Bump up the Look: A kitchen update using accessories

A client recently contacted me for help in upping the style factor 

in her adjoining kitchen and family room. 

Today I am sharing my ideas for the kitchen.

The room has a beautiful foundation with the gorgeous cherry cabinets, a custom backsplash and an amazing reclaimed wood ceiling,

 but it is lacking the finishing touches that really make a space say 

"WOW!"

This client's budget is limited, but she loves an easy DIY. She will not be changing anything big like lighting or the existing furnishings, so updates will be accomplished with the addition of a few key "accessories."

Here are my recommendations for how she should
 "Bump up the look."

You may have noticed that I specified an item called WeMontage for this client's gallery wall.
This incredible reposition-able photo wallpaper is new on the market
and was created by James Oliver, an innovative Wisconsin entrepreneur.

I was lucky enough to meet James in the infancy of his product roll out and am excited to share with you one way that I would use WeMontage in a design project.

To learn more about this amazing product be sure to check out this video:


You can also follow WeMontage on
facebook
Pinterest
and
Twitter

I am excited for my design ideas to become a reality in this kitchen and look forward to sharing the finished room with you.

Have you done anything to "Bump up the Look" in your home lately?

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design?  I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."  

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Client kitchen update: chalk paint and refrigerator cabinets

Back in September when I showed you a kitchen update project I was working on I promised to show progress "soon." Apparently the way I measure time, soon = 5 months, so I guess it is about time I shared! Since I have not taken a full compliment of after shots, today you just get some details. These clients are a very handy and motivated DIY couple and while they hired out a few things, they did most of the work themselves. 

Just to remind you of where we started, the kitchen before:

First things first, after my initial design board, my client found some fabulous art photos by Jill Bedford Photography at our local Art Fair on the Square  and these became the inspiration for the space as well as giving life to the color direction. As you can see in this photo, the dated wallpaper has disappeared and was replaced with a textured, paintable paper. We opted to go this direction in order to avoid the mess and effort involved in repairing the walls after removing the old paper, and the result is fabulous.

Next up, a DIY project, the fridge cabinet... A new refrigerator was in order and to give it the upscale built in look, a new cabinet was built (by my client I might add, as he built the existing cabinet next to it) giving additional storage as well as a custom look.

Finally, the table and chairs. Remember we were going to banish the burgundy and green and add  some life to this kitchen? 

A little bit of DIY chalk paint and fabric later and check out the updated look of this set!

The results in the kitchen are just what my clients were hoping for and they have been a joy to work with. They trust my suggestions and waste no time in putting their spin on things and implementing. I promise to get some after shots that show the full effect of the makeover.

We had a busy week-end with a visit from some out of town friends on Friday night and a progressive dinner on Saturday. Gorgeous sunshine and a fun snowshoe adventure yesterday capped things off. I watched a bit of the Oscars last night and am not sure what to make of this years host, Seth McFarland... I guess we'll see what the media reviews say today. Tasteless as it may have been, I did giggle at the boob song!

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx.

Room Rx: Kitchen on a budget

A call from a husband who wanted to surprise his wife last Christmas with a gift certificate for a kitchen consult was the start of this kitchen project. His wife had been dreaming of a kitchen remodel forever and he was slow to get on the bandwagon. Needless to say the gift was an unexpected treat. When I first met with her, my client had done her homework (thanks in part to the pile of kitchen magazines included in her husband's gift) and knew that after living in a dark and dated kitchen she wanted white and bright.

Since the budget was tight, the appliances would stay in the same places and the footprint would essentially remain essentially unchanged. Getting rid of the soffit and adding more storage were the non-negotiables.

My first job was to create a cabinet layout and elevations with these elements as well as the budget in mind. A few tweaks later and the job was in the hands of Melvin from M & M Custom Cabinets, a talented and cost effective team of local Amish woodworkers.
 Since the client was drawn to blue and white, I presented this design concept board to her once we got down to the details and finishes.

Suffice it to say, as with most design collaborations, the project evolved and the end result is a bit different than the board above conveys. What's most important is that my client is delighted with the final product, a budget friendly kitchen which is light and bright, classic and current.

 
 
No more bulky soffits...

A new pantry/command center...

