A $500 Kitchen Transformation: Complete!

Today's Agenda:  Staging a condo for sale, checking out some bathroom tiles, and in search of the perfect lighting for a home office (lighting is always tricky!)...

Remember my $500 design challenge??  Well, the kitchen/breakfast room facelift is done!  I'll just get right to the pictures.  The changes are subtle but remember our goals and plan -- add color and life and a place my client wanted to hang out in for $500!

Before (before my client moved in; previous owner's stuff):

Before (after my client moved in):

After! (after our $500 design challenge): 

Another before + after view:

Another before + after view:

And a couple other "after" images:

 

In order to make some fun changes but keep it within budget I needed to (1) create zones in the room to anchor it and make it feel homey but deliberate, (2) focus on a few key details (can't change everything for $500!), and (3) bust out some DIY skills. 

Let's start with the zones...

There is a cute little nook that's perfect for a kitchen office space...

But you have to be very careful when doing this -- can't be cluttered or messy or overly "office". 

So, I took everything out of the space and started over, layering in only what was necessary.

To end up with this inviting, but organized space:

- I found a sweet accent lamp from an antique store for just $32 that actually had a very mid-century modern shade on it with a pretty vintage black base that made the space feel less office-y. 
- I added a set of drawers underneath the counter to organize and hide the clutter that was accumulating on the counter.  By putting it in drawers, you can easily find stuff!  (Next step is to label the drawers but my labelmaker ran out of tape, sadly...)
- I added a file container that is on the desk, open at the top so easy to put things in and mobile so if you want to sit somewhere more comfortable and organize it you can.
- I took the bulletin board down...and didn't put it back up.  In this space in the kitchen, it just made it feel too casual...
- And, added a couple other decor touches -- spray painted the stool white to minimize the wood tones in the space and really let the dining table shine and added a curtain panel to block out the blazing, hot sun just a little bit.  And it was the perfect blue shade next to the blue cabinet! 

There is also this great space where my client put a fun vintage bakers rack.

But again, needed some structure and purpose to it. So, I took everything off of the bakers rack.

And, then added some fun baskets that are designated for pet food, and husband's and kids' stuff.   A plant and a piece of art made the space feel less utilitarian and anchored that side of the room. 

Paint + Wallpaper:  There are tons of fun things to do with paint and wallpaper!  I loved the idea of painting this cabinet and the back door a subtle color.  Since the cabinet and back door are on opposite corners of the room, I also liked the idea of using these corners to balance the room.  So, we went with a pale, pretty blue and a bolder yellow by adding the wallpaper inside the cabinet and next to the back door with the DIY message board, using the bolder color as an accent and the pale color as the base to keep with the feel of rest of the house (which I think is forgotten sometimes -- v. important to make the whole house feel cohesive!). 

Note:  The wallpaper I found at a warehouse sale for $10!  And, the paint, well one color was too baby blue and the other color too light, so...we mixed them!  And, it worked (since they were both semi-gloss).  So, it's a custom color and neither "oops" paint quart went to waste!

Message Board:  What's a family breakfast room without a message board??  I took a framed piece of art that I found at an antique store for $7, took the art out and then used the same wallpaper that I used in the cabinet and placed it behind the plexiglass.  Add a dry erase marker and you are done! 

File Bin:  I took a bin that had been from another client project that we decided not to use and then covered it with black textured contact paper I had found at Lowe's (it's really beautiful contact paper...).  I left the top off so it was easy to use and for another little pop of blue placed some aqua file folders from The Container Store inside.  Super easy and useful!

And, the details round out the space!:

 

 

 

 Curious about the final tally?  Here you go (tax included!):

2 white barstools:  $50.00
1 set of drawers:  $41.99
1 dry erase marker + 1 frame:  $10.49
2 yards fabric + rods and clips for curtains: $8.38
12 colorful pots: $133.23   
1 black/brass accent lamp: $33.60

2 sheepskin throws: $83.98
1 picture ledge for frames:  $15.74
4 baskets for bakers rack:  $78.71
1 (real) plant and pot: $24.13
1 baskets and 6 (fake) plants: $17.84
2 quarts of paint:  @$30.00
1 roll of wallpaper:  $10.00
2 mini red chairs:  $14.98
6 hanging file folders:  $7.34

Grand Total:  $560.32!  (not too bad!)

And, a final look.

 

My client and I actually already had a glass of wine in this space and it felt cozy and inviting...a perfect spot to hang out in!

A $500 Kitchen Transformation: Progress!

Today's Agenda:  Get through this gloomy week!  So much rain...

So, we've made lots of progress on the Kitchen/Breakfast Room transformation!  

