CK Interiors

Just Beachy House for Sale

2011-10-03T06:31:00.001-07:00

http://chriskauffman.blogspot.com/2011/10/just-beachy-house-for-sale.html

Just beachy house is for sale , click the link to get more details

Update photos

2011-08-30T06:51:00.000-07:00

Come on over to my Just beachy blog to see the guest house bunkie we built over the summer , I am so proud of this massive project, I have wanted a bunkie for years and never really thought we would build one , but here it is...

A paneled wall I did over the summer for a client , including floating side tables I made custom. Sorry its so small I need to go take new shots with my real camera.

A kitchen makeover I did for a client recently , added beadboard right over some ugly tile using no more nails, love the last minute decision to add the tin panel behind the stove , the client painted the cabinets white , they were oak , I also added beadboard to the bulk head , I need to get a before shot ...

Beautiful paneled wall.

A sweet bathroom makeover I did , including new counter top and sink , board and batten and reframing the mirror with trim , love this transformation, so signature beachy.

Custom bookcases with beadboard backs.

One of my best projects to date for sure built in custom bookcases.

Oh and a little cover love , I went searching for my article in Easy decorating and was shocked to see my family room on the cover , what a thrill.

Cobi Ladner came by for a visit to film a segment for The Steven and Chris show , here's the bedroom looking pretty , I dragged my big elliptical machine out ...now I just need to get around to doing the wood floors I have always wanted in here.

The paneled wall I did in my living room ,love the character it adds.

I painted out the stripes in the dining room with Lichen by Para , a Sarah Richardson paint colour, I also pared back my decor and added a beachy chandelier.

Sorry it took so long for new photos , hope you liked the re-cap.

2010-12-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

A built in bench I recently built , it adds lots of seating and allows better use of a eat in kitchen .

Holiday House Tour Photos

2010-11-28T10:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we opened the house to hundreds of people for our local Holiday House Tour for Station Gallery , this was a first for me , happily it was a fun experience and I was honoured to have been chosen as one of the participants ....

It was a lot of fun to answer questions and talk with lots of the people passing through

I kept all of my holiday decorating to my soft beachy theme , silver , white and blue were my colours this year

Thanks to all who made this day such a big success

CK Interiors makes an entrance

2010-09-17T05:42:00.000-07:00

I have been busy re-doing this entry adding durable wood paneling makes this area hard wearing for a busy family , lots of hooks makes it easy for kids to help putting their things away , I love the fresh white Nantucket style .

Magazine Photo Shoot

2010-08-23T12:45:00.000-07:00

I just realized I didn't mention my big big news, my home was recently chosen to be photographed for two Woman's Day Special Publication magazines , what a dream come true.

Sophie even got into it , well she started styling after they left and I couldn't resist taking a few photos around the house , these are all my shots , gotta keep the mag shots a secret for now , but they are gorgeous , it is amazing what professionals can do.

I couldn't have enjoyed the experience more , the girls were amazing , a photographer and a stylist for my humble home ...

I enjoyed every process , it took two days to shoot , the living room , dining room , family room , kitchen , stairs , upper hall bedroom and master bath , it was such a blast.

Sweet Moe had to kept out of the action , he just wanted to get into everything and love all over the ladies of course , but when he started wrestling the stylist for my Dash and Albert rug he was put on lock down.

I will tell you a photo shoot is the best motivation to get all those touch ups completed.

I will always have such fond memories of these days , here is Jessica the stylist making things pretty , she was much more comfortable behind the camera than in front.

the end !....I sure hope it is the beginning of great things .

My beachy style

2010-06-29T05:50:00.000-07:00

My beachy style

Flea Market Style Giveaway Draw

2010-03-10T05:05:00.000-08:00

I am offering one copy of Flea market Style magazine , I am thrilled to be included in print on page 28 , it has been a dream come true for me to be acknowledged in this way .
Please leave your name to enter into this draw for a copy of Flea Market Style magazine.
Check out Flea Market Style blog for more great information.

Giveaway starts March 10th and closes March 15th .

2010-01-13T07:33:00.001-08:00

Time for something new

2010-01-09T17:43:00.000-08:00

So sorry I have been neglecting this blog lately , I thought I should share with you some new photos , enjoy.

