If you have an outdated bathroom that you desperately want to remodel but cannot afford a full gut remodel, please keep reading!   For less than $5000, you can drastically update your bathroom from drab to fab!  My advice? Replace the vanity, lights and mirrors for an instant update.   Update your accessories.  And if needed (in my case it was needed) –  paint!  You can even paint tile!  Eventually, if you end up paying for a full gut remodel, you can reuse your new vanity, mirrors and lights.  Win Win!

Here is the BEFORE of our bathroom:

Here is the same view NOW:

 

SUCH a difference, right?!!!!

Here are the products I used thanks to Build.com: 

THE VANITY is the James Martin Vanities Chicago 60″ Free Standing or Wall Mounted / Floating Double Basin Vanity Set with Wood Cabinet and Carrara Marble Vanity Top from Build.com
It comes with the counter and sinks and is free standing, which I LOVE because we can use it (again) after we fully remodel our bathrooms.  

THE FAUCETS are the Delta Trinsic Widespread Bathroom Faucet with Metal Drain Assembly
in black. 

THE MIRRORS are the Ren Wil Sorella 36″ X 24″ Rectangular Framed Universal Mount Wall Mirrors

THE LIGHTS are the Progress Lighting Spatial Single Light 5-3/8″ Wide Bathroom Sconces and they are only $60 each!  And so pretty.  

THE SHOWER CURTAIN ROD screws into the wall, which is AWESOME because it never falls down.  It’s the Signature Hardware 72″ Straight Shower Curtain Rod.

I spruced up my accessories with the following products: 

Stools in bathrooms are SO cute and add character IMO . . . you can shop mine here

The black bordered towels are part of the Banded Border Bath Collection 

My basket is from Home Goods but LOVE these ones too (I have them and currently are using them for toys).

The rug is vintage.

The candle is so cute with a wood lid and available here.

I found the shower curtain, hand soap and faux fiddle plant at Home Goods.

I painted the wall and tile (better than bright yellow walls and blah tile):
Step by step:

1. First paint the wall the color you want the stripes to be — in this case, I painted the wall white.
2. Use painter’s tape to tape out your design.
3. Starting with “distant gray” but adding some of the next darker color each time . . . I created colors to create an ombre effect.
4. Here are the colors in order from lightest to darkest:  distant gray, misty gray, thundercloud gray, deep silver, trout gray, wrought iron.
5. I painted the tiles “trout gray” (please see my modern coastal bathroom blog post for a tutorial on painting tile).
6. I painted the cabinet over the toilet “wrought iron.”

I hope you guys like it!  Thanks for reading!

xoxo,

Kristin

 

Welcome to my dream master bedroom!  Thanks for visiting and here are all the details!

Bedding

I’m going to start with the bedding because it’s arguably one of the most important aspects of any bedroom!  I like my bedding to feel like a luxury hotel – crisp, clean and super comfy.   I went with Serena & Lily to achieve this goal and WOW I LOVE our bedding!  For me, the success to a beautifully made bed is layers. AND GUESS WHAT? Bedding and beds are up to 30% off until October 28th during Serena & Lily’s Sleep Well Event! Here are the layers I chose:

1. Sheets – I chose the Beach Club Sheet Set in Fog for a slight pop of color on a clean and crisp white sheet.  
2. Quilt – I went with the Foxwood Quilt with matching shams also in Fog (white with a border of Fog)
3. Shams – I chose the matching Foxwood Shams 
4. Duvet Cover – I chose the Cavallo Linen Duvet Cover in Smoke Chambray – it is so beautiful and adds the perfect texture and casual, yet elegant, look I was going for.
5. Throw Pillows – It is always a good idea to layer with throw pillows to finish off the look.  I used 2 of the Topanga pillows (24in) and one of the Camille Diamond Medallion Pillow Covers in 20in.

Rug

We have wall to wall carpet in our bedroom.  When we remodel, I plan on installing hardwood flooring.  BUT wall-to-wall carpet is NOT stopping me from adding an accent rug!  I went with the Dugginsville Area Rug from Boutique Rugs.  This 9×12 rug is on sale for only $508!  Such a deal!

