Progress!

So much has happened at the Krib over the past two months. First....the kitchen has been completely transformed, thanks to Ikea cabinets, quartz countertop, and subway tile backsplash. 



Before

After

 
The glass backsplash brightens the space by reflecting the light from adjacent windows and the under-cabinet lights.








Due to efficient space planning, Kacie also has plenty of storage in the kitchen.



Before - small broom closet and
a larger closet being used by the
former owner for clothing (since
the BR closet was TINY)

After - a larger broom closet, ample
pantry storage, plus additional storage!

A great feature of the Krib kitchen is the bank of windows on the east wall, which lets in plenty of light, and makes the space feel bigger. The old aluminum framed windows were old and tired, so new, energy efficient windows were installed.  You can't see in the after photo below, but an old "garden" window was also replaced with an energy efficient slider window.

 

Before - old, tired windows.
Note the garden window on the right.

Beautiful new windows, and the
garden window was replaced as well.

While the new kitchen layout includes more counter space, we added a cute "checkerboard" table to serve as an island as well as a spot for casual dining. The table came with checkers, so guests can challenge Kacie to a game or two while chatting over their meal.  Kacie's mom painted the table base and stools a beautiful shade of gray that coordinates with the gray in the quartz countertop.

An unexpected bit of rustic in an otherwise modern space!

Step out the back door from the kitchen and turn left...and, behold, the new laundry, and master bedroom with en suite bath room addition!  While the permitting process took a longer period of time than hoped, once the approvals were issued the contractor got right on it. (In fact, the contractor was instrumental in getting the approvals...he has plenty of experience working with the city of Glendale.) It's going up fast...so exciting!

View of the addition from the back wall.

Standing in the bedroom - closet is on the left
and the entrance to the bathroom is on the right.

Color!

I love color. I love everything about it. I'm mesmerized by it.  Color can energize, subdue, calm, shock, nauseate, inspire, lift spirits. Color, bottom line, has power.  Picking the right colors is so important to evoke the sense of tranquility that each and every one of us deserve to feel in our homes.

And so I stand in front of a display of hundreds of paint colors and contemplate. What colors will bring Kacie's home to life? What colors will bring her a sense of relaxation after a long day at work?  Will my sense of what's right for her home match hers?  I think to myself, "Yes!" After all, last year I successfully convinced Kacie to change her bedroom color from a dark teal to a more sophisticated "barely there" green.  I picture each room of the Krib in my mind's eye and after comparing dozens of colors, I make my final selections. And keep my fingers crossed that Kacie will like them, too.

I have to wonder what the former owner of the Krib was thinking when she painted her living/dining room space a shocking purple.  Maybe she was thinking that purple goes well with gray (as in rock fireplace).  Whatever.  Obviously, this color had to go.

Uncle David painting the wall in Maritime White

Before: an unappealing purple

The new Maritime White (Benjamin Moore) on the walls makes the space feel so much more spacious. This neutral background will be balanced by "pops" of color throughout the space, such as:

Gorgeous, vibrant colors!

We're going a bit more bold with the kitchen wall color....

From drab....

...to FAB! Hummingbird Blue by Martha Stewart Living

 

Perhaps the only thing more nauseating than a purple living room is a faux finish orange and peach bedroom.  This room is small to begin with, but the horrid color on the wall made it feel even more cave-like.  When Kacie bought the house, there were two entrances to this room - one right off the living room, and one from the hallway (on the opposite wall).  The opening from the living room has since been closed off, providing more options in terms of furniture placement in both the living room and this space, which will become Kacie's office (and guest bedroom), as the room addition being built will give her a new master bedroom and bath.

After: a soft neutral with gray tone (Windrush by Behr)



Before: Ick

The transformation has only just begun!




An opportunity I couldn't pass up!

Many of my friends know that I have a dream of launching my own home staging and redesign business one day.  I have no formal education in design, simply a love and passion for creating a beautiful home using colors and finishes that exude a sense of peace and tranquility (and a little bit of fun!) to all who enter.  So many people forego the opportunity to turn their home into the tranquil retreat they crave (and deserve), thinking it will cost too much to consult with a designer.  My ultimate goal is to offer a service that anyone on any budget can afford by exercising creativity in sourcing furniture, fixtures, etc. Everyone deserves to feel a sense of peace and security in their home...to come home at the end of the day, plop onto the couch, look at the room surrounding them and say, "I LOVE my home!" If I've created that for them, then I've done my job well.

My friend, Kacie, became a first-time homeowner a few months ago, purchasing a little bungalow (below) in La Crescenta, California. At barely over 600 square feet, you could definitely call it "cozy."  You could also call it a "project."  Picture "move in ready" and you'll see the exact opposite in this little place. But beyond the obvious needed updates the house has good bones and oh-so-much potential. It's also located in a beautiful, quiet little area close to Los Angeles, where Kacie likes to hang out with friends.  The house definitely has the potential to be the perfect home for Kacie, so when she asked me to take on the transformation project, it was an opportunity I could not pass up.  Truth be told, I was a bit nervous doing so, as my focus has been learning how to create a home that appeals to anyone. After all, home staging is about depersonalizing a space and here I am taking on a project where I need to personalize an entire house.  I've definitely got my work cut out for me!  I'm grateful for Kacie's confidence, and allowing me to flex my creative muscle with every design decision.  I'm having a blast!

Kacie's Krib - July 27, 2013

Before I take all the credit for the outcome of the Krib, I have to mention that Kacie, herself, along with her mom, have been very active in the design decisions, and the physical work needed to transform the home. Almost immediately after escrow closed, Kacie, her dad, and her brother spent a few days demolishing the inside of the kitchen.  I'm sure it was a therapeutic experience, as the space was, frankly, a mess. The kitchen is small and, in its former configuration, had zero counter space and so little storage space that a hall closet was used as a pantry. On the up side, the east side of the kitchen has almost a full wall of windows, letting in an incredible amount of light to brighten the space and make it feel much bigger than it is. An Ikea kitchen has been designed and ordered, and the boxes of cabinets and appliances delivered. Kacie's mom, uncle, and a good family friend have painted the kitchen ceiling and walls, and the contractor has leveled the kitchen floor (which had something like seven layers of tile and laminate flooring) and installed hardwood flooring throughout the entire house. Soon the kitchen cabinets will be assembled and installed along with the counter top and backsplash, and appliances loaded in, and what was previously a cringe-worthy kitchen will be the envy of her street. Oh, and the lighting will be amazing...two rather contemporary fixtures Kacie and I have named the "Jetsons lights."



Before: a sorely outdated kitchen. Zero counter space and little storage.

For those of you who know me, I can't start something without creating a blog to document the process. (Case in point: my "Diary of a Kitchen Remodel" at www.ricardrandommusings.blogspot.com.)  Future posts will include updates on the progress of turning this 1920s-era bungalow into a home that is functional, comfortable, and cute. I share this with you - and with Kacie and her family - as a diary of the transformation of "Kacie's Krib."  Enjoy!