Playing with pink

2009-10-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

From idea to reality .

Adorable bird decals with gems .

A custom cornice to create a canopy style bed.

Gorgeous Silk striped drapes.

A custom window bench with storage.

Before and after master bedroom

2009-09-15T08:05:00.000-07:00

Before : I loved these stripes but longed for change , so the walls went deep chocolate , Fairview Taupe BM.

But what I really desired was a room with crisp white wood work , paneling or baord and baton , finally the time came and I pulled it off .

After a week of work I installed this trim and painted the walls Popped Corn behr on the trim and Fossil Grey Glidden on the above wall space .

I now have my dream room , my Nantucket Beach getaway.

After:
I added this decal K above the bed , a nice hit of black in a light and airy room .

Makeovers

2009-07-10T06:26:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share my own personal makeovers with you , show you how some paint and imagination can help you to create a new and one of a kind piece to treasure and to add style to your home. This Ikea shelf was changed by priming and painting it and adding little pieces of half round pine , it now has a new beachy look.

I found this little table on a want ads site , it had a very grandma vibe , it was also a bit wobbly , so a few screws were tightened , after a light sanding I primed and painted it , it is now something I will treasure forever.

This very ugly mahogany coffee table was obviously made for an office , I liked it clean solid lines and knew instantly it would make a perfect ottoman , I used a drop cloth for the fabric and easily transformed it into an ottoman , the table cost me $25.00

Adding simple MDF pieces to the wall created this panel detail which changed the whole look of the house.

Although I had added trim and painted and glazed these cupboards when we moved in, it was dark and drab , a fresh coat of white brought the kitchen to life , I also added a subway tile backsplash , new lighting ,new appliances, and a custom range covers and then built a custom island in place of a table tripling the storage space in this kitchen of mine.

I often find just what I am looking for on Craigslist , I found this chair for a song and re-designed it , it was well worth the effort .

I had been given this frame which was a mirror many years ago , I decided to take the mirror out and use the backing which was Masonite and I painted it with flat black paint creating a charming chalkboard.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when looking at garage sales , flea markets , and Craigslist and other sites like it ,

1. Is it in good shape ?

2. Is the overall shape appealing to you ?

3. What would it look like painted ?or recovered?

4. If it is the wrong color , can it be changed to a color I like?

5. What else can I turn it into { a frame into a mirror , or memo board or chalkboard}?

If any of these questions is answered with yes , you should strongly consider buying a piece.

Happy hunting .

2009-06-03T05:45:00.000-07:00

family room by chriskauf on Polyvore.com

Decorating outside the Box

2009-04-22T16:03:00.000-07:00

I have gathered some very inspiring photos of special interiors, these home owners have thought outside the box , stepped away from safe and predictable decorating , I would encourage anyone else to do the same . Your home doesn't need to be just like your neighbours , neutral and safe , don't be afraid to take a chance its decorating , it should be fun and beautiful.

Add pattern to your walls , pops of colour can be fun when used sparingly .

photo source unkown ?

Mix things up . Bench seating with ladder back chairs as well as wicker , gorgeous , why should this look be saved for the cottage as some may think , why not the everyday house , why because it is unexpected ? well there is an even better reason to go ahead with it .

Think outside the box for everyday surfaces , why not warm wood counters instead of plastic .

Say no to hoo humm , look what colour has done for this kitchen and painting black diamonds on the floor , well why not ? Look at all the details , the backsplash is beadboard railroaded , they added chunky brackets to the upper cabinets , the kick plates have a furniture feel , all of these things are easy to do , you just have to take the time to think beyond the norm .

The impact of classic trim work

2009-04-09T05:45:00.000-07:00

I wanted to show you just what a big difference upgrading your trim work can make , this classic look was achieved by using inexpensive MDF and small amount of trim work .

You will see here the scale of the door on the left is skinny and doesn't have a presence .

Decorating can be adding decorative elements to a space , but I am a big believer in making a lasting impression on a house , when the rooms are empty they should still be beautiful because the details were paid attention to and then leaves a home forever changed and improved , you will feel it too .

