Karen’s Design Dilemma
When we heard Karen’s call for our help turning her new construction into a white on white haven with some serious soul, we immediately knew we’d have a blast. Here’s her letter:
I need your help with my kitchen- I love your designs and I’m interested in a white on white palette of sorts. I’m looking to build not just a house but a home with soul. The house is still under construction and I’m a relatively new widowed single mom of two kids, so money is probably tighter than I wish, but I’m doing my best to get every bang for my buck. As for the kitchen, I am doing Ikea cabinetry but I can’t decide between “STAT” and “ABSTRAKT” and I like Numerar Oak for my butcher block top. The cabinets will continue into the pantry/laundry room which is connected to the kitchen with a pocket door (I’m thinking a white door with chalkboard panels). I’d like hardwood in the kitchen and haven’t decided on appliances yet but I’m thinking all electric. I would say my style is eclectic in that I love cottage but I also love modern and I love soothing and serene spaces that don’t feel too stuffy or formal- oh and a bit of whimsy is always welcome. I love Ikea and really like West Elm stuff but I still want it to feel warm. I want people to come in my home and feel like they could stay all day. I want it to be a fun, magical place for my children and I want it to- if even in very subtle ways- be a loving tribute to their father (and mother, for that matter :-). Thanks so much! - Karen
We love the idea of something fresh and serene with a dash of whimsy, so without further ado… Karen’s white on white not-modern-not-cottage-but-both kitchen mood board:
Here’s the mood board breakdown.
1. Our color palette is restful and dreamy, with a dash of sizzle in the form of some shiny stainless steel. Oak butcher block cabinets will add some medium wood tones while the floor will be a lighter wood tone and a subtle gray-green backsplash will add some soft color and shine to boot. Painting the walls a gentle and soothing pale gray-green to work with the backsplash tile will make the whole space flow (try Iverness by Glidden). And the rest of the room is white, white, white- to truly capture that light and airy kitchen with soul just for Karen.
2. When Karen described a white on white palette and an Ikea kitchen we trolled Ikea.com to find something that looked expensive and fresh. And we actually fell in love with the same Stat cabinetry that Karen was digging (pictured above with the oak butcher block counter that Karen also adores). Complete with a bit of open shelving for that casual and unstuffy look that Karen craves, we think the entire kitchen will feel customized just for her (and she can display all of her favorite things on the shelves- from kids crafts and framed family photos to glass jars full of keepsakes for a loving tribute to the whole family). And this double sink will be the icing on the countertop/cabintery cake (complete with a faucet that just might make every day a little brighter- stay tuned for those details). Yummy.
Oh and when it comes to appliances we’d suggest hitting up Lowe’s for some stainless ones by Frigidaire, which we’ve found to be extremely affordable without sacrificing durability, performance, or an ounce of style. In fact, our very own fridge, oven, microwave and dishwasher are all Frigidaire. Plus if Karen purchases them in bulk from the same place she’s certain to score free delivery and some other great perk like a sizable rebate or a gift card for her loyalty.
3. And since nothing finishes off a wall of cabinetry like the perfect hardware, we think these classic yet clean polished chrome drawer handles will look perfect on those crisp white cabinets. A nice compromise between classic and modern, these babies will add more of a traditional vibe to the space while still feeling fresh and current.
4. Even though most people put a lot of time and thought into the big decisions in a kitchen, the room is never quite done until the perfect accessories come in at the very end. So allow us to add a little charm and sweetness to Karen’s kitchen in the form of this sculptural (and utterly affordable) white bowl that will look fabulous holding everything from avocados to oranges.
5. There’s nothing better than a gleaming high-end looking stainless steel hood
6. Karen mentioned a pocket door to her pantry with an inset chalkboard, and we could not love that whimsical yet practical idea more. It’ll be perfect for everything from shopping lists and dinner menus to children’s drawings and house rules. Love it. And Karen could even snag an adorable white pail to keep oversized sticks of chalk on display in a cute and casual way. For even more whimsy and fun, Karen was toying with the idea of doing a black & white checkerboard floor in the pantry for some playful pattern that’s hidden until you open the pantry door. How fab is that?
7. This gorgeous polished chrome faucet will be a showstopper (it’s never really about the cabinets or even the sink- the luxe little details like this fabulous faucet are what will make Karen’s kitchen look like a million bucks). And it will be drop dead gorge when paired with the polished chrome hardware that we dug up for the cabinets. Me-ow.
8. And now for two major surfaces that will add depth and a huge dose of “special” to the entire design. This dreamy gray-green mosaic glass tile (on sale no less) will really set off the white cabinetry and add a dash of sparkle and shine. And this dusty muted white oak hardwood floor (for a drawdropping $2.98/square foot) will look casual and never stuffy- and it will complement the oak countertops to boot.
So there you have it. Karen’s dreamy & carefree kitchen. We can’t wait to hear what you guys think- especially you Karen! Oh and if you’re in need of a custom mood board of your very own, click here to get things started.
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Comments
OMG I love those cabinets. It’s my secret dream to re-do our kitchen, including cabinets (much to my fiance’s dismay). Maybe IKEA is the affordable way to go.
Lovely! Great board.
I have that bowl from IKEA — but just so you know, it’s actually stainless steel, not white. The picture is sort of deceptive.
Hey everyone,
So glad you’re diggin’ our light and airy kitchen mood board! And thanks so much for the bowl tip Ellen- it totally looks white in the pic but stainless steel will work beautifully as well (with that oh-so-glorious hood and all the gleaming hardware). Can’t wait to hear from Karen and see some after pics once the construction’s complete on her dream home!
xoxo,
Sherry (& John)
I didn’t care much about that bowl until I saw it in person. It’s amazing, really!
