I’ve been in the interior design industry for almost two decades now (what!?) and have overseen countless renovations from beginning to end at this point… But our kitchen reno was the first time I had tackled a larger project for my very self. Overall, it was a really great experience, but there are always things you learn along the way, no matter how seasoned you are. And because I’m not one to gate-keep, I’m more than happy to share more about our experience. It really did give me a whole new perspective on what my clients go through, and for that (and many other reasons, of course) I’m very grateful.

SHOP OUR KITCHEN:

I have had a few questions roll in since we revealed our kitchen (here, if you’d like!), and I’ve been meaning to put together a little post to address the more frequently asked ones – including how much we spent, whether or not we have any regrets, and why we didn’t do panel-ready appliances. So without further ado, following are your kitchen reno questions, answered. If anything else pops up, please feel free to leave a comment below – I’ll make sure to prioritize answering it!

Kitchen Reno Questions

Q: Where do I even start with a kitchen reno?

I feel like this deserves an entire post on it’s own, but in light of brevity… I almost always begin a project with a serious Pinterest session (follow me here :). To start, I pin everything and anything that speaks to me into a single board. From there I’ll step back and see if there are any themes that stand out. There is always something that pops up again and again – whether it’s a clear colour palette, a distinct design style, or noticing subtleties like “most photos have slab backsplashes”, for example… I’ll then pick a handful of images that embody the overall look I’m after. And then I’ll create a mood board that I can refer back to again and again throughout the design process. It’s a really helpful way to hone in on the direction you want to head, and to stick with it throughout.

Q: If you don’t mind sharing… how much did your kitchen reno cost?

This is so hard to say as we also did some cosmetic work throughout the rest of our main floor (new flooring, new paint etc…) and we also updated our laundry room and carved out a playroom in our basement. In addition, I know our contractor cut us a deal since we have such a great working relationship. Plus I receive trade discounts on most things. If I were to guesstimate though, I’d say we spent around 125k all in (labour, materials, appliances and lighting etc).

Q: Did you make any structural changes to accommodate the new layout?

No! We were originally planning on swapping the location of the door and the window, which would have led to an entirely different kitchen layout (you can see what I mean in this post here, if you’d like). But that would have led to requiring permits, structural sign off, and tackling some exterior work as a result… It was leading to an incredible amount of scope creep, which was really blowing up our budget. We ultimately decided to try to work within the existing constraints of our home’s layout. In the end, I don’t feel like we made any major concessions, and it saved us a TON of money when all was said and done. Win win!

Q: Do you have any regrets?

Largely, I’m so thrilled with where we’ve landed – renovating our kitchen really has been a complete game changer in ways I didn’t even anticipate…. But yes, I do have a couple small regrets. I’m planning a whole post on this so stay tuned for that. I am, of course, my own worst critic, so know that these regrets consist of me being extremely nit-picky. I will share either way though as food for thought in case anyone finds themselves in the same situation in the future.

Q: Should one use the same colour for cabinet hardware and lighting?

Heck no! I’m a big fan of mixing metals and playing around with different materials for your hardware and light fixtures is a great way to do so. I tend to like to stick to 2-3 different metals, and make sure to sprinkle them in various spots throughout your space for consistency. So, for example, we did brushed gold cabinet hardware and back door hardware. Black light fixtures and wall hooks. And a chrome faucet, which is picked up by the silver elements in the stainless steel appliances.

Q: Farmhouse sink details – do we go with cast iron or fireclay?

There are pros and cons to each, and I’ve used both many times. But ultimately fireclay is nominally more durable, and typically lighter and thus easier to install, than cast iron. We went with this one but I honestly don’t think you can go wrong either way.

Q: Where’s your microwave?

We actually don’t have one. Ours broke a decade ago and we never replaced it. They’ve admittedly always freaked me out, and when it broke we decided to see what life would be like without one. I didn’t miss it at ALL – not once. For a long time we used a countertop toaster oven for things that couldn’t just be tossed in a pan on the stove. Now, our new stove has a second, smaller, baking oven (in lieu of a warming drawer) so that’s what we use to reheat most things.

Q: Is your range hood plaster? Who made it?

It’s mdf, painted. Our cabinet maker, Ma Belle Kitchens, custom made it for us.

Q: What cabinet colour did you choose?

I’m trying to be more diligent with keeping all of my links and sources up to date. I included all of the details at the bottom of the reveal post here! But our cabinets are painted Benjamin Moore – Inukshuk.

Q: Where did you find the frame for the canvas art?

Amazon (here)! It was a last minute purchase that arrived merely hours before the photoshoot – just in the nick of time. I legit love it, it’s beautiful and works well, but I am second guessing the gold in that spot (it feels a little matchy-matchy – I’m keeping my eyes peeled for a wood one to replace it or I’m considering darkening it/giving it a little character with some rub and buff). If you’re on the hunt for yourself, I did discover that this frame is called a “canvas floater frame”.