2009-04-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

Update ,
I have adjusted my prices to be in Canadian Funds , so for you American purchasers this is an even greater deal and design plans will now cost you less.
Chris Kauffman

Price adjustment

2009-04-02T09:55:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to mention that I have decided according to the work involved that my multi room plan will include two room not three , I have seen other on-line consults for as much as $500.00 per room so I think my pricing is still quite a bargain at$75.00 for two rooms or $45.00 for one room .
Thanks Chris K

Sharing in progress

2009-04-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

I like to start with an Inspirational mood board ,as it is a great jumping off point.

A new lovely traditional fixture for the dining room instantly updates this dining room , and a wonderful soothing creamy shade was used to warm up the dining rooms walls , don't the doors and trim work just sing ?

I wanted to share with you this make over in progress , a while back I was hired to help a lovely lady update her living and dining room . How I love those little bunnies , I have a bunny thing too .
I came up with a plan that can be accomplished over time and I can see someone has been hard at work.

A fresh splash of blue breathes new life into a classically beautiful home. Look at those newly finished floors , gorgeous , really well done.

I can not wait to see more , but I know it all comes in good time.

It is a real pleasure to work with hard working inspired people , thank you for the opportunity.

Working with a decorator doesn't mean you have to do everything that is suggested , but it should set you on a path with a goal with a vision and the process should inspire you to make worthy changes in your home .

Thank you for sharing.

Chris Kauffman

Kitchen consultaion

2009-03-10T07:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a wonderful diamond in the rough . It seems to be a common thread that most people hate their old oak stained cabinets , in its time it was new and sought after but its day has passed, and it is time for change .
If your cabinets are real wood and in good shape there is no need to rip them out and start over , as I always encourage painting is to be considered . The power of paint is enormous , it is work but it is work worth doing , I say this from experience .
Here is a great example of a kitchen just waiting for a transformation.

Two appliance styles for consideration.

I would love to see one of these faucets , they are from overstock and an amazing deal.

I wanted to share with you a recent design kitchen consultation . The owner of this kitchen is going to give it a face lift , well more than a face lift , they are going to install new granite counters and purchase new stainless steel appliances . They wanted me to come up with some plans to update this kitchen . So as I do , I get a vision for a space initially , and after a few days of constantly thinking of this space and coming up with details and improvements I was able to come up with a plan of action . And here is the after inspiration photo that I have come up with . I would be thrilled with such a space . There is a lot of hard work to be completed , but the after will be worth it , I assure them , not to mention that it will add great value to their home .

2009-03-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

What can you do to hide the tv , well I came up with some rustic shutters , they look charming closed or open .

2009-02-12T07:19:00.000-08:00

Kids rooms are a great place to push the boundaries of color and whimsical touches.

Painting an old bed with a new fresh color is a great way to bring new life and to personalize a room .

Check Craigslist and Kijiji for old pieces to re-paint , make sure they are sturdy and have a pretty shape for a girls room. Clean lined and sturdy for boys.

A small mural is a personal touch that any child would love.

Of course a canopy is always a welcome touch for a little girl.

Stripes is a great way to compromise , my child chose orange at the time , not being a big fan of an all orange room , I decided to temper it with the use of pink and orange , much easier to live with , we both got a choice that we could all live with .

Turns out it is one of my favorite wall finishes .

Try turquoise and white , pink and green , two shades of any color will do.

Whether just on a feature wall or all around the room it is a great treatment.

2009-01-28T04:40:00.000-08:00

What a transformation a few coats of paint can make , I painted my dining room table black , the contrast makes for a striking mix .

I wanted to allow light into the basement staircase . I cut out some drywall to see if there were any studs in my way , and luckily there were none, so the hole could be . Where could you use a little bit of light ?

Is an island the solution to your kitchen issues???

2009-01-10T11:33:00.000-08:00

Well I can't answer that for you , however it was the solution for my kitchen . I opted to build a large eat at island in place of the four seater table that we had lived with for 2 years since we have an ajoining dining room with a generous table I didn't feel I was loosing anything . It offers first of all visual appeal , as well as a large work surface , loads of storage and a comfortable spot to eat meals.

The work top is solid pine boards that I simply edged with pine chair rail to give it a great detail edge , we all distressed the top by beating it up with saws , chains , forks , which was a lot of fun for my oldest daughter to lend a hand to. I then stained it dark with a few coats of walnut stain , three coats of varathane , it has been a great addition . In hind sight I would have made it an inch small which would have allowed for a solid butcher block top from Ikea . My dream counter top would be soapstone though .