After the cabinet production was underway and the demo in progress, we ran into a roadblock. One large section of the soffit contained major HVAC and hood venting that were out of the budget to move. An emergency pow wow with the contractor, cabinetmaker and designer (me!) and we changed the design of the upper cabinets from an "L" shape spanning the corner to this pantry style cabinet sitting on the counter. I think it works seamlessly and minimizes the appearance of the bulky soffit.

 Even the refrigerator side cabinet got modified...

 Details such as glass fronted cabinets, crown moulding and finished end panels were added.

What pleases me most about this project is that even though the kitchen's layout remained largely unchanged, we were able to increase the functionality and storage, unify the work space and breakfast area and give the whole space a fresh new look, on a budget!

Oh, and did I mention that from the start of construction to the finish, the project took only one month to complete? Even with the soffit roadblock! That is what happens when you know what you want and are prepared, just as my client was and just as I discussed here.

This kitchen is truly the heart of the home and I know my clients will enjoy it for years to come. 

 

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx.

5 tips for a succesful kitchen renovation

As a designer, I get hired regularly to help with kitchen renovations and updates. Today I thought I would share 5 simple, but important things that I have learned over the years:

1) Don't start your project until you are fully prepared. Do your homework, decide what finishes and materials you want to use as well as how the kitchen will function and look. This step takes time, 

DON'T SCRIMP on that time!

2) If you are not comfortable doing the step above, HIRE AN EXPERT! This could be a designer with kitchen experience, a design/build contractor, an architect or the kitchen expert at your local cabinet supplier. It is totally worth the cost, as without them you will likely incur expensive mistakes.

3) Details make the difference between a new kitchen and a WOW kitchen which is why the steps above are so important. A new kitchen is costly no matter how budget friendly it turns out to be. You want to love every aspect from how it looks to how it works when you are done. Finishes, lighting, layout and even the seemingly inconsequential things like grout color, make an impact. Don't overlook anything.

4) Have a schedule, but be flexible. Order as many of your materials as possible before you start. Many a kitchen project has been derailed due to back-orders or long lead times. The same can be said for making a materials decision too late in the game. My last client spent almost 9 months getting her ideas, design and materials together. When the project finally started, it was complete within 4 weeks!

5) Plan for the unexpected, if you are opening up walls or removing soffits, you never know what you will find. This step includes adding a cushion to your budget (a minimum of 10%) and being able to change your plan mid- stream when something comes up, which it will.

 {A sagging, load bearing support beam was found when this wall was opened up, resulting in additional work and expense.}

{A soffit with major HVAC duct work and venting, as well as a limited budget, changed the design of this cabinet layout mid-project. Come back later this week to see more of this kitchen, my most recently completed project.}

Obviously there is much more to a successful kitchen renovation than these quick tips can impart, but if you are just beginning to dream of a new kitchen, this a good place to start. 

Have you remodeled your kitchen? What tips for success would you add?

 

 

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx.

10 Things: moody kitchen

Lately I have been working on a few kitchen projects, which I love because each of my clients has different ideas about how to create a kitchen that works for them both functionally and aesthetically. While the kitchen I am featuring today may not appeal to most of my clients, it knocked my socks off!

Bear Hill Interiors

What do I love???

1) Moody color palette
2) Black subway tile, so unique!
3) Stained wood (Maple?) cabinets
4) Inset doors on the cabinets (wish I had the $$ to do that)
5) Furniture style banquette
6) Pops of crisp white in the counters, table, chairs and accessories
7) Fabrics with limited and restrained color and pattern
8) The range hood
9) Tall, gooseneck faucet (I have one in my kitchen and adore it)
10) ???

What do you think? Does this kitchen do it for you? If so, tell me what you love....

This week is homecoming week at my kids' high school so life at my house will be crazy and chock full. There are dress up/spirit days at school, 2 cross country meets,  a cancer benefit walk, a pep rally (my oldest will be dancing with the pompon squad!) and the week culminates with the dance on Saturday night. Oh and did I mention that tonight is "Back to School" night where parents get the opportunity to visit each student's classes? My head is spinning just thinking about it all!

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx.

Kitchens on the brain: 10 things

A couple of the projects I have been busy with over the past few months are kitchens, so anything related to the kitchen seems to jump out at me. I did a double take when I spotted this kitchen.......