Lighting

The previous owners, hung sconces in this bedroom.   Since we plan on remodeling, I did not want to spend money on labor in here.  So I searched for the perfect pendant lights that I could hang from the same electrical spot.   These Meadowlark 11″ Luxe Cord pendants from Cedar & Moss are typically used in kitchens but I think they look super perfect in our bedroom.  What do you guys think?!  

Bedside Tables

I bought these bedside tables – the Castagnier 3 Drawer Nightstand –  several years ago for our bedroom in our old house.   But they totally work in here too!   I switched out the hardware to these pulls for a more modern look.

Bed 

I searched and searched for the perfect canopy bed.   I finally found our bed from Room & Board.  I loved it SO much I purchased it the day I found it.  I just knew it would be perfect.   Our is a California King in the “tall” version.

Side Chair 

Our bedroom chair is the Emmaline Armchair.  You’ve also seen it styled in our family room in our old house and our family room in our new house.  We love it!  So comfy and stylish.

For those of you interested — here are the links for my jeans and top

Thanks for visiting!  Feel free to ask me ANY questions!

xoxo,

Kristin

Did you know you can elevate an uninspiring window with curtains?  I did just that in our fixer upper.  We are planning on a full remodel, where we will likely change out all the windows but until then, I wanted our windows to look taller and wider.  Here are my tips:

Tip 1:

Hang the curtain rod up to 15 inches taller than the top of the window — it will give the effect of a taller window.  If you hang it right at the top of the window, it will dwarf it.   In our living room, we hung the rod 15in taller than the window and just 2 inches below the ceiling height.

Tip 2: 

Mount the rod approximately 8-10in wider than the window, to allow you to push the curtains open past the window, which makes the window appear wider.

Here is a before/after of our family room window, using these tips:

Again, because we are remodeling in the near future, I did not invest in expensive drapery.  I found these stylish yet INEXPENSIVE curtain rods from Amazon.  The rod is just $29 and comes in two different sizes.   In the living room and family room, I hung linen flax sheer curtains from Amazon.  In our Master bedroom, I hung the longer rods and used four panels of  faux linen sheer curtains – similar soft and textured look at a fraction of the price – also from Amazon.

If you want to really step up your window game but can’t afford custom drapery, check out

West Elm’s linen curtains
Pottery Barn has a nice selection of linen curtains
And click here for Wayfair’s selection of linen curtains

Why linen?  I love the soft textured look to it.  It looks organic and still modern, which is totally my jam. It isn’t as heavy as traditional drapery.

I hope this helps!  Tag me so I can see your elevated windows!

xoxo,

Kristin

The first part of the kitchen remodel helped make our kitchen align more with our style, and now it’s time for the best part of the process: styling it! Here are my favorite stylish (but budget-friendly) products I’ve included in my kitchen and some tips on how to style your kitchen to fit your desired look.

KITCHEN FURNITURE

Kitchen Table and Chairs completely make the room. MAJOR shout out to The Hängar for these stunning pieces in my kitchen! The Hängar is a BEAUTIFUL furniture store located in Santa Monica, CA (address: 2408 Lincoln Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405). Corinne, the owner, is truly a gem. She is kind, helpful, patient and has an excellent eye for design. If you go into the store and mention you heard about it from my Instagram, she will give you a 15% discount! Valid for your first purchase only. 

Kitchen Counter Stools are from a trade-only store called from Essentials for Living, but as a designer and a member of the trade, I can source some for you if you want – just shoot me a DM!

Kitchen Island is from All Modern, and I love how this light wash wooden tone brightens up the entire area and gives us additional seating beyond the traditional dining table.

KITCHEN ACCESSORIES 

The little details are EVERYTHING when it comes to creating a cozy, welcoming kitchen. These are some unique and affordable kitchen accessories that are not only practical but so cute that they become pieces of art.

Cutting Boards might not be something you would typically think to add dimension to your kitchen, but a quality wooden cutting board will hold up use after use, and let’s be honest: you can never get enough natural elements inside your home. These may all be acacia wood, but there’s a different wood tone for everyone in these options!

Target Threshold Acacia Wood Board
Target Magnolia Acacia Wood Board
World Market Acacia Wood Board

Kitchen Utensils are essential, but that doesn’t mean they need to be boring! This beechwood utensil collection from Target would work in any kitchen. Plus, each piece is crazy affordable, so if you need multiples or a replacement, it won’t break the bank.

