Choosing the best paint color for your front door is hard enough, never mind having to make the HOA happy, too! Seriously, HOA might stand for Home Owners Association, but if you ask me, it stands for ‘Handing Out Abuse’ daily to INNOCENT FREAKIN’ PEOPLE.

Don’t get me wrong, HOAs uphold a standard in the neighborhood and keep out the crazies (which is why I don’t live in one). However, they can be unnecessarily fussy regarding exterior paint colors, considering they don’t own your home.

Even if you don’t have an HOA to satisfy, you might be looking for some CLASSIC front door colors – ones that aren’t wild and wonderful but are still beautiful in their own right.

This is why today, we’re checking out front door paint colors that SHOULD make your HOA happy. If they don’t, they must be a real special bunch.

1. THE MOST POPULAR BLACK FRONT DOOR PAINT COLORS

Black front doors are the most CLASSIC approach, but they can be fussy about the home they’re partnered with. Black front doors often suit homes with black or dark charcoal gray roofs, black windows, and/or black fixtures (i.e., lights, address numbers, etc…). Not every home can pull off a black door, so make sure your home has the bones in place to support it.

In the wild world of blacks, not all are created equal; there are various depths, temperatures, and undertones. As it relates to front doors, there are five shades I guide my Online Color Consulting clients to repeatedly…

• Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black
• Sherwin Williams Iron Ore
• Benjamin Moore Black 2132-10
• Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron
• Sherwin Williams Black Magic

Click on the above links to see each color’s FULL COLOR REVIEW (excluding Black Magic, which I haven’t done yet).

Tricorn Black and Black 2132-10 are really similar and almost always in the running. Why? They’re two of the darkest and blackest blacks, known for their DEPTH and commitment. As for Iron Ore, it’s a SOFT black that can grab a very (ahem, VERY) minor green undertone. Iron Ore is popular when you want black, but worry about it being a bit stark or harsh.

Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron – a slightly softer, blue-inspired shade

Wrought Iron is a soft black-blue. In low light and without any other black finishes against it, Wrought Iron acts like black. However, get it in the natural light and that blue can pop-up!

You might fall for one of these beautiful black shades based on online images alone. Don’t. Sampling and comparing these shades determines which one best suits your home’s surrounding finishes.

Sherwin Williams Iron Ore

Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams 8 Best Shades of Black

Get a FULL PEEL & STICK SET OF MY FAVE BLACKS FOR FRONT DOORS! 

2. THE MOST POPULAR NAVY BLUE FRONT DOOR PAINT COLORS

Navy is a classic, whether on your front door, kitchen island, or feature wall. However, some navy blues take it a bit too far in the ‘color department’ for the average HOA. These next blues are safe, but still striking choices for some great curb appeal…

Sherwin Williams Charcoal Blue

• Sherwin Williams Cyberspace
• Benjamin Moore Hale Navy
• Sherwin Williams Charcoal Blue
• Sherwin Williams Naval
• Sherwin Williams Newburyport Blue (a brighter shade of navy)

Click on the above links to see each color’s FULL COLOR REVIEW (excluding Newburyport Blue and Charcoal Blue, which I haven’t done yet).

Cyberspace is the PERFECT shade of blue if you want to nod at navy without committing to it. This is because Cyberspace has a wink more gray in it than the average shade. However, if your front door is dark due to northern exposure, combined with an overhang, Cyberspace doesn’t usually have enough blue to show up to the party. If you want a color that shows up with tassels on, Hale Navy is your shade.

Hale Navy is more of a classic navy blue. While it’s similar to Cyberspace, it has less gray, making it a more legitimate approach to navy and better able to stand up to dark front door zones without being obnoxious.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy – HAAAALE YES! 

Get a FULL PEEL & STICK SET OF MY FAVE NAVY BLUE FRONT DOOR COLORS (here’s another).

Sherwin Williams Naval

Charcoal Blue is a stunner. It’s definitely blue, but it has an almost smoky approach compared to some of the other shades. As for Naval, it’s a braver approach to blue and cooould push a few comfort zones, but shouldn’t step too far over the boundaries (unlike myself, who definitely has boundary issues).

Lastly, if you like navy but don’t want the visual weight of it, check out Newburyport Blue, which is similar to Hale Navy, but lighter and, therefore, a bit brighter looking.

See more beautiful blue hues: The 12 Best Navy Blue Paint Colors for Front Doors, Cabinets, & More 

3. THE MOST POPULAR GRAY FRONT DOOR PAINT COLORS

Choosing your home’s best gray isn’t easy. Warm grays, cool grays, stormy grays, dark grays, MOODY grays – the list goes on (or maybe it’s just me going on…and on…). And while gray might SOUND boring, find a gray with the right undertones, and your home’s curb appeal will go up drastically!

Benjamin Moore Gray 2121-10

Regardless of which type of gray you lean towards, figure out which gray undertones best suit your exterior finishes, especially any stone and brick, as well as roof and siding (if you don’t know, I have an affordable Front Door Paint Color package).

• Benjamin Moore Gray 2121-10
• Sherwin Williams Peppercorn
• Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray
• Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray
• Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal

Click on the above links to see each color’s FULL COLOR REVIEW.

Gray 2121-10 is one of my FAVE gray front door colors. It’s a med-dark charcoal gray with stormy, violet-blue undertones. Due to its depth and undertones, Gray suits a WIDE range of stonework and brick. As for Peppercorn, it’s a tricky little bugger and can pop up almost ANY of the undertones, depending on its surrounding finishes and your door’s exposure.

Gauntlet Gray is a super popular front door color thanks to its subtle warmth and SUPER passive undertones. You’ll find that Gauntlet Gray suits many exterior facades, including stone, brick, and multiple asphalt roof finishes – more so than MOST other grays.

Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray

As for Amherst Gray and Kendall Charcoal, these are darker charcoal grays. While they’re classified as warm, you’d hardly know it. Regarding undertones, expect to see a wink of green pop up in Amherst Gray, and ONCE in a while, you’ll see that same subtle hue in Kendall Charcoal (although it’s far more ‘neutral’ looking and darker than Amherst Gray).

If you want to learn more, click on their links in the list – TONS of info and fun to be had!

Get your PEEL & STICK set (GRAY-GREEN / GRAY-BLUE / GRAY-BLUE-GREEN)

NOT SURE WHICH COLOR IS BEST?

Let me pick your colors for you with my Online Paint Color Packages

4. THE MOST POPULAR BLUE-GRAY BLEND FRONT DOOR PAINT COLORS

If navy blue is too strong for your home and personal tastes, cut things back with gray. Colors like Cheating Heart and Web Gray are popular shades for those wanting a slightly (or more) muted shade of blue.

Benjamin Moore’s Cheating Heart

Benjamin Moore’s Cheating Heart 

• Benjamin Moore Charcoal Slate
• Sherwin Williams Web Gray
• Benjamin Moore’s Cheating Heart (can appear blackish at times)
• Benjamin Moore Deep Space
• Benjamin Moore Anchor Gray

Click on the above links to see each color’s FULL COLOR REVIEW (excluding Anchor Gray and Deep Space, which I haven’t done yet – I’M JUST…ONE…WOMAN!).

Based on their names, it’s easy to confuse Benjamin Moore Charcoal Slate and Sherwin Williams Charcoal Blue. HOWEVER, that’s where the real similarities end. Whereas Charcoal Blue has a noticeable, but not overwhelming blue hue, Charcoal Slate is dominated by a solid dark charcoal with a reasonable blue-violet undertone.

Web Gray is great when you want some NOTICEABLE undertone with a more flexible approach to blue. Some blues cater hard to blue-violet or blue-green – not Web Gray; he’s an undertone floozy and can wink at either given the right circumstances.

Benjamin Moore Charcoal Slate

Sherwin Williams Web Gray

Cheating Heart is one of my personal faves, for my own home and my Online Color Consulting. Call it soft black, navy blue, gray-blue – whatever you call it, it’s WICKED pretty. Cheating Heart will flex itself based on its environment, looking more blackish in shaded areas and bluer in the sun.

Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart

If you like Cheating Heart, but your heart pines for just a bit…more…blue, take your lyin’ cheatin’ heart on over to Deep Space. These colors are similar, but Deep Space has a bit more navy blue popping through.

Lastly, Anchor Gray. Anchor Gray is one of the lighter gray blues (before we get into the medium depths). Again, I call it blue; my husband calls it gray – we’ll agree to disagree (but we know I’m right).

Get your PEEL & STICK SET here (GRAY BLUE-GREEN / GRAY BLUE-VIOLET)

5. THE MOST POPULAR GREEN & TEAL-INSPIRED FRONT DOOR PAINT COLORS

There are many ways to approach green front doors – greige, green-gray, BRIGHT green. However, the more classic and muted your shade of green is, the better chance you have of passing it by ye ole HOA.

Benjamin Moore Kitty Gray

As for teal, if you’re hoping for a lovely shade of teal or aquamarine, you might need to find a new neighborhood, as many HOAs are teal-timid and aquamarine-averse. But don’t worry, I have a few that WINK at teal without tipping the scales…

• Benjamin Moore Kitty Gray
• Sherwin Williams Riverway
• Benjamin Moore Sioux Falls
• Sherwin Williams Thunder Gray
• Sherwin Williams Still Water

Kitty Gray is a gorgeous blend of green and gray with a touch of blue for moderation. Some people see it as gray, but if you ask me, it’s definitely green-blue; it’s just SUPER muted.

