It’s time to talk about one of those normally non-Instagrammable topics: apartment living. Maybe you’ve been fortunate enough to never have lived in an apartment, but I know for most people my age – and especially for those in California – it’s unavoidable right now. And you know what usually comes with renting an apartment in Orange County? Crappy carpet, ugly countertops, and many more decor faux pas. That’s just how it is.

… Unless you’re an insane perfectionist like I am. If that’s the case, there’s always something that can be done to help get rid of that inevitable renter’s aesthetic. Obviously, you can start with furniture, and covering some of the carpet with rugs, but what about the dreaded kitchen with those countertops?! They’re just always the WORST in apartments. But what if I told you I found a solution?! And, no, it doesn’t require ripping out those counters (as much as you might want to).

Enter Plank & Mill. They make real, peel-and-stick, reclaimed wood paneling… and they’re currently my kitchen savior. I mean, just look at this before and after! Michael and I spent the afternoon easily applying these panels to the backsplash and up one side accent wall. The end result fits the look of the cabinets and counters perfectly – kind of like the paneling was meant to be there since we moved in. This effortless transformation was exactly what our space needed to go to the next level.

This post is brought to you by Plank & Mill. All opinions are my own.