Before and After: White Rental Kitchen, Transformed The New York Times 12.10.2009

Did you see the rental kitchen (well, whole apartment, really) in The New York Times that was transformed by its tenants? They received a substantial reduction in rent and a long-term lease in exchange for renovating their Brooklyn apartment. Take a look at this kitchen before the renovation!

As renters, we are always avidly interested in stories of other renters making a decision to renovate their home. Depending on your situation and your rent agreement, sometimes it's worth it to put some work and investment into a rental home.

This couple, Todd and Marlene Capron, totally renovated this 700-sf Brooklyn apartment, paying special attention to the kitchen. They used IKEA cabinets and countertop, although they did modify the countertop and lighten it with a white stain. The used LACK shelves, too.

We love the final result; it's very inspiring to those of us who live with kitchens that look a lot more like the before shot!

• Read the full story: Renovating a Rental as if It Were Their Own

(Images: Todd and Marlene Capron; Fred R. Conrad for The New York Times

Comments (6)

the pictures are reversed, the second one is the before picture. there are a few more pictures in the article, and i really like how they painted the brick walls.

Thanks for clarifying twelve. I thought to myself "the after looks TERRIBLE!"

I am so envious of renters whose landlords actually reward changes and upgrades. I've never met a landlord who looked favorably on changes, or if they tolerated them, rewarded with rent reductions.

maybe its just me but I think the landlord is the only one that really wins once he doesn't renew that 4 year lease and gets to charge a whole lot more!

I can't see putting forth all of that money and effort into a space that ultimately isn't yours. Yes, you spend a great deal of time there, but I would rather spend or save that money for something I could take with me when I leave.

We updated lighting fixtures in our apartment (umm, flickering fluorescent tube lighting. Ick!) that can be taken out when we leave, painted, and that's really about the extent of what we're willing to do.

But, if your landlord takes off a significant amount of rent and you plan on staying there for years, it may be worth it I suppose.

EclectricDS - some people never buy property but always rent. If they intend to stay there for a number of years - at least they'll be able to enjoy the property while they are there. Besides, even if their labor was not included in the overall rent reduction - I would imagine those beautiful appliances were offset by it. Finally, some people actually enjoy DIY.