A $500 Kitchen Transformation: A Plan

Today's Agenda:  Reveling in my latest Craigslist purchase.  The Crate and Barrel Dylan chair that I always visit and sit in when I'm at the store.  Was found on CL for $850!  Used for staging a property.  Reg. price @ C+B = $2000.  It's a beautiful gray...looks lovely in my guest bedroom/lounge.  Pictures to come...

So, the $500 Kitchen Transformation Project is off to a good start.  On Monday the idea was finalized and the plotting began and by Monday night a plan was emailed to my client. On Tuesday the plan was discussed with my client.  Today, Wednesday, I am getting caught up on other work before tomorrow and making my list for things to purchase and then on Thursday we get started and put the plan into action.  We are hoping to finish by Friday and close it out with a celebratory dinner!

Here is the $500 plan! 

{Items in pencil are the current pieces, items in green are things to do/buy and in red is the cost.}

The goal is to retain the lightness that we have established in the rest of the house (amidst a lot of molding and not an incredible amount of light) but add a little bit of whimsy in this space to keep it fun and not so serious.

Client is on board with just going for it! 

Her initial response though did include a couple hesitations.  Especially in a project like this where we are just going for it.  Wonder what her thoughts are?  I was too :)  So here are a few.  

"Reigning in my inner control freak and giving Nicole carte blanche on the kitchen.  Now, I would not have chosen anything with snakeskin (!!!!) embossing, nor would I put yellow, blue and black together.  But...

I trust in Nicole's capacity for vision via thrift and I love the little accents - rugs on chairs - who knew? - that tell me that she has a vision for the outcome.

And the kitchen CAN'T be any worse - so there's always that. 

In all seriousness,  I anticipate nothing short of magic.

Also, I now understand that my expensive taste will bankrupt me if I allow it to, so a bargain kitchen without a scrap of Ikea (ok, the rug/ throws are Ikea) makes my heart sing.   In my mind, at the end of the day this is in the pages of Dwell with me looking svelte and worldly, my kids brilliant and edgy and, oh yeah, this is about my kitchen...my kitchen looking amazing and - guess what - it just cost 500 bucks! :)"

As you can tell, we are definitely having fun.  We'll see how it all turns out :)

Will try to post in progress pics tomorrow!