January 2015 – Re-Design In A Day (The Store)

Kitchen Reno-Part 3 (The Transformation)

My Kitchen Renovation

Our kitchen renovation is finally complete! Remember where we started?

A small cramped kitchen,

Becomes an open, airy space.

We changed the layout,

For better flow and more cabinets.

And a non-functional pantry,

Becomes functional open concept storage.

This is a quick overview of our new kitchen. My next and final post will include details about cabinetry, counter tops, lighting, storage and more.

Thanks and Happy Decorating.

Nicole

Kitchen Reno-Part 2 (The Wall Came Tumbling Down)

My Kitchen Renovation

After months of planning, demo day finally arrived. Our kitchen contractor (Enrique Bonilla of Bonilla Home Service in Alexandria, VA) arrived bright and early to start renovations and after a few hours…..

Two rooms became one,

cabinets came out,

and walls were taken down to the studs.

And after a few weeks, new drywall went up,

new flooring went down and a dark jacobean stain was applied.

My next post will feature the finished kitchen but here is a sneak peak…..

Cabinets, lighting, back splash and storage, oh my!

Thanks and Happy Decorating!

Classic/Fresh Vintage Cane Barrel Chairs (SOLD)

Painted Furniture

Some designs never go out of style. These cane barrel chairs from the 60’s are just as fashionable today as they were over 50 years ago. Yes, these chairs are over 50 years old! The quality and craftsmanship of the chairs are undeniable. The caning is still intact and the velvet seat cushions are in decent condition.

But, I believe they can look ever better.

So, here is one chair after a coat of CeCe Caldwell’s Vintage White paint and some distressing. I love the paisley ikat fabric but not with this chair. Maybe I should try a different fabric?

Maybe a jacobean pattern?

But, in the end………

I repainted the chairs and and chose a completely different fabric for the cushions. Two coats of CeCe Caldwell’s Vintage White for a fresh look and a classic blue/green toile pattern fabric.

I am really happy with the final outcome. These chairs are ready for a new home!

Thanks and Happy Decorating!

Love, Nicole

Kitchen Reno- (Pt. 1) A,B, C’s and D of Kitchen Renovations

My Kitchen Renovation

In February of 2014 our kitchen renovation began. After months of planning, the start day was finally here! Our small galley kitchen of 15 year was about to get a make over.

kitbefore1 — We are going to take down the wall on the left and in the process will lose a lot of cabinet/storage space. Our contractor suggested we add cabinets on the back wall. Great idea! But I still need to find other creative storage options. Behind the wall is a very small sitting room. See the next pic.

diningrm1 — This room was once the dining room. It was too small, so I converted it to a sitting room. The wall to the right adjoins the kitchen and is coming down and a banquette is going under the window.

kitbefore2 — The window is the only nice feature on this wall. As you can see, the cabinets are very short so we plan to remove the bulkhead and take the cabinets up to the ceiling. Our contractor suggested we move the stove to the far right (near the back door) so we can maximize cabinets. Another great idea!

kitbefore3 — The door allows light to come into the kitchen. The pantry cabinets (on the right) will be removed and I will bring in a furniture piece for open storage.

But before our renovation began, we did our A, B, C’s and D.

A is for Ask: We asked our friends, family and neighbors about their kitchen reno experiences and we took notes. We asked…how would you rate your contractor, would you use him/her again, what’s your favorite thing about your new kitchen, least favorite about your kitchen, one thing you wished you had done differently, what was your budget.

B is for Budget: Know your true budget and what that budget can buy. For example: Don’t design your kitchen around carrara marble counter tops when you can only afford laminate!

Your friends/family won’t mind you asking for a general price point for their project. Once you determine your budget, you can begin researching your dream kitchen.

C is for Contractor: If you do A, you will have several great options for contractors. We interviewed three contractors and visited kitchens they renovated to see their workmanship.

D is for Decisions: Now you can start making decisions based on sound advice, accurate budget, and professional expertise. We did our ABC’s & D–so now let the renovation begin!

Stay tuned for my next post… Kitchen Reno- (Pt. 2) The Wall Came Tumbling Down!

Modern/Glam Buffet & Mirror (Sold)

Painted Furniture

One of the many things I love about my job is the ability to create “one of a kind” pieces.

For this project, I decided to combine design styles from different decades. This process can be tricky because the styles may not “play well together”. Example: imagine combining the skinny jean concept to a leisure suit. Scary, right! Lucky for me, my two styles play well together because they are united with a common thread……paint!

This buffet is a classic piece from the 60’s. It’s solid construction, in great condition with ample storage. The bowed front and curved details are beautiful but the dark stain makes it look old and worn.

I chose a color from the Paint Couture line called “Calm”. The color is a white/gray/blue combination. I painted/distressed the bottom, then sanded and stained the top (jacobean).