4.02.2014

One Room Challenge - Week One



Welcome to the latest round of The One Room Challenge™!  Linda of Calling it Home, the brains behind the blog sensation that has become The One Room Challenge™, has again invited 20 interior design professionals and interior design bloggers to redo a room in 6 weeks.  I am super excited to be one of the 20 featured in this latest round.

I am also super twitchy because, well, I have to pull another rabbit out of my design hatLast time, when I was a linking participant I worked with a super tight budget and it was touch and go up until the end because my husband and I did all the work ourselves.  This time is more of the same.  Teeny budget and the Vs doing the labor.  Abracadabra time.

After much waffling, I have decided to redo the eat-in portion of our kitchen which entails finishing a banquette build out that has been long stalled in mid-stream.  This is a particular thorn in my arse as I love to cook and entertain – and there is no bigger downer than having guests sit down to eat glorious food on a hard un-cushioned banquette after having whacked their head on a chandelier that hasn’t been moved to the correct spot in 2 years.  What?!  Real life, people.  This is one of my favorite spots in the house because it gets incredible light. Enjoying a cup of coffee and a magazine in that spot with the sunlight coming in through the large window is one of my little pleasures which is why I wanted a cozy couch-like banquette in which to settle.  And because I do a lot of cooking and entertaining, I want my guests to have a comfortable place to enjoy cocktails and chat with me while I am finishing up my prep.  My 5 year old spends many hours at the table working on various projects as do I so this is a very busy area of the house.

Week 1 is all about our plan and inspiration.  While I would love to be replacing the counter tops, sink and faucet during this redo, that is outside the purview of our current financial sitch, so I will be focusing primarily on the dining side of the kitchen with a few tweaks on the task side like lighting, rug, and artwork.  In week 2 I will bring you up to speed with the evolution of our kitchen to its current 'before' state as well as cover my initial progress and highlight some great partners that have graciously provided items to help me bring my room to life.  In the following weeks I will cover my decision-making process based on my original plan, the trials and tribulations of doing all of our own work including lessons learned as well as sources.  And there's always comedy, because the mister and I are error-making people.  But back to the plan.

Let’s start with color.  I always start with color and almost always start with a vibrant fabric that dictates my main color choices.  In this case though, I began first with an amazing Scalamandre wallpaper which I am going to feature along the main wall of the eating area.  The lovely green color is very similar to my current wall color that I have been very happy with although I have been wanting to try a deeper pigmented shade.  So the plan is to color match the green in the paper.  The accent colors will likely be pinks, blues, and black and include some pattern mixing of chintz, ikat, and my go-to neutral, animal print.



As to decor, I am starting with some foundation pieces that I already have:  a mid-century brass and lucite chandelier, my much beloved gilded pagoda mirror, Tobias chairs, and the banquette which we built using IKEA cabinets.  My farm table will find another place in the house as the legs make it difficult for folks to slide around the banquette.  As a result I am on the hunt for the impossible:  an affordable pedestal table with an oval top to maximize tabletop usage and ease of entry. Sketchy plans are in the works to fabricate something but I put the odds of that actually happening somewhere in the ballpark of hitting the Powerball.



As to vibe, I am a maximal kinda gal with preppy roots so I love color, pattern, and Chinoiserie paired with classic lines.  The following spaces all contain elements of things that I love and represent the kind of vibe I am endeavoring to reflect in my home.  So you will see interpretations of some of these elements in this room.

Ruthie Sommers from House Beautiful

Alex Hitz's dining room from House Beautiful

Lindsay Reid from House Beautiful

Barrie Benson


And now for the ugly.  The before before picture:



And here minus the random shelf and artwork, with the pagoda mirror and still no box cushions, but rather a smattering of pillows I stole from around the house for the March Blue and White Bash.



Yes.  I have lots to do to this derelict space starting with the removal of everything you see here so that I can refinish the floors.  #funnotfun.  But that is just the beginning because this is what I need to do to get it the room where I want it:


I know, I threw that last one in there from the last ORC because I am still really mad at my popcorn ceilings.  For those of you that don't know me that well yet, I am joking about the punching part but not the hating popcorn ceilings part.

Come back every Wednesday to watch us as we transform our rooms. Be sure to click through below to see what everyone else has planned and don't forget to check Calling It Home on Thursdays for the linking participants, some of my favorites are linking up!


kisses,  mrs. V

43 comments:

  1. I cannot wait to see it all come together! The space certainly has great potential. I love the colors you have chosen!

    Holly

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  2. What a great room of your house to refresh - one that you use all the time. You are going to make this space shine! Looking forward to your abracadabra, I am trying to make something with next to nothing in my budget and need all the inspiration I can get!

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  3. I love all of these ideas! I know you will knock our socks off as usual.

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  4. Oh lady...you have no idea how excited I am to watch this happen. I literally died over your last ORC feat so know this is going to be sooooooo good! Love the plan, love you!

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  5. Well you could always throw some bead board over the popcorn! I cannot believe how much you are going to accomplish in 6weeks! Go girl!! I cannot wait to see this transformation!