Cookbooks are a MUST! They’re great for stacking, decor and of course – delicious recipes! The more the merrier. Indulge in your favorites, as it gives you more reason to test out fun new meals with your family and put your cooking skills to the ultimate test!

The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
Nourish Cookbook
The Ultimate Instant Pot Cookbook
Magnolia Table

MY OTHER RECENT STYLING FAVORITES

Target Coffee Mugs
Target Marble Cake Stand
World Market Dish Towels

KITCHEN DECOR

Ceiling Fans are a MUST. I would normally suggest a pendant light over a breakfast nook table, but if you live near the beach and you don’t have AC, you have to get a ceiling fan. We are so happy with our new stylish one from Hunter Fan Co.!

Light Fixtures are a game-changer and totally help you see your kitchen in a whole new light – literally! Don’t underestimate the impact that new lighting will have, especially when the style of it fits your aesthetic. It’s absolutely worth it! We got the Milo light from Mitzi and we love it!

Hanging Wall Baskets work great on open shelves – just prop them up behind some other decorative items and voila: instant texture and warmth. I love this one patterned basket from Anthropologie, and this 3-pack of two-toned baskets from West Elm is so unique. 

Rugs under the dining table or a counter table (or both!) will elevate the kitchen and create defined areas within the space – not to mention, rugs bring actual coziness anywhere they are. I raved about this Chilewich rug on part 1 blog post of my kitchen remodel and my Instagram, and I can’t get enough of how simple and understated it is. These are budget-friendly rugs and exceptional quality! 

Vases are useful and beautiful, with more and more options available. Whether it’s store-bought or vintage, there are so many great uses for a vase: flowers, utensils, fruits, knick-knacks – the list is endless. What’s better is that you can have multiple different kinds of vases in your kitchen and it WORKS, because they can all serve a different purpose and be reused in any way you can imagine. All of my favorite vases at the moment are from Target – I’m obsessed with this glass vase I currently have on my kitchen table, this cream stoneware vase is perfect for kitchen utensils, and this amber vase adds immediate warmth, especially for the autumn season.

What are YOUR favorite kitchen styling tips? Let me know in the comments below! You can keep up with my ongoing home remodel projects on my Instagram and my Pinterest. Stay tuned for more blogs coming soon!

I am absolutely in LOVE with this DIY accent rainbow wall that Kristin and her daughter designed and painted in her daughter’s room! This fun DIY project transformed this room from a room in the house to HER room. The colors are soft but still vibrant, giving it the perfect pop of personality, and best of all, this rainbow wall DIY project was quick – it only took a couple of hours!

Here are the simple steps for this fun, kid-friendly DIY project you and your kids will enjoy!

How To Paint a Rainbow Wall

Total Time: 1-2 hours

1. Pick out your colors! Paint color samples from Home Depot ($4 each) provide more than enough paint for the stripes.
2. Mark out your stripes using Frog Tape (seriously the best for this) and have fun varying the size of the stripes! Not only is it visually interesting, but this will also save you the frustration of trying to get each rainbow stripe perfectly uniform – and a measuring tape can help to make them straight.
3. Paint those stripes!
4. Remove the tape and let dry for a day or two.

Here are the paint colors Kristin used for the rainbow wall. All paint colors are from Behr:

• Pink – Pink Elephant
• Orange – Dainty Apricot
• Yellow – Papaya Sorbet
• Green – Marjoram
• Blue – Sunken Pool
• Purple – Courteous

The final result of this DIY kids room rainbow wall made me so happy that I wanted to incorporate something similar somewhere in my daughter’s room. My eldest daughter recently moved into her big girl room, and we had JUST painted the walls a pretty shade of gray. Her room has exactly one window that looked at a rather drab, average fence where I planned to plant a shade garden eventually to brighten it up, but Kristin’s rainbow wall inspired me to give the fence outside my daughter’s window a very colorful makeover.

Rainbow Fence DIY

Total Time: 1-2 hours

1. Prepping: I cleaned the fence with water from the hose and let it dry.
2. Colors: I used leftover paint samples from other projects, which is always so nice! I tinted the colors myself with some acrylic paints that we had in our art supplies. I used Paper Lantern by Sherwin Williams as the base and added primary colors to it until they had the creamy rainbow hues I wanted.
3. Painting: Painting a fence means there is no taping off necessary, and being outside meant I could drip – so drip I did!
4. Sealing: I bought a couple of cans of spray sealant to help the paint weather and applied it all over the fence once the paint was dry. 
5. Personal Touch: I added a wicker heart that I got on clearance years ago and never used. I love seeing it out on the fence instead of in a closet! 

My absolute favorite part of this update? My daughter ADORES it. The second best part is that this was a very affordable DIY project – it only cost about $5 for the sealant since we mostly used materials we already had. Oh – and guts. It took some guts, but I’m so happy I went for it! 

If you need some more rainbow inspiration, here are a couple of other DIY rainbow wall ideas that Kristin and I love!

Tanya of @houseofsixinteriors made a gorgeous rainbow wall for her daughter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Cynthia of @cynthia_harper_ and her daughter recently added this beautiful hand- painted rainbow wall.  

– Kaitlyn & Kristin 

The bathroom! This project is easily night and day with only a handful of changes (one big and the rest small).

BEFORE

AFTER

This bathroom was a sight for sore eyes, to say the least. It was so dated that it felt like stepping into a time machine, and the pale, dirty colors were not helping with the bathroom’s tight size. We needed a total (and affordable!) bathroom makeover to better reflect our laidback style, and this modern coastal bathroom DIY before and after makes me SO happy. While the majority of this bathroom *is* DIY, I always recommend outsourcing for professionals when necessary for guaranteed quality and peace of mind on elements that require more expertise, such as I did for glazing portion of this project.

Affordable Bathroom Remodel DIY Tutorial
TOTAL TIME: 3 days 

• I hired Porcelain & Fiberglass Maintenance in North Hollywood to professionally glaze our pink tub, shower tiles, and the sink, and they did an AMAZING job. Everything is now a crisp, bright white – and it made a WORLD of a difference! Plus, I have the reassurance of knowing it will perform as it should and last a lifetime. Depending on the size of your space, professional tile glazing will probably cost you between $800-$1,200.  
• After waiting 48 hours for all the glaze to fully dry, I painted the vanity with a couple coats of the Millstone Gray by Benjamin Moore paint color. Note: I recommend sanding and priming wood cabinets too – I cut corners because this bathroom will be gutted when we remodel. I bought a sample of the paint for $12 and a foam roller for $4.  
• I updated the hardware with these sleek and simple gold pulls from AllModern, which elevates the feel of the bathroom without stealing the spotlight.
• For the floors, I started by sanding, then priming using this primer, followed by painting them with Life Deck Floor & Deck Paint in Black by Benjamin Moore. The contrast of the light white tiles and the dark floors adds more depth to the bathroom, which is essential when you’re trying to figure out how to make a small space feel bigger.
• I replaced the main light in the bathroom with this cool black fixture from Cedar and Moss. I love how the black is a little unexpected alongside the other colors but still fits seamlessly within the rest of the design choices.
• I ripped out the cabinet over the toilet, because we didn’t need the extra storage and it dwarfed the space – so I hung this art from AllModern instead! 
• I used this black spray paint to update the shower curtain rod and hung this cute curtain from Target.
• I painted all of the mirror frame, the walls and ceiling with one of my favorite paints ever: Simply White by Benjamin Moore.
• Towels are these tassel towels from Parachute
• The final touch? Adding this neutral cotton rug to incorporate more organic texture to the modern coastal bathroom vibe.

Don’t these bathroom before and after photos give you so much joy? There’s nothing like an extreme before and after to inspire me to keep going and finish other projects as quickly as possible (and inspire YOU with bathroom DIY ideas and make those changes you’ve been itching to do!). You can find all this and more on my Instagram and Pinterest.

xoxo,

Kristin

It’s here! The long-awaited kitchen remodel DIY. There’s so much change that’s happened in such a short amount of time, which was a lot of work but SO worth it! If you’re looking for some kitchen DIY ideas, keep reading for all the deets about our affordable kitchen DIY project!

