A Kitchen Renovation That Sold a Home

This kitchen once belonged to one of our favorite clients. After five years of discussing and dreaming up this kitchen design we renovated it earlier this year and then guess what? They decided to sell their home. Of course all our hearts ached, but they have since moved into a much larger and rather beautiful home and we'll be renovating that kitchen as well.

I did a horrible job and failed to take real before photos so these few images are all we have to show how far the kitchen had come. But I think y'all get the picture? Dated cabinets, an unnecessary bulkhead and so much more. I did post a few pics to Instagram as well here and here and yes, my client even chipped in on demo day. 

Goodbye and hello.

We updated to white shaker style cabinets, white quartz countertops, then added some contrast with glass tiles for the backsplash. 

The existing gas range and dishwasher were in great shape so those remained but a new refrigerator and hood were purchased.

New sink, simple faucet and a nice view made this little corner a cozy place to stand and peek outside while doing the dishes.

We removed the wall separating the kitchen from the dining room and created a small seating area. For added contrast, the lower cabinets here were done in a cinnamon colored shaker style finish.

This area also housed a wine cooler and added storage for wines and glassware.

 An awkward door once separated the laundry room from the kitchen and while we often prefer to keep the laundry room separate, it just made for easier flow to remove the door and add similar cabinets and countertops above the washer and dryer for folding and sorting laundry.

And that's it folks. Our very first kitchen renovation of the year and we've been told that the kitchen sealed the deal for the new owners. Hip, hip, hooray for that. 

It's been a year of the kitchens, and we'll have more reveals to show over the next few months.

Sorry to be so MIA over here but we've just been slammed with projects, which of course is a wonderful blessing.  I'll be catching up on my blog reading this weekend to see how y'all have been doing.Cheers to a great Labor Day weekend!

A Black and White Summer Affair

Black and White Summer by pretty-little-things featuring green high heels

Yes, yes, black and white stripes are all the rage this summer. Yours truly even rocked an ensemble at a reggae concert last month. I mean, I gotta stay on trend right?

Well, since we're more about home design than fashion trends around here, of course this means we have to lust after some designs that really rocked out this trend. Let's go.

Modern Home Office

I could get a LOT of work done in this cozy little office for sure. How genius was that pop of yellow?

Eclectic Bathroom by Santa Monica Interior Designers & Decorators Courtney Blanton Interiors

Hot pink walls next to black and white stripes? I think I'm in love. 

Contemporary Dining Room by Laguna Beach Interior Designers & Decorators lisa gutow design

So many fun elements in this room. First, making that striped technique look flawless on a wall with an arch and a built-in? Genius. Then there's a quirky art to balance out all those lines, the bar cart, the marble top tulip table. Can you tell that I really, really love this space? 

Modern Living Room by Toronto Interior Designers & Decorators Shirley Meisels

I love the natural wood here against the starkness of the black and white walls, and hello? Those purple feathers? Amazing touch of whimsy. I'd definitely chill out for a bit that foyer. 

Contemporary Staircase by Toronto Photographers Leslie Goodwin Photography

Okay, seriously, would you even make it up these stairs? I'd kinda just hang out there for a while because who the hell knew a carpet runner could be so freaking fab and fun? Fabulously juxtaposed with that green and white wallpaper no less. And since I'd be having too much fun here, I'd simply have a seat and read me a book no? I likes this stairway. A lot. 

Eclectic Bedroom by Baltimore Interior Designers & Decorators Michelle Miller Interiors

I love both these bedrooms for the same reason. They have the bold element of stripes and yet they feel insanely serene and fun (skateboards on the wall? loves)

Contemporary Bedroom by New York Architects & Designers GRADE

The trick to using stripes successfully in design is balance, and I think these designers did a great job of achieving  that balance in many ways. Are you living with stripes? Dying to try it or simply over this striped phase? Holla. 

p.s. It's gonna be a long night for those of us in Miami and San Antonio. Game 7 of the NBA finals is tonight. It's about to be bananas, especially as all of Miami gets their pots and pans ready to make a whole lot a noise. 
Bring it! Let's go Heat!  

p.p.s
This broke my heart this morning. I LOVED the Sopranos, especially Tony. RIP James Gandolfini.