Canadian House & Home photo by Angus McRitchie

10 things I love about it:

1) Inset cabinetry with exposed hinges - top of the line stuff! 
2) Vintage farmhouse sink and faucet
3) Subway tile backsplash to the ceiling
4) Decorative tile treatment behind the sink
5) Cabinet details such as the skirted sink base, bun feet, decorative end panels and glass doors
6) Fabric behind the glass doors adding a different texture and repeating the window treatment
7) Sconce lighting 
8) Beefy mouldings
9) Mix of counter materials on the same run of counter
10) Classic cup pulls and door latches

Such a clean and classic kitchen, so full of style! How about you, have you seen anything lately that stopped you in your tracks?


Aside from lots of rain, the week-end here at Casa Wall was excellent. Hope yours was too and that the week ahead keeps the streak going for you!

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx.

 

Room Rx: Kitchen Tweaking - reveal

You guys are the best!  Always so patient with me, especially when I tease you with sneak peeks, so today you will be rewarded with a full reveal!  

My client's builder kitchen had great bones in the form of high quality cabinets, granite counters and nice appliances. Unfortunately it was a sea of wood tones and not at all her style, so after living with it for more than a few years, the time had come to give it a change, not a full blown remodel, just a few tweaks... 

Here is what my Room Rx "prescribed" based on our initial consultation:

A fresh coat of creamy white paint on the cabinets

 Subway tile back splash

New hardware

New light fixture

Add an island or peninsula

Add some interesting details in order to break up the monotonous sea of wood

Change of dinette seating

Tie the room into the decor already established in the family room adjacent to the kitchen

There were a couple of things we were not changing; the wall color as it was the basis of the Family Room decor, the dinette lighting and window treatments.  Below is my Design Concept Board for the space...

A painter who came highly recommended was hired to transform the cabinets with a few coats of creamy white paint. A piece of granite to match the existing counters was located for the peninsula top. Beautiful beveled subway tile was chosen for the back splash. The statement light fixture was ordered. The groundwork laid, a few additional details needed to be selected which I wrote about here. The project began in November and was mostly finished in time for a December family holiday party!

I love that  we were able to work with in the framework of the existing kitchen to create a room that has a completely different look and vibe. The update involved hiring professionals, but also a few DIY projects

My client found the table for $20 on her local Craigslist and with a little elbow grease on the part of her husband, it looks like new paired with these great West Elm Windsor chairs.

 The addition of some glass doors really helps add some visual interest to the range wall.

Lucky for us, my client was able to find a local vendor who sold the brand of cabinets originally installed in this kitchen, so making  some of these changes was as easy as ordering a few cabinets and doors!

The space was not large enough to add a working island so the decision was made to create a peninsula at the end of the run pictured below.  We were able to re-use the section of cabinets with the bank of drawers and simply order an additional base cabinet and some decorative panels, which my TWIBL (who was hired for the job) installed. A West Elm rug at the sink and a couple of barstools and not only does the new peninsula add function, it adds style to the kitchen!

 

 To give the cabinets a more furniture style feel the decorative "feet" were added to the peninsula, sink base and range wall.

The never used ceiling fan went "buh bye" and was replaced with this statement light from Ballard Designs. Amazing difference, wouldn't you say?!

This little nook was under utilized and with two young girls and a busy family, a message center was the answer.  You know how I love me a memo board made from a painter's drop cloth.... my client jumped at the idea and created her own version which is just perfect for the space! Her willing husband even cut out space in the Homasote board for the light switch so that the board could appropriately fill the space.

Close up of the existing window treatments, gorgeous and textural with the addition of the brush fringe....

Did I mention that this was largely a long distance design project and this kitchen is in a Chicago area home?  Having worked together previously on the Living Room in her home, my client was comfortable in working this way. We shared many emails, texts and phone conversations in getting this job done. And thank goodness for Pinterest, it was another helpful tool!!!! I did make one trip into the Chicago area in order to fine tune a few details, but the rest was handled by my client with advice and guidance from afar. I know Rochelle, Larry and their girls are loving their "new" kitchen and I must say, I am pleased as can be with how it all turned out!

Finally, I need to give kudos to Rochelle, whose business Mortgage Keeper has grown by leaps and bounds. Mortgage Keeper has helped and continues to help, many people facing financial difficulty stay in their homes.  You can read more about it here.

Linking up to:

Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx.