A dark rental kitchen with a blank wall only means one thing — time to bust out the paint. 

I painted the mural freehand using blush pink, red, and orange above a chartreuse base, wrapping from the kitchen wall up to the ceiling line and around the corner over the kitchen entrance (I love a squiggle). The chartreuse not only brightens the room in spirit, but also in reality: light is reflected back into the kitchen, bringing life into a lackluster space. 

And yes, I realize most of my projects use chartreuse paint. It’s one of my favorite colors — it’s loud, it’s unusual, it plays well with other colors. And yes — I did have an entire quart leftover from a previous project that I needed to use. 

My husband’s sketches of our husky Shiloh, mounted on a zebra print mat made from leftover fabric, give the space that extra personal touch. A boucle armchair, a wavy pink and red side table (originally purchased for our wedding altar, now earning its keep year-round), and cowhide rug make it the perfect place to sit back, drink a glass of wine, and watch someone else cook. 

DIY project. San Francisco, CA. 2026.