As for Riverway, I LOVE this color. Not only is it a popular teal-inspired shade for front doors, but it’s also wicked on islands, feature walls, and even entire rooms!

The 7 Best Teal Paint Colors for Front Doors

Sherwin Williams Riverway

Sioux Falls is a more modest approach to teal as it’s lighter and more gentle than most. This combination of color and saturation has most HOAs pretty darn happy. If this is your jam, you might find a few more lighter versions here.

Benjamin Moore Sioux Falls

Sherwin Williams Still Water

Still Water is similar to Riverway, but has a bit more meat on its bones with more depth. However, it shares the same beautiful blue-green blend. As for Thunder Gray, it shifts directions into a LEGIT green, moderated with some greige for warmth…

Sherwin Williams Thunder Gray – COME TO MOMMA! I love this color.

The 15 Best Medium to DARK GREEN Paint Colors

Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLES: SLIGHTLY STRONGER / STORMY & COOL 

6.  MISC. POPULAR FRONT DOOR COLORS

Sometimes, there isn’t ENOUGH of one type of color to make a full category. In this case, we have a few stragglers coming in at the end that are just as beautiful and can be GREAT options for the average front door and average anal HOA.

• Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze (dark greige)
• Sherwin Williams Darkroom (dark violet)

WEIRD, I was so sure I had an exterior door painted Urbane Bronze! Oh well, here it is painted on the inside of my old front door…

Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze VS. The Top Dark Greige Paint Colors

Urbane Bronze is hands-down, the BEST dark greige paint color – for front doors, island, WHATEVER! If you want subtle warmth and subtle color, put this hot shade on your list, just like I put it on my kitchen island…

Last but not least, Darkroom. If you want a hint of violet with a saturated, but grounded base, Darkroom is one of the pretty darn purples on the planet, especially for a classic, slightly traditional-looking front door.

The 9 Best Purple (Violet) Paint Colors

Compare the TOP GREIGES with PEEL & STICK! 

READ MORE

The 9 Best Front Door Paint Colors

5 Steps to Picking Your Home’s Exterior Paint Color

The Best Paint Colors for the INSIDE of Your Front Door

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY FRONT DOOR COLOR CONSULTATIONS – LET ME PICK YOUR COLORS FOR YOU!

Chat soon,

The post The 6 Top Front Door Paint Colors (That Even Your HOA Will Love) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Did you know that painting your front door is one of the BEST ways to add curb appeal to your home? And in ONE AFTERNOON, you can take a ho-hum door and turn it into something that gets your neighbors talking – for less than a hundred dollars!

However, with thousands of colors, it can be hard to figure out which colour is best. That’s why you have me (insert happy face here). You can hire me via my E-design to give you the TOP 3-4 colors for YOUR front door, or you can check out these fab options below…

1. Best Front Door Color – Burgundy or Red

Burgundy is a great choice if you want visual interest without committing to the intensity of a real vivacious red. Brick red is a slightly more modern take on burgundy, with red coming in as the colour with the most vibrant personality!

The above samples are just approximations of paint colors

• Check out Benjamin Moore’s Sundried Tomato. It’s close to being red but has enough of a burgundy/grounded base to keep it calm and collected.
• Another fave is Benjamin Moore Dinner Party, more of a rich, dense red.
• Benjamin Moore New London Burgundy is a more typical burgundy than those with stronger brown, purple, or orange undertones.

If you’re looking for a more ravishing red (check out my profile photo – wink wink), these next colors should get you on the right path. Keep in mind, while red is one of the most popular choices, it isn’t always the smartest one. Your home has to suit red (or a tweaked version of it); otherwise, it will look out of place.

I gave my E-Design client (above) four beautiful front door options, and Sherwin Williams Chinese Red was the winner.

• Benjamin Moore Caliente is a gorgeous, sumptuous red, one of my faves for real personality.
• For a red with a bit more RED, check out Sherwin Williams Poinsettia. It’s not quite primary red, but it’ll give that impression.

BTW, 99.9% of the photos on my blog are from my E-Design clients; thank you for sending them in; you guys rock! 

2. Best Front Door Colour – Navy Blue

Navy blue is a wicked choice for a front door. Blue can be rich and classic or fun and fresh, but it’s the more traditional navy blue paint colors that are a hit with today’s homeowners.

The above samples are just approximations of paint colors

• Sherwin Williams Naval is a handsome fellow and the perfect complement to almost any siding. Naval sits on the slightly cooler end of the blue scale (compared to some navies with a smidge of green in them).
• Sherwin Williams Cyberspace is a dark navy with a decent gray undercurrent.
• Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue has a bit more gray and appears slightly ‘softer’ than Naval.
• Benjamin Moore Hale Navy. Oh haaaale yes! It’s hard to go wrong with the classic look of Hale Navy.

And while there are about half a dozen more navy blues that I could rattle off the top of my head, those are a few of my FAVES.

3. Best Front Door Color – Teal / Blue Green

Whether looking for a farmhouse or a beachy look, there is nothing like a fresh, modern teal paint colour for your front door! Teal is a mixture of blue and green – and not always an even mixture. Some teals lean more on the blue side, while others lean more green.

The above samples are just approximations of paint colors

Today’s popular teals also have gray in them, keeping them in check and not so ‘day-glo’.

• Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue is one of my fave blue-green-gray blends. Whether you prefer the lighter version, Palladian Blue, or the darker Stratton Blue, this blue-green range is a wicked choice for a front door.
• I can also be talked into the likes of Sherwin Wiliams Peacock Plume for a bit more colour.

Looking for something a bit spunkier?

• You’ll find that Benjamin Moore Mexicali Turquoise is a vibrant, lighter, brighter front door colour.
• Benjamin Moore Cool Aqua and Sherwin Williams Aquarium are teals with a bit more spazip! (spazip being a super technical term).
• If you like a green-blue with a slightly vintage feel, Benjamin Moore Hazy Blue might be for you! 

And, of course, the darkest of the teals – Benjamin Moore Yorktowne Green. Not for the faint of heart, Yorktowne Green is a gorgeous blend that’s flexible and easy to live with. It would look stunning in a woodsy environment with cedar siding.

The Best Blue Green Paint Colours for Your Front Door

NEED HELP?

Check out my AFFORDABLE & FUN Front Door Paint Color Package – let me pick your colors for you! 

4. Best Front Door Color – Green

There’s something about a solid dark green that seems to work on a LOT of homes.

The above samples are just approximations of paint colors

The above front door is Sherwin Williams Night Owl. Another beauty is Benjamin Moore Mohegan Sage or Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom for a stronger, striking look.

This next home was oooookay with its blue front door…

But I knew the siding colour (Benjamin Moore Dragon’s Breath) would be WAY better suited to a lil’ chartreuse, which also satisfied the owner’s desire for something a little OUTSIDE the box!

Benjamin Moore Chartreuse was the PERFECT choice to take things up a notch!

Let’s take a quick break to talk about paint samples…

Please check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

5. Best Front Door Color – Black 

Black is bold and is a great way to make a statement on a large or small home. It looks especially fabulous when paired with a crisp white trim.

The above samples are just approximations of paint colors

And while black is a classic in the fashion world, it isn’t a ‘sure’ thing on a front door. Some homes look too intimidating with a black door – particularly ones that don’t have enough natural light around them.

• Benjamin Moore Black 2132-10. Yup, just black – clearly, a rocket scientist named it.
• Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black and Iron Ore are beautiful black choices. Tricorn Black is bolder and more striking, whereas Iron Ore is slightly softer.

Black doesn’t always suit homes with river rock or ledge stone detail or front doors that are under the heavy shadow

6. Best Front Door Paint Color – Gray & Charcoal

Gray and charcoal are a hit with homeowners these days and, with their varying undertones, suit a HUGE variety of homes.

The above samples are just approximations of paint colors

• I have MAD love for Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray, a slightly warmer, deep charcoal. See how it jibes with the black trim and the river rock feature wall in the above photo.
• For a softer look, check out Sherwin Williams Dovetail, the slightly lighter version of Gauntlet Gray.
• You can also check out Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray, a medium-dark charcoal with a MINOR green undertone. Kendall Charcoal is also a big hit for a more striking look, like the darker version of Amherst Gray.

I also love the SUPER PASSIVE approach of Benjamin Moore Gray 2121-10, shown on this next front door…

7. Best Front Door Paint Colour – Yellow & Gold

Yellow and gold can look warm and welcoming on a home. Just remember that yellow reflects much more light than most other colors, so when choosing a yellow, make sure its intensity suits your home and your personal style (in other words, err on the side of caution when choosing ‘intensity’). 

The above samples are just approximations of paint colors

• Sherwin Williams Rayo de Sol is a rayo of sunshine!
• Benjamin Moore Stuart Gold is a rich and stately gold color. Not too yellow, not too orange – juuuust right!
• Sherwin Williams Classical Gold, Gambol Gold, and Bee are also beautiful, brighter choices.

8. Feeling brave for your front door?

My client Mark wanted a front door that was a little different from the rest. I threw some beauties at him, and he settled on Sherwin Williams Knockout Orange!

And while orange won’t suit MOST homes, it was the PERFECT choice for his home and the palette he decided on (see the whole project here).

This last one is just for fun, as I don’t HAVE a violet-inspired front door section yet, but this one was TOO pretty not to include.

