Dwell by Cheryl

The Plan

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Not exactly the event for which I thought I'd be collecting those things, but in the meantime...

I'll take it. 😂

I've decided, that's the theme for this kitchen project.

#oldnewborrowedbluekitchenredo

Let's start with the layout. The space isn't large, but it is the hub of my house.

Kitchen Floor Plan

It's where I enter from the garage, it's the corridor to the master suite and it's also my dining space. The layout will remain the same, as the space functions just fine. The look however, is a completely different story.

Magnolia (Belle by Cheryl Luckett)
Sylvester Alexander Furniture

As I mentioned in my Week 1 post, the inspiration for the space is the Belle by Cheryl Luckett Magnolia banquette covered in Revolution Performance Fabric's Darwin pattern (something blue).

Robert Allen- Auretta (Persimmon)

After going back and forth, I decided to keep my original color inspiration that was drawn from Robert Allen's Dwell Studio collection fabric called Auretta in the persimmon colorway. While it's been nearly two years since I first picked it, I still love it just as much today. That's a good sign!

The other fixed element in the space is the cabinetry (well sort of). Yep! You heard right. I'M NOT PAINTING MY HONEY OAK CABINETS (something old). Actually, I've known for a long time now that when I finally got around to upgrading my kitchen, I was not going to paint the cabinets. Why? So glad you asked. For starters, I like the addition of wood tones in any space, especially a kitchen. To me, it just adds a sense of warmth. I'm also not so concerned about what's on trend and what's not. Trends come and go and I try not to let them dictate my style choices. The fact is, the living space that's connected to the kitchen has nice hardwood floors in the same finish and I like the idea of having that connectivity between the two spaces. Lastly, I feel pretty confident that I can make it work. I tend to like a heavy dosage of color, so the cabinetry will certainly take a back seat when I'm done. Who knows, in the process I may give other people in similar situations the permission to not feel like they HAVE to paint their existing cabinetry. However, because I'm making the decision to keep the honey oak, I'll have to be really intentional about my other selections to keep things from feeling dated.

My original plan was to slowly update things over time, so last year I purchased this vintage Duncan Phyfe dining table (something else old) from an estate sale. I love the lines and there's a small honey oak inlayed wood veneer border around the edge of the table that provides a subtle nod to the cabinetry color (see intentional). I've also amassed a pretty large collection of blue and white ceramic pieces (more blue) and decided to incorporate those in the space.

I'll talk about the my tile selection (even more blue) in the next post, but I knew from the beginning that a patterned tile was the way I wanted to go. I'll be honest, since I'm not the biggest cook, I fought buying new appliances. However, in the end, not upgrading them was just not an option (something new). More on those in the coming weeks. With the blue and orange scheme taking shape, I began to play out the color story. Since I definitely planned to keep my yellow pepper Kitchen Aid stand mixer, yellow seemed the obvious choice for an accent.

After making the preliminary selections, I sent off the info to our rendering artist and anxiously awaited her drawings. Here's what came back...

Umm...yes please! 🙋

It's exactly what I pictured in my head. I love it! It's warm and cozy, classic and colorful. You'll notice that I planned to extend the island to create seating there. I've always wanted that. I also planned to paint the island to add a little contrast. One thing that the rendering helped me see, was the fact that I didn't actually like the look of a butcher block island. I'd always envisioned having one, but turns out it was a bit too much wood.

After seeing this, I made plans to replace that element with new our countertop selection.

Here's what we needed to accomplish in the space:

New flooring
Add backsplash/wall tile
New countertops
New sink and plumbing fixtures
New appliances
Replace stand-alone cabinet with floating shelving
Wire for wall sconce on tile wall
Paint island
Update cabinetry hardware
Updated lighting
Update electrical plugs/switches
Paint
Replace trim
New dining seating/bar stools
New rugs
New custom drapery/hardware
Add cornice above sink
Address laundry closet doors

I think we can handle that! It's not a total overhaul, but a complete refresh for sure.

Our consultation highlighted a need for a functional space at my back entrance. The wall hooks, boot tray, painted chalkboard and tiny mirror I currently had, just weren't cutting it.

Here's what we needed to accomplish in the back entrance nook:

Add lighting source/electrical outlet
Storage for boots, bags and such
Add mirror
Drop zone for keys and sunglasses
Install wallpaper

I envision this tiny nook as a separate space and didn't feel compelled to make it "match" the kitchen. I wanted it to work with my kitchen selections, but I was ok with it being a bit of a departure. I also knew that this area would be totally for me, so I wanted the changes and additions to reflect that. After sharing my selections with our renderer, this is what she whipped up.

