We’re talking kitchens again today…

This is the one room in our homes that gets the most foot traffic, the most wear and tear, the most activity, the most dirt… and the most memories. Therefore, when renovating this space, or just simply updating it, much care needs to be taken. A fresh kitchen space can completely transform your home – helping you to fall in love all over again :)

We’re here to get the conversation going regarding all things ‘renovation’ and ‘interior design’ - and hopefully to provide some worth-while advice to all you readers wanting to update your kitchen.

“C” from Courtenay jumped on the chance to have us feature her home for one of our Thursday design advice features. She sent us some before pictures and described her ideas to us.

Kari has been dreaming up options for C’s kitchen. Here’s Kari with her thoughts…

BEFORE:

OUR INSPIRATION:

Via - Better Homes and Gardens

Via – Our Houzz Ideabook

Good Morning Everyone!

Updating a kitchen can seem like an overwhelming feat, especially when you’re on a tight budget.  Luckily there are some inexpensive ways to get the look that you want without breaking the bank, and the first step is to work with what you’ve got.

Thanks C. for your before photos of the kitchen, here’s what I think you should do….

~There is no shortage of natural light in this kitchen; in fact the homeowner has requested a solution for reducing the amount of light that pours in. The first photo offers a practical and unique idea for keeping the natural light under control,  by mounting a glass shelf at the mid-point of the window.  This will allow enough space for a sheer curtain to be installed below the shelf  to diffuse the intense light that passes through the lower half of the window.  The top half of the window is now left exposed for some light to shine through, and the shelf provides a lovely spot for knick-knacks.  Since we’re all about green, perhaps some kitchen herbs would like this new sunny spot.  Even with all this natural light, there will be a need for evening illumination, so either of these pendant fixture inspirations could easily replace the existing fan.  Try The Light House in Courtenay for something similar.

~I love the look of mixed pieces of furniture in a room.  I think this look would be perfect in this kitchen, and what a great way to use what you already have!  I recommend leaving the table as is, but stripping down the chairs.  Next, paint or stain the chairs in a retro colour like Benjamin Moore 2049 – Forget Me Not, from House of Colour on 5th Street downtown Courtenay, and re-upholster in an awesome vintage-inspired fabric from Buschlen Furniture.

~The cabinets would look great with a fresh coat of paint and new hardware.  The first photo displays an interesting way to paint the cabinets by using 2 complimentary colours, and 2 different door styles.  I suggest painting the upper cabinets a creamy white, and the lower cabinets a pale celery.  These colours will be a nice compliment to the existing counter top, therefore saving replacing at this time.  When you are ready to replace them, a worth while investment would be a high-end quartz countertop as the slight sparkle would highlight these colours nicely. We love Inspired Spaces and More on Cliffe Avenue – and strongly suggest popping in to choose your new hardware and to start getting ideas for the eventual countertop replacement. The louvered cabinet doors would look great under the sink, and I would try Dmexx in Coombs, to see what goodies they may have in stock.  The pantry beside the fridge would be a great place to incorporate a fluted glass door, and re-purpose that spot as a place to display some pretty dishes.

~There are 2 great flooring options in the above photos.  The first option is the checked floor that has been installed in a diamond pattern.  I love this classic look, and this floor can be easily installed as a DIY week-end project.  The painted wood floor in the second option is a little more costly, however in order to keep the budget down, a less expensive wood can be used since it is going to be painted.  The additional bonus in having a painted wood floor is that the colour opportunities are endless, and when you tire of the colour, it can be changed…that’s my kinda floor!

~Speaking of more painting…I know many people are advised not to paint wood, but I would love to see the wood paneling and back door painted out in Benjamin Moore OC-130 Cloud White.  As seen in photo number 2, wood paneling looks amazing with a fresh coat of paint, and can completely transform the look of a room.

