Playing with pink

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

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

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 .

family room by chriskauf on Polyvore.com

Decorating outside the Box

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

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 .

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

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

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

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 .