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  6. Go girl! Love your vision and know this is going to be one terrific d-over!

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  7. I want it. All of it. I can't wait! And I'll be drinking in your honor while you tackle the floors.

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  8. LOL!!! I hear ya sista on the popcorn ceilings! Good luck on your space! This is going to be amazing!

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  9. Absolutely loved your ORC room from last year and can't wait to see what you come up with this year. Love every little piece of your plan!

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  10. Who ever put popcorn ceilings in your house should be punched! they take design down to an unfair level. I LOVE your plan and I can't wait to see you execute it. Good luck!! xo

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  11. Can't wait to see how it turns out! I'm a fellow Cincinnati blogger too! And ditto to the popcorn ceilings! Why?! Just why did people do that?!

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  12. Good luck girl! You are going to kill it. I know you're going to find that perfect oval table.

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  13. I love the colors and all your plans! Can't wait!
    -Shelley

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  14. I'm sooooo excited that you're taking part this year! You knocked my socks off last time.

    And please fill me in when you solve the oval table dilemma. Rough.

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  15. This room will absolutely freaking rock. Cannot wait to see it all come together!!!

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  16. Oh my!! You could make a minimalist change their ways! I'm absolutely smitten with anything you create and so look forward to this one and your side of humor! :)

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  17. I am still drooling over your master bedroom transformation, and I know this is going to be STUNNING!!! I absolutely LOVE every detail of your plan... that wallpaper, the mirror, the color!!! I cannot wait to follow along!

    XOXO,
    The Glam Pad

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  18. This is going to be gorgeous lady! That mirror with that wallpaper is already making me drool! Cant wait to see this finished!

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  19. Hey E,
    So excited to see you in the group! Also stoked to see you're whippin' up goodness in a banquette. We just put one in as part of our kitchen reno, but it's just. not. right.
    Hoping your goodness will inspire me to tweak mine to perfection.
    ag

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  20. I'm so excited to be helping with art!! Your colors/inspiration is incredible and this will be spectacular!

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  21. Loving everything you have in mind. the pillow selection is amazing...and the space already looks impressive. Dying to know the source of that pink cheetah and the lucite pedestal....I think this makeover will be a favorite of mine

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  22. Great plans! That's going to be an amazing space when you're done.

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  23. This is going to take some serious alcohol and more than a couple bottles of Aleve gel tabs. After dealing with the popcorn ceiling (head banging on desk), I'm with you. You punch them in the face and I'll kick them when you have them on the ground. I'm 64. I've got dibs.

    Your changes are going to be tasty!

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  24. Great inspirations! Can't wait to see updates next week.

    Jessie
    www.mixandchic.com

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  25. Oh Mrs. V.....this is gonna be a great ride I can tell! All we need is that push from the ORC to get going right! Get ready for sleepless nights....frustration....angst....and blowing the budget [which I have already managed].....Let's do this!

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  26. Your plan list almost made me faint. Seriously... refinishing floors are a killer. Love the plan, and I can't wait.

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  27. Oh Jesus I love that shade of green. This is going to be soooooo good. Can't wait to see the final result!
    Excited to be doing ORC with you.
    xoxo
    ashlina
    thedecorista.com

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  28. Sounds fabulous. Love the mirror, wallpaper and paint color. If it is anything like your last ORC, it will be killer. Can't wait.

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  29. I love a banquette and the Tobias chairs. I can't wait to see all of this come together. Your design plan is a FAB mix!

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  30. If it's anything like your last ORC, I bet this room will be fab in no time!

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  31. Impressive undertaking in 6 weeks and on a budget too! Love it and can't wait to see how things turn out!

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  32. I LOVE your color scheme!! All the textiles are the divine.

    I also enjoy the way you tell a story! This should be a fun one to watch :)

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  33. I love your plan. I can't wait to see it all come together.

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  34. um please be serious. yes to aaaaalllllllllllll of this. and then come do my room for me, m'kay. because this is going to be FAB.

    and i feel you on the budget. mama's gotta pay for daycare....

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  35. I am IN LOVE with this plan!!!! The green is just my favorite shade. God speed with that long list :-)

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  36. That is quite a list for 6 weeks but I love your ideas. I''m sure it will be amazing.

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  37. Love this plan! I can't wait to follow along!

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  38. Love your choices and can't wait to see the room come to life!

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  39. It is going to be ah-mazing! And I am so excited to follow along--you have the best voice--so funny and honest. Love it all! Xo!!! Go V's go!!!

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  40. Your plans look gorgeous! I JUST added a banquette to my breakfast nook (the carpenter left 5 minutes ago after installing new hinges that will hopefully prevent little heads from being decapitated). I'm anxious to see how yours all turns out to use it as inspiration for my own naked bench. LOVE everything you do!

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  41. HA!! I hate popcorn ceilings too! Your last comment, Too funny! This is gonna be FABULOUS!!!!


    http://www.perfectpieceinteriors.com

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  42. omg i cant wait. im going to be just as enraptured by this as your guest room makeover. good luck, i know you'll be amazing!

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  43. I love your inspiration photos! I can't wait to see what you do. So much potential in that space!

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