~Finally, for your side door, try Glass Expressions for a colourful stain glass insert.  You could have a lot of fun creating a custom design that perfectly suits the newly updated  kitchen!

~k

Got a design or reno challenge? Want us to feature your home? It’s easy! Simply email us (cvdwellings@gmail.com) with a couple photos of one room in your home. We’ll put you on the list!

See you Tomorrow :)

Love what we’re doing? Don’t forget to spread the word to others in the Comox Valley – and beyond! We’ll love you for it :)

Today Kari is taking us to a lovely 40’s Craftsman Home in the heart of Courtenay. Like Kari, I adore homes from this era – and the Comox Valley is filled with them. These homes shine when given some special attention to bring them back into their former glory. Talented home owners, such as the owners of this home, deserve every bit of joy they receive from living in such a soulful home. Thanks for sharing your lovely home with us D & S!

Enjoy!

Hello Everyone, thanks for joining me!

The spirit of this Craftsman Cutie really captivated me, as well as the small details that give it a unique and cozy feeling.  Since the home is older, it exudes a certain kind of personality that is authentic and inspiring.  The home owner told me they found a meter stick in one of the walls during a renovation project which leads me to believe that every nook and cranny has a story to tell…if only these four walls could talk!

Living room:

{Super Suede Sofa} – The home owners have a young son, and for those of us that have small children, we know how important it is to have resilient fabrics for our furniture.  They’ve selected a great sturdy sofa with a soft suede finish that offers snuggling comfort and peace of mind durability, but doesn’t sacrifice style.  Tab Imports supplied us with some additional throw pillows, which helped to accent the neutral coloured sofa, and continue the red theme through the rest of the house.

~Designer’s Tip:~ ” There are many great upholstery fabrics available for families with young children, so keep the little ones in mind when selecting soft coverings for your furniture…you’ll be thanking yourself down the road!”

{Craftsman Coffee Table} – The design of this table lends itself to craftsman style, and mimics the existing architectural details throughout the home.   Accessorizing the table top can be tricky with little hands within grabbing reach; so these items were selected again from Tab Imports, with the kiddo in mind.  The wooden bowls are durable and can be filled with items that are kid friendly, and the whimsical birds can be quickly whisked away in the wicker tray if necessary.

Kitchen:

This couple and I share a love for older houses.  Before my husband and I moved to Comox we restored a beautiful 98 year old period home in the core of bustling downtown.  We were drawn to the home because of its quirky personality and architectural details that can be difficult to recapture in a newer home.  One of those rewarding details was the massive window behind the sink, like the one in this kitchen.  I used to peer out the window and mindlessly daydream while doing the dishes…I wonder if they do the same thing?

{Stunning Sunny Sink} – I LOVE a white sink in the kitchen, especially one surrounded by brick laid subway tile backsplash, beautiful wood countertops, and simple white shaker cabinets.  Also, how fantastic to have a deep window sill above the sink to perfectly perch freshly picked bouquets, and creating a stunning focal point for the room.

{Irresistible Island} – How handy and adorable is this portable island!  Having an island on wheels is a great solution for flexible storage, and provides an opportunity to re-purpose the unit in other areas of the kitchen when needed (use as a buffet at a dinner party).  The additional work surface is also an added bonus, and I love the vintage artwork and practical towel hooks.  The bead board panels and stainless steel top blend perfectly with the rest of the kitchen decor, and kudos to the home owners on choosing this fantastic red colour that really makes the accessories pop!

{Cute Cozy Corner} – This little corner showcases some of the fantastic original trims and mouldings that the home owner has decided to salvage.  The colourful artwork is captivating, and draws attention to this space.  This distinctive spot provides a perfect opportunity to display their charming kitchen collection.

For the rest of the home tour, please visit our { Photo Gallery }
Today’s Photos were brought to you by:

Sarah Kerr Photography

We want to say thanks again to Tab Imports, in Downtown Courtenay for allowing us to use their fantastic accessories for this photo tour! If you’d like to get achieve this look in your own home, we suggest you pop in and speak with one of their knowledgeable staff members.

