Proof That Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference in a Kitchen

A lot of the before-and-after photos we share here and on our sister site, Apartment Therapy, feature dramatic changes: new cabinets, new countertops, new appliances, new floor plans. But in this Fort Greene kitchen, the changes are much more subtle. They’re so subtle, in fact, that flipping back and forth between the before-and-after photos is a little bit like one of those puzzles where you try to spot the differences between the two pictures.

Can you spot the changes? On their own, the changes are all small. Together, though, they add up to a lovely new look for this apartment kitchen.

Here’s a bit of backstory: Homeowners Brad and Michelle were perfectly happy with their kitchen — until a clog in their building’s plumbing caused kitchen wastewater to back up into their apartment, staining the floors and countertops, and waterlogging the cabinets. Insurance money in hand, Brad and Michelle set out to fix their kitchen — and make a few small (but impactful) changes in the process.

Even though much of the kitchen was gutted, Brad and Michelle liked the original design and chose to stick with that for the re-do. They did make a few changes, though. Painting the entire back wall yellow, instead of just the backsplash, brightened up the space (and, according to Brad, gives the kitchen a warm glow — even at night).

While the cabinets are the same, they have new, more minimal pulls.

The couple’s contractor, Kris, built a new shelving unit to support the existing L -shaped countertop extension. This little counter provides much-needed prep space, but had always seemed like a bit of an afterthought — now it has a much more neat and finished look.

Brad and Michelle found their contractor though Sweeten, a New York-area resource that connects homeowners with architects, designers, and contractors. You can read more about this project, see more photos, and find sources on the Sweeten blog.

This post originally ran on Apartment Therapy. See it there: Before & After: These Little Kitchen Changes Made a Big Difference