I used these glass doors from Ikea , they were clear so I frosted them to hide the contents inside .

It was a family affair .

Here are some during the build shots .

Creating a beach style ensuite

2008-12-17T10:13:00.000-08:00

Starting with the right colour was key to the success of this crisp clean look . The colour fittingly is "beach house " by Debbie Travis , a great pairing with the fresh white I used to paint the standard golden oak cabinets .

New lighting replaced the movie star make-up strip style lighting. Two mirrors replace the large slab mirror.

Towel hooks in place of a towel bars.

A pretty place for special things.

White and blue scheme beckons to the sea side feeling .

Adding salvage legs from a table that was 100 years old gives the vanity some needed visual interest .

The apron front of the soaker tub was clad in bead board and edged with marble to bring a plain tub into a custom feature .

There is still work to be done , bead board trim will wrap the room and will be painted white , as well as a new pretty faucet will be an added touch as well as crown moulding. I will make sure to show you when those improvements are made , all things in good time , there is no need to rush .

Getting all dressed up for the holiday's

2008-12-04T11:46:00.000-08:00

I have made a few changes to the dining room space yet again , I decided to stripe the walls just on the dining room walls , just to enhance the detail , it really warms up the space .

A few festive and glittery ornaments to say Christmas is near .

I also added what I refer to as a scrunchie to my chandelier chain , a little fabric never hurt when adding personality to a fixture .

I am very pleased with the stripes , where could you add stripes ?

Dining room make-over

2008-11-21T11:01:00.000-08:00

I wanted to break down all of the changes that took place to transform this dining room from bare and dated , to a classically beachy style.
- The most obvious change is the colour of the table and chairs , I hesitated painting this set for a long time , it was given to me by my mother and it was a very good quality piece . This was a very country flavoured piece , I would never go out today and pick a piece with this finish , "honey pine" so paint it I did , I now cherish this piece as one of my best makeovers .
- the chairs fabric is also changed , as well I added upholstery tacs to the seats,for more style.
- Recessed panelling which is my favourite style of wall trimming.
- Paint colour , reflecting pool by CIL
- the swinging door was added a charming feature.
- the wall accessories
- the two decorative brackets around the window area
- the striped rug Dash and Albert
- the ribbon added to the leading edges of the draped
- new curtain rod
- new window casings
- wall sconce lamps
Lots of work but not lots of cost still equalling lots of style.

Design plan

2008-11-04T13:38:00.000-08:00

Small improvements

2008-11-01T10:41:00.000-07:00

Although it has only 6 years since I had chosen this checkerboard pattern ,I have tired of this look . My choices were limited through our builder and tile has evolved greatly in this time . It being such a small area I decided after finding natural slate for a very fair price it was time to rip it out and install a more stylish and durable option , as it is dark = hides dirt , non smooth surface = non slip , great for families pets and winters.
This photo is however the unfinished product , but you can already see what a huge style difference it has made. I will keep you updated with the finish shots asap.

2008-11-01T10:39:00.001-07:00

Last week my home was featured on the Steven and Chris show click the link below to go directly to the episode , if you fast forward to the last 15 minutes you will find me giving a tour of some of the work I have done on my house. Hope you enjoy and get a better sense of what I can do .
http://www.cbc.ca/stevenandchris/fullvideo.html?id=911679604&playlist=791b66dd77bf681a88cc0090ae76651b58a444e0

Exciting news

2008-10-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

You know these two handsome boys don't you , well their Steven and Chris , Steven Sabatos ,well I have been watching on TV since he has been on , I hot glued design onto simple wood frames and painted them as he showed a way back in 1992 I believe if my mind serves me correctly , I actually have learned a lot along the way from him and Chris , well he is just a breath of fresh air , I love him , don't you just want to give him a big hug , gosh I can't explain how much I love these two guys, my husband used to call Steven my boyfriend ??? yes he is gorgeous , but I never crushed on him in that way , I have always said I would just love to work with him , I admire his work . Well I experienced a full circle moment yesterday , since a crew from their show Steven and Chris came to my house , yes this house , and let me give a tour of all the work I have done , this was a proud moment for me . The segment should air on CBC in two weeks , I will keep everyone posted . I worked all week getting the house just right , I wanted to show Sophie's room , so I had to finish the trim work I had started , and touched up all over and added these new pink drapes for her closet , you wouldn't believe how hard it was to find hot pink drapes , these were from Walmart , $16.00 or $20 a panel, can't recall.

