Happy Monday, y’all!
Did you have a fun weekend? We sure enjoyed our (spontaneous) trip to Birmingham! The McWane Science Center is a must visit if you’re ever in the area. Between that and the indoor swimming pools at the hotels, (we stayed at two different ones just to keep it extra interesting) our little guy was in heaven. His spontaneity-lovin’ mama and daddy were too! 🙂
Today, I thought I’d share a photo consultation I worked on yesterday after we got home. My client sent me this photo of her mom’s kitchen, along with a list of things they don’t want to change and things they do want to change:
She said she does not want to change:
- the cabinets
- the trim
- the chandelier
- the appliances
- the faucet
- the dining table
- the rug under the table
She does want to change:
- the countertop
- the wall color
- the cabinet hardware
- the floor
- the window treatment
- the upholstery on the bar stools
Here’s a photo of the rug she wants to keep in the room:
And here’s the photo I had fun putting together for her!
(Centerpiece: Plum Pretty Decor & Design)
Move your cursor back and forth over the photo below if you’re on a desktop or laptop computer and would like to see the interactive version:
In a nutshell, I brought in a wall color similar to the wall color she has on the room next door (see photo below) and since she mentioned not wanting to do any kind of grouted tile or wood on the floor, I suggested she use a click-lock type of flooring on top of her existing flooring. There’s a brand called Marmoleum Click that produces lots of different colors and patterns, so I gave her the link to that site so she could contact them about getting sample colors if she likes the way it looks.
She said she didn’t want to replace the chandelier, but I suggested they paint it black or oil-rubbed bronze to make it pop a little more, and to keep it cohesive with the other dark-colored fixtures and hardware they have in the house. The current color (off-white) feels a little more coastal than warm & traditional, which is how she described her mom’s favorite style. I also suggested they cover the existing chain with rope to give it a cozier feel. Kevin’s and I did that to one of our chains here: DIY Twine Chandelier Chain Cover
Other changes I made are:
- I added black or oil-rubbed bronze pulls on the cabinets.
- I brought in a creamy-colored countertop to speak to the warm tone of the cabinets.
- I suggested she do a bright white beadboard or tile backsplash. I like the idea of a fresh pop of white there, and how it will tie the cabinet/countertop in with the (white) appliances.
- Even though it was on her “don’t” list, I swapped her faucet out for a darker one too. I feel like it would really make a nice difference and pop against the lighter backsplash and countertop.
- I suggested she reupholster her barstools with some kind of denim-like fabric. (Not real denim because the dye can rub off onto people’s pants) I also thought it might be fun to have the fabric embroidered with numbers beforehand to add a little whimsy.
- I added a navy and white stripe window shade from Pottery Barn.
- I brought in navy and white stripe placemats from Birch Lane.
- I added crown molding and suggested they freshen up the ceiling with a new coat of Simply White paint.
Here’s a look at the photo I worked on, paired with photos of the dining area rug and the room next door:
See how there is a cohesive vibe style and palette-wise? Fun stuff! I’ll let you know if they decide to make any of the changes, and if they send after photos when they’re done!
Layla
PS- If you’d like to learn how to use Photoshop so that you can modify photos of your home, I teach a class for beginners/visual learners here: LetteredCottageCreative.com
I really like what you want to do for her. It really up dates it. I love the colors. And you are right about the light over the table. I think it will be a real nice change .
Thank you so much for highlighting a kitchen with wood-tone cabinets. Not everyone can or wants to paint their cabinets white. It shows that wood can still be beautiful!
Sure thing! And, yes, the bulk of my clients request to see what their cabinets would look like painted white, but every once in a while someone wants/needs them to stay as-is and I’m happy to work with the wood tones too!
That looks wonderful, and is so surprising how minimum changes makes such a difference. I have been wanting to update my kitchen, and go back and forth on the cabinets. They are in good shape, but are the dreaded “honey oak”, but I don’t really want to paint them. A good cleaning and new backsplash, counters and flooring might be enough to make me happy.
Ooh, very nice. I also like the painted chandelier–it’s the same, but better! 🙂 I have a beadboard backsplash and I love it, for whatever that’s worth–we did a kitchen reno 4 years ago and beadboard was way more affordable and easier to install than tile. It has held up well and to my eyes, it’s a classic style.
Oh, another comment–I cook a lot in my kitchen and some affordable upgrades that make it a much more functional space have been under cabinet lighting and a deeper sink. The wiring for our lighting is under our beadboard so if it’s a feature that your client wants, now is the time to do it. Those aren’t “pretty” suggestions per se, but the kitchen should look good and work hard.
I like what you plan to do. But I have wood toned cabinets and would rather have white. I don’t like to cook and i need a light and cheery kitchen to brighten my mood.
Time to break out the brush! 😀
Great job Layla
Presto Chango is one of my favorites..
Thanks a bunch, Sunny! 🙂
When does your next Presto Change-o go on sale? My house flooded a few weeks ago which means I have a major renovation in the works. I need help getting sprucing up my travertine (blech) bathroom!
I’m so sorry to hear that your house flooded! 🙁 I hope everything is back in order soon. And I’m not sure about when I’ll open up my design consultation service right now. I’ll send out an email beforehand if I do! XO
Layla,you made a huge improvement with you ideas. In my opinion there is too much wood. I wonder if you client would consider painting the stools when they are reupholstered? Would give a very needed pop of color.
Oh, I don’t know. They looked like they were in really good condition, and they looked funny “painted” another color in Photoshop, so I left them as-is. Definitely worth considering though! 🙂
What photoshop program do you recommend for the photoshop class you teach?
Hi Heather!
I use Photoshop to create my presto change-o pics and the only one they offer is Photoshop CC now. You can find more info about how to rent it at Adobe.com 🙂
hi layla – I love presto-change ad interested in taking your on-line course on how to do this for mtself.
What is the photoshop version I would use for this class please.
thanks so much and love following you.
Pat
Hi Pat!
Adobe Photoshop only offers their “CC” version now and you rent it monthly, vs. purchasing it. You can find more info at Adobe.com! XO
I guess I’m old-school (too old! LOL!) because I like the kitchen the way it is! With the red stools and dark countertops! The mother could always get a bright wallpaper with red, and I personally LOVE red. Your idea of the lighting fixture is so true though. It would look better dark. And it would be easy to look around to get a new window treatment with what she eventually does change. And: I don’t know… I feel so many want to waste money changing countertops and such, when all they need to do, in my opinion is change the wall color, OR, as you suggested, paint the lighting fixture. Well, Good luck and blessings to this lady and her Mom, the kitchen IS beautiful and nice and big!! –gv
Yeah, it all really boils down to personal taste…and I think this gal’s has changed since she originally designed this room many years ago.
wow! You did a fabulous job as usual. It’s so neat how the changes you made really modernize it without losing the warmth. (I don’t always like white cupboards) I didn’t think there was much wrong with the kitchen how it was, yet after seeing the changes you made, it’s now a wow kitchen instead of a nice kitchen.
You’re amazing! I hope the lady’s mom likes it.
Stay awesome! 🙂
Maryjane