One Room Challenge Week 1 – Fall 2016

via Lonny

Hello there,

I’m jumping into the One Room Challenge (ORC) again! As you may know, I bought a smaller home for my daughter and I after my husband passed away this past Spring. (To everyone who has asked, we are doing OK. Some days are very difficult to the point where I can’t move and others are tolerable.) But you’re not here to hear about that, so as an update we moved in three weeks ago and prior to moving in a lot of work was done to get the bones of the house right – changing all the flooring to hardwood, smoothing the ceilings and painting the house shades of white (except in my daughter’s room.) I will share the rooms with you over time but what I am tackling for this ORC is the kitchen.  The house reno has given me something to focus on and I know the end result will be worth all the time, effort and money spent.

If you don’t know what the ORC is, then where have you been? 🙂 With a house full of design interventions to be undertaken, it was an easy decision to participate for the fifth time (twice as a featured designer and this is my third time linking up.) You can read all of my previous (24) posts here and see what this is all about.

Today, I’m sharing the Before photos and what’s inspiring me so you can get a sense of what I’m working with and where I am headed (hopefully.) Next week, I will share the full design plan.

These are the Before’s taken from the real estate listing. As you can see it’s not a terrible before in that the house is only 5 years old.  But the brown and beige makes me very sad so it has to go. The appliances came with the house but I gave them all away. That fridge is so massive, I’m not a fan of microwaves over the range and they had an electric range and I much prefer gas. (PS after 3 weeks of takeout and prepared food, we finally had our range installed today – yay!) Still no counter, sink or dishwasher but it will all be worth the wait.

When I saw this kitchen, I saw potential. The layout is calling for a long (not wide) island and why are the stools on the task side??  We can also make better use of the space by using the entire long wall for cabinetry. And of course, prettying it up. Bye bye brown ugliness, hello light and bright kitchen.

 

And here are my inspiration photos:

I have always loved, loved, loved this kitchen designed by Katie Martinez and as seen in Lonny. (I even have those stools which I may or may not keep – still deciding.) I may have to bring some copper into the kitchen – not in the form of pendants though. Those are being made as we speak.

 

This kitchen designed by Pencil and Paper Co. (one of the 20 designers participating this round) also served as inspiration. Can you see what this kitchen and the one above have in common?

 

This last kitchen by Kelly Deck is beautiful in its simplicity. I really believe that you don’t have to try every new trend, colour or pattern in a space and that simple always wins in my books. There isn’t even crown moulding in this kitchen but it still reads as high end and thoughtfully designed. Just love this.

And I have to include my former kitchen which I completed for my very first ORC. I wouldn’t have changed a thing!

Come back next week to see what I have come up with and where things are. Also, follow along with the 20 designers and the linking participants here. As we have seen year after year, a lot of pretty is about to happen and you don’t want to miss it. And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram, as I will be sharing updates there as well.

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