It’s finally happening! We’re doing our kitchen as part of the One Room Challenge!
The One Room Challenge is a bi-annual event showcase that highlights designers, DIYers, and home makers as they work on one room in their home. The challenge only lasts 8 weeks (wow!) and designers have produced incredible rooms and spaces in just 2 short months!
This year, I decided to join and hold myself accountable. This means I have 8 weeks, STARTING TODAY(!), to complete our kitchen. The final reveal, fingers crossed, will be on May 25th, just in time for Memorial Day Weekend!
You can follow along with other One Room Challenge designers and check out their spaces here:
THE KITCHEN BEFORE
Our kitchen has made some progress since we first purchased our home in 2017. It was a small, dingy space that lacked function, counter stop space, or light. It was covered in wood paneling and had a small eat-in space. It was also closed off to the dining room and could only be accessed through a small hallway. We started bringing the kitchen slowly into the 21st century.
WE BROUGHT IT INTO THE 21ST CENTURY…
We raised the drop ceiling – and discovered a beautiful tin ceiling, removed a quarter bath in the corner of the kitchen, closed off the opening from the hallway and created an opening to the dining room. This improved the layout, functionality, and gave us opportunity to use every square inch. We’ve been living in the space for almost 5 years and still thing that was the best decision.
I’ll dive into the layout, our whys and must haves, and the entire process in next week’s post!
IT’S CURRENT STATE….
Ekk! Currently, I’m so embarrassed to say, it looks like this.
Yup, I know. It’s hard to look at. It barely functions: range, dishwasher, running water. Barely useable countertops, damaged and broken ceiling, stockpile of tools and materials, open walls. Ugh. MORTIFIED.
WHERE IT’S HEADED..
Alas, there’s good news! We are committed to finishing this kitchen! And while I previously designed and imagined an all white kitchen (hence the white cabinets), I know that I wasn’t being true and honest to myself. That was a rushed design decision driven by my desire to be trendy or cool or to design for the next homeowners, instead of designing for me, for now. And right now, this is what I want my kitchen to look like:
YASSS!!! This is my DREAM kitchen: moody, layered, rich with personality, metals, and perfectly meshing the indoor and outdoor spaces. I want my kitchen to feel continuous and connected with my home, a representation of my design growth and evolution, and a peek at me: dramatic!
I can’t wait to continue to share with you for the next 7 weeks. There’s A LOT to do:
- New floors
- Finish the ceiling
- Paint and refinish cabinets
- New countertops
- DIY range hood
- Backsplash
- Paneling in the nook
- New lighting + electrical throughout
- Convert the window to a huge door for backyard access
- Possibly an island (TBD)
- Trim (so. much. trim.)
Join me here and on IG stories (@tiarrahamlett) as I share my progress. Questions? Let me know below!
And be sure to check out the other guest designers in this year’s Spring 2022 One Room Challenge!
Kassandra says
Love your mood board! I’m excited to follow along!!
Tiarra says
Thank you! I hope I can pull it off, fingers crossed!
Kassandra says
Love your mood board! I’m excited to follow along!!
Nicole Nigg says
Oh my gosh!! The transformation of this is going to be amazing!! I cant wait to watch it take place!
From one fellow ORC creator to another! Best of luck on your project! Looking forward to 8 weeks of FUN!!
~ Nicole
Tiarra says
Thank you, Nicole! I’ll be following your renovation as well! We got this!
Felicia says
So much has been done already! Your mood board looks fabulous!!! Wishing you all the best on the ORC!
Tiarra says
Thank you! So far we’ve brought it into a the 21st century but there’s still so much to do. I’m hoping to share a project calendar soon!