Why Brigette Muller Spent $9,500 Renovating the Kitchen in Her Brooklyn Rental

Welcome to Room Receipts, where we get real about the costs behind one well-designed room. From big budget spenders to thrifty thinkers, we’re talking to people from different worlds about their worth-it splurges, budget hacks, and purchase regrets. We’re always on the hunt for cool homes with a unique story, so if you’re interested in being featured tell us more about your space here.

Long before Brigette Muller could order new marble countertops, install a cast-iron sink, retile the backsplash, or paint the walls of her Brooklyn kitchen, there was something else she had to do: ask for her landlord’s permission. “I feel blessed that I can make these changes because I’ve never had a landlord that let me do whatever I wanted with a space before,” the 36-year-old content creator says. When she moved into the railroad-style unit in 2021, the paint on the cabinets was chipping, the laminate counters were dated, and the stainless-steel sink was functional though not necessarily pretty. It would take a lot of work—and a few notably pricey purchases—to turn the room into her preferred “classic French” style.

“People can’t understand why I would invest so much money into a space that isn’t mine,” she explains. “But this isn’t for my landlord. I’m not thinking of him. I’m doing this for me, and it makes me happy.” So far, Muller has spent almost $10,000 renovating and restyling her kitchen in Greenpoint over the past three years and has very few regrets about her choices. Here, she talks about designing her space, investing in rental units, and what she plans to do differently when she buys her first home.

Architectural Digest: What was the first thing you did when renovating the space?

Brigette Muller: When I first moved in, the two things I knew I wanted to change were the kitchen sink and the shower fixture. So I called my landlord and asked if it was okay to do that, and that moment changed my life because he immediately gave me the green light. He said “this is your apartment, any upgrades you want to make are fine by me.” Of course, the unspoken arrangement was that he wouldn’t pay for them. It’s funny, because I really only wanted to change the sink ($250) and faucet ($500), and I didn’t plan to add the backsplash ($250), marble countertops ($3,000), or cabinet doors ($350). Once I started, my vision kept elevating and I couldn’t help myself.

How long did all of this take?

It has been ongoing, but now three years into it, I finally feel like it’s mostly done. There are small changes I want to make, but for the most part, the big stuff is done.

The marble counter were the biggest splurge. Was it worth it?

After I had the sink installed, I decided I wanted to do a backsplash too. I ended up going with this really nice zellige tile backsplash, which is beautiful. But the countertop that came with the place was a faux wood—it was a pretty color, but it was laminate. It felt wrong to me to have a laminate countertop surrounded by all of these beautiful materials. My plan was never to switch out the countertop, but once everything started coming together it got to the point where I couldn’t not see it, and I wasn’t going to be happy until I did. I love marble and feel like Carrara marble is classic French, which is how I describe my style.

Once I decided to go for it, I was originally going to get a remnant to save money since my kitchen countertop is so small. But after going to four or five places to look at remnants, I couldn’t find any that I liked. Or when I did find ones that I liked, they weren’t big enough. In the end, I had to buy a full slab, which was expensive, so I started thinking about other places where I could use it throughout my apartment. I had a piece cut for my sideboard, which is right next to my sink area, one for on top of radiators, and another little piece for my vanity. I didn’t end up using a full slab, but I feel like I at least got somewhat of my money’s worth. And I love how it turned out, so it was definitely worth it in the end.

You don’t own the home, yet you’ve spent a lot of money making it “yours.” Why?

Most importantly, because it makes me happy. I also look at this almost like school; I’m investing in my own learning. I’m thinking about buying a house in the next year or so, and I know I’m going to want to make changes. This whole process has been really cool because I’ve been able to learn how much things cost, how much time they take, and what goes into these types of projects. So yes, I’m investing in someone else’s space, but it’s really to benefit me.

I’m also a full-time content creator, and my niche is home decor. Doing these projects is not only part of my job, but is also how I make money. For example, when I first switched out my sink, I hired someone on Taskrabbit to install it for me, and I tagged the company. A few months later Taskrabbit reached out to me and ask if they could put it on their channels, and a few months after that, they hired me as part of an ongoing partnership. At this point, the sink has more than paid for itself. It’s not the reason I do it, but it’s an additional justification.

Another important thing to note is that this is a rent-stabilized apartment, so I can use some of the money I save on rent to do these projects. It also means that the landlord can’t hike up the rent after I move out and make it more expensive for the next person. So it doesn’t really benefit the landlord at all, or hurt the next tenant.

What lessons have you learned?

In general, one thing I’ve learned after making all these changes is that it pays to work either with a contractor or another industry professional who can manage the project, liaise with suppliers, and stuff like that. For example, trying to work with the stone yards for the marble was a huge headache. I’ve decided that when I buy my own house, I’m going to pay the extra money to hire someone who can handle that type of stuff. I still want to do the designing, but the project management can be passed to someone else.

What are some of the best deals you’ve found?

I found this incredible oil painting on Facebook Marketplace for just $125—the frame alone is worth hundreds of dollars. It got to the point where I was looking at the measurements and convinced it couldn’t be as big as they said. But it was so beautiful, and even if it was smaller, I still wanted it. When I went to pick it up, it was as big as listed and looks so perfect in my kitchen. My other big score is my little wood island ($100), which I also found on Facebook Marketplace. This is a big kitchen for New York City, but in general it’s very small, and I had another island previously that was just too large for the space. It took me years to find one that was the proper size and vibe, and when I saw this one Facebook, I thought, Are you kidding me? It was just perfect. Those two are my big wins.

Does the kitchen represent money well spent?

People sometimes judge me for spending money renovating a rental, and they like to remind me that this is a temporary home. And yeah, that is technically true, but I don’t wake up each morning and think, This is my temporary bedroom, let me walk into my temporary kitchen, and brush my teeth in my temporary bathroom. This is where I live, and I want it to make me feel good. There’s more to a home than just earning equity, and everyone will have different budgets when it comes to designing their space. No matter how much you’re able to spend, it’s worth it to have a home where you feel comfortable and happy. Being able to make these changes has been well worth it, and after everything comes together, I feel so inspired in my space. And that’s what it’s all about.

Shop looks inspired by Brigette Muller’s Brooklyn kitchen

Kohler Park Falls 21" Single Basin Cast Iron Utility Sink

$700.00, Kholer

Unlacquered Brass Kitchen Faucet

$387.00, Inside East

Zellige Tiles

$31.00, Clé

Jefferson Framed Round Mirror

$132.00, Ovalcrest

Round Pedestal Dining Table

$599.00, Pottery Barn

Sherbrooke 60-Watt 6-Light Rustic Metal French Country Chandelier

$184.00, The Home Depot

Hagan Handwoven Jute-Blend Rug

$874.00, Lulu and Georgia

Dotel Wood Kitchen Island

$356.00, Wayfair

Vintage Oil Painting

$170.00, Etsy

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest