Before & After: Bright Yellow Cabinets Transform a Totally “Bland” Kitchen

While smart kitchen designs usually focus on functionality and ease of use, that doesn’t mean they can’t also use layout and style choices to spark curiosity and adventure. Exhibit A: The kitchen in the colorful home of designer Fitore Syla, co-founder of interior design studio Muza, which blends utility and wonder — and that was exactly its intention. “Each project lets us play with shapes, colors, and forms in new ways,” Syla said of her design process. 

When Syla moved into her 936-square-foot Prishtinë, Kosovo apartment with her partner, Arianit Fazliu, and their child, it was completely bare, which allowed them to create a colorful space of their own — including the kitchen. 

“The inspiration for the new kitchen came naturally. I knew I wanted to incorporate yellow and a standout hood. Once I found the backsplash tiles, everything fell into place,” Syla explains. As soon as the couple finalized the 3D design, the entire project took three months to complete. 

She brought yellow into the room by painting some of the kitchen cabinets in NCS’s “S 2070-Y” and painted imperfect sphere-shaped knobs in yellow, too. To bring in some texture, Syla notes that they did something unconventional: “Using wood cut into stripes was a departure from traditional kitchen cabinets, aiming for a vibrant and unique feel.” And the fun doesn’t stop there — Syla also handcrafted the pendant above the kitchen table from real gourds. 

Aside from the colorful backsplash and textured plywood cabinetry (which are also adorned with knobs painted in NCS’s “S 5030-R”), the kitchen has plenty of other playful details, like the bar next to the oven just below the window. It seats two, and the oak wood is cut into a squiggle shape. “Every piece in the apartment is custom-made by a skilled local carpenter in Kosovo, Kolos, who paid attention to every detail,” Syla shares. 

Syla admits that of every space, the newly updated kitchen is now her favorite room in the home. “I love the boldness it brings to our home and its unique yet functional design. It’s the heart of our home, where we come together after a long day,” she explains. “And during the afternoons, as the sun sets, the kitchen takes on a truly spectacular view. But what I cherish most is the delightful aroma of cooking that fills the house.”

While the kitchen may be Syla’s favorite room, it’s just one great example of how colors and shapes are used in the rest of their gorgeous home. To see more, visit the full home tour on Apartment Therapy.