BEFORE

An impractical peninsula, granite counters, granite backsplash and LOTS of cherry cabinets dwarfing the space – NOT reflective of our style at all. We moved into this fixer-upper with the intention of a full gut remodel in a year or so BUT even in the interim, we want to enjoy this space as much as possible.

PENINSULA DEMO

This was easily the thing I was looking forward to doing to most in the kitchen renovation, and it was the most satisfying, too! This peninsula was so impractical and just barely allowed the front door swing past it at the entrance, so it had to go. The only negative of getting rid of it was the ugly holes it left behind in the floor, but that’s where plywood and a rug come to the rescue! Not only do these cover the disaster, but the rug really defines the space and adds more coziness. A quick and easy fix to a not-so-cute situation.

Peninsula and Wall Demo Tutorial
TOTAL TIME: 6 – 8 hours

• If your house was built before 1980, check the wall materials for asbestos and lead before you go knocking it down and creating dust. We actually did this after the fact (whoops) and thankfully, our walls passed the test – but don’t take the risk and do it before any kind of wall demolition.
• With the help of my handyman, we took out the lower cabinets (part of the peninsula) and the upper cabinets before taking down the adjacent walls.
• I let my handyman take down the walls, and luckily we didn’t run into any problems (electrical or structural).
• Taking out the peninsula, upper cabinets, and adjacent walls REALLY opened up the space but unfortunately left mismatched flooring. We patched it with plywood, and I found the perfect mat from Chiliwich to cover it up.

CABINETS DIY

The cabinets needed some serious TLC. I ripped out some of the uppers to open up the space. As for the ones I kept, primer and a couple of coats of paint with a foam roller gave these cabinets a new life! I didn’t sand them since I was short on time (read: motivated to get it done) and it’s a temporary fix, but definitely sand yours if they’re keepers. I love this blackish-gray color from Benjamin Moore named Wrought Iron, because it gives the cabinets and the rest of the kitchen such a modern edge without losing the rustic beachy vibe I was going for. Add on the spray painted hardware, and voila!

How To Paint Your Cabinets
TOTAL TIME: 8-10 hours 

• I removed each cabinet door using a drill (which makes it go SO much faster) and removed all the hardware, too.
• I primed each door with a sponge and used this oil-based primer and wore rubber gloves, which I strongly recommend because oil-based primer is a pain to get off, especially your skin! Wait at least a few hours for the primer to dry before starting to paint.
• I painted the cabinets with a foam roller similar to this foam paint roller, as I found the foam roller to leave the smoothest finish. This is definitely easy enough for a beginner!
• The painted the cabinets with two coats of the color Wrought Iron by Benjamin Moore in an eggshell finish. This adds a little shine and is easier to clean but is not too shiny.
• Once they were dry, I screwed the cabinet faces back on. I didn’t bother painting the inside of the cabinet doors, except for the ones we open frequently, which are the pantry and glass cabinets.
• I spray painted the hardware black, let it dry, and put it back on the cabinets. I used this black matte spray paint.

PLANK WALL DIY

For the plank wall, we used 1×6 common planks and stuck it to the wall with gorilla glue. Because the walls are made of plaster, using nails wouldn’t have been as effective. This is a great inexpensive alternative for tile backsplash, and it is also a unique choice that adds some visual warmth to the space.

Speaking of warmth – if you’re considering doing a plank wall DIY in the kitchen behind your stove, be aware of the clearance between the wall and the stove so that the plank wall is not a fire hazard. Check your local codes.

How To Make a Plank Wall Tutorial
TOTAL TIME: 7 hours (shopping, installation and paint)

• We bought this 1×6 common board from Home Depot. The total cost for all of the wood we needed was $125.
• My handyman cut it down to size and used gorilla glue to attach it to our plaster walls, as nails would not have held as well because of the plaster, and the planking only went from ceiling to counter and not all the way to the floor.
• I primed the wall the same way as the cabinets, then painted the wall with a regular roller using Distant Gray by Benjamin Moore, also in an eggshell finish.
• For safety purposes, check codes about putting it behind your stove!