Q: What’s the most useful kitchen upgrade? What’s overrated?

New appliances! A huge SUPER functional sink! Soft close cabinets/drawers! A large pantry (we had NOTHING before and it was a problem)! A built-in eat-in area (so great with toddlers – we used to trek everything back and forth to our dining room – not a big deal but a small annoyance MULTIPLE times daily). I don’t think any of it has been overrated tbh… I’m over the top happy we pulled the trigger after mulling over whether or not to do it for years.

Q: Why didn’t you do panel ready appliances?

This is one of my regrets, if I’m being honest. Ultimately it came down to timing and budget. This is very much a do as I say not as I do portion of the experience, ha. I picked our appliances very last minute and was extremely limited by what was available at the time. In retrospect I wish we would have just waited, and sprung for, the panel ready versions. But I will touch on this more in my regrets post!

SHOP OUR KITCHEN:

IN my KITCHEN

The post What Did We Spend? Do We Have Any Regrets? And Other Kitchen Reno Questions Answered appeared first on Lark & Linen Interior Design and Lifestyle Blog.

{Cabinet Knob: Schaub, in satin brass | Cabinet Cup Pull: Schaub, in satin brass | Cabinet Latch: Emtek, in satin brass}

Cabinet hardware is one of those little things that often goes overlooked during a renovation. It is, however, is akin to the jewelry of a space – instantly bringing a little sparkle. And though the aesthetics are important, the functional component here is huge. It’s one of the kitchen items that we interact with most frequently in a kitchen. They’re constantly being touched, pulled, and prodded, and I believe it deserves thoughtful attention.

In recent years I’ve begun sourcing and placing my cabinet hardware early on, often even designing an entire kitchen around my findings. In summary: when it comes to good design, picking and placing your cabinet hardware shouldn’t really be an afterthought. But this doesn’t have to be stressful! I have an easy cabinet hardware placement guide that I’m going to share below.

In the past, I’ve talked about how in most cases I feel like kitchens should have a mixture of cabinet knobs and pulls, and that continues to be true. But I’ve never really expanded on exactly where you should place each one so that they make the most sense for your space, aesthetically and functionally.

I’ve partnered with Emtek & Schaub to divulge some of my “insider secrets” to cabinet hardware placement. Emtek is a purveyor of some of the most beautiful luxury hardware on the market; we used them in our kitchen reno (my mom’s too!) Of course, there are oodles of cabinet hardware placement variations out there, and design rules are often meant to be broken. But if you want to go for a classic, timeless kitchen look, the following four cabinet hardware placement guides will never lead you astray.

An Easy Cabinet Hardware Placement Guide

N•1
| Pulls on Lowers,
Knobs On Uppers |

NOTES
:: I prefer smaller knobs (1″ or so)
:: Place knobs 3″ from bottom of cabinet
:: Place pulls 3″ from top of cabinet
:: For drawers wider than 24″ use two smaller pulls

N•2
| Pulls on Uppers,
Knobs On Lowers |

NOTES
:: I prefer smaller knobs (1″ or so)
:: Place knobs 3″ from top of cabinet
:: Place pull 3″ from bottom of cabinet
:: Scale your pulls – larger cabinets get longer pulls, shorter cabinets get shorter pulls
:: For drawers wider than 24″, use two knobs

N•3
| Pulls on Cabinets,
Knobs on Drawers |

NOTES
:: I prefer smaller knobs (1″ or so)
:: Scale your pulls – larger cabinets get longer pulls, shorter cabinets get shorter pulls
:: For drawers wider than 24″, use two knobs

N•4
| Pulls on Drawers,
Knobs on Cabinets |

NOTES
:: I prefer smaller knobs (1″ or so)
:: For drawers wider than 24″, add two smaller pulls
:: Exception: If you have a full height or large cabinet door (ie a pantry), you can consider using a pull instead of a knob

{Cabinet Knob: Schaub, in satin brass | Cabinet Cup Pull: Schaub, in satin brass | Cabinet Latch: Emtek, in satin brass}

Save or Pin This for Quick Reference Later:

If you’re on the hunt for cabinet hardware of your own, I encourage you to check out Emtek or their sister company Schaub. They’ve made a name for themselves in the industry for good reason. I’ve used them abundantly over the years, on sponsored project and non-sponsored ones alike, and stand firmly behind their luxe hand-feel and premium quality. It’s a joy to use them all around.

Thank you to Emtek & Shaub for partnering with me on this post

The post Design 101: Cabinet Hardware Placement appeared first on Lark & Linen Interior Design and Lifestyle Blog.

