What a difference a few key accents can make
Our tract home kitchen has always bothered us — the white raised-front cabinets, basic white appliances, not-so-special sink and faucet. These are the things we won’t change unless we want to take on a major remodel (which seems silly since it’s only 4 years old). When we moved in, we upgraded the countertops to Zodiac, and floors to walnut plank. Now that we’re just about done with our living room redo, I figured it might be time to pay a little more attention to this central space. With just a few added pieces, we were able to update our boring white tract home kitchen into something that’s perhaps a little more sophisticated and unique. I hope so anyway…
THE NEW PIECES:
[ pulls | lantern | chandelier | runner ]
THE RESULT:
[ view from the dining room ]
[ Vinyl “paned” windows also bug us. A lot. ]
[ Seems this sketch likes to move around. You’ll see it again. ]
[ Set aside a good 1 hr.+ to get the crystals up, but they sure are purdy. ]
We suspect the pulls are meant to be horizontal, at the corners of side-by-side doors. But by turning them down vertically, we were able to use them on all the doors and drawers without having to drill any new holes. Bonus!
The wall paint color — Ralph Lauren’s Mombasa Mist — extends from the dining room, providing a nice contrast to the white cabinets. The roller shades were from The Shade Store, and the brushed aluminum bent plywood barstools were our first “real furniture” purchase from DWR many years ago. (One day I will replace them with some fabulous 1970’s brass barrel-back stools, mark my words!)
I’m loving the new look so far. Of course my husband is hoping this love inspires me to cook more. He may be in luck.
Erica I adore this, what an amazing job and for such a great price! I might need that runner, I love it!
Very impressed about how this looks but also the price tag. Love the hardware.
xx – CB
wow! it looks fantastic. dying over the hardware & the rug really gives the room that global feel. so pretty!
wait. WHAT?!?!??!??!! INCREDIBLE!!!!!! love love love the pulls. and the runner is a great grounding touch – gives it so much warmth. AMAZING job.
i mean, of course i’m freaking out. we have the same taste :)
Okay, love everything so much I just linked to each and every source. I was just starting to look for brass pulls for a client’s dresser, you may have just saved me some time!
Looks awesome.
Heather
Love the pulls, love the crystals, love the look! Fantastic work! xoxo
See ! I told you that you were my go-to for all things interior related! This is amazing…love the brass pulls and that crystal light fixture ! Makes such a big difference.
xxLily
goldandgray.com
I’m lusting over that crystal chandie!!!!
Erika! Omigosh I love it. So fresh and modern juxtaposed with antique and glassy. I really need those brass pulls. Have to infuse brass into my kitchen to repeat my new brass lighting. Thx for sharing. You are awesome
You are the queen of turning slightly dull into crazy fabulous! I would kill for that kitchen btw! Beats the hell out of mine. Loving this new peek into your home.
I wasn’t expecting to see your kitchen today. What a great surprise. I thought maybe ‘The New Pieces’ section was gonna be you teasing us. : ) You take great photos too.
I cannot wait until we get rid of the knotty pine that lives in my kitchen. Murder to my eyes.
I think it looks great!! (Says the girl who put white cabinets and appliances in her kitchen on purpose ;) )
Looks awesome, Erika! I especially love that polished brass hardware!! Good luck with the cooking side of things. ;-)
It’s a wonderfully styled space. I really love the hardware and you chandelier adds just the right amount of bling. Much more bang than buck.
Now show me the living room! :)
Love the warmth the new elements bring to the space! This is definitely a kitchen I can see yummy things being created in!
Understated cool chicness! Love it. Hopefully it gets you cooking. I’m still trying to figure out what will get me cooking…Just noticed you live in Laguna!! Lucky you – I was just there this weekend and fell in love. Everyday is a vacation there!
Nice work! It looks great. Simple changes that make a big pop. I installed two of those light fixtures for a client a few years back, hours- yes. And patience! It looks beautiful. The pulls are rad!
I love everything about your house and style so of course I love your kitchen too! Amazing chandelier – so bright and clean!
-e (modern24seven.blogspot.com)
i love every inch of it. it’s amazing what a little love can do to a room. and that runner makes the kitchen!
Erika…looks great and that rug! It is the perfect one for my client that I have been searching for…hope they still have it! Thanks….
Oh erika! Your kitchen is just perfection meets reality and your budget!
I have the same white cabinets and love the color of the counters. What color of Zodiaq did you use?
Picking out fabric and styles that can last from toddlerhood
right into childhood is really challenging.
Love the drawer/cabinet pulls… great job! :-)