Before the rusty red wasn’t BAD, it just wasn’t connecting enough with the stone, whereas Sherwin Williams Darkroom hit JUST the spot…

The TOP 6 HOA-FRIENDLY Front Door Paint Colors

PEOPLE ALSO ASK…

WHAT’S THE BEST FRONT DOOR PAINT COLOR?

The best color for your front door is the one that suits your siding, roof, stone, brick, walkway, and surrounding landscape. There is no ‘universally best’ front door paint color.

SHOULD THE FRONT DOOR BE LIGHTER OR DARKER THAN THE HOUSE?

Most of the time, the front door is darker than the rest of the house, although there are exceptions, especially when it comes to dark gray homes.

WHAT FRONT DOOR PAINT COLOR IS BEST FOR RESALE?

As long as it PERFECTLY suits the home it’s on, blue is one of the best colors for resale.

SHOULD THE FRONT DOOR & BACK DOOR BE THE SAME COLOR?

HECK NO! While they CAN be the same color, they can also do their own things.

WHAT COLOR DOOR MAKES YOUR HOME LOOK MORE EXPENSIVE?

While it’s MORE important that your front door suits the surrounding finishes/environment, black is seen as a classic black shade for expensive-looking homes.

READ MORE

Painting the INSIDE of Your Front Door

The 12 Best Navy Blue Paint Colours for Cabinets, Feature Walls & Front Door

The 7 Best Teal & Navy Blue Paint Colours for Your Front Door

Not sure which paint colour is best for YOUR front door?

Let me help with my Online Paint Colour Consulting services! 

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2021, UPDATED FOR YOU IN 2023

The post THE 9 BEST FRONT DOOR PAINT COLORS appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

After years of bouncing around, updating, and climbing the real estate ladder, we’ve finally found a home to settle down in (famous last words, right?) I MEAN IT THIS TIME!

And by the way, the exterior is WAY different now – stay tuned for THAT blog post

If you aren’t aware of the long and sordid drama about our six-month forever ‘summer home,’ here’s the gist…

There weren’t many homes on the market, and we walked into this gorgeous newer house with a killer 180-degree ocean view and were like, ‘Sure, let’s do it; let’s raise our family here.’ A newly built home was a new concept for us, seeing as EVERY home we’ve owned needed updating/renovating *needed being a relative term. This house was only a year old and needed NOTHING.

However, it was a home with no heart – it was an almost tangible thing, and we had to get out of there.

Don’t let it suck you in…sure it looks cute, but it bites

Luckily, I have a very understanding husband who agreed that the house was sucking the life out of us. We were able to sell it and buy our friggin’ DREAM HOME! Seriously, I’d stalked this house for years as it was in our old neighborhood. I’d walk by it whispering, ‘Oh yes, you will be mine, one day you will be mine…’ and now it is. I am that creepy.

Long story kind of short, we gutted it (naturally) and did a remodel on most of the rooms. And rather than drag it out over the years, which is our habit, we did most of it in one shootin’ match (minus some bathrooms/laundry). We did this with the idea that we could then relax and enjoy it. But you know me, I’ll ALWAYS find projects to do.

Are you ready to dive in? After sharing the entryway last month (above), it’s time to look at the kitchen and dining room!

Check out this before photo showing how our entryway and stairs tie into the kitchen. I tried to get the whales in the bargaining process, but no such luck. Just joking; those damn whales still haunt my dreams.

FREE FRIGGIN’ WILLY!

SHUT THE FREAKIN’ FRONT DOOR! Just LOOK at the difference. I mean, the kid’s college fund is dry, as is the bottom of my wine keg, but it sure looks pretty!

Before we get much further, let’s give credit where credit is due. This WHOLE project was brought to you by Jackson Triggs, Robert Mondavi, and Tanqueray – proud supporters of my drinking habit, which was further encouraged by the FREAKIN’ STRESS OF THIS RENOVATION! Seriously though, regarding credit, I’ll touch on the trades/companies within this article.

OUR ‘TWEAKED’ REVERE PEWTER KITCHEN

Looking at this next photo, I’m not going to lie and say it was a terrible kitchen; it wasn’t. It just wasn’t MY kitchen. This seems funny since I tried to cook Mr Noodles the other day (which Maggie fondly refers to as ‘non-gender specific noodles’) and actually burnt the water and ruined the pot. But regardless, I wanted a pretty kitchen…

And I got my pretty kitchen…

Just LOOK at how much brighter and welcoming it is. It almost makes me want to cook. Just kidding. Nobody needs to suffer through that.

In this next before photo, we’re looking the other way, so you’re seeing a snippet of our backyard, which is our oasis (and will be another blog post unto itself), as well as a dark and dismal dining area…

I’m sure THOUSANDS of you recognize this granite from the early 2000s! 

Ideas to Update Older Style Granite Countertops

After, I can’t even tell you how restful these spaces make me feel. Because it is all about me, am I right?

And you even get a sneak peek into the living room – you can see the before and after photos HERE.

I also chose a consistent undertone between the island, cabinets, backsplash, and countertop – green. If you’d asked me a few years ago what my least favorite undertone was, I would’ve said green. Well, I change my mind about my favorite colors as often as I change my underwear, so I’ll let you figure out how often that is.

The 6 Best Paint Colours for Kitchen Islands & Bathroom Vanities

THE DINING ROOM UPDATE

Before, the light fixture (with matching island pendants) was like a bug zapper. If you have a mosquito problem, let me know, and I’ll pop these babies in the mail for you.

Here’s the dining room with my new art from Ronei…

I’m in LOVE with our new light from Wayfair with its clean, simple lines…

THE PAINT COLORS WE USED

And you might be wondering what the kitchen cabinet colour is (or not). Either way, I’m gonna tell ya! It’s Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter, darkened by approximately 25%. My clients often say, ‘If you have to darken it by 25%, why don’t you just choose a different color?’. Because if there were a color nicer than this, I would’ve chosen it. I played around and hit JUST what I wanted – a warm, soft, earthy gray with a green undertone.

The 6 Best DARK GREIGE Paint Colors

The island is Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze, a completely badass mix of greige and green. Tims says it’s gray…but it’s not.

What’s the paint color on the walls?

Finding the PERFECT off-white is like finding that random hair that’s slipped down the front of your shirt and is tickling you, but you just can’t seem to find the damn thing, so you reach in and plunge your hand around looking for the damn thing while people stare at you strangely. Anyway, I picked Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray, 75% lighter.

I know I’m anal, but I want what I want when I pick a colour – whatever that takes. And with Edgecomb Gray 75% lighter, I’ve got this whisper of warm gray/greige with the tendency to FLIP through undertones throughout the day. The trim is Benjamin Moore White Dove.

WANT TO LEARN MORE: Our Kitchen Remodel – All of The Details

And check out our big hunka wood dining table – MAD LOVE…

THE PANTRY AREA

I don’t have a great before photo of this next area, but note the built-in microwave and the side of the pantry door…

We opened that area with a small counter above our wine fridge and painted the pantry door to tie into the cabinetry. This also makes the kitchen look wider. The microwave is now in the pantry.

As for the pantry itself, it’s not as big as I would love, but better than nothing. One day, I’ll organize it and show it to you…maybe.

OUR OFF-WHITE QUARTZ COUNTERTOP

The quartz countertop slays me (in a good way). It’s Brittanica WARM by Cambria Quartz. It has a white/off-white base, soft, greige warmth, and even a wink of modest taupe-beige. While it’s AMAZING, I’ve got more warm-toned countertops for you to check out here, if you’re curious.

Is Revere Pewter the Best Cabinet Color for YOUR Kitchen?

THE SUBWAY TILE BACKSPLASH & STOOLS

As for the backsplash, OH, THE FRIGGIN AGONY!

I can advise clients on what to do all day long, as I have the KNOWLEDGE without the emotion attached (you know I love y’all, though.) Making decisions for myself gives me serious hyperventilating, twitching in the corner angina. Seriously. I look forward to renovating, but the process just about does me in.

As for the counter stools, I usually prefer a stool with a full-height back for better badonkadonk support; Tim asked for backless ones, so I listened to him (first time for everything).

The backsplash tile is an Ames Tile (sadly, they don’t carry this exact tile anymore) and was installed by none other than BE Tile. The cabinets were custom-made from Mid-Island Cabinets. Notice that the grout is OPPOSITE the norm, as I opted for a DARK contrasting colour rather than the usual white/gray.

I’m also noticing that some of these photos look like they have a filter on them (thanks to my epic photography skills). I’m going to get better ones – stay tuned. But in the meantime…

4 Ideas to Jazz Up a Simple Subway Tile Backsplash

Here’s another shot of the foyer, looking into the kitchen and dining room. Notice that I painted the handrail to match the kitchen island…

All of the painting, including the walls, ceilings, trims, and stair railing, was done by the most patient and talented duo of Delea and Shalyn of Details Painting.

If you want to look closely at our entryway remodel and how it relates to the kitchen, visit this blog post – Our Entryway Remodel, from Dark and Dismal – To DAMN Gorgeous HERE.

READ MORE

A Tudor Kitchen Makeover (With Revere Pewter!)

Is Revere Pewter the Best Kitchen Cabinet Colour for YOU?

The 5 Best Off-White Paint Colours

Ideas to Update Older Granite Countertops

6 Budget-Friendly Kitchen Update Ideas

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Colour Consulting packages! 