Have you ever wondered how you can update your home for free? I mean, I’m of the firm belief that our homes are meant to be loved. And while investing in your home is never a bad idea, I completely understand that a large scale renovation or a living room re-do isn’t always in the cards. But that doesn’t mean that your home shouldn’t bring you joy. So if you’re feeling like your space needs a little more life, but you aren’t interested in dipping into your savings account, here are four things you can do today to help you fall back in love with your home. For free. 

SHOP MY FAVOURITE TOOLS: 

SHOP YOUR HOME:

Shopping my home is is something I do often, and it’s amazing how it instantly makes a room feel brand new. It’s easy to fall into the habit of not noticing the beautiful things that already surround us, or feeling tired of seeing the same piece in the same spot year after year. Rotating pillows or moving art from room to room, for example, is a great way to instantly breathe new life into both the space and the item. It’s an activity that allows you to update your home for free, and I highly recommend trying it. 

TOSS EVERYTHING THAT DOESN’T BRING JOY:

I’ve definitely suggested regularly purging our belongings a number of times, but I will never not bring it up any chance I get, that’s how profoundly I believe in it. Take it from a former sentimental hoarder. Selling, donating, or tossing items that no longer light you up is the absolute quickest way to make a space (and you, for that matter) feel like a million bucks. You can read more about why this works in this post here. 

UPDATE YOUR HOME FOR FREE BY ORGANIZING:

Similarly, organizing and taking care of the pieces that you do love – ensuring that every last item has a happy home, feels equally amazing. 

REARRANGE THE FURNITURE: 

And lastly, re-arranging your existing furniture is a great way to update your home for free, with arguably the most impact. Instead of starting from scratch, challenge yourself to see if certain pieces can meet your needs elsewhere in the room or in your home. It’s something I used to do tirelessly as a child, and I loved how my bedroom regularly felt brand new with nothing but a little elbow grease (I also used to rotate our dining room and living room furniture, just for fun. Yes, my mother was a saint and I’m forever grateful for her allowing me the freedom to execute all my childhood design ideas). 

SHOP MY FAVOURITE TOOLS: 

1: Marie Flanigan Interiors | 2: Ashley Montgomery Design | 3: Marie Flanigan Interiors | 4: Marie Flanigan Interiors | 5: Shoppe Amber Interiors

The post 4 Things You Can Do to Fall Back in Love with Your Home appeared first on Lark & Linen Interior Design and Lifestyle Blog.

Photo: Julie Soefer Photography

So we don’t technically celebrate Memorial Day up here in Canada, but that hasn’t stopped me from taking advantage of all of the amazing sales around. I legitimately need some new summer clothes, so I did some damage at J.Crew (they currently have 40% off of everything!). I picked up this guy and this guy and can’t wait to put them to use once the weather officially warms. I’ve since scoured the web for the very best of all of the memorial day sales so that you don’t have to. Following are a few of my favourites (I’ve also listed all of the specific sales I’m loving, including any discount codes you may need, below!) 

SHOP THE POST: 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
7 | 8 | 9  | 10 | 11 | 12 top & bottom
13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18
19 | 20 top & bottom | 21 | 22 | 23

The Best Of the Best Memorial Day Sales

f o r   y o u r  h o m e
_______

Serena & Lily \\ 20% with code: SUMMERPREP

Mcgee & Co \\ 20% off your purchase using code: SUNNYDAYS

Wayfair \\ Save up to 70%

Anthropologie \\ An extra 25% off sale items,
up to 30% off home goods

Pottery Barn \\ 60% off best-selling furniture
and 50% off outdoor furniture

Williams Sonoma \\ 50% off cookware

One Kings Lane \\ 20% off orders over $600

Crate & Barrel \\ 30% off outdoor furniture
and 20% off outdoor rugs and entertaining

West Elm \\ 40% off outdoor furniture,
25% off rugs and bedding, 30% off sofas

Target \\ Up to 30% off home and patio,
extra 15% off furniture and rugs

f o r   y o u r  c l o s e t 
_______

Shopbop \\ Up to 40% off 

Nordstrom \\ Save up to 50%

Abercrombie \\ 50% off sitewide

Anthropologie \\ An extra 25% off sale items,
up to 30% off home goods

GAP \\ Get up to 50% off everything

J.Crew \\ Save 40% sitewide with the Code: SHOP40

Net-a-Porter \\ Up to 50% off apparel,
accessories, beauty, and more

Madewell \\ Save 20% on dresses and shoes

Old Navy \\ Take 50% off 

Target \\ Up to 30% off home and patio,
extra 15% off furniture and rugs

The post The Best of The Best Memorial Day Sales appeared first on Lark & Linen Interior Design and Lifestyle Blog.