I was indulging on beautiful flowers , I don't do this enough , and probably you don't either , treat yourself to some flowers , these are from the grocery store .

I had so much fun getting everything just so , I got the matching white lamp from the grocery store again , $35.00 always just your big box grocery store for goodies you may just surprise yourself .
That's all for now , I have gotta run , I will proof read later , forgive any blunders please.

Blue and white dining room

2008-10-07T09:46:00.000-07:00

I have maximized the space given in this dining room area , instead of cramming a big hutch and buffet into this room , I have filled the space with a long harvest table and 6 chairs . Lets face it when we use the formal or semi-formal dining room like this it is for family gatherings, not for every day , that tells me it is more important to seat many people .Keeping the dining area free for just seating allows for maximum capacity. So check your space , is it under 12x8 you may consider re-locating your hutch and buffet to another space in the house , re-purpose.

2008-10-03T10:47:00.000-07:00

Long drapes and tall window need not be expensive to deal with , adjusting ready made curtains with an extension of fabric is a cost effective way to finish such a huge focal point , nothing fussy that would only take away from a beautiful feature. Less is more.

*sorry just couldn't move those sleeping dogs, they say let sleeping dogs lie , I agree.

Window seat

2008-10-02T15:50:00.000-07:00

I used extra fabric from the dining chair makeover to upholster a small window seat for the living room , creating a lovely sunny spot for kids and pets.

Bookcase solution

2008-09-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

I have been struggling with magazine storage , I need a lot of it , as this is a wonderful resource for decorating , I need to keep these magazines, but they are over flowing , I have no where for a bookcase , my space and cost saving solution was to move my linen covered bench to this nook by the stairs where we really love it , I was lucky to easily find these black baskets that fit the bill, these two floor cushions were a mere $4.00 each can you believe that , a comfy spot for kids or the dogs . The baskets were $10.00 , the shopping gods were on my side today .

Lighting spectacular

2008-09-28T05:15:00.000-07:00

I am on the hunt for the perfect dining room fixture, I have looked at a few hundred fixtures and have not found just the right one .I want to elevate the feel of my dining room a tad bit more formal it feels a little flat right now to me with the candle fixture in there right now . I bring you a lighting spectacular. Enjoy the room candy.

I love this one as the light is vintage and the shade is hand wrapped with cream ribbon.

I adore this blue drop look . Very shabby chic.
I really enjoy this ship fixture , it is over $700.00
This white beaded one is perfection.

This one is Home Depot a very nice copy .

Pine flooring

2008-09-24T05:20:00.000-07:00

Not too many modern day house have pine flooring , however this was used for hundreds of years , it is a charming feature in century old homes ,they were often used on the upper floors , modern wood floors have turned into a very pricey option from $2.50 sq ft to $10.00 s ft plus installation, it is an investment. We no longer cover up wood floors we install them where ever we can , they are beautiful who can doubt that ? I have wood floors throughout my main floor however the upstairs was all carpeting , which I did not like and still do not like and will change out as I get around to it . I decided to think outside the box for my landing , so I installed pine flooring . A very affordable option , if you like a rustic floor which I do .

This is before I finished it with a dark stain , looks very pretty , but I prefer the dark wood .

Here is the before , you can see why I needed to change it , it looks pink although it was oatmeal , and most of the time it does look beigeish for the most part , it was a happy day when I ripped it up .You can also see how tiny the casings were which I replaced with a 5 inch baseboard.

Just in case you are not familiar with my or my work , I do this work for myself , and I love to do it .

Pottery Barn style room

2008-09-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

I have tried to maximize storage and space in this bedroom , there is plenty of space for sleepovers with friends , lots of shelving for books and display , because girls have a lot of stuff.
This bunk bed was a fraction of a PB bed that I have had my eye on , this shows when you just spend some time looking you can find things for less , much less , for instance this bed which is solid wood was $300.00 the PB version was $1300.00.You just have to know where to look , and I do , I am always sourcing and finding hidden gems and out of the way places, at times it means doing some work like painting , but it saves so much money for other projects .