Chat soon,

2019/UPDATED FOR GRAMMAR N’ STUFF IN 2023

The post Open Concept Kitchen & Dining Room Update: Before & After Photos appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

While bathroom trends come and go, nothing is more timeless than marble. And NOTHING makes me happier than a job well done (is that the A-team or Oprah?) and this home is the EPITOME of that, courtesy of Alair Homes.

My clients, Lisa and Brian, were moving from Calgary, Alberta to build a custom home on our beautiful little island.  They wanted advice on products, finishes, layout, etc… as well as someone to answer the builder’s questions on-site when they were back home in Calgary – and I was the gal to do it.

Partnering up with Dan, the project manager, we made our way through this new build, bonding over Starbucks, sills, siding, and Schluter strips.

This is one of my favorite bathrooms of all time.

Why? 

I’m not a contemporary gal myself, but I can appreciate the simplicity, clean lines, and classic design that were all pulled together with the homeowner’s special touch with accent colour and decor. And while some of these elements could be changed as trends change, the BONES of this bathroom are pretty darn timeless.

Now, there are many amazing parts to this beautiful home (including a wine room UNDER the stairs), but today, I want to start with the primary bathroom (mostly because the amount of editing I still have to do is insane – I may be talented, cute, and modest, but a professional photographer I am not!)

THE BATHROOM LAYOUT

This bathroom boasts a walk-in/walk-out shower, freestanding tub, double vanity, and separate toilet room…

The countertop is Cambria Kirkstead, (it looks yellow on their site…it’s not), which is predominantly white with just weeee tiny speckles in it. It looks beautiful with the gray-painted floating vanity (which has lighting underneath, and I have ZERO photography skills to capture that effect).

Directly across from the double vanity is a wall with towel bars, which is also the back wall of the walk-in/walk-out shower.

To the left, you can see a wink of the freestanding tub. With the natural light shining in, getting a great shot of the tub area with its STUNNING crystal chandelier was challenging.

There, that’s all ya get!

With two shower heads and a rain shower, just TRY not to get wet in this one!

THE TILE CHOICES

We kept things simple by doing two tile styles throughout the entire bathroom. The main large tile is on the shower walls and bathroom floor/baseboards while the hexagon-shaped marble mosaic is in the alcoves, decorative panels behind the faucets, and on the shower floor.

Affordable Ways to Design With Marble

Notice how the hexagon tiles on the faucet wall are finished with a marble pencil edge to separate them from the main tile. They also stop about 12″ shy of the floor. This helps to define the wall/floor areas, so things don’t smoosh together (super technical term, look it up).

THE PAINT COLOR

We wanted a soft, gentle color on the walls, and ended up choosing Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist. This is a super soft, lovely, warm gray with vague purple undertones – perfect with Lisa’s teal accessories.

Here’s the view from the primary bedroom into the bathroom…

There’s MUCH more to come with this beautiful home, but I’m about two weeks and four bottles away from getting it all done, so stay tuned!

READ MORE

An Affordable Marble-Inspired Bathroom

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing White Paint Colors

4 PART SERIES: How to Create a Timeless Home

The Top Shades of Medium Blue Paint Colors

NEED HELP?

Check out my E-Design and Online Colour Consulting packages! 

The post A STUNNING MARBLE BATHROOM – TIMELESS DESIGN appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

I love marble. Along with navy blue, Doug my dog, Ryan Reynolds (or Gosling), and area rugs, marble is definitely one of my addictions – one that I have yet to explore in my own home but have had OODLES of fun exploring with my clients.

My client, Laura, was looking to build her dream bathroom…on a budget. Well, she came to the right gal, as when it comes to getting some bang for buck (not street-corner style), I know where to spend money and where to save it – EVEN when it comes to a luxury product like marble.

Laura’s bathroom had a great footprint. With approx 125 sq ft of space, we fit in the loo, double-vanity, walk-in shower, and a free-standing tub. After that, it was just a matter of choosing products that would be budget-friendly and high-impact.

MARBLE-LOOK COUNTERTOP

We chose Calacatta Marble 180FX by Formica, which is a laminate countertop. Not only does it LOOK like the real thing, it’s more durable and drastically more affordable!

Of course, no countertop is fool-proof, and laminate has pros and cons. However, it’s easier to maintain than real marble.

The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They Rock

HEXAGON MARBLE TILE BACKSPLASH

Oh, this backsplash. Love is not the word for it; I think infatuation makes more sense. And no, that’s not a puddle of shower water; that’s my drool…

Hexagon marble backsplash from City Tile

The backsplash, whether in a bathroom or kitchen, is a great way to add personality to your space without breaking the bank (if you shop smart). And while I would be cautious of a hexagon pattern, as it’s not timeless, it still has some good life (subway tile layout is much better).

4 Tips & Ideas to Jazz Up a Simple Subway Tile

FLOORING & SHOWER SURROUND

Coming in at under $3.50 sq ft, this 12×24 tile makes a great visual connection with the countertop and backsplash and keeps things budget-friendly. We also saved a CHUNK of change by doing a fiberglass shower floor, rather than a tile floor (it’s also WAY easier to clean.)

Of course, the most budget-friendly shower is ALL fiberglass, but when creating a home you love; one that’s beyond a spec home, a tile surround adds to the visual and actual value.

THE DARK GRAY VANITY & STORAGE/LINEN TOWERS

There is MORE than enough space in this bathroom for the 3 Big T’s (towels, TP, tampons), and we created a beautiful foundation by painting the vanity and storage towers in Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray, a lovely grounded dark charcoal paint color.

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray

Chelsea Gray isn’t the only gorgeous dark gray cabinet color – I’ve got a few more beauties here – The Best Gray, Greige, & Green Cabinet & Vanity Paint Colors.

THE LOOOOOO

That’s funny if you’re a Canucks fan from the mid-2000s. If not, you just think I’m a weirdo, and that’s okay too.

I was going to pose with this photo, but I thought it might be awkward as an ‘action’ shot…

The paint is Benjamin Moore Oxford White, a relatively ‘clean’ white with little undertone. Don’t you just love the gentle curve and texture of the braided metal pipe? Just joking; I’ve drank too much wine tonight; ignore me.

THE FREE-STANDING BATHTUB

While I’m PERSONALLY a fan of built-in bathtubs, many of you love the look of a free-wheeling, free-standing tub…

I am not a photographer, so this is the best shot I could get of the tub – damn that window!

I know I’m happy, and it’s all about me – right?  Okay, Laura is happy too, and that’s what really matters!

READ MORE

4 Tile & Shiplap Ideas for a Bathroom

3 Ideas to Add Style to a Small Bathroom

6 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas

Want help with your home? 

Check out my Online Consulting Services.

The post A Marble-Inspired Ensuite Bathroom appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Sometimes a project comes along that makes me stop in my tracks…but not always in a good way. My clients were planning on listing their home and wanted to give it a fresh face with a new colour. However, while they were wanting to paint the cedar shake siding, they wanted to KEEP the existing trim, shutters and front door the colours they were.

I had to take a deep breath for this one and an even bigger chug of wine before I sent her a note that more or less said the following:

‘I know you want to list your home and spend as little as possible, I get it. But, there simply ISN’T a paint colour that will bring together your trim and shutter colours and how they relate to your brick and roof.

I would highly suggest you either leave everything and sell your home as-is OR, I wonder if you’d be open to the idea of going a liiiiitle bit further…okay, maybe going a LOT further by painting the trim, shutters, front door and even the little metal roof over the front door. If not, it would be a waste of your time and money to paint only the shakes as it will only add another detached colour to the palette.’ 

What’s the big problem with the above image anyway? Let’s break it down…

1. The orange of the shakes clashes with the colours in the brick and the violet undertone of the roof.
2. The green on the trim is a warm green, the green on the front door and shutters is a cool green and those two greens are just HATIN’ on each other.
3. Add those two greens in with the green of the landscaping, and as the great Kermit the Frog would say, ‘it’s not easy being green’ – especially when you’re three different versions of it.
4. While the cool green would be ‘passable’ with the brick and roof. It would’ve been considerably better if it were a lighter blue-green or a DARKER green so that it’s a more classic accent – or it could not be green at all, really.

I spent MANY YEARS home staging and have a great idea of what buyers are looking for and how to get TOP DOLLAR for a home – I know full well that sometimes you have to spend money to make money. And this home had so much FRIGGIN’ POTENTIAL I was crossing my fingers that they’d jump on my crazy train…and they did. FREAKIN’ HALLELUJAH, I love my clients.

BEFORE, potential buyers might’ve kept on driving after seeing this curb appeal…

AFTER, I’m pretty sure buyers have already unpacked their boxes…

My client had hired someone to pick the previous green trim colour for the shutters and front door, but I have a feeling the consultant was freelancing as a John Deere rep…

And look at her beautiful self now!

Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart and Sherwin Williams Pure White

They also brought the colour around to the back of the house on the french doors. And while I would suggest putting a larger black light beside the door, the overall look is still friggin’ fantastic…

Doors, Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart

That’s funny, I JUST noticed the chimney stack! I’m sure it’s TBP – To Be Painted…

What colours did we use for this exterior update? GOOD QUESTION…

• CEDAR SHAKES: Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles. A soft, light-medium warm gray with a purple undertone
• TRIM: Sherwin Williams Pure White. A warm white with a neutral base to calm it down
• DOORS, SHUTTERS & METAL ROOF: Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart, one of my fave exterior accent colours

The Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colours

I’m just so grateful when clients hear me when I’m just trying to help. If I come up with an idea to spend MORE money, it’s always going to be SMART money – and I’m sure this one will pay off big time.

READ MORE

The Best Exterior Paint Colours: Why Your Home’s Exposure Matters

4 Things to Consider BEFORE Painting Your Exterior

E-Design: Exterior Makeover

Is Gray Still Trendy on Walls, Cabinets & Exteriors?

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Colour Consulting packages!

Chat soon,

The post E-DESIGN Exterior Paint Colour Makeover: Brick & Shake Before & After appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Creating a beautiful home from the ground up is one of the most satisfying parts of my work and this STUNNING home was no exception! Working with a palette of predominantly gray, white and black, we created a home with warmth, class and the perfect backdrop for the homeowners exceptional art collection.

And while some gray homes are already out of style as they went TOO hard into the gray trend, the majority of the finishes in this home will withstand the test of time.

Why?

Because they’re classic and timeless – not just trendy.

The color of the exterior is similar to Benjamin Moore Dior Gray with stark white trim and dark gray ledgestone. The striking black double front door is a focal point to this beautiful tone-on-tone home.

THE STYLISH ENTRYWAY: ARTWORK & AMBIENCE

The entryway is the space most people see first when they enter a home, and the one they see LAST when leaving a home – make sure your entryway leaves an impression!

With the double-front doors being tucked into a bit of a niche, we added a touch of drama and formality with a striking black colour (Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black) and beautiful black marble tile that was inset into the wood floor. It’s a sharp, clean palette paired with Benjamin Moore Oxford White wainscoting.

A home doesn’t need to be your personal style, for you to appreciate its beauty. So, while this style isn’t quite my jam (not even with peanut butter on it), I know we created a stunner. However, I would change the light to be softer, so it casts a less graphic light (I don’t get a say in EVERY choice). Even then, the overall look is curated, collected, and classic…

These homeowners have a HUGE art collection in a variety of genres. Many collectors lean towards classic shades of white when painting their walls. My clients wanted a slightly softer approach, using gray as a consistent backdrop. We chose Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray as the main color and supplemented it with a few different colors in secondary spaces.

Stonington Gray is a light shade of gray (on the HEAVY side of the light range). While it can look cool, it’s more of a stormy gray with subtle blue-green undertones.

Stonington Gray is a great choice as it easily transitions into other spaces, as seen in the 1/2 bath (to the right in the above photo).

THE HALF-BATH/POWDER ROOM

In keeping with the gray theme but adding some drama, we chose Dior Gray for the powder room. Now, most 1/2 baths or powder rooms won’t have a sink, toilet, and free-standing tub, but my clients had particular needs for their home and this set-up was one of them!

Leaving the powder room and returning to the entryway, these next photos show how nicely the entryway transitions into the kitchen area…

THE KITCHEN – GRANITE, MARBLE, & MORE…

This kitchen is a Chef’s DREAM with black granite perimeter countertops, Vancouver Island Marble on the island, and coffered ceilings. Because the kitchen is open to the dining room, living room, and entryway, the eating bar gives a small visual barrier between daily living and the messy bits (although, PERSONALLY, I’m not a huge fan of it).

The cabinets are painted Benjamin Moore Oxford White with a soft gray glaze to take the edge off. All trims, including the coffered ceiling areas, are Oxford White as well.

Many people wouldn’t do white grout in a kitchen, but for this super tidy, low-key couple, white grout won’t be a hassle!

As for the sink area, I wish I had the photography skills to show you the GORGEOUS ocean view outside their windows – you’ll have to settle for the INSIDE view!

This kitchen was designed almost ten years ago and the owners planned on living in it for a looooong time, so they wanted to love it for themselves!

However, for mass appeal and CURRENT trends, a few things could be updated (without spending a TON of money). Sure, I’d love to see all new countertops and would run the wood floor right through the kitchen, but often, there’s a good happy medium with a few smaller changes…

• the glass and stainless steel mosaic tile backsplash – either run the black granite up the backsplash or do a subway tile
• remove the raised eating area on the island and possibly do a new island slab  – not that marble isn’t timeless, but you’d need a bit more depth for eating once the raised area is removed
• do solid white pendant lights, not champagne-style ones
• consider repainting the cabinets white WITHOUT the glaze
• soften the look with less modern/contemporary bar stools
• less open wine storage

Moving along to the dining room and living room…

How to Create a Timeless Home – 4-PART SERIES

A CONTEMPORARY-STYLE LIVING ROOM & DINING ROOM

The homeowner wanted to use her old dining table and chairs, which have a less contemporary, and more traditional vibe. In the ideal world, the chairs would be a bit more modern, but this set gives the space a bit more of a homey, collected look…

The Right Height to Hang Artwork & Mirrors

As for the living area, their beautiful art collection is, once again, in its glory with white wainscoting, gray walls, and a classic marble fireplace surround…

The living room is simple and understated. Sadly, I don’t always get full control of the furnishings and decor (even when my soul is BEGGING to intervene!)…

How to Choose Your Home’s Best Shade of White

Here are a few suggestions to make this living area even more beautiful…

• a textured, solid-color rug to add some softness and anchor the furniture pieces
• I would also simplify the toss cushions with more solid colors
• a table lamp on the left with a matching floor lamp on the right
• OR, a longer sofa table/console behind the sectional, with a lamp on either end of it
• nothing on the ottoman

Thank you for visiting – I hope you enjoyed this home as much as I did!

READ MORE

Is Gray Outdated on Walls, Cabinets, & Exteriors?

The 12 Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colors

The Ultimate GUIDE to Choosing White Paint Colors

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Decorating and Colour Consulting Services – I’d love to help!

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2016, UPDATED FOR GRAMMAR AND WHATNOT IN 2022

The post Gray & White Home – Marble, Dark Wood, Artwork & More! appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

When my client hired me to help her with the remodel of their lovely Tudor home, I KNEW something beautiful was about to happen.

When doing my Online Consultations, sometimes old finishes are in place and need to be accommodated, whereas other times, we have a FRESH new slate to work with. We were starting from scratch with this one – new finishes, new flooring, new husba…wait, the husband was staying.

My client had a VERY clear idea of where she wanted to head with things, had a great contractor (Lewis Remodelling), and hired me to help her pull it all together with colour. My first look at things involved a combination of Caesarstone Statuario Nuvo on the main countertops, along with a soapstone ISLAND countertop, as well as some other custom details (WAIT until you see the range hood). And while you MIGHT call me crazy (duly noted), I kindly suggested that the soapstone countertop was taking things too far.

Why?

Well, between the main cabinets (which we planned to paint a warm gray), the wood island, the STUNNING soapstone fireplace in the adjacent open layout living room and the WICKED gorgeous range hood, we had enough going on. In fact, I worried that the soapstone would tip the scales, overwhelming the space with variety, rather than keeping it classic.

I’m happy to say she agreed, and in the end, we’re BOTH super happy that the soapstone was kept to the fireplace surround. But boy oh boy, once she settled on her set finishes, the colours we landed on turned out to be JUST what was needed to turn this house renovation into a LOVELY home to live in.

Ready Betty (in homage to the late great Betty White)?

Let’s start in the kitchen…

We chose Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter (darkened by 25%) for the cabinets. My client had started with the idea of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray, but with the countertop she chose, along with the James Mobly mural she was hoping for in the dining room, Edgecomb Gray leaned too warm.

ALL AFTER PHOTOS: RICK PHARAOH PHOTOGRAPHY

Adjusting the cabinets to Revere Pewter and adding a wink of depth made for the PERFECT backdrop to the Caesarstone quartz countertops and wood island.

And while the combination of interior lighting and photography can throw colours off-whack a bit (super technical term), this next photo is a GREAT shot of Revere Pewter in action…

Swinging to the right, we see the bar area with an indiscreet stainless steel wine fridge. PERSONALLY, I’m not a huge fan of wine bottles on display, unless they’re in a dramatic feature piece or empty (wink wink).

THE RANGE HOOD

Ummmm, did ya SEE THE RANGE HOOD? That is one metal-clad masterpiece…

THE WOOD KITCHEN ISLAND

The wood stain on the island is also the perfect complement to the wood floor. Whereas some wood islands COMPETE for attention, this bad boy is the perfect partner…

INTO THE LIVING ROOM…

At this point, you MIGHT be wondering what paint colour is on the walls? Or maybe you’re still mentally absorbing that range hood. Either way, the wall colour we chose was Benjamin Moore White Dove, the PERFECT warm white for this project, which is best showcased in the living area…

In these next photos, White Dove is looking FAR more creamy than it does in real life (it looks more like Sherwin Williams Creamy); the previous photo was a better representation. But all the same – HOLY FREAKIN’ CANNOLI!

And that ceiling. The subtle whitewash on the ceiling cuts the intensity of the wood stain back so nicely without it flashing too pink. However, with the flooring being red oak, this subtle undertone is NOT unwelcome…

Here’s another full shot looking from the kitchen back to the living area – MAD LOVE. And just spend some time with Benjamin Moore White Dove, with its passive warm glow (there’s good reason why it’s one of my fave shades of white). In fact, this next view is my fave of them all…

See Kylie M’s Kitchen Cabinets in Revere Pewter 

And I HAVE to share her pool table room with you, it’s the EPITOME of badassery…

THE FAMILY ROOM / POOL TABLE ROOM

Hey, is that really a knight playing peekaboo with me? DAMN STRAIGHT IT IS! Seriously, I’ve NEVER done a consultation where there’s a knight in play.