OPEN SHELVING DIY

Who doesn’t love open shelving? There are many benefits to having open shelving, including the way it makes your kitchen look brighter and feel more spacious – both two things I absolutely needed. This is a simple DIY that only requires brackets, wood, and your stain or paint of choice. Know the measurements of your wood before going to Home Depot, as they will cut if it for FREE! That’s definitely in the budget ? And don’t forget to sand these down before staining or painting.

Easy Open Shelf DIY Tutorial
TOTAL TIME: 3 hours

• I bought this 2×12 wood plank and got it cut to size at home depot for $15. They cut your wood for you for FREE so make sure to arrive with your measurements.
• I bought these brackets for $13 each. I kept mine black, but spray paint is always an easy fix!
• I sanded the wood afterward at home with my Dewalt orbital sander.
• I painted the wood with only one coat of the same Distant Gray by Benjamin Moore paint color as the plank wall.

Yay! I’m so happy with this progress so far. It’s feeling like a totally different space already, and I’m excited to get the styling series of our kitchen update! Coming soon! I hope this gave you some inspiration and helps you with your own kitchen DIY ideas. And don’t think you have to do anything major – every small change and effort counts!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the kitchen remodel blog, which will focus on how to style a kitchen, kitchen light fixture ideas, and so much more. I can’t wait until it’s all done to share with you! In the meantime, you can find all this and more on my Instagram and Pinterest.

Hi guys!  I want to introduce you to Essentials for Living — a beautiful online trade resource offering high-quality pieces at a fantastic price point!  As you guys know, I love decorating with beautiful wood pieces — my dining table, my entry bench, my coffee table, etc are some of my favorite pieces in our home.  In fact, the #1 most requested link for any of my furniture is my dining table!  I am happy to report that Essentials for Living has – in stock – an almost identical table!   I am super excited this company found me so that I can spread the word and start sourcing from here!   Essentials for Living has a dedicated team to work with interior designers and an awesome trade program — you can sign up here.  And you can sign up for their newsletter here to stay in the know!

As you know, I do not give shout outs to brands without first testing the quality and experience (customer service, shipping, etc) of the products.  In this case, I thought it would be fun to show you guys how you can change the vibe of a kitchen with just accessories!  I went for a more beachy look and ordered the Costa Counter Stools.  They are super durable, comfortable and look awesome!  It’s amazing how big of an impact you can make by just changing out an accessory!  I am VERY excited about this brand and hope you are too!  🙂

Thanks for reading!  It’s sponsored but all of the opinions are my own!

xoxo,

Kristin

I am FINALLY revealing my “garage turned guesthouse”!  This project took longer than expected because of busy contractors, the rain we had this winter, and because other projects were higher on the priority list.  I am so excited it is finally done and I could not be happier with how this turned out!  This “garage” is now our gym, extra family room, guest bedroom AND office — all in one!  The upstairs has tons of storage for all the stuff we would ordinarily put in a garage (our cars sit in our driveway and on the street – we don’t really have weather here in SoCal, so street parking works fine).  I am so thankful for my partners: AllModern, Bedrosians Tile & Stone, Ikea, Shelfology,  and GE Appliances!  Scroll down for pictures and scroll to the end for ALL of the links.

The guest room (sleeper sofa – comfy!), gym, hang out:

The coffee bar/beverage fridge area.  I hung the shelfology open shelving across the windows and couldn’t be happier with the Bedosians Tile and the Ikea cabinets!

The office part of the room:

A glimpse into the bathroom with the shiplap peel and stick wallpaper (WAY cheaper than tile and so easy to install!) — I saved a video of me installing it in my guesthouse highlight story.  And these cool wool pilllows are from AllModern and linked below (all others are from my shop).

The storage cabinet and the stairs up to additional storage:

I’m linking everything here: (1) Bedrosians Tile; (2) sleep sofa; (3) rocking chair; (4) larger rug; (5) vintage rug (link to seller); (6) wood chair; (7) art prints (8) coffee table; (9) wallpaper in bathroom; (10) open shelving; (11) stool; (12) IKEA black cabinets; (13) hardware; (14) hanging plant holder; (15) side table; (16) storage cabinet; (17) black chandelier; (18) GE Beverage Fridge ;(19) AllModern Pillows (other pillows are from my shop)

I hope you guys like it!  We LOVE it!  I will definitely have to re-create this room in our next house!

xoxo,

Kristin