This post is special to me because it's my home away from home. You've heard me prattle on about my best friend DC, (Debbi) for years now. These are some pics of her most recent master bath and kitchen remodel. She and Dave purchased this home around 8 years ago, and before that, I met DC helping her with her basement remodel in another house in this same neighborhood.
From our initial consult and drive to The Home Depot in Grandville for cabinet layout almost 12 years ago, an inseparable friendship blossomed and she's been stuck with me, offering opinions not only in her personal life, but when it comes to home improvement projects as well.
This was such a transformation and I wish I had taken better shots of the set up before.
(Lots of oak and an enormous corner tub which chewed up lots of visual real estate in the room):
BEFORE:
AFTER
Below, is a shot of the master bedroom before they moved in:
Oak trim, rose colored carpet and wallpaper.
Again, I'm a much better decorator than I am a photographer, but here is the new wall color we chose for her updated master. It's a color called "Baby Elephant" from Clark & Kensington paint. It's a wonderfully deep 'greige' color and pairs nicely with the black repurposed door headboard that Ken and I made for her old house shortly after we met.
Here below was a pic of the room immediately after they moved in. You can still see the oak entertainment center and original berber carpeting in the living room. We addressed those items immediately while keeping the wall color for a few years as it still seemed to work with her furnishings which were super transitional in style.
Here is a pic of the intermediate changes that were made.. new carpet and wall art, drapes and a stint where against my bossy input, DC proceeded to paint the kitchen island her favorite shade of red (which she knows I have an aversion to). Our friendship has endured and survived much worse than that. :)
Here is the warm and cozy yet updated and fresh look of the room as it stands now. She not only has an incredible knack for making her home beautiful, but she makes it into a place where everyone always wants to be and that is NOT something that any designer can achieve for a homeowner. It's something that's in her heart.
Lots of original oak
Dining-BEFORE
Dining-AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
A few years ago, she ordered one of the farmstyle tables and benches that Ken and I make. This was a large one to fill the space and has accommodated many people, puzzles, card games, family dinners, potlucks and gatherings over the time it's been in place.
BEFORE
AFTER
Originally upon move in, we had the cabinets painted right away (Doyle-I can't remember his last name, painter) and the oak floor distressed and darkened to eliminate the honey yellow tones (Kendall DeLange from Bear Creek Wood Floors-amazing)!
We left the original countertops to save money and the island has been painted various shades of chalk paint with glaze over the years. The most recent updates included a gorgeous new glass subway tile backsplash and quartz counters on the island and perimeter. We also talked her hubby Dave into having all the main floor trim painted creamy white which he ended up loving!
Deb didn't want to lose the warmth of the richer wall colors we had originally picked so we just tweaked them a bit to get a fresher look...I picked some grey/greens in varying degrees of intensity and we settled on a charcoal/taupe island paint color which we both love.
I didn't get an after shot of this angle (above) but she has a beautiful armoire stainless fridge that occupies that space and we wrapped the backsplash glass tile behind the small counter area as well.
Here's a little corner below (of that area).
I'm sure as long as our friendship lasts, we will constantly be tweaking each other's lives and homes. Thanks for always opening yours up to me and countless others. What a refuge in this crazy world.
Love you.
Comments...