I must admit,  I approached ‘H’ for this feature because the guy is a wiz when it comes to social media and word-of-mouth. Plus he’s super fun and light-hearted – which is (in case you didnt’ notice), kind-of what we’re all about here. Entertaining is a huge passion of ‘H’s – so I thought it might be fun to feature his kitchen – the one room in any house that gets the most attention at parties.

‘H’ we hope you love this :) Thanks for sharing your home with us!

Here’s Kari to give us the scoop:

~ Before ~

{ Thank-You H.  for the photos of your favourite entertaining spot. Let’s get right to it – we’re about to make this space work double-time for you! }

Kitchen Cabinets:

{ My first suggestion requires painting, sanding, waxing, & elbow-grease. These cabinets will look amazing painted out in black, with distressed wood reveals, and a little wax applied to keep them durable (a.). (Inspiration from “The Lettered Cottage” blog.) We know just the gal to do the work for you. Her name is Cathrine and her local Comox Valley business is called “Gabriel’s Attic“. She specializes in a decorating style known as “chabby chic“.  If you’d rather replace your cabinets, head on over to Inspired Spaces by Harbour Kitchens and Moreon Cliffe Ave in Courtenay. Megan will be happy to assist you in creating a custom kitchen that would suit your specific needs. They can order cabinets with this same distressed look. For added detail, we recommend the striking leather and brushed steel door/drawer pull (b.) offered from Richelieu and available through Inspired Spaces… truly stunning!

For the back-splash, try using bead board wainscoting painted white. The look is classic, and it works as a great DIY week-end project. House of Colour on 5th street in downtown Courtenay offers an excellent selection of Benjamin Moore products.  For this project,  I recommend having House of Colour mix the colour Onyx 2133-10 (l.)  for the Cabinets, and Cloud White OC-130 for the bead board. }

~Designer’s tip: In the kitchen It’s best to keep like-items grouped together so you can buzz around your work stations with ease.~

Pantry/Wall behind Fridge:

{ Storage is an issue in almost every kitchen, so on that note, let’s place a nice wicker basket on top of the fridge to catch some of the random things usually found in kitchens. Next, I’m suggesting that the wall behind the fridge become a fun interactive space for you, your family, and your dinner guests. Here, you can paint the wall in Black Benjamin Moore Chalk Board Paint (floor-ceiling) and have fun while keeping track of daily information such as grocery lists, reminders, and appointments. What a great place for your friends to tap into their inner Picasso as well! A bulletin board (c.) placed here will also assist by offering a place for loose paper items.

This same area remains a good location for a clock (g). The image we used is from a display at FD & Interiors. This particular clock is quite large, but we loved the steel look and we think it provides excellent inspiration. Pop in and ask Linda for something smaller – she’ll most likely be able to help you find just the right piece. 

When it comes to the cooking-ware storage, I suggest  to re-locate the pots and pans to the pantry (closet) beside the fridge, and to replace the existing door with a black (Onyx 2133-10) narrow reed glass door (e.). The obscured glass will distort the view into the closet while adding light, colour, and curiosity to the space. Finally, trim out the door with a flat profile 3” MDF trim painted the same white colour as the bead board (Cloud White OC-130), and top the door with a header moulding to match…ooh-la-la!}

Island/Bar:

{ The Island/Bar would make a perfect spot for storing and displaying your entertaining goodies, and in order to tie into the rest of the cabinets,  you guessed it… paint it black to match. Removing the mirror above the island and replacing it with this small mountable shelving unit (f.) will utilize that wall space more efficiently. In this unit, store special occasion glasses, and beside it, hang a wall mounted wine rack (h.) for a lovely conversation piece. We also found these leather topped stools at Rattan Plus on 5th Street in Courtenay to replace your existing chairs. For added visual interest, add some Canadian Art. We think you’d love these limited edition pieces (n.) by Sid Dickens of Vancouver.  Cody & Company on 5th in downtown Courtenay is the local authorized dealer in our community. To complete the look, install this pendant fixture (i.) available through The Light Houseon Kilpatrick Ave.

