Living Through a Remodel
Our contractor is so patient, he even let DD get in on a little of the painting action.
UUGGGHHHHH!!! Am I right? We are 2 weeks into our kitchen remodel and the chaos and mess are frightening. I’ve put clients through this before but never have I been through this major of an upheaval. AND, as upheavals go…this is not so bad. We are not changing the footprint of the kitchen or replacing any of our appliances, so in reality, it’s fairly minor. I’ve done my best to minimize the disruption so here are a few tips I’ve learned.
Do a kitchen remodel in the warm months, it’s 30 degrees outside and I wish we could use the BBQ. Instead, we are on a first-name basis with the pizza delivery guy, who is very impressed with the progress we are making in the kitchen.
Make sure all of your items are delivered before the contractors start. I’ve had 2 unforeseen delays due to the new tariffs, both of them tile and both I was told were in stock before we began. I do have everything else hanging out in the garage and did prior to anyone getting started. By having everything your possession you eliminate any hold-ups that are out of your control and 2. there is no second-guessing yourself. The tile I chose for the pantry floor is on backorder for at least 3 months, possibly more. So I ordered a second tile that I “thought” was the same shade. When it arrived it was bluer than the sample so I stopped the painters, see above, while I ran around trying to check shades against the counters which were in transit from the stone warehouse and the fabricators.
Get Organized! For me, this meant clearing out a large space in the storage room for all of the items that rarely get used anyway and certainly were not going to be used while the house is torn up. Our dining room then became the pantry and I tried to keep things in a similar order as the cabinets.
If you can, set up a micro-kitchen. We have a wet bar so that has become our little kitchen for the time being. Before we began, I removed all of the items that would not be necessary and stocked it with all of the necessities.
Make a coffee station. I commandeered our bar cart, removed all of the drinks paraphernalia and set up the coffee machine, mugs, and canisters for coffee and sugar. This has been a real plus, we have both enjoyed having this designated area.
The demo on the countertops starts Saturday and the new counters will be installed Tuesday. yesterday I was able to see the slabs for the first time since they were honed. I think for the first time in my life, I know what if feels like to swoon.
Remodeling is a pain, but the more planning you do the more you can minimize the aggravation and ALWAYS keep in mind the beautiful end results.
Style VS. Trend Stop the MADNESS!!
Mood Board for our new Kitchen, The colors are not quite what they are in person, the teal has a bit more blue than this sample, but you get the gist.
This is a subject that is near and dear to my heart and something that comes up with almost every new client. Follow Pinterest, Houzz or HGTZ and all the new trends can dazzle you and suck you up into the vortex. It’s one thing if you want to follow each and every trend with your wardrobe, hopefully, that is a much smaller budget than a home remodel so a bit safer. If you chase every trend and “color of the year” you will not be happy and unless you have the budget of a Kardashian, you’ll be broke. I always tell new clients to stick to the classics and what is true to your heart and your house will come together. By staying with the classics and what you truly love, sometimes you will be on-trend and sometimes you won’t. The thing with the classics is that they keep coming back time and again. I live in a Modern Farmhouse, so cliche right now I could scream. My house was built 20 years ago, long before anyone outside of Waco knew of Johanna Gaines. So, for the time being anyway, I am on-trend. Once that trend goes away, I will still be in love with my house, because I stuck with what was true to my spirt.
In remodeling our kitchen this has really come to the front of my mind. So here is how I decided. It is imperative to me that anything that comes into my house is made from natural materials. Nearly every stone person I talked with tried to talk me into Quartz. I just can’t do it. I know that it is so much easier than marble and “gives you the same look”. Sorry, I don’t buy that. NO one is being fooled into thinking that Quartz is a real stone. I am also a Realtor, so I can’t help but look ahead to resale and I believe that in a very short time Quartz is going to have the same appeal that Corrian does today. If you can’t find granite that you like and marble is too much maintenance, then try quartzite. If quartzite is not in your budget how about concrete or wood is also a beautiful alternative. Then I asked myself, “does this bring me joy”? The other question I asked myself, has this “fill in the blank” been around for more than it’s 10 minutes of fame? My grandmother and great grandmother both had big, white, cast iron, farmhouse sinks. I’ve had cast iron sinks in the past and loved them. When mine was installed last week, I could not wait to do dishes. I use Method Sea Minerals dish soap that smells just like my grandmother’s kitchen, and I was instantly a little girl helping grandma wash dishes and listening to the ladies talk. Just because something is on-trend, at the moment, does not mean it’s a bad thing, the classics always come back and will be in style at different times in our life. White kitchens are having a shining moment, but they are timeless! For my kitchen, I’ve gone with a very dark teal (one of my top 3 favorite colors) on the lower cabinets and white on top with a white tile backsplash from counter to ceiling in the kitchen. The pantry will be all white cabinets with a teal backsplash and teal cement tile floors. The counters in both will be White Princess Quartzite. I am so excited I can hardly stand myself!
One more tidbit, beware of shopping online, it’s too easy to just click and buy and suddenly you have filled your house with $50. items that you don’t love and don’t go together. Save your money and only buy what you can’t live without. By saving all those 50 dollar bills, you will be able to afford that amazing art piece that will make you smile every single day. I love Marie Kondo’s method of literally holding on to an object to see if it sparks joy in your heart. The place where I stumble with this is with family items. I don’t often buy things I don’t love, but oh boy, when someone passes down Great Grannies anything, it’s hard to get rid of those heirlooms. I must admit that I do have a few boxes of items that I just can’t bring myself to part with, I don’t keep everything but sorry Darling Daughter I’m afraid that will be your job someday.
Paris Design Week
this is design week in paris, similar to fashion week only better, in my opinion. for those not familiar this is where designers from all over come together to display the latest ideas in all things design. i’ve never been but just looking at the pictures gives me all kinds of inspiration. an interesting theory i once heard. when the economy is not doing well, people tend to gravitate towards more neutral color palettes, (white, beige, grey, greige) when the economy is doing well people are willing to be a little riskier and start taking chances again. if design week is any indication, the economy is doing very well.
im obsessing over wall murals
if you’re not quite ready for jewel tones these softer colors feel like you are under the tuscan sun
absolutely my favorite color right now, river blue 2057-10
jewel tones just feel luxurious, this is reminiscent of benjamin moores color of the year 2017 shadow (2117-30)
0f course there was still plenty of neutrals including blush a forever feminine color
blush, a forever feminine color. my own office is head over heels (af-250)
a great way to update without tossing all of our neutrals is to pair it with this great earthy green try benjamin moores cushing green (HC-125)