Graphic wall treatment (Before and Progress)

One wall down and one to go! I'll wait here while the impatient people go ahead and scroll through the pictures...go ahead...I'll wait.

Okay, now that you've (most of you anyway) scrolled to see the after shot, I'll fill you in on some of the details. ;) First of all, we used MDF because it's relatively inexpensive and it's paintable. The fact that it cuts clean and doesn't require sanding on the edges is a bonus too.

John used the nail gun to attach the pieces then I went back and filled the holes with DAP. You can find it here. This gives the pieces a smooth look by making the holes 'disappear' when you paint. I primed each piece with Kilz Latex Primer since mdf is porous and soaks up your paint pretty fast. This helped keep costs down since only one coat of paint is required after priming.

Then came the caulk. That's a tedious job, let me tell ya! It's necessary though. You can see in the above image the difference between using it and not. It gives a finished look that makes your project look like pros did it. Make sure you buy caulk that's paintable though!

I painted the pieces to blend with the wall so it became an architectural piece instead of a high contrast piece. With the busy pattern I figured matching the wall was the best option. I did switch to a high gloss finish though so there'd be a tiny bit of differentiation (only noticeable in person). 

Here you can see how it stands off the wall. We decided to go with 3/4" mdf to add a little depth. 

Here's where we started...

Before:

This shot was shortly after moving in and shows the previous owners' paint choices.

After (in progress):

If you're observant, you noticed the painters tape hanging out on the left hand side. That's part of John's measuring guide. We left it up so he can move onto the next side asap. (*wink, wink, honey, if you're reading*) Poor thing, he honestly tried to talk me into just one wall but his stubborn wife wasn't having any of it!

So, as you can see, the plan is to wrap the pattern around the edge and complete one more wall!

If you're wondering why were only covering 2 walls and not all 3, it's because the 3rd wall extends to all the way up to the second floor. I want to leave a place for your eye to rest as it transitions into the dining room. A colorful oversized piece of art would be awesome here...keeping my eye out.

Are you seeing a trend here? I loved our other diamond wall so much that I just had to incorporate something similar into this house. Couldn't do the same thing though, that'd be boring! It's all about keeping things fresh and new.

Feel free to leave John a word of encouragement to keep up the momentum and knock out that second wall sooner than later. ha!

Kitchen Remodel Before and After

I'm so excited to show you the full reveal today of my clients' kitchen remodel. This family was great to work with and now that it's over I'm kind of having withdrawal symptoms!

Let's take a peek at where we started...a kitchen with great bones but definitely dated.

After:

Go ahead and gasp, because it's totally gasp worthy!

Our initial consultation left me with a wife who leaned toward rustic touches and a husband who wanted a contemporary/industrial feel. Well, I'd say we married their tastes pretty darn well! 

An entire counter length full of cabinets...ahhh, function...it's such a great thing. 

Must I even write a caption for this picture? I think it speaks for itself...love it!

No need to drive to Sonic for an icy drink, they've got Sonic ice right in their kitchen.

Amazing new appliances. The refrigerator/freezer are two full size beasts. No lack of freezer space in this house. You have to have massive muscles to open these babies...they. are. solid. Hmmm, possible new diet strategy?

Beautiful walnut-stained contrasting island with fun hardware. By the way, in case you're wondering, the cabinets are painted Benjamin Moore's Navajo White and the walls are Benjamin Moore's Herbal Escape.

 See the faucet?...it's a touch faucet. Someone was very smart when they invented this feature.

 

A look at the accessories.

They kept their original table and we added a fun rug. Does anyone else love their amazing light as much as I do?!

Only thing left to do is add several cream curtain panels to soften this space up.

And one last gander at their gorgeous new kitchen...

A huge thank you to my clients for trusting me with such a giant project. It's my prayer that this space makes your heart smile every time you walk into it!

If you're thinking about a remodel or in need of a little direction on your next home project, please contact me. I'd love to work with you.

How to build a room

I thought about titling this post 'Moodboard Monday' but that's probably been done a million times already, right? Alliteration is just so catchy when it comes to titles. Anyway, I thought it may be fun to take a peek at a recent room design and walk you through it. 

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Rug: Jill Rosenwald

Chairs: Home Decorators

Floor Lamp: Zinc Door

Whale Pillow: 2Modern

Sofa: Home Decorators

Mirrors: Target

Table Lamp (actual lamp no longer available, but here's a similar one): Home Decorators

Leather Drum Ottoman: Zinc Door

Ikat pillows: Layla Grace

Art: Home Decorators

Drapes: Walmart

Medallion Pillow: Zinc Door

Side Table: Layla Grace

So many people start to decorate a room and suddenly feel paralyzed. It seems so overwhelming with the bajillion selections available. 

So where do you start? 

This room was born with 2 colors, navy and orange. The ikat pillows provide a great color scheme. Study those colors and run with it. Here's a secret...you know those colors rock it because a designer has already put them together in their great fabric design! 

Find accessories that blend but aren't matchy matchy.

If everything in the room matches, then your room becomes very boring. There's nothing of interest to draw in your attention. When the above piece of art is added, boom...our color scheme just grew. Now we can easily pull in yummy buttercream (sorry, I'm suddenly thinking about cupcakes) leather ottomans and green drapes.

Mix high-end with low-end

Your room doesn't have to cost a fortune. Be willing to splurge a little on the furniture pieces you'll be using the most. If art is your thing, then splurge on a piece that makes your heart sing. Now find areas to skimp. For example, did you notice where the drapes are sourced above? That's right...Walmart!

Don't be afraid to mix metals

Once again, not everything needs to match, including metal finishes. The antique gold finish of the mirrors sit nicely above an industrial table with a contrasting metal finish.

So there ya go, friends, a few little tips to keep in mind as you begin to build your room. If you're still feeling hesitant or overwhelmed, I'd love to help you. Read about available services here then feel free to contact me.