Yep, you read that right! And no, we didn’t move. I know what you’re thinking (because it’s the same thing Mr. SP was thinking when I broached this subject several months ago!)…didn’t she already redo her Kitchen? And, in fact, reveal it on the blog? (See that here.)
Technically, yes. But I always knew we weren’t quite done with the space. You see, when we first bought this house (read about that spontaneous decision here), the list of projects was lengthy. And most of them we really needed to complete before moving in (because of fumes, noise and overall messes).
That included new floors on the entire downstairs, new carpet upstairs, and new paint throughout. Plus a new fence. And new duct work. Additional electrical work. You get the picture…we were basically hemorrhaging money.
So we tackled the biggest, messiest stuff, and saved the rest for ‘the future’. My plans for the Kitchen were always larger, but in the interest of time and budget, we scaled them back and stuck with mostly cosmetic changes before moving in. (See the full Before & After here.)
There’s no question there was major improvement, and I’ve loved this room for the last almost-three years. But I knew we weren’t quite done. Problem was, I wasn’t sure exactly what to do next. I knew what I still didn’t like about the space, I just wasn’t sure how to finish it…while still building off what we’d already done.
I knew I needed professional help (in more ways than one, ha!), so I called my uber-talented friend Emily Hewett and begged her to help me. We met years ago and became fast-friends, and I’ve loved watching her success skyrocket. She does whole-house, major design overhauls all over the country, so I was shocked she agreed to step in on my smallish project.
But actually, she and her team at A Well Dressed Home, take on projects of all sizes and budgets, and can offer everything from full-service design and install, to just the design plans. The moment I stepped in their offices, I knew my Kitchen was in good hands.
We talked through the changes we’d already made, and they presented options that fit within our budget…always keeping my style at the forefront, and considering my opinions. I loved that they didn’t just want to scrap the room and start from scratch, but rather, work with the bones of the space and spend the budget wisely.
Since I’m fairly hands-on and comfortable with managing projects (not to mention, I already have a rockstar contractor!), I left with a comprehensive To Do List to tackle in my own time. Here’s a look at what we’re doing…
We have 10-foot ceilings, so the disproportionate space above the cabinets made them look squatty and too small for the large wall. Our first thought was to add another row of cabinets, but then we had the dilemma of what shape to use for the new doors. Shaker or traditional wouldn’t match, and the Cathedral feels dated to me.
I didn’t really want to spend the money on more Cathedral doors, so we decided to replace the existing cabinet doors with a more updated (but still traditional) shape that mirrors the doors throughout the house. This will also allow us to have taller doors, giving the two rows of cabinets better proportion (more on that later). The drawers will stay the same.
The tile was another problem-spot for me…I’m still completely smitten with the tile itself…but there are too many awkward areas where it stops suddenly. Taking the tile to the ceiling around the windows will also create a more focal point for this open Kitchen.
And finally, the room needs some warm touches, so we’re swapping out the hardware for brushed brass, and adding more lighting and trim to the hood to further create that focal point.
Cabinet Paint: SW ‘Mindful Gray’ | Library Sconce (on sale!) | Brushed Brass Cup Pull | Brushed Brass Knob | Patterned Tile
We still love the colors, so there was no reason to add-on the mess and expense of re-painting or tiling. After all, this is phase 2 of what we’d already started…not a start over! I know I’ll have tons of questions along the way, but am so grateful to have Emily and her team on-call to help me through all of it!
The project is already under-way, and I hope to have a progress post for you soon. We’ve already got A Well Dressed Home scheduled for their final styling next month, so pressure is on!
What do you think of our plans? Have you ever worked with a professional designer? I can’t recommend A Well Dressed Home enough, to those of you in the Dallas area, and beyond!