Is that not the cutest little corner you've ever seen? I couldn't love it more. Yes! Yes! Yes!

Be sure to check in each week for details on the progress and a deeper dive into the project's selections. Until then, be sure to check out what's going on with the other featured designers...

A Glass of Bovino | Beginning in the Middle | Beth Diana Smith | Clark + Aldine | Coco & Jack

Deeply Southern Home| Design Maze | Dwell by Cheryl | Erika Ward | Home Made by Carmona

House of Hipsters | Hunted Interior | Kandrac & Kole | Kate Pearce | Katrina Blair | Liz Kamarul

Veneer Designs | Rambling Renovators | Renovation Husbands | Studio Plumb | Media BH&G

The Backstory

Today's the day! I'm so beyond thrilled to be joining the ranks of those participating in the Spring 2020 One Room Challenge(ORC)! If you're not familiar, the ORC is a six-week (this time eight-week) event that fosters creativity and inspiration and provides a forum for support, encouragement and community while participants transform a room from top to bottom. The event began in 2011 and has grown exponentially over the years. Better Homes and Gardens magazine serves as the official media sponsor for this inspiring biannual event.

I am so very honored to be one of the twenty design influencers selected as a featured designer this round. Happy to say, I'm in good company.

If you're new here, you should probably know that I'm an Interior Designer based in Charlotte, NC who runs a boutique design firm creating classic, cultured, colorful and cozy interiors for my clients. I'm a Registered Dietitian by trade who worked for 15 years in the corporate space and came to design as a second career. It all began with the launch of this blog in 2012, six years of night classes in design school and a whole lot of hustle. I made my exodus from Corporate America on December 30, 2016 and haven't looked back since. If you like, you can follow me @dwellbycheryl on the following platforms:

When Linda, creator of the ORC, reached out back in January about me participating, I'm pretty sure I heard angels singing in the background. The timing couldn't have been more divine. I purchased my little cottage bungalow 13 years ago and over the years have worked to make it a place I absolutely love to be. Each space is a total reflection of me and my style, that is, with one exception...

Home Circa 2008

...THE KITCHEN. I know, I know. The kitchen is supposed to be the heart of the home, but in my house, it just isn't. It's like that one space I've been totally avoiding for years, knowing that tackling it would be a big project. (See for yourself.)

It doesn't get much more basic than this. I think the last project I did in my kitchen was adding glass to a cabinet door. It was 2013 and apparently, I thought I was really doing something because I actually blogged about it here. Yikes!

I'm sure I don't have to tell you since I've lived in a kitchen sans upgrade for the past 13 years, I'm not really a big cook. Ironically though, in addition to being a dietitian, I'm also a pretty big entertainer. 😊 Thankfully my friends overlook the outdated kitchen and focus on my sparkling personality and the warm hospitality instead. 😉 From the linoleum floors, to the laminate counters, the non-existent backsplash and the outdated appliances, this space was way past needing an upgrade.

So, so, so sad...

After signing on for the big event, I wasted no time in getting things rolling. My genius Design Assistant Jenn suggested we approach this project like we would any other client project, and that meant beginning with a consultation. We scheduled a time for her to come over on our off day and we took measurements and she walked me through a series of questions that got at the heart of how I needed the space to function.

A little weird being on the receiving end and kinda funny to see the notes..crazy sketches and all. Lol! 😂

I've actually been seriously planning to update my kitchen since 2018. In the fall of that year, I launched my first licensed collection, a five-piece capsule collection for Sylvester Alexander furniture, called Belle by Cheryl Luckett. Included in it is Magnolia, a Southern-inspired, tufted banquette named after my home state of Mississippi.

I loved this piece from the moment we put pen to paper to create her and I had no doubt she'd eventually land in my home.

Magnolia - Belle by Cheryl Luckett
for Sylvester Alexander

After showing her at the fall and spring High Point Market shows, she finally made it to her final resting place in my totally outdated kitchen. It was at that point that I began making preliminary plans to update the space.

I had planned to keep things pretty basic, using what I had and adding a few budget-friendly upgrades here and there. Unfortunately, it all kept getting pushed to the back burner as my schedule became busier and more and more client projects started to roll in. Needless to say, that all changed when I got that January call from Linda. Praise heavens!!!

Tune in next week, when I'll share the official updated plans for my kitchen makeover. Until then, check out what the other featured designers are up to...