Photo credit: www.apartmenttherapy.com
In my small rental apartment, the kitchen was the space I chose to focus my DIY efforts. As an avid baker and host, it was essential for me to create a kitchen that resonated with my personality and felt like a true part of my home. I worked hard on specific elements, like crafting a gallery wall and laying down removable tile flooring to set a welcoming atmosphere. However, my decision to apply faux marble peel-and-stick contact paper to my countertops didn’t quite hit the mark.
The question arose: Was it the way I installed it, the mismatch of the contact paper with my kitchen’s color scheme, or perhaps the challenging removal process? It could have been a combination of all three. While I relish a creative project, this particular endeavor imparted a significant lesson: Not every aspect of a rental requires extensive personalization.
Initially, my countertops boasted a speckled brown surface designed to mimic marble. While not unattractive, I felt it could be improved to better align with my painted olive green walls and the subway tile backsplash that the apartment included—an impressive feature in its own right!
As I unwrapped the gray-and-white contact paper I had chosen, the installation process began, accompanied by some inevitable challenges. Missteps led to air bubbles if I didn’t apply the paper slowly or failed to align it correctly with the previous strip. Even though the task proved tedious and error-prone, dedicating a whole afternoon to the work was worth it in the end—at least from a distance. Up close, however, the air bubbles and overlaps were glaring mistakes.
The Bigger (Style) Picture
It soon became evident that the contact paper I picked was not the perfect fit for my kitchen. I was optimistic that its gray-and-white tones would complement my white tile backsplash, baseboard, and the rather dated white appliances. Although it brightened the kitchen, I underestimated how the strong color dominance detracted from the carefully curated elements of the space, like the gallery wall and tile flooring.
The overall balance was off, leading me to regret not appreciating the original countertops before attempting to modify them. All the difficulties encountered during the installation returned to affect my design as well; the air bubbles ultimately burst, leaving behind unattractive patches of exposed surface.
The Removal and Reflection
When the time came to remove the contact paper, the process was much swifter than the initial installation. However, it created a significant residue that demanded considerable effort to scrub away, requiring both physical strength and the help of baking soda.
As I recovered from the task, I took time to reassess my views not only on peel-and-stick projects but on DIY endeavors within rental homes overall. I realized there is a nuanced balance between enhancing a temporary living space and overwhelming it with changes that may not provide long-term value. It’s entirely possible to bring personality into a rental without needing to customize every detail.
In considering future encounters with kitchen countertops, I plan to pause and reflect before deciding on a revamp. Patience plays a crucial role in creating a home that reflects your taste, whether you rent or own, and sometimes the best features are already present and simply waiting to be appreciated.
Source
www.apartmenttherapy.com