Dwell by Cheryl: Spring 2020 One Room Challenge

June 24, 2020

Spring 2020 One Room Challenge - Week 8 (REVEAL!)

The Reveal!

It's finally reveal day and I'm beyond excited to share my new kitchen with you all! C'mon in!!

Oh wait! We should probably take a look back before we go in. It's been quite a transformation and frankly, I need to look back myself to fully appreciate how far the space has come.

So sad. Like I said in my Week 1 post, this has been the space in my home that I've avoided tackling for the past thirteen years and it showed. Well, not anymore...

Cameron Reynolds Photography

Y'all, I feel like I live at Disney World. For me this is the HAPPIEST place on earth.

I'm obsessed with my new kitchen!

First, if you're just joining the party and need to catch up on things, you can check out the backstory, the plan, the foundational elements, the soft selections and the special touches in my

Week 1-7 posts linked below:

Week 1 - The Backstory

Week 2 - The Plan

Week 3 - The Foundation

Week 4 - The Foundation Part II

Week 5- Cancelled

Week 6- Soft-scaping and Functional Solutions

Week 7 - Special Touches

Renovating your kitchen (or any space for that matter) in the midst of a pandemic is a tall order, but thankfully uber anal me, started really early and had minimal delays in receiving product and getting things done. I think in the end the only thing that didn't make it in time were my new upgraded electrical outlets and switches. They've arrived now and I'll be adding them soon.

My goal with this kitchen was to make it more functional for how I live (it wasn't far off there) and much more a reflection of who I am from a style perspective but also on a deeper level.

Check out the video below to learn what I mean and to take a little tour.

From the start, I dubbed the project the Old, New, Borrowed, Blue Kitchen Redo. This kitchen is a mix of old things like a vintage Duncan Phyfe dining table, my existing honey oak cabinets and a beautiful vintage Turkish rug and new things like my beautiful new Tile Shop floors and backsplash, Designmaster bar stools and custom drapery.

Cameron Reynolds Photography

For as much as the space utilization remained, so many other things have changed. Lighting plays a big role in the space. It's something that I've learned to value more and more as I've grown as a designer. Lighting definitely impacts my mood, so I added it in a number of new places in the space. In addition to upgrading the existing lighting, I added a picture light above the commissioned art at the back door, a floor lamp in the corner near the bay window, a sconce atop the blue and white tile and a table lamp in the entry nook.

One Room Challenge sponsor, Hudson Valley Lighting did not disappoint. Ironically, they're one of my favorite vendors for client projects, so it was nice to get the opportunity to use them in my own home.

I went with a mixture of traditional and modern pieces, but all with a classic feel.

Cameron Reynolds Photography

I've loved the Mitzi lanterns since the first time I spotted them. They come in a variety of colors but the white just seemed to work best here. The Mitzi lamp is one of my favorite pieces. I literally couldn't stop touching it when it came in. It has the most delicious texture and mimics the Milton and King Tulip Seeds wallpaper motif.

Cameron Reynolds Photography

While we're here, let's talk about this little corner, shall we?
For starters the wallpaper makes it so much more special. The graphic large scale floral leaf pattern adds personality and installation (according to my wallpaper installers) was a breeze.
Creating some sort of landing zone was one of the things that was pretty high on my needs list.

Art: Ray Hart Art and Photography: Cameron Reynolds Photography

It's tiny but it's mighty. I adore the beautiful custom painted cabinet and metallic mirror from Wildwood Home.

Cameron Reynolds Photography

It provides the perfect storage for all of my everyday essentials. It's so nice to be able to grab things just as I leave out the back door and to not have them pile up on the dining table.

Art: Allison Ford Photography: Cameron Reynolds Photography

After things started to come together, I quickly realized I needed a landing spot for my purse too. I had already began to hang it on the back of one of the dining chairs and that was NOT going to work. I scoured Etsy for the perfect vintage addition and found it. This little cane stool is too cute and guess what? My purse is always on it. A place for EVERYthing and everything in its place.