The family room completed

2008-09-17T19:40:00.000-07:00

The family room , the place for family gatherings , movie watching , or catching up on emails , this really is a family room , not a room for the ugly stuff the old sofa and college furniture , and shelves full of dvd's , no no , things like that have no place here , you can have comfort without chaos, the dogs make a mess on on the sofas , kids eat here , thankful for slip covers and wood floors , much easier to live when both of those materials are utilized.
Use side tables with storage for concealing dvd's , trunks for toys and blankets , there is such a peace when all of the clutter disappears at the end of the day when you have earned some time to relax .

Kitchen before and after

2008-09-16T13:43:00.000-07:00

I think these photos speak for themselves , a lot has changes and now I have my dream kitchen .I suppose I should elaborate on the changes here . The cupboards are standard builder oak cabinets , I don't like wood toned cabinets , I love white and painted cupboards , I could have opted for white plastic but that would not be something I could be happy with , why couldn't I paint the wood well I could and I have many many times, it takes well to paint and wears quite fine , it may need to be touched up at times but not often, every few years or so . Adding a backsplash is a must , whether it is tile or glass or beadboard or those great tin ceiling tiles it is much easier to clean than painted wall, the nice surprise I got was the added reflection that my subway tile added , & texture, and it cleans so well, I wanted to do blue glass tile but I went with the classic white subway , which never goes out of style , I also love the tiny version of the subway , very appealing. I designed and built an island in place of the table, this is a great option for a family on the go and for homes with young children as meals tend to be very casual, like at my house , for family times we have a dining room and there is always eating out , which I love , no cooking and no dishes. The island has doubled the storage , it is my pantry , as I don't have one nor do I have room for one , now I don't need one. We only used one trade here that was an electrician , they moved the junction box and added one so that I could have these school house lights I have always wanted , I believe it is important to always find affordable options before over spending , for instance the lights , I could have easily spent $150.00 for each fixture , yet I found them for $50.00 each , it can be done , I am always on the look out for a great deal , that way there is money left to get the full job done whether all at once or a little at a time. These are both options working with me , we can start with a design plan and get it done in a timely manner or take our time and work at it as the budget allows.
Hope you enjoyed my kitchen transformation.

Before back in 2003.

The cost of a beautiful custom kitchen

2008-09-13T06:13:00.000-07:00

What does it cost for a wonderful dream kitchen , a kitchen that has personality function and style . I once heard Oprah refer to a $100,000.00 kitchen budget as being reasonable , to whom is that reasonable , not to me , and trust me not necessary . Take this kitchen , it is wonderful , but is it costly ?, well the cabinets are as they are frame style , this is more challenging to make for the cabinet maker , most cabinets out there are frame less , which is fine I assure you , as long as your doors are a good design and material. The splurges here are the cabinets and the sink as well as the appliances , however the wood counters will save you money and they are so gorgeous a great alternative to stone , Ikea sells butcher block which is a fantastic choice. The open shelving is much less expensive than cabinets and gives so much style to this kitchen a opportunity for display. The bead board back splash is a very cost effective finish not to mention a wonderful detail to add to a kitchen , trust me easier to install and would save you hundreds over tile .
This second kitchen is perfection , your may be beautiful with just a little bit of work , those are standard cupboards , painted white , easy , new dark metal handles update what was there , which was most likely awful. The marble counters were the splurge here and why not the rest of the improvements were very affordable, like open shelving again very affordable. A fresh white palette and new appliances , and you have one of the nicest kitchens out there. Now this could have easy been a gut job , which could have cost $40-50 thousand , where as it was most likely under $6000. including top line appliances and marble , now that is a lot of savings and I am all about making the most of the money being spent.
This kitchen is wonderful and charming , we should take a few simple ideas from this kitchen , consider painting the lower cabinets a soft tone , the uppers white, adding some glass doors , a spectacular back splash and stainless appliances , not need to purchase a stove of this caliber mind you this is a $7000 stove , you can get this look for much less.that being said I would much rather spend money on a fabulous stove and making the most of the cabinets you have by painting them or removing some or simply replacing ugly doors with nice ones than doing a gut job and skimping on new appliances. Add a wonderful playful light and this kitchen sings ,enjoy me !
This kitchen using classic black and white linoleum tiles , very cost efficient . Open shelving again , white paint , good counter and sink are the only splurge here .