My client CLEARLY has a great sense of style and chose to wrap it all up in Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth, a colour you might be seeing more of as those trends lean warmer and warmer!

The Best WHOLE HOME Warm Neutral Paint Colours

READ MORE

The Best Paint Colours for Kitchen Cabinets

Should You Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets or Keep Them Stained – a QUESTIONNAIRE

The 12 Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colours

Benjamin Moore’s Best Warm White Paint Colours

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOUR CONSULTING PACKAGES!

Chat soon,

The post A Warm Gray (Greige) Tudor Kitchen Remodel appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

When this kitchen showed up in my inbox, it had a LOT going for it…

Gorgeous granite countertops, updated wood flooring, and a modern subway tile backsplash were just a few of the great features in this kitchen. However, my client was tired of the dark wood cabinets and wanted to give them a colour face-lift, which is where I came on the scene.

How to Update OLDER Granite Countertops

The granite countertops weren’t in a position to support WHITE cabinets and demanded a SOFTER approach.

There’s also that beautiful warm gray-taupe subway tile backsplash. And because the backsplash is the FIRST PLACE YOU LOOK when choosing a cabinet colour, these tiles, along with the warm base of the granite countertops, were the inspiration for this…

SHUT THE FRIGGIN’ FRONT DOOR (or the cabinet door, might be more the point)! I mean, I didn’t mind this kitchen before, even if the wood was a touch heavy and rich. But HOLY DINAH does it ever look good now!

Let’s get a nice full shot of this bad boy. This is a great photo, as you can see the ORIGINAL floor…

The old flooring was way too orange for the cabinets, and even just changing this was a great move for this space. HOWEVER, painting the cabinets really took it to the next level…

There’s only one thing I’d suggest (and it’s not a big thing). The paint colour on the walls, Benjamin Moore Ranchwood, is just a TOUCH too heavy and warm. UGGGGH, I feel so mean when I do this, but I have a little radar go off in my head when I get near wine, crave Doritos, see Ryan Reynolds in a movie, AND when a colour is just a bit off.

Worth changing? For most of the world – HECK NO. But for me, who is a glutton for punishment, you know I’d change it. What colour would I sample first? Oh, Benjamin Moore Collingwood FOR SURE, with Balboa Mist in hot second. Again, I’m being particular, but that’s why you love me – also because I’m cute and witty…riiiight?

And I bet you’re wondering about this magical paint colour on the cabinets. It’s none other than Benjamin Moore Classic Gray. SURPRISED? You should be.

Classic Gray can look CONSIDERABLY grayer on walls with a more noticeable purple, sometimes purple-pink undertone (remember, EVERY gray has undertones). However, cabinet colours have different formulations AND the sheen affects the way a colour looks as well. Classic Gray was also lightened by 25% for this project which can account for a bit of that shift as well.

The 5 Best Off-White Paint Colours

Not sure if you should paint YOUR kitchen cabinets? I’ve got a fun QUESTIONNAIRE STYLE blog post for you to check out. Need some inspiration? I’ve got that too! Just scroll down to the READ MORE section at the bottom of this blog post.

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOUR CONSULTING & E-BOOKS! 

READ MORE

How to Update OLDER Granite Countertops

Budget-Friendly Kitchen Makeover with Benjamin Moore Cloud White

A Budget-Friendly FULL Kitchen Makeover with Benjamin Moore Collingwood and More!

Painted Maple Kitchen Cabinets: Before and After

Our Kitchen Makeover with Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter

The post PAINTED KITCHEN CABINET MAKEOVER: Granite Countertops, Subway Tile & More appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

If you’ve been feeling tempted to update your early 2000s home, this just might be your tipping point – consider yourself warned.

When my Online Colour Consulting client sent along these after photos, I actually WHOOPED for joy. Why? Well, not only was this family home updated with TIMELESS appeal but its HEART and SOUL were saved in the process.

And while I could listen to myself talk (or type) all day long, I know you’re just here for my wit, charm and the pretty pictures, so LET’S DO THIS!

THE ENTRYWAY REMODEL

This space had great bones, just outdated finishes and fixtures…

And after…

If you’re wondering about the paint colours, you’ll find a FULL LIST at the end of this blog post.

And for all those hubbies who’ve REFUSED to paint the wood railing, remember…

JUST BECAUSE IT’S WOOD, DOESN’T MEAN IT’S GOOD! 

One of the MANY things I love is that you’ll see a lot of the same furnishings in the before/after photos. This isn’t just a great way to save money, but a way to keep familiarity and authenticity, as some pieces just suit the home and the people living in it!

I also find it interesting that while EVERYONE else is putting in light natural oak flooring, my clients went the other way and restained their floors in a DARK finish – LOVE IT! Sure, they could’ve chosen some fancy wide plank, brushed finish new floor, but they would’ve spent a FORTUNE doing so.

THE LIVING ROOM REMODEL

Again, GREAT BONES, but it was begging for a fresh colour, flooring, and fireplace surround to go with the gorgeous furniture…

Ermmmm ya, it turned out alright…

SO STINKIN’ PRETTY! A beautiful modern take on traditional style. And those dark floors are just DELICIOUS!

I actually like travertine tile and it wouldn’t have been the end of the world if they’d kept the original fireplace surround…

But HOT DAMN, does it look good now or WHAT!?

TILE DETAILS AT THE VERY END OF THIS BLOG POST

THE DINING ROOM REMODEL

As for the dining room, not only was the wall colour out-of-date but so was the FURNITURE. And that sponge-painted ceiling is AMAZING! Said nobody ever.

It’s like a brand-new home with the charm of a lived-in one!

As for the dining set, again, good bones – outdated finish. My client had it professionally painted in Annie Sloan Old White with a gray glaze and it’s freakin’ GLOOOOORIOUS!

Look at how much better the DRAPES look too, the SOUL of this room is so much more at peace…

Now, are you ready for things to get even better?

THE FAMILY ROOM

I was so happy my client didn’t want to paint her brick fireplace. Some brick fireplaces are too fugly to be saved, while others are the EPITOME of timelessness and hominess – and this is one of them. HOWEVER, the rest of the room needed to step up its game…

I could seriously curl up in this room in my fave jam-jams, with a bottle of wine and a straw glass of wine and never leave.

This room ALMOST had me at hello, but the cherry stain on the beams was too graphic and red-hued for this lil’ Ginger, even though I would’ve camouflaged nicely…

By blending in the coffered ceilings, the room feels brighter and bigger, while still having a cozy vibe…

The chandelier looks JUST like the one in our home – mad love.

And did you get a sneak-peek of the KITCHEN? That’s a creature unto itself and you’ll see the FULL GLORY of it HERE. BUT WE’RE NOT DONE YET, KEEP READING!

In the above photo, notice the bookshelf supporting the railing. We painted it a dark colour to ground it and give the railing a more modern foundation to rest on (also notice the colour connection with the toss cushions in the above photo).

Here’s a good before shot showing the split-level layout, as well as the outdated finishes…

And after. Notice that even the metal spindles were painted for a fresh look…

Back to that brick fireplace. There were many aspects of this room that I loved. I didn’t totally hate the warmer golden wall colour (how’s that for a ringing endorsement). It’s a bit off with the brick, but I’ve seen way worse. Even the beams made sense considering the red-purple tones in the brick. It all looked cozy, but it ALSO looked early 2000s and heavy.

And whether you love painted brick or prefer it raw, this fireplace looks stunning for any style (well, maybe not mid-century, but you get my point)…

Read more: 5 Ideas to Update Your Fireplace

As for the KITCHEN I alluded to earlier, you’ll see it ALL HERE – and it’ll be worth it!

BUT WAIT!

There’s one more room that’s going to knock your friggin’ socks off…

THE HOME OFFICE REMODEL

This home office had such GREAT bones with crown moulding, wainscoting and built-in bookcases, it was just so HEAVY looking…

Okay, seriously, can I move in?

I don’t have a great AFTER photo of the built-ins, it can be tough when shooting into the light. However, you can see a bit of them in this next photo…

Want to know what colours we chose? I’ve got it ALL at the end of this blog post!

But first, three things…

1. Did you check out the KITCHEN in this home? You should (I know, I’m a bossy lil’ Ginger)

2. Did you know I have an AWESOME SEARCH function on the right-hand side of your screen? Seriously, 400+ articles to choose from – SURELY I have what you’re looking for!

3. Did you know I have an awesome INSTAGRAM FEED & EPIC YOUTUBE CHANNEL you can subscribe to? I’ve reviewed almost ALL of the colours you just saw! True story.

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Colour Consulting and E-BOOKS! 

Chat soon,

PRODUCT DETAILS

LIVING ROOM FIREPLACE SURROUND

Glazzio Tile, French Baroque Series Ash

PAINT COLOURS

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

TRIM AND CEILINGS

Benjamin Moore White Dove

METAL PAINTED SPINDLES/RAILING

Benjamin Moore Onyx

BUILT-IN BOOKCASE

Benjamin Moore Gray 2121-10

OFFICE WAINSCOTING AND TRIM

None other than BENJAMIN MOORE REVERE PEWTER

OFFICE WALLS

Benjamin Moore White Dove

READ MORE

A New Home in Sherwin Williams Pure White

The 12 Best Whole Home Gray and Greige Paint Colours

5 Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home

The post Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray: A Fresh Home Remodel appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Painted Cabinets, Quartz Countertop, Dark Oak Floors and MORE! 