Wardrobe/Home Office:

{Now that we’ve created a more efficient space for cooking and entertaining, we need to re-locate your computer. I have a great suggestion: Why not try converting a wardrobe (d.),  such as this one from Ikea into a personal office? By placing the unit where the bookcase currently sits, you can still have the convenience of having your computer in the kitchen. However, when it’s not in use, simply close the doors, and the piece blends in seamlessly with the rest of the cabinetry. The wardrobe also offers discrete storage for recipe books, office supplies, and computer components.

Finally, I would like to suggest you paint the room Benjamin Moore’s “GlossamerBlue – 2123-40″ (k.) and accessorize with pieces in this (m.) eco-lime green colour. }

{ ‘H’ and guests, we hope you take some helpful inspiration from this! I’ll be back with another Interior Design Feature next Thursday. See you tomorrow for our Friday feature! }

~ k

___________________________________________

And that, ‘H’, will be a kitchen worth twittering/blogging/socialmedia’ing about!

Thanks again!

-b

pssst. want a room in your home to be featured? contact us! it’s FREE :)

I adore some of the new home products coming out with a “Green” focus. We’ve seen sustainable bamboo curtains, hemp sofas, and new furniture hand-crafted with reclaimed lumber.

But I’m also a fan of all things “used”. My neighbour put it right when she said, “I could buy my son every eco-toy imaginable, but often the best ’green’ toy I could buy him is a recycled one.”  So.True.

It may be an earth-friendly (and budget-friendly!) option, but Second-Hand-Store shopping isn’t easy for everyone. It takes a good eye, lots of time, a broad imagination, and – did I mention a lot of time?. While I have deffinitly found some amazing pieces, I have spent too many precious hours just hanging around finding nothing.

oh, how this has changed.

Now Open in Courtenay - “Red Living – Recycled Everyday Design”

Every time I set foot into “Red Living” on Cliffe Ave in Courtenay I find treasure. No wasted time. No stretching the imagination. No hunting.

These guys have seriously done all the hard work for us! By hunting down faboulous pieces and displaying them in a design-savy way, they completely take the guess work out of incorporating recycled goods into stylish living.

Joey and Anthony (Tony) at ‘Red Living’ are a design duo you MUST get to know if you’re interested in Interior Design.  Originally from Ontario, Joey and Tony developed their eye for style in the design-forward neighbourhoods of Toronto. They have brought that knowlege here to the west-coast – providing our small community with a much-needed venue for all things Recycled Living.

Kari and I have a major design-crush on this store. We think you’ll like it too!

- RED LIVING -
“Recycled Everyday Design”
2790 Cliffe Ave.
Courtenay, BC
250-871-1325
www.RedLiving.ca

We’re an online magazine for Interior Design and Renovations in the Comox Valley.

We, Kari Fisher and Bethany Pearce, would like to personally welcome you. We are beyond thrilled that this day has finally come. We have been getting major goose bumps over the last several months – we cannot express enough how happy we are to be here.

We’re not going to spend too much time distracting you from the very first feature, but we want you to know that you can find details about what we’re doing, who we are, and how to get involved by exploring the links at the top of this page.

Today is Tuesday, and that means it’s INTERIOR DESIGN HOME TOUR time! We love home tours, whether they be online, in person, or printed in a magazine. One of the greatest sources of inspiration for Interior Design and Renovations can be other people’s homes – real homes.

Our very first tour is actually Kari’s home. And it’s gorgeous!

Here’s Kari to give us the tour…

Enjoy.

