UncategorizedFinishing Up Samantha's Design May 4, 2012Happy Friday, y’all! I hope you all have a fun weekend ahead. We have a pretty busy one with lots of plans, but it should be fun. Here’s the last ideas I have for Samantha’s open floor plan. If you missed the first two bits, you can catch them here and here. Today, I have a few ideas for the kitchen and foyer areas. Here’s her kitchen: Kitchens can be tough… There’s not always a lot that you can re-do without some major and potentially expensive changes. Then, again, if your cabinets are in good shape (which these definitely are) and you want a lighter change, a can of paint can make a big difference. I love this lake house featured in a recent Country Living. They transformed their entire kitchen for $28, one can of white paint. So, that’s always an idea. But many people want to hang onto their wood rather than go for a bright, white kitchen. I think there are still ways you can add character and make it unique without overhauling the whole thing. I would hang onto your drawer pulls – those are exactly what I want to find for my kitchen! Another idea could be to paint just the island a contrasting color. I’ve seen a lot of kitchens where the island is a different color and it makes it a focal point. {Pinterest} {Pinterest} I love how the island stands out in these. I think it breaks up the room a bit, regardless of cabinet color, and adds a little dimension. Samantha mentioned adding beadboard. I think adding a white beadboard backsplash (I saw this recently in a home and it was awesome) would add a lot of Pottery Barn/cottage charm that really ties to the rest of the house. It would brighten up the room too and contrast the white. Beyond that, I would bring in a new light fixture. IKEA has some awesome pendant lights that you could choose from reasonably (If I’m judging right from the pictures, this room is right beside the table we discussed yesterday, so consider those fixture choices. They can be different, but you want them to coordinate). Here’s my absolute favorite: {source} Two of these would look awesome hanging down over the island and at $29.99 each, that’s not too bad! These feel so Pottery Barn to me. Even though they are so different, I would put this pendant with either dining lighting option I chose. I think they would compliment each other without feeling like an exact copy. Then, I would add some color where you can – your island chairs! As with the dining chairs, you could paint them a color: neutral or otherwise. Don’t get me wrong, I love wood, but it could look cool to break up the wood in this room just a bit. I really think painted chairs could do it. You could also make some seat cushions or throw pillows to toss in them out of one of the fabrics I suggested yesterday. Last piece of advice, I would do a printed shade or curtain for the window over the sink. {Pinterest} I think that would add a lot of interest. I think any of the fabrics would work for this, but maybe stick with a white background or something less dark. The yellow floral and gray/yellow chevron I posted yesterday would probably look really dark against the wood. Now, onto a few ideas for the foyer… For this area, Samantha mentioned a new rug and a fabric covered bench. I think in a small space like this, you can do a lot with design and pattern, especially since the palette is already so neutral. I saw this rug on Ballard Designs (and you would need a fairly small one, which makes it more affordable!): {source} Wow. Samantha, that’s what you want to hear right? And this rug makes me say it!!! It ties well to the blue tones in that inspiration floral fabric from the living room and the pattern would look awesome in a foyer. I would cover the bench in this fabric: {source} I love how this coordinates with the rug, but it’s also tying to the other rooms as well. I really think this open floor plan is starting to flow and I hope, say “WOW!” On that big wall to the left in this picture of the foyer, I would do some art. There are so many routes you could go, but two are coming to mind: You could do a large scale black and white photo or two like this: {Pinterest} I love this so much and what impact for a foyer! You could do some sweet kid pictures like these, a landscape photograph of a special place, or really anything could work. The other option I like is another gallery wall, but this time, don’t do photos (since you have that big family gallery wall in your new reading nook 🙂 ). I’ve seen people do this simply by framing book pages of a special or favorite book, which is a great option. But, I love the idea of framing some maps: {Pinterest} I love this one where they’re neutral colors, but they have such impact! Well, I hope I’ve been able to give Samantha, and maybe some others, some new decorating ideas. Samantha – PLEASE send me pictures of what you come up with. I think we would all love to see what you take from this and what ideas you have and create on your own!!! I have absolutely loved this process. I haven’t done anything quite like this before and I feel like I’ve been bitten by the design bug! If any of you would like to send me some pictures for some free design advice, I would love to do a post on it! E-mail me at lindsay@lifeofsplendor.com if you’re interested. Remember, I’m no expert, but I love what I do and want to share it with others as much as I can! Happy Weekend everyone! See you around here on Monday…next week I’ll be revealing our new, almost completed sunroom, and sharing how we made it all happen.
Samantha from Connecticut says May 4, 2012 at 2:09 pm Hi Lindsay and all bloggers, I apologize for not writing sooner. With life, this has been a crazy week! I am speechless! I am floored!! You have such a great eye and a taste that matches mine and what I am striving for!!! I am so excited to get started and can’t wait to see the finished product!! Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this has helped me and inspired me. I am definitely going to send pictures of the completed product (as the budget allows) room by room! I can’t even thank you enough for this! I am bursting at the seems with ideas and a pathway now that I can go down. Before I was just kind of lost and overwhelmed with pulling things together! But now I am ready to go! I think I am going to buy that foyer rug first!!!! I LOVE IT! I love all of it! I am going to tell everyone about your blog!! I will be in touch!! Can’t wait!! Truly, Samantha Reply
admin says May 8, 2012 at 1:29 pm Samantha, You are the sweetest…I cannot tell you how much your sweet words mean!!! I’m so glad that you love it and can’t wait to see after pictures. Take your time 🙂 Reply
Kristina says May 4, 2012 at 6:28 pm Good choices all around. You’re so talented. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with! Reply