This convertible ottoman is simply a slip cover that goes over the bed when it’s not in use. Clever!

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Tiered Counter Storage

Just like with homes and buildings, where there is no room, build up! For small bathroom or kitchen counters, consider a tiered tray to hold all of the essentials without taking up as much room on the counter.

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DIY Slide-Out Cabinet

If you have any narrow spaces in your kitchen that aren’t being lived up to their full potential, consider a DIY pull-out cabinet that will keep your kitchen essentials convenient without taking much space! Look at how many cans, jars, and spices this one holds– almost an entire pantry’s worth!

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Small-Space Command Center

Having a centralized spot in the home where everyone can go to check the calendar, see what’s for dinner, or make notes is a great way for a family to stay organized, and that’s all you need is a small wall or corner of the home. I love the way this command center was done by Jenna Burger over at BHG. 

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Curtain Separation

For siblings that share a room, consider using curtains to separate their space while still leaving a nice open feel. This also looks nice in a studio apartment to separate the living area from the bed. This is an easy room divider solution, especially if you can’t do any construction as a renter.

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Over-The-Cabinet Basket

No hardware needed! Just place this basket over a cabinet door and use it as a garbage bin in the bathroom or for extra storage in the kitchen (or any room). This might also be the perfect solution for a travel trailer or boat where space is really limited!

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Over-The-Faucet Shelf

I’m starting to think that there is a shelf made for everything! Even something as simple as using the air space over your faucet might just provide the extra counter space you need.

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Sliding Walls

Too many walls in a small home can make it seem even smaller, but what if you had the versatility of a wall that you could slide open or closed based on your needs? Keep it shut when you need the privacy or quiet time, but then simply slide it open to create a larger, open space for entertaining.