And the cabinets… and the tiles… The kitchen is my favourite room of a house, and the one you’ve put together here is amazing
What happened to that comment saying that you basically gave the person exactly what they asked for and the person shouldn’t have to pay an exhorbitant $120 for this so-called mood board? Can’t stand the honest criticism that you have to censor and only print the supportive comments? Shame on you.
Hey Wondering,
Part of the service that we provide often includes working with existing items or ideas at the client’s request. We then source additional items that will tie everything together to create a cohesive mood board that provides a simple launching point for their design. In this case, Karen asked us to work in the cabinets and the counters that she was considering along with a chalkboard and checkered pantry flooring.
But she was stuck beyond that point so she asked for our help. We spent hours sourcing and seeking out a backsplash, flooring, a faucet, cabinet hardware, a range hood, a sink, decorative accessories, a color scheme, and specific appliance recommendations that will save Karen time and money when she’s finally ready to bring her kitchen to life. And we added the idea of open shelving to personalize the space so that the kitchen was full of happy memories that could be proudly displayed for her family.
While we make every effort not to censor comments on our website that are directed at us or our own decorating decisions, we do draw the line at comments that may be disparaging to our clients and our readers. We would never want to offend Karen or make her think that someone was judging her for hiring us (especially when everyone else seemed over the moon for the design). We pride ourselves on creating a feel-good environment for our readers who come here for fun and inspiration and not for controversy and drama. And we welcome helpful critique or suggestions, but ask that people do so in a respectful, positive and encouraging way.
We hope by addressing this that you can see our point of view. Although we realize that everyone is entitled to their opinion, we spend over 50 hours a week running this site so we reserve the right to moderate the content.
We realize that our service isn’t for everyone. Karen contacted us for a mood board since we were the most affordable of all the people who were profiled as eDecorators in The Washington Post article. We’ve accepted criticism on this before (see here) and you’ll see that those who have relied on the service have been very happy with the result.
Nothing but love,
Sherry & John
Dear Wondering,
Why all the hating? Was it your money? No. Did you see all the time and effort that went into the mood board? No. I think Sherry and John did exactly what was asked of them and it was done beautifully. I’ve been to other sites that offer design advice but no one goes into as much detail and actually puts together mood boards with not only affordable but beautiful pieces. This must take them hours and I think the $120 is a steal! The intention of this site is to be motivational and inspirational and I’m glad disparaging comments won’t be tolerated. I wouldn’t want to read anything from a Debbie Downer who is just here to complain anyway.
Wow, John and Sherry. Not only do you have an incredible blog and do beautiful moodboards, you handled that hater with panache. I think all us readers are so lucky to have a place like thisyounghouse.com to come, seek inspiration and share ideas. I can’t imagine why someone would take time out of their day to criticize such a great thing. To Wondering: take your bad attitude and negative energy somewhere else. None of the rest of us want deal with it.
John and Sherry, that was a light and lovely mood board (as always). The vent hood makes me want to design a kitchen around it and the tile price is almost unbelievable. Great find!
I want to commend you on your response to “Wondering”. It was diplomatic and well-written. I’m just sorry that you were forced to put your energy towards something as negative as that.
Thisyounghouse offers decorating advice at a very reasonable rate while providing inspiration to the masses for free. You make the dream of a beautiful home possible for those who need help but can’t afford to hire a “decorator”. And to top it off, it’s always delivered in a humorous and upbeat tone.
Wondering, shame on you.
“Wondering” was only asking why This Young House only posts the positive comments and not the negative ones. I saw the original post and agree with Wondering. I tend to love the designs posted on this site, but agree that all that was done was put a moodboard together with essentially everything Karen already mentioned in her letter. It just didn’t seem like a lot of work. I guess the explanation helps, but I think it is wrong that negative comments are deleted and only the positive are allowed to be posted.
And another thing: In no way was the original deleted comment offensive to Karen or disparaging to her or other readers.
I agree with Wondering and Melissa. I saw the original coment before it was deleted. It wasn’t offensive to her or others. It just seemed to me like you deleted it because you didn’t want the negative comments.
Anyone who thinks Karen didn’t get her money’s worth obviously didn’t read the explanation that you provide and click your links. The price you guys dug up for those hardwood floors is amazing! And that range hood is hundreds of dollars cheaper than any others I’ve seen. Not only that but that beautiful back splash tile is also a great deal. I could go on and on.
And how can someone blame John and Sherry for listening to the client?! She wanted certain cabinets and counters so they worked with her vision. Would you rather they picked things that Karen didn’t want just to satisfy two strangers on the internet?
As for editing comments, as far as I’m concerned it’s their blog and they can do what they want. If you offered a service and someone said something bad on your website wouldn’t you want to delete it? And yet they kept the above comments up for all to see. Well I for one couldn’t help but chime in in their defense. Their site. Their rules.
Anyway, great mood board as always Youngsters! Thanks for the inspiration and for sharing these idea boards with all of your readers for free!!! Please don’t let haters ruin it for the rest of us. We love you guys and your mood board makeovers. Can’t wait to see the “after” of this amazing kitchen!
To tell Karen that you hope that she didn’t pay someone $120 for the mood board above is absolutely disparaging and not at all constructive to the process. She should be reading about what else she can do to make the space fabulous and feeling encouraged and supported about her impending makeover. Instead someone created a completely negative cloud over the entire experience.
What a shame.
I absolutely agree that if someone is saying something that is not constructive or encouraging to either J&S or the creative process in general it should be deleted so we don’t have to take time out of our day to read about how someone finds this mood board to be sub par. Ridiculous!
It’s fabulous and people would live for that kitchen. And as Sandra pointed out the savings in laying such discounted hardwood floors alone would completely pay for the mood board and then some.
GORGEOUS. Just gorgeous.