Thank you, friends, for your fierce support and encouragement with ShineUP Episode 2!! It was a brilliant transformation that brought a tremendous amount of light into Christie’s home, and truly reflected who she is: a compassionate, caring, generous, tender-hearted mom with an ocean-sized heart. The impact of paint, tile, and fabric can NOT be underestimated, and today we wanted to share a few of the design decisions behind her space.
Christie wanted the modern “Farmhouse” style integrated into her space. She was tired of her existing decades-old decor, and it didn’t lend to that desired style in any shape or form. We immediately knew that we needed to brighten up the space. In order to flood the room with light, we painted the cabinets and trim white throughout the kitchen, as well the living room bookcases that flanked the fireplace.
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We also included the small desk area in the kitchen as we passed by with the paint sprayer. We are avid addicts when it comes to Benjamin Moore Dove White (OC-17). That pretty dove never fails us!
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To complement the white cabinetry, we also chose to demo her existing kitchen backsplash and replace it with our personal timeless favorite: white subway tile.
Choosing a light grey grout (Dorian Grey from Home Depot) gave the kitchen a touch of dimension. A beautiful grey fabric for the cornice over the kitchen window softened and warmed up all of that white. This was made by our local favorite, Karna Rice of Grace Inspired Interiors. This grey fabric tied the intention of the grout color together beautifully. The white cabinetry against the white subway tile and subtle grey grout provided an incredibly dramatic change.
The living room and kitchen in Christie’s home is a completely open concept. This meant we had to work to marry the two spaces together well, tying in colors and textures for a unified feel. In addition to painting the bookcases, we made the bold decision to paint the existing fireplace stacked slate!
Our color choice was a slate gray by Sherwin Williams, which popped generously against the white cabinetry, and was also a nod to the grey grout in the kitchen backsplash. For the mantle, we used wood flooring from Metro Woodworks to make a cap that we built to fit like a sleeve over her existing mantle. That fabrication meant no demo needed and no risk of damaging or losing the beautiful slate tile we had just painted!
Lastly, we gave every wall in all three spaces a fresh coat of Edgecomb Grey (HC-173), a warm Benjamin Moore color providing a perfect neutral backdrop for the furniture and textiles. We added long, linen drapes to soften the edges of the windows.
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The front living room was full of overstuffed furniture that no longer served a functional purpose in Christie’s home. Removing most of that furniture opened up the space, allowing it to breathe. By keeping the paint consistent throughout the main level, the formerly dark, crowded room is now a bright, cheerful extension of the family room. We tied the drapes back with vintage rope we picked up at an antique store.
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Paint, tile, and fabric: It’s amazing, the massive impact that these design decisions made. Christie’s dark, tired space is now a light-filled, beautiful reflection of her own personality and warmth. Stay tuned for more details on Christie’s design…coming soon! If you missed ShineUP Episode 2, you can catch it here. Follow and like us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter!
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