At the end of the day on Friday, the following had been DONE:

- Cabinet and exterior door painted light blue
- Back of cabinet wallpapered
- Cabinet styled
- Colorful pots purchased at TJMaxx and hung (we need a few more!)
- DIY message board made with same wallpaper used on back of cabinet and fun $7 frame found at antiques store
- Chairs (Bertoia and barstool) spray painted
- 2 more barstools purchased and picked up -- $50 on Craigslist for 2!  And on the same street as client :)
- Art hung
- File box covered with black embossed/textured paper for easy organization at the office area
- Baker's rack styled and organized with new baskets
- Sheepskin rugs thrown on Bertoia chairs
- Glass of wine had in improved breakfast room on Friday night! 

Hardest part so far? Trying to get these panes as perfect as possible :) (You can see the light blue color I painted this in the lower right hand corner.)

Client's thoughts from last week?

"The Knoll chairs have a first coat, but along the way, I added grasses to the bases (plucked out), nearly fainted (I, too, chose to not use the mask), struggled with the tarp, which managed to blow and catch on ALL of the careful work I had done on the bases, and painted much of my lawn white.  THIS IS NOT MY SKILL SET  - DO I HAVE ANY SKILLS ANYMORE???!!!  I told you that I wasn't "crafty" and I should have believed myself.  Tomorrow, please treat me like a freshman college student with no practical life experience and I'd imagine that I can take direction and not cause harm...let's hope."

The Knoll chairs actually turned out really well once seen the next day in daylight!  

This week, I'm heading back over to put a few finishing touches on the project -- add some more pots and pans, paint a chalkboard menu wall, and take final photos (assuming enough light...)!

Then for a final reveal and tally up!

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!

A $500 Kitchen Transformation: An Idea

Today's Agenda:  Lots to do!  Just hoping no earthquake or hurricane this week that I need to react to/prepare for/or be consumed by the news by...that would be nice...

One of my awesome clients hired me to design her two teenage sons' rooms in this amazing Victorian house (yes, think Royal Tenenbaums awesomeness) before they moved in, and to advise on layout and design for the living and dining areas of their home.   We've now finished the sons' rooms, they have moved in and the living and dining areas are well on their way.

And, then there are about 27 other rooms to work on in the house.  This is where patience comes into play.  And, honestly, a budget.

On the upside, this is how a fun idea was born -- The $500 Kitchen Transformation!  Originally born from the perplexing question -- "What the F*!% Am I Going to do with this Kitchen?".

So, in my awesome client's words below, we forge ahead.  With $500.  One week.  And very. little. patience. left. with this behemoth of a house! 

My awesome client...

We just moved into a large, Victorian townhouse in DC (too much space - what was I thinking???!!! I know, it's not really a problem but right now it feels like it!) and am feeling overwhelmed.  I don't live with the neatest of boys - two sons and a husband - and I care quite a bit about design/ aesthetics. We have an eclectic mix of good furniture.  Some we bought when we lived in a 1920's center hall colonial, some from our loft (I still miss those windows!) and some family pieces (for good and for bad).  It's not a coherent collection at all, but it definitely suits us.  We love mid-century furniture and design, but strive to mix it up with things from other eras - too much mid-century and you get, well, sadly, kitsch.  We've moved around the country a lot, most recently living in a rented house while looking for a house.  When we finally found a house that had great bones but needed a lot of cosmetics to bring it alive, I realized that I would never get the house transformed by making small adjustments over time. I was so lucky to meet Nicole Lanteri of On My Agenda in my search for a young, creative designer who might make the process fun, create layouts, pick colors, help to find pieces, and generally make the house work for us.  I am so impressed - yes, this is a naked plug (Nicole didn't ask me to write this part ;)) - at her capacity to envision things, at her willingness to balance, create, and revise.  I am a theater director, so I am used to working with design and space, and enjoy the process.  But while I am drawn to individual pieces, most often very expensive pieces (oops!!) Nicole is constantly imagining the scope of the room.  She loves the flea market as well as the design center.  And she has a wonderful sense of proportion.

So here we are - two months into the design process.   The living room and dining room have really come together (pictures to come!) but I keep having the sense that the kitchen (which we hope to remodel within the next few years if I don't get scared off by the price tag $$$) is a big, ol' bummer.  It's grey, 1970's, grey walls, choppy, cramped, did I mention grey??.  It does have tall cabinets and reasonable appliances going for it, but it otherwise feels pretty grim compared to the rest of the house.  

What to do??

So here's the challenge Nicole and I came up with:  A $500 Kitchen Transformation.  

The goal:   a beautiful space in which  am inspired to make complicated dishes, want to drink martinis with friends, and enjoy cleaning up at the end of the night with my husband.  Is that too much to ask for?? :) 

Stay tuned!

The site of the $500 Kitchen Facelift.