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 .

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

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.

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???

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 .