~b

Greetings and Welcome to my house!  Photographing my home was a surreal and gratifying experience, and it is my pleasure to share it with you.

Living Room:

My husband Nolan and I consider ourselves expert DIY’ers and we got to work right away on transforming our space within days of moving to the Comox Valley. With a keen eye for hidden potential and a whack-load of creativity, this cozy beach inspired living room emerged.

{ Sweet Simple Sofa } – We purchased this sofa at a local second hand store, stripped it down, retro-fitted bead-board into the side panels, and then carefully painted the whole frame with a durable white paint.  The soft teal chenille upholstery for the back cushions was purchased from one of our favourite shops, “Buschlen Furniture”, in Courtenay’s trendy “Tin-Town” village.

{ Green Gem Cupboard } – Is Vintage Sears.  Nolan started by stripping the existing finish then applied lovely key lime green paint, installed new hardware, and replaced raised panel doors with fluted glass.

{ Farm Found Frames } – You may be able to find something like this at our local “Restore” on 10th street in Courtenay.  These pieces were painted a uniform flat black. For added distressed details, a reveal of the original wood frame was left around the individual panes.

I chose to use graphic black and white accents to add visual interest by adding contrast against the calming beach tones.  I also find that they are excellent neutrals that can be re-used when you decide to re-decorate…which I’ve been known to do frequently!!! The mixed collection of pillows in this room, most from Tab Imports, varies in texture and size to create a charming layered effect.

~Designer’s Tip – “When choosing accessories for your room, don’t be scared to invest in good neutral pieces, they are easy to re-purpose in any space.”~

Kitchen:

This photo is one of our favourites. What better way to capture a kitchen, than with movement? After all, a kitchen is rarely a still place!

{ TiskTask Table } – This classic enamel topped Baker’s table, complete with drawer, was a popular piece around the 40’s.  It lived in a rustic family cabin in Saskatchewan for many years before it came to live with me, and it is my favourite kitchen accessory.  I left the piece original, adoring the look of weathered antiques paired with classic white cabinets and modern stainless steel appliances…very eclectic!  Currently, the space under the table works well to store large canning equipment and provides convenient accessibility.

P.S. I love Canning – Beans, cherries, peaches, pears, blueberries, jams & syrups. We’re all about self-sufficiency, and having family of 5 we will eat it all… my daughter could polish off the peaches in days if she had her way!!!!  Where else can we purchase home created goodies? …. Comox Valley Farmer’s Market maybe? Leave a comment if you know where!

Dining room:

My dining room is modest, yet it can easily transform from an everyday eating hub, to an elegant dining area on special occasions.

{ Lovely Lined Linens } – I highly recommend popping into “Otter’s Kitchen Cove” on Comox Ave if you’re looking for long-lasting linens.  We stopped in recently and fell in love with table cloths by “Danica”.  Treated with Scotch-Guard, they are resistant to stains and have a starched feel that allows a seamless drape without access wrinkling or sagging.

{ Delightful Dining Ware } – If you’re a fan of Quality Foods in Comox, you probably know about the gem of a store located upstairs appropriately named “A Step Above”. Bethany and I saw a lovely display featuring black/white dining ware that would compliment any home, and make excellent investment pieces. If you don’t see it right away, ask a staff member. The displays are always changing, offering awesome selections.

~k

For the rest of the home tour, please visit our { Photo Gallery }
Today’s Photos were brought to you by:

Sarah Kerr Photography

Crystal Clear Photography

We want to thank our first sponsor, Tab Imports , in Downtown Courtenay for assisting us with our very first photo tour! If you’d like to get achieve this look in your own home, we suggest you pop in and speak with one of their knowledgeable staff members.

Thank-you so much for visiting us on our very first day. We welcome your feedback or questions.

pssst. What can you do here but not in a print magazine? Comment! We’d love to hear what you thought of this home tour. Other readers will appreciate your comments too – let’s get the conversation going :)

- see you tomorrow!