When it comes to updating a kitchen, it can be hard to know where to stop – one thing ALWAYS leads to another. But, that doesn’t mean you need to go all-out, as there are ways to save money while you spend it.

This kitchen had EVERYTHING going for it…if you still lived in the early 2000s. However, as it relates to a more modern approach, it had a few fatal flaws…

• cathedral/arched cabinet doors

• strong red/cherry stain on the cabinets

• orange-hued floors, which themselves weren’t a BIG problem, but the whole palette was

• older style granite countertops (if you have these, read THIS)

• diamond-pattern backsplash

And a quick note on the travertine backsplash. I actually LOVE travertine; it’s soft, warm and adds texture to a room. In this kitchen, it’s the PATTERN that killed the deal, as that large-scale diamond pattern is SOOOO 90s / early 2000s.

Now, are you ready to see the big reveal?

Can I get a HELLS YEAH AND A FREAKIN’ HALLELUJAH?! (Can I say those two things in a sentence?) Sure I can.

Seriously, it’s hardly recognizable…

You might be thinking ‘ermmm Kylie, you said something about saving money? This looks like a damn nice kitchen reno, how on earth did they SAVE MONEY?’

Well, money HAD to be spent, but they definitely cut back their costs with the following:

• they kept the FOOTPRINT (layout) of the cabinets, meaning they could keep the cabinet boxes and ONLY replace the doors

• they refinished the floors rather than replacing them

• they kept the bulkheads, rather than ripping them out and going full-height on the cabinets

You’ll find all of the colour and product details at the end of this blog post.

Notice how the bulkheads were a noticeable feature before? And now they just belong!

Read more: SHOULD YOU PAINT YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS? A Fun Questionnaire! 

Read more: Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

Are you DYING to know what countertop that is? I friggin’ love it – details at the end of this blog post.

Check out the gorgeous eating nook…

Check out the LIVING ROOM AND FAMILY ROOM attached to this gorgeous kitchen!

And a butlers pantry, leading to the dining room which was ALSO redone…

And if you’re coming to this blog post fresh from Pinterest, you should see the REST OF THIS HOME!

NEED HELP?

Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOUR CONSULTING and E-BOOKS! 

Chat soon,

READ MORE

Our Revere Pewter Kitchen Remodel – Painted Cabinets

A Budget-Friendly REAL HOME Kitchen Makeover

A Brand-New White Kitchen with Pure White and Cyberspace

SHOULD YOU PAINT YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS? A Fun Questionnaire! 

PRODUCT LIST

WALLS

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray Colour Review

KITCHEN CABINETS

Colour match to Benjamin Moore White Dove Colour Review

TRIMS

Benjamin Moore White Dove

BACKSPLASH

MS International – Highland Park Portico Pearl

COUNTERTOPS

Cambria Ironsbridge

FLOORS

Red oak stained with Duraseal Ebony/Jacobean (1:1) ratio

The post An Early 2000’s Kitchen Update with Benjamin Moore White Dove appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Sometimes a project hits my inbox that has me gigglin’ with glee. Why? Because, a) I’ve probably been in the cups and EVERYTHING is funny, and b) it has SO much potential and I’m just chompin’ at the bit to get at it! And this was DEFINITELY one of those…

Before, the green on teal combo wasn’t doing ANYTHING for the quirky architecture and personality of this home and its owners. The paving stones were the only thing that the owners wanted to keep colour-wise and the rest was up for grabs.

And check it out now…

‘Ahhhhhhhhh’ – that’s the sound of the heavens opening up when they look down on this beach-inspired beauty!

Before, the colour combo was a bit a la Oscar the Grouch…

And now, it looks welcoming and inviting – LOVE the new light fixture, address numbers and door hardware they chose!

Are you wondering what those wild and wonderful paint colours are? The body of the home is Sherwin Williams Polished Concrete, a slightly warm gray with a violet undertone. The trim is one of my fave white paint colours, Sherwin Williams Pure White and the front door is the beautiful Sherwin William Still Water, a dark blue-green-gray blend.

Learn about the BEST teal and navy blue paint colours for your front door HERE

There are two things that NEVER cease to amaze me – how good wine tastes at the beginning end of a long day AND how much paint colour can transform a home!

READ MORE

The Best Paint Colours for Your Front Door

Exterior Paint Colours: Does Exposure REALLY Matter?

The Best Dark Gray Paint Colours – Sherwin Williams

E-Design: A Brick Exterior with a Fresh New Look

4 Things to Know Before Painting Your Exterior

Are you ready to transform YOUR home?

Check out my E-Design packages, I’d love to help!

Chat soon,

The post E-Design: Exterior Makeover, from Green to Glorious! appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

When it comes to buying a home, I like to put my own stamp on things, and from the minute we bought this one, the bathroom was on the TOP of the chopping block (really though, what WASN’T on the chopping block).

However, because bathrooms can be total pork chops on the budget, I had to bide my time until we were ready to do it right. And even then, I was hesitant to get the ball rolling until Moen sent me an email and said ‘Heyyyy girl, you doing any renovating?  We’d love to supply you with some products!’ SAY NO MORE! The ball was OFFICIALLY rolling.

Now that doesn’t mean that I wanted to blow the bank – I still wanted it to be budget-friendly, so I decided on the following:

• I would keep the vanity. Because it’s built in between two walls, I couldn’t just go to a big box store and get a pre-fab unit that I could drop in – it HAD to be a custom size. So, I decided to get it painted and freshened up with new hardware.

• I would keep the footprint as everything is pretty functional where it is, other than the dead space behind the door (but I figured out something for that too).

• I would keep the tub. Our home is only 10 years old and because that shower rarely gets used, the fibreglass tub is in awesome shape.

• I would use and abuse subway tiles. This would keep the majority of my tile sq footage in line with my budget.

You ready Betty?

Let’s start in the hallway…like most hallways, it’s visually stimulating and an architectural wonder…

Well, it might still be a basic hallway, but NOW it has some personality via a wicked accent wall and is a great lead-up to the main bathroom!

The Best Hallway Paint Colours

I chose Benjamin Moore Gray for the accent wall, alongside Sherwin Williams Creamy on the main walls. We also installed new flooring (sue-prize, sue-prize). The original carpet was showing its age, so it was time for an update! (and no, the madness never ends)

NOW, on to the good stuff – WINE.  Just joking…the loo!

The Main Bathroom Area

Before, the maple vanity and dark surfaces made this bathroom feel heavy and moody (like me once a month) and didn’t make ANY sense with the shockingly white 4×4 tile in the shower.

And after…go GREIGE or go home! Maybe I’ll do both seeing as I now LOVE our bathroom…

I chose Benjamin Moore Classic Gray for the walls as I wanted a soft, subtle look that didn’t compete with any of the tilework or countertop. And notice it’s the SAME VANITY, just updated with a fresh coat of paint and hardware!

The Light Fixture, Countertop & Vanity

The old light fixture always made me think of those metal fish that you see on the back of cars that say ‘JESUS’ in the middle. Once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it. And y’all know how religious I am…

I chose Caesarstone Bianco Drift which is a quartz countertop with warm gray, greige, white and brown tones (you’ll see this same countertop HERE)…

And just LOOK at the shower reflected in the mirror!

From the beginning, I knew I wanted to make the wall behind the vanity into a feature of some sort. I tossed in between subway tile, wallpaper, a wine rack or jazzy accent tile. I went with subway tile because it was affordable and apparently wine racks in bathrooms are taboo (pshawww).

To save some money, I had Delea of Details Painting spray the maple vanity in Benjamin Moore Metropolis. Her work was SEAMless and saved me a whack load of money!

Laminate Countertops – High End Ideas, Low End Prices

The flooring is a gorgeous 12×24 porcelain tile from City Tile. It has a subtle texture and a mix of white, greige and beige tones. I also used it instead of traditional baseboard.

The Faucet

I knew that I wanted a two-handle widespread faucet, rather than a lever-style, so I chose the Glyde Collection from Moen. Because the vanity is six feet long, I feel like this style better suits the length and I like the graceful lines of it. From there, I coordinated the light fixture to have the same finish and the same smooth, slightly curved lines.

4 Subway Tile Ideas for your Kitchen and Backsplash

The Tub & Shower Area

The tub and shower…why would I EVER want to change it? The funny thing is, 4×4 white tile is coming back in style, however, I ain’t hoppin’ on THAT bandwagon. I either wanted a large 12×24 tile or some type of subway tile.

And the winner was subway tile! After exhausting all of the possibilities (you have NO idea how much I agonize over my own home – there is no wine bottle large enough to settle me), I landed on this awesome 4×10 tile from Lowe’s. MAAAAD love. It’s greige, soft, and subtle as I wanted the bathroom to feel fresh and clean, but not ‘stark’.

And seriously, the hexagon accent tile just about did me in when I first saw it, I started drooling on-site and almost biffed it in my own puddle. I’d looked HIGH and low for just the right accent tile and THIS was it!

I found it at Cornerstone Tile in Nanaimo. The warm greige tones were a nice break from the traditional white/gray/black marble that I usually work with in my Online Consulting.

I decided to make a 10″ high wall-to-wall niche for a simple look with some function. I didn’t want it to POP, but I did want it to be a classy statement.

