For me, the most amazing thing about the One Room Challenge is that it's allowed me to finally create spaces that truly represent my style and give my family the home I've always dreamed of. And one of the best parts of this six-week roller coaster ride is sharing the process with each of you! Now, the day has finally arrived when I can show the results of weeks of planning, sourcing, designing, building, painting, styling, wallpapering.....and swearing.
I drew on my love of coastal style for our open-concept kitchen, living & dining room, just like I did when I designed our master bedroom and son’s bedroom for past One Room Challenges.
So long dark cabinets and countertops, old furniture and lack of personality.
Hello, bright white and blue kitchen. I honestly look around and sometimes can’t believe this is the same house, and that we get to live here!
The wall cabinets were sprayed by Paint it Like New in Sherwin Williams Extra White and the island in the prettiest blue, Soar, also from Sherwin Williams. The Emtek Jasper pulls just look so pretty on the doors and drawers.
The old granite counter was swapped for the most beautiful Caesarstone quartz (Calacatta Nuvo) you’ve ever laid eyes on. Paired with the white Blanco Précis sink and Delta Trinsic Single-handle faucet, both from Home Depot Canada, well, it’s perfection. We had enough quartz to create a slab backsplash and the luxurious, clean look of this almost makes me feel like I could whip up meals like any top chef.
We added trim from Metrie and Home Depot Canada to the top of the wall cabinets to disguise the bulkhead that stopped four inches above the top cabinets. The Leigh lanterns and Geneva flushmounts, from Hudson Valley Lighting, are spectacular, don’t you think?!
A desk sat in the empty space at the end of the counter and was literally never used.
We transformed that corner into the coziest spot by a building a bench and shelves to add much-needed storage. We got all of the materials from Home Depot Canada and took full advantage of their wood-cutting services. Many times. This is now my favourite little place in our house. The French tufted cushion, made by Jamie’s mom, Mary, in floral fabric by Jolie Marche could not be more perfect. She also made the faux roman out of a shower curtain I found at Target. The cushions and blue Dutch oven are from my go-to spot for décor – Homesense.
I really wanted to add wallpaper to the kitchen, but I looked everywhere and could not find what I wanted. So, I designed my own…a preppy coastal stripe in shades of blue. I partnered with Spoonflower to have it printed and (!!!) it will be available to purchase on there very soon.
The glass cabinet opposite the bench houses some of my favourite collections. Beyond that sits the dining room. I don’t know if it’s because of the renovation clutter we’ve lived in for weeks, but I kept this space simple. The best part is the harvest table which is large enough to sit our whole family when we’re together. Isn’t the rug from Homesense incredible? The chair in the corner sits under one of my Mint House Studio art prints and can be pulled into the living room for extra seating for guests.
Our living room is not the largest. And it had no style. I held off on buying anything for this room until the kids were a bit older (which they are) and until I could do the kitchen (which I obviously did).
Here's what it looks like now:
Many would think to opt for a small sofa, but this oversized (and oh sooooo comfortable FÄRLÖV sofa from IKEA is perfect. We paired it with this Homesense fabric cocktail-style ottoman, great for putting our feet up. We wanted to break up the long wall that stretches between the living and dining room, so we built this faux fireplace using materials from Home Depot Canada and Caesarstone. It adds much-needed architectural detail to the space and offers additional display space for Mint House Studio art and flowers from Fiori Oakville. I seriously can't wait to decorate it for Christmas! Stay tuned for a tutorial on how to build this and the kitchen bench.
The cabinets below the TV provide so much storage. for boardgames, booze and other not-so-pretty but much-needed items. They have the look of built-ins but they're a set of four HAVSTA cabinets from IKEA, that I painted in the same blue as the kitchen island. Above these sits the one item all the guys in the family wanted to stay...the giant TV. To make that a win for me too, I surrounded it with a gallery wall of the prettiest art from Minted. You can find the link to each piece here.
I am sitting in the living room typing this still in disbelief at how big this transformation has been. Since I work from home a lot, it's so exciting to know this is the space I get to wake up to and work in every day. I hope you love it as much as we do! To my sweet, oh so patient family....you may now sit on the couch and the bench, and use the counters.
All of these beautiful images are by Angus Fergusson.
Like what you see? I've started taking design clients again this year. Let's create something beautiful together. Come say hello!
See behind the scenes of this space, and more, over on Instagram.
This space wouldn't have been possible without Linda and the One Room Challenge, the media partner Better Homes and Gardens and all of the incredible brands that helped make our home the dream that it has become! Thank you!
Minted – gallery wall, art in kitchen
Spoonflower – wallpaper
Hudson Valley Lighting - lanterns and flushmounts
Metrie – trim above cabinets
Emtek – cabinet pulls
IKEA – sofa, living room cabinets
Caesarstone - countertops and backsplash
Home Depot Canada – sink, faucet, building materials (bench & fireplace)
Delta – faucet
Homesense -dining room rug, décor
Fiori Oakville - flowers
Paint It Like New - cabinet spraying
The other 19 designers are revealing their completed spaces today too. Take a moment to see the beauty they've created!
At Home With Ashley | Casey Keasler | Dorsey Designs | The Farmhouse Project | Home Made by Carmona | House of Funk | House of Jade Interiors | House Seven Design | House That Lars Built | Inspired by Charm | Jana Bek | Jessica Brigham | Kelly Golightly | Murphy Deesign | The Pink Pagoda | Sherry Hart Designs | Sugar & Cloth | Veronica Solomon | Vintage Revivals | Media Partner BH&G | TM by ORC