So I hope you can see that having a dream kitchen does not require a big loan , if you have good solid cabinets , frame less wood doors , or better , no synthetic cabinets allowed nor the seventies oddly carved doors with center pulls , they will need to go ,keep in mind that not all reno's need to be expensive nor time consuming I assure you I can do it for much less .

Where I would spend money , would be on nice appliances , most likely upgrading the counters , making sure the backsplash is stunning , it should be a feature , not bathroom tiles , always take the time to find good lighting , and great hardware which does not need to be costly .

Your dream kitchen may be closer that you think .

I love to say why move , just improve , it is not as hard as you may think to get the home you want , you just need the right help.

A run down

2008-09-09T16:17:00.000-07:00

For the dining room I painted the harvest table and chairs two shades of cream they were 80's honey pine , I added a candelabra instead of electric fixture , recovered the chairs and added nail heads for style, I also added wall sconces to add ambient light for dinners , to start off I added recessed panelling to the walls painted white to give the house an older more character home feel as opposed to brand new suburban house feel.

Here I added mouldings to the staircase and painted white and black , as well as I added a berber runner. I painted this table blue and distressed it , and recently painted the wicker chair that was yellow this crisp black .
To the floating shelf I added old salvaged brackets I found at an antique market and cleaned up with a fresh coat of paint and added a pair of mirrors to reflect light and fill the enormous space of this double height room , it is one of the family's favourite spots to hang out , and floods with light in the afternoon.

Texture to the ceiling

2008-09-07T17:23:00.000-07:00

So much time is spent on mouldings for walls and casings as well as baseboard , well spent time , it all adds the proper amount of style and character if you get the mouldings right, it make a huge difference, imagine your room empty , it should be beautiful without anything in it ,those are the bones, if you think of your home in this way you realize that a beautiful home is about the layers and the details, so look up , is your ceiling a forgotten surface well usually it is, some people paint it , an accent colour, I do not suscribe to this theory , mine here was popcorn as they call it , I removed it and installed this beadboard ceiling painted it a fresh glossy white called of all things funny "popped corn" and it is a welcome addition to add more style to this room , the bones of this room are completed , moving on of course to other rooms now.

A fresh look

2008-08-26T07:11:00.000-07:00

I recently re-visited my family room wall colour choice , I chose I pale creamy yellow , it brightened the room and gave it a freshened up look . I also painted the coffee table and addressed the wall accessories by just painting the small mirror black it just shows that a face lift can be small and not costly to make a positive difference.

Mudroom redo

2008-08-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

BEFORE :

I recently remodelled this blank slate of a mud room to make room for loads of outer wear , and I added a message center , it is now a well working mud room and laundry room .

It's always fun to revamp a room after a few years

2008-07-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a couple of redo's I have recently done , after 5 years with grey stairs I have been wanting a classic black and white scheme , so here it is after 24 hours total painting , well worth the work don't you think?
Also although I loved the pale blue shade and crisp feeling I was longing a stronger more cozy bold feel I simply painted a deep brown, and bought a new antique dresser and striped those, changed the star above the bed to a pale blue one, and added two round mirrors from else where in the house, this was a very inexpensive redo.

Recent updates.

2008-06-12T08:14:00.000-07:00

Notice the dark hits like the deep cherry floor and black mirror and trim on the chair , this grounds the room .
This was a plain white fixture I painted and added these shades that I embellished with chenille fabric and beaded flowers.

Changing the fabric on these well loved dining chairs has changed their look , adding dark nail heads give a pop of contrast and masculinity to a feminine paisley.
New stainless appliances breath new life into my kitchen , it has updated it to a new level.