Emtek Hardware came through big time with the most beautiful door hardware EVER! Their selection was so good, I seriously had the hardest time settling on which to pick. I landed on this beautiful satin brass deadbolt and knob from their American Classic collection.

Cameron Reynolds Photography

These upholstered doors are a whole mood.

I'd been waiting on a place to add them in my home and this was it!

Cameron Reynolds Photography

My laundry closet lives in my kitchen and these beautiful doors conceal them from the rest of the space. Mark of Baity's Custom Upholstery did another amazing job with them and the custom cornice above my sink window. I'm a textile girl and anywhere I can add a soft surface, I'm game! The Addison Weeks hardware on these are a stunning addition that makes them total showstoppers. Mark said they look like doors to my wine cellar. I wish! Lol!

Cameron Reynolds Photography

In terms of greater function, a tv cabinet was a MUST! What we created is simple, but really is a great substitute for that terrible little cabinet that used to live here and serve absolutely no purpose.

Cameron Reynolds Photography

Now, it not only conceals my tv, but it also includes ample storage and a beautiful antiqued mirror provides a reflective surface to increase the light in the space.

Cameron Reynolds Photography

As much as the kitchen is a mix of old and new, it also includes a little "borrowed" and a whole lot of of blue. The tile was one of my very first selections. I never doubted it for a moment. Thank you Tile Shop! Yeah, it's a bold choice but hey, a designer lives here! I couldn't love it more. It makes me so happy.

Cameron Reynolds Photography

I decided early on to remove the singular upper cabinet that previously lived here but replaced it with these beautiful white oak floating shelves handmade by local firefighter and woodworker, Char'd Wood Woks.

Art: Kelly O'Neal Photography: Cameron Reynolds Photography

They provide the perfect perch for several pieces of my grandma's Fiestaware (I guess that's my borrowed element) and a few other pretty things.

Cameron Reynolds Photography

Probably the biggest surprise to many in this project was my decision to NOT paint the cabinets. Do I regret it? NOT A CHANCE! I love the warmth and depth they add to the space. It's also pretty crazy what a BIG difference the modern black hardware from Schaub made on the cabinetry. They do wonders for both the painted and wood-stained cabinets. Oh and can we talk about my Cafe appliances?

Cameron Reynolds Photography

I'll admit I'm not the biggest cook, but these appliances are the BOMB! Having spent the last three months home and eating three meals a day here, I can say that with more confidence than I ever could have in the past. All (except the microwave) are smart appliances and can be controlled from my smart phone. I thought that was a bit much until I was chilling on the porch swing one evening and needed to preheat my oven for dinner. Hello smart appliance app!

Cameron Reynolds Photography

I'll also admit, it was hard for me to get excited about things like countertops and faucets; that is until I got new countertops and a new faucet. I'm obsessed with my new quartz counters from Stoneworks. They are light, bright, durable and easy to clean. Build.com was gracious enough to provide my new Kohler sink and Delta faucet and matching strainer and disposal cap, p-trap and disposal. These things are super important to the function of my new kitchen. Build.com has the best selection of home improvement products including trending and traditional styles, unique finishes, and new technologies at competitive prices all in one place. Customers can find what they need to create their own personal style. The selection really is pretty awesome.

Cameron Reynolds Photography

You'd be surprised how motivating a new sink strainer is in helping you keep your sink clean of debris.

Cameron Reynolds Photography

It's really hard to put into words how much I love this kitchen. I can hardly wait until we all are a little more comfortable about being close to one another again. I can't wait to host my peeps in the new space.

Cameron Reynolds Photography

Until that time it's just me and you better believe, I'm enjoying every minute of it.

TRADES RESOURCE LIST

Special thanks to Linda Weinstein, creator of the ORC and Better Homes and Garden Magazine. To be asked to participate as a featured designer this spring was a huge honor and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity. While it was my first time to participate, it likely won't be my last.

Special thanks also goes to all of my sponsors. This was certainly a team effort and I couldn't have pulled it off without the generous donations from the following vendors: