Kitchen REorganization...A New Year's Resolution

It's 2013...a NEW year has just begun...and it's another one of my favorite times of the year!  

Why you're wondering? 

Because it's a time of NEW hopes and dreams and resolutions to live a better life than the year before...a time of NEW beginnings...and REORGANIZATION.   

That's right.

REORGANIZATION.

This is exactly what a recent client needed in her kitchen.  

REORGANIZATION.

Everything had just simply "gotten away" from her and she needed help to get her pantry and cabinets back to some kind of functioning order.  

She needed a bit of REorganization, so she called me.

Take a look....

You couldn't really "walk" into this "walk in" pantry anymore...

Look familiar?  If so, I can help.  Seriously.

This corner cabinet housed just about a little of everything...vases, pots and pans, serving platters, tupperware, baking dishes, and a toaster.  FAIL.

This lower cabinet held a second set of dinnerware, lots of mixing bowls, baking pans and few holiday towels?

Again, this lower cabinet was not functioning well...

And neither was this one...

Or this one.

All of this clutter and confusion would make anyone feel frustrated and a bit overwhelmed and lost as how to even begin to tackle this "problem"--sigh.

But not really.

Because as we ALL know, most problems CAN be solved at TARGET.  

Stay tuned for this kitchen's REorganization reveal...

Happy New Year!!

Kitchen Nook Design Dilemma Solved!!!

Hi again!  

After a month of not updating my blog, I'm back.  

It has been a crazy few weeks...my father-in-law's unexpected passing, attending my nephew's HS graduation in Texas, my kids getting out of school for the summer, and a week long vacation to the Jersey Shore (no Snooki sightings, but I saw a lot of bump-its!)....it really has been CRAZY!  

But I'm back...and all is well again.

So, my last blog post asked you to stick around to see how my client's Kitchen Nook Design Dilemma was going turn out.  And, I am pleased to say that it turned out AWESOME!  

Take a look for yourself...

BEFORE:  

No Window Treatments--(a bit stark)

AFTER:  

Classic Inverted Box Pleated Valanced--(TA DA!!!)

BEFORE:

The window seat cushion is looking a bit beaten down after only a year of use.  The cover needs a good washing to bring it back to life.  It's hard to tell in this photo, but the fabric is sagging/pulling in all the wrong directions and needs a bit of help to pull itself back together.  

AFTER:

Window Seat Cushion has been freshly washed, has more structure because of batting that has been added around the existing foam to help keep the fabric in place, and has been anchored to the wall with cup hooks attached to the back of the cushion to keep it from moving forward and off the bench.  

Notice the original pillows add a punch of color, but we have had black buttons added to the center of them to "match" the black buttons at the top of each inverted pleat on the valances.  Subtle detail that makes all the difference.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...DETAILS make ALL the DIFFERENCE.

A closer look at the fabric we chose.  Nothing too crazy...a very simple grayish linen was the main fabric...crisp looking with a bit of texture.  Perfect.   

  

Next, we looked for a pop of color for the valances...the WOW factor that would make you look closer at the window treatment.  It was the easy choice because the main accent color in her kitchen is RED...as seen in her pendant lights above her island, in her art work, and in the window seat cushion.

Loved that the accent fabric was a bit quirky...it has a fancier "sheen" to the fabric compared to the earthy linen...and the gray in the circles matched the gray linen just right.  My client was sooooo excited with this fabric, but I was secretly even more pleased.  If you know me well, you know I have a "thing" for circles.  I don't know what it is about this simple shape, but it is my favorite and was so glad to be able to incorporate it into this design.

 

I have to mention that I attached the above photo because it is a tricky window...a bay window...a window with angles.  Angles are hard for almost everyone...but not my seamstress!  She is amazing with them, and this is one of just many reasons I respect her work. 

I love my seamstress for lots of other important reasons, as well.  

• She is quick.  
• She is affordable. 
• She is personable.  
• She will make what you think is impossible, possible. 
• She knows how to measure correctly each time...on any project, on any curve, on any angle...and she gets it right.  
• She figures out how much fabric you need...and NEVER makes you buy more than you need.  
• She whips up your stuff in no time...no joke.  
• She shows up at your house with a drill or a ladder or a steamer or her actual sewing machine...and VOILA...everything is in place...and looks just AMAZING!  

And, if by chance, something is not perfect, she will make it right...and quickly.  Thank you, again, Karen for such beautiful work.

Kitchen Nook Design Dilemma SOLVED.

Love. It.

Stay tuned for my next Design Dilemma post...BEIGE has taken over!

Kitchen Nook Design Dilemma

Kitchen Nook Design Dilemma...

Below is an email I received from one of my latest clients:

So....we built the nook in the kitchen, and rushed to have a cushion made. I thought I did not want any window treatment on the bay window. Cut to a year later...I want the window treatment, but don't necessarily want to re-do the entire cushion fabric. Help! I am not good at coordinating fabrics - especially when one is already set!! I like simple, clean lines and nothing frilly.

Kitchen Nook/Window Seat

Indoor/Outdoor Fabric

Better Picture of Existing Darling Window Seat Fabric

My response to her was simple.


"This is NOT a dilemma....this is going to be so easy and fun!  Relax...don't worry!  You do not need a new cushion...it just need to be REworked...add some batting over the foam to tighten up the look of the fabric.   Give me one hour at the fabric store with you and you will have an amazingly REfreshed look.  The new fabrics we will choose will make your current window seat fabric look even better than it does now.  The new valances and REfreshed throw pillows are going to really finish off this space.  You will LOVE it, I promise."


She trusted me. 


We met again at the fabric store.  And in less than 30 minutes, we had all the coordinating fabrics chosen, cut, and paid for...ready for the seamstress to pick them up that night.  We were both thrilled!


Bam! 


Can't wait to see how the Kitchen Nook REdesign turns out!!!


Stay tuned for the finished look....

TARGET to the rescue! Again.

Some of you are probably wondering how my Bedroom Design Dilemma client only spent a couple hundred bucks when she decided to REthink, REdesign, and REorganize her entire house? Well, it was simple.

She went to TARGET ... the MECCA of all Mom Stores.

This got your ATTENTION, huh!?!

Going to Target = spending one hundred bucks (or two in this case!)

We ALL know that.

She bought bins for all three bedroom closets, spoiled herself with some matching hangers for HER closet, and a leather storage bench for the bottom of their GIGANTIC bed.

By the way, typing the word "bins" just made me smile...if you know me, you are laughing out loud. I feel the same way when I say "label maker"--no joke.

So, as you know by my previous post, we got rid of--- or I should say "Repurposed"--- her very cumbersome second dresser that was in her bedroom. It was carried by us, rather hilariously, to the basement. Check out how this bad boy got REpurposed.

TADA! Functional as a TV console AND it has tons of storage for all things related to Wii, Xbox 360, or DVDs. Huge success...Bam!

Next, I opened her bedroom closet door (I asked first) to find this!

Whoa....SCORE!!!

Let's get a closer look...at the size of those shoes!

WHOA! was my first thought, but my second was SCORE! Why, you ask? Because she already had a closet system installed...yippee! My job just got sooooo much easier! She has had these closets from Saint Louis Closet Company for over 10 years...it was the first improvement she had done to their house when they moved in. However, this is how they were "using" them. Whaa Whaa Whaaaaa! This is EXACTLY why SLCC and I have teamed up together...so I can be a resource to their clients of how to put back together their "stuff" in their newly installed closet systems.

After a bit of thought, we realized that it would be best if my client moved her clothes from their shared "master" closet into the office closet in the neighboring room. This way, all of the "stuff" that came out of the dresser that we moved out of the bedroom could fit into HIS closet---and very easily I might add. This giant of a man actually has a bit of extra room to grow into in this closet.

Note: His GIANT shoes now fit onto the shelves at almost his line of vision, so he does not have to bend down SO far...another plus. We tried to compartmentalize some of his shoes, but that did not work out so well. Bahahaha!

HIS and HERS

Next, we moved into my client's office to assess the closet situation.

FAIL.

A few bins and some matching hangers later....TADA!

On a side note, I think I need to give this client some props because not only does she have her all of clothes in here (and COLOR ORGANIZED, I might add), she also has a lot of her "work" equipment in this closet, as well. It is well hidden and contained inside of these colorful bins, but nonetheless, she made it all work with a huge sense of style and a SMILE.

Finally, we decided to tackle the boys' room. We had to do this because at some point in time she had decided in was a good idea to keep some of their clothes in her office, even though they have the BIGGEST closet and a dresser, plus two night stands. Did NOT work for me. And, she admitted, very easily, that it did NOT for her either, but she just didn't know how to make it work. They are boys, after all, which means messy and unorganized.

Oh NO they didn't.

When I saw this I LITERALLY got down on my hands and knees...not to pray...but to get this pile of boy things put into their right places. After all, everything should have a place, especially to a child. (Parenting tip: Train them well now, so they can function well later as adults.) A lot of this stuff went right into the trash--they'll never know, I promise. A few 3M hooks and some new bins later...TADA!

3M hooks in action!

My client had never heard of them before...gasp...

she is now keeping them in business!!!

The two boys can reach everything easily now and know WHERE all of their toys go because we decided to buy only clear, plastic bins for these millions of tiny pieces of things. The wicker or colored bins hold things like socks/underwear (on the lower shelves) and albums/extra sheets (on the higher shelves)--brilliant, I know. The boys were happy with the REorganization, as well. After all, everyone...but especially children...want boundaries and routine and stability. Ask any therapist or teacher...they will agree with this 1000%. Sorry if this hits a nerve for some of you, but it's true. Call me and I can help...I am cheaper than a therapist!

Now the inside of the closet matches the inside of the boys' room....organized, functional, and AMAZING!

After all, isn't that what we all want to BE?

Organized, functional, and AMAZING?

Yep.

Now onto my next Design Dilemma...

This time it's a KITCHEN.

Stay tuned...