My work

2008-05-22T06:56:00.000-07:00

Bamboo blinds always add a casual feel to any room in natural dark or white they are always a welcome option , and so affordable too. The dining room all dressed up for spring , my favorite striped rug has finally found its home.
My family room , an updated picture, put up your feet and enjoy some family time.
My kitchen , a large island can be a welcome addition to most kitchens, storage , work surface , eating convenience a kitchen table can not compete. More updates to come very soon , watch for major a improvement on the bland appliance shown in this photo.

2008-05-04T14:05:00.000-07:00

Swinging door, big hit...
Tile before grouting
Tile and hood after grouting , as you can see I need a new stove to spotlight my tile feature, it's coming soon, I will show.

The beam I added just for fun.

The new upgraded trim work around the window, and new bamboo blind.
A newly refinished chair.
A cubby I created from a void in the children's bathroom , and my walls of tile.

The upgraded fireplace surround , there were only pillars, but I wanted a proper mantel so I made one.

All work is done my me for me ,all tiling and woodworking painting , refinishing phew I am tired, no truly I love this work it is my passion. Thanks for stopping by.

2008-02-19T12:11:00.000-08:00

Before Roman's never look good down in my opinion, but look stunning up with their lovely folds, very affordable window option. The usual option would be large slat wooden blinds , which don't often look finished alone but need some sort of side panel to complete the look, in tight spaces like this so close to a fireplace and sliding doors ,drapes would have been over kill here.

After New roman's for the family room, they were functional , they just needed a facelift.

2008-02-13T13:27:00.000-08:00

I recently added a stenciled wall to this room, it looks like wall paper, this is also a new bunk bed that makes great use of space and provides lots of room for sleep overs, it will soon be painted white and I will show you that transformation as soon as it happens.

This a a new transormation for this little jam cupboard, if it had remained its origional clor of burgandy I am sure it would have ended up in the basement with all the other unloved relecks, but a simple coat of paint and some careful distressing can breath new life into an old piece, never be afraid to paint a piece, it is after all just paint, or better yet have someone else do the job for you.
When storage is needed sometimes the best option is a custom piece , if I had tried to find a slim shelf to mount and narrow enough for a tight space I would have been hard pressed , so I opted to build this one myself.
This little floating shelf is a perfect spot for pretty things, and add some style to an other wise plain wall.

2008-01-14T07:04:00.000-08:00

I have recently installed a wall of tile in my children's bathroom, it has added great interest to an other wise dull room, a nice view from the hallway.

I painted the bathroom cupboards to update them and gave them a brownish glaze to add some depth to the finish .
I built this kitchen chalkboard out of an old door by adding mouldings and painting a large portion with chalk paint, it also hides the side of the fridge and prevents clutter build up from the side of the fridge.
The floors are taking on a worn patina just as I wanted, they are very like pine floor boards you would find in England.

2007-10-08T11:33:00.000-07:00

My very efficient mudroom, which is actually , my entrance, not all houses are blessed with mudrooms, so I made the most of my space and it works very well.
This built in computer station is a welcome addition to the kitchen for children to play and pay bills and keep the family running , it is invaluable.
My completed casual dining room, I recently painted all the chairs with two shades of creamy white and it is such a lovely place for family dinners.
The recent addition of this round shutter to the vaulted ceiling area is just what this space was calling for a little added architecture, and at $30.00 that a look for less approach.

My dining room

2007-09-06T10:30:00.001-07:00

Few more ditties...

2007-09-02T15:46:00.000-07:00

Never shy to pick up the paintbrush, hammer, drill , or tile saw , I have tackled all projects with an I can do it attitude. From sewing , to tile and carpentry work I am a JILL of all trades.

I love decorating for kid only spaces they are always so open to fun schemes and whimsical touches.

Gallery of work.

2007-09-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

The stairs were painted out in two shades of grey instead of the usual black and white.

In the family room new floors were installed , I added panel mouldings, and tiled the fireplace surround and hearth.

Dining room I added recessed paneling.

I built this island ,added additional lighting, and tiled the backsplash with feature insets.

This is a custom computer station handy in the kitchen. Built out the window ledge in the living room, with beadboard and trim work.

I added panel moulding to the stairs to give it a built in look and added to the houses character.

Bold colours and fun touches make a childs room a happy place to be.

All these projects I have tackled on my own, I thoroughly enjoy taking the ordinary and making it into the extraordinary.

I hope you enjoy, my labours of love.