Notice how the subway tile continues right to the end where it meets the alcove seamlessly.

I also chose the Glyde Collection for the tub/shower, for a coordinated look. I’m not really into the huge rain heads and like the simple, low-key look of the Glyde unit.

The Awkward Nook Behind the Door

As for the awkward area behind the door/shower area, I found this linen tower on clearance at Lowes and it filled up the space perfectly. Along with my Glyde robe/towel hooks, this area is now functional and pretty darned purdy!

And look at how soft and subtle Classic Gray looks. I darkened it by 25%, just to give it a weeee willy wink more depth and it still offers just the right gentle touch for this space.

And who gets MAD props on this project? Brett Edwards, that’s who! Brett of BE Tile did an awesome job from start to finish. He humoured me (as most people do) when I couldn’t make up my mind and went above and beyond to make sure that everything turned out JUST how I was hoping. The only negative was that he didn’t bring his baby Maxwell over enough so I could get my baby fix!

Want to know if painted maple cabinets lasted?

Our Maple Painted Cabinets – 2 Years Later

READ MORE

4 Tile & Shiplap Ideas for a Small Bathroom

3 Ideas to Add PERSONALITY to Your Small Bathroom or Powder Room

The 6 Best Paint Colours for a Bathroom Vanity

The 12 Best Whole Home Gray & Greige Paint Colours

Want some personalized ideas for your own home?  Check out my Online Color Consulting!

Originally written in 2017, awesomely updated in 2021 for you!

The post Our Bathroom Remodel – Greige, Subway Tile & More… appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

A DIY LAUNDRY ROOM TO COVET! 

It takes a lot of guts to commit to a colour that’s OUTSIDE of the norm. So, not only was my e-design client brave in embracing something fun and fab on her cabinets, she gets brownie points for being SUPER creative with a DIY accent wall!

And while she and I have been kickin’ it for a few years, making awesome colour connections, this one definitely takes the cake (I’m giving her virtual high-fives and pats on the back).

BEFORE: Take a good look at it this room, as you won’t recognize it in a few seconds…

AFTER: May I formally introduce you to a colour that will leave you freakin’ GREEN with envy – Benjamin Moore Caldwell Green!

Seriously, you don’t need to be Kermit to appreciate this green beauty in all her glory…

Let’s look at another before photo for sharts n’ giggles…

I mean, not that there was anything to laugh about, the room had great bones, it just didn’t have any PERSONALITY. And now it does…

Read more: The Best Green Paint Colours

Also, check out the wicked accent wall her n’ the hubs made with plain mouldings and Benjamin Moore White Dove…

Read more: Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore White Dove

As an added BONUS, she ALSO happens to be an epic photographer. Interior photos are super challenging to take, so when photos like this show up in my inbox, they make me TEN KINDS OF HAPPY (happiness usually equals wine in hand)…

Let’s focus on the sink area for a minute in all of its sinkish glory…

The countertop is Roma quartz, a beautiful white quartz with soft gray veining. I also love how the black hardware and oil rubbed bronze faucet add CONTRAST and interest to the palette, giving the dark gray washer and dryer something to visually connect with.

And as you know, I’m NO STRANGER to loving green, as you can see in this gorgeous powder room where we chose Sherwin Williams Isle of Pines for a fun, but classic splash of colour…

See the WHOLE HOME HERE

What do you think, are you feeling BRAVE to embrace a little bit of colour in your laundry room or bathroom? LET’S DO IT!

NEED HELP!

Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOUR CONSULTING and E-DESIGN services! 

Chat soon,

READ MORE

The Best Paint Colours for Bathroom Vanities

The Best Kitchen Island Paint Colours

4 Budget-Friendly Kitchen Update Ideas

The post A GORGEOUS Green Laundry Room Makeover (Before and Afters) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

It seems every time I post a photo on Instagram about our kitchen, I get the same questions, ‘what colour are your cabinets? Which countertop is that? Is that your real hair colour?‘ So, I figured it was time for a blog post with all the dirty details.

Before, our kitchen (actually, our WHOLE HOME) was heavy and dark…

While many of the finishes were very liveable, they were worn out and just weren’t us – TIME FOR A MAKEOVER!

Jen Wynia Photography

And no, the floor isn’t actually faded in front of the stairs, it’s just a lil trick the photographer did to make the surrounding areas pop a little more.

Now, it’s not often that I let you guys into my wicked little brain. And let me tell you, it’s a scary place if you don’t know your way around (I get lost ALL the time). But I don’t just want to tell you WHAT I chose for our kitchen remodel, I want to explain WHY I chose it.

But first, let’s take a gander at the before, which wasn’t bad, but has several fatal flaws…

• The cabinets are cheap and are a ‘good from far but far from good’ scenario.
• The hardware is dumb. That’s right, dumb. Look at the way they put the handles on the doors? Sure, great for a more modern style home, but for a more traditional or even transitional approach, they don’t work. Plus, I couldn’t just put in standard knobs/handles without seeing two big gaping holes in the front of the doors #firstworldproblem, but moving on…
• The countertop is Santa Cecilia granite and I could certainly work with that, but the pink undertones in the backsplash clash with the counter and make me want to twitch and cry in a corner.
• The previous owners had two large dogs and the floor is BEAT and isn’t quality enough to be refinished.

OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW (my motto with husbands too…just joking Tim).

Let’s start with the countertop.

CAMBRIA BRITTANICA WARM QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS

When designing a kitchen, short of the actual layout itself (which we couldn’t adjust too much), the countertop is usually the place to start. Why? Well, whereas there were HUNDREDS of paint colours to choose from, there are only a handful of countertops you might actually fall in love with.

BTW, check out the artwork above by Linsey Hopkins Art on Etsy. She notes the heights of family members, hair colour – all that jazz. She even takes a sample of your handwriting and uses that for the script. LOVE IT! Thanks to my sis-in-law for having it done for us.

Now, back to the countertop.

The second I saw Brittanica Warm, I fell desperately in love. It was new on the market, following in the footsteps of the well-known Brittanica and followed by Brittanica GOLD, both of which weren’t quite right for us.

You see, I have a weakness for wine, cheese rice crackers, Ryan Reynolds and green undertones. I don’t like green undertones in yellow, these make me nauseous, but give me a green tucked in a warm gray or greige and I’m one happy lil Ginger.

Follow me on INSTAGRAM! 

Brittanica Warm has a soft, OFF-WHITE base, so it’s not as white as some of the more popular quartz countertops and also has a warmer look because of this. Along with this, it has that glooorious warm gray-greige with the most MUTED green undertone as well as a muted taupe. Strange combo but it works. The variety gives me colours to play with in the future should I want to change something else in the room (which you KNOW I will).

Before…

How to Update Your Older or Outdated Granite Countertops

And after…

Read more: The Three Undertones of Gray 

BENJAMIN MOORE REVERE PEWTER CABINETS…KIND OF

I wanted to tap into that passive green undertone in the countertops and knew Revere Pewter would do that – it just wasn’t dark enough. Why? Well, because cabinets are most often a satin finish, this finish can make a paint colour look LIGHTER than expected when light shines on it. I wanted a colour with a bit more junk in its trunk but couldn’t find it. So, instead, I did what I ALWAYS do – I experimented!

I can’t seem to find my photo of the 25% darker sample, but this one will give you the idea…

Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter

I had samples of Revere Pewter lightened by both 25% and 50% (and clearly, 40% as well because I’m slightly OCD) and the cabinets turned out somewhere in between (they had to be colour matched into the cabinet company’s paint).

I LOVE how it turned out. The green undertone is still passive and MOST people think I have gray cabinets, when in fact they’re considerably warmer looking. Look at the colour in this next photo compared to Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray (a more traditional gray with an LRV of 59). If they were both regular strength, you’d see only a four-point difference in LRV, however, this photo helps show the shift with RP being darkened.

The tricky thing is that when you get a PROFESSIONAL photographer (hallelujah) to take the photos, the colour can look a bit different than in person (she obviously didn’t take this fugly before photo…

But she definitely took this one…

Jen Wynia Photography

But it’s the everyday living that makes our kitchen look its most beautiful…

The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They ROCK! 

And yes, I always leave cupboard doors open, one of my many bad habits.

THE ISLAND OF GLORY (URBANE BRONZE)

No, it’s not an island with waterfalls over-flowing with wine, free Starbucks and Ryan Reynolds in a Speedo, it’s my island painted in Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze. I LOVE contrast and wanted to hit the island hard with a killer dark paint colour (but didn’t want black or navy blue).

Urbane Bronze is the PERFECT choice being a dark greige with a green undertone. And not only this, I chose it BEFORE it was Sherwin Williams Colour of the Year (2021).

Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze

I LOVE how the green undertone plays with the warmth of our white oak flooring as well as Revere Pewter.

THE SUBWAY TILE BACKSPLASH

I love the timeless look of subway tile, but I’m not really a ‘white tile’ kinda gal. Instead, I chose a gorgeous glazed subway tile in Ames’ Manhattan series called Mang412 – a super romantic name, I know. The colour is ‘GRAY’, however, we all know that grays have undertones and guess what THIS gray has? Green, of course!

Tile installation by BE Tile

I love that the tiles blend with my cabinets, creating a low-contrast look, which I HIGHLIGHTED with dark grout (Truffle, I believe). I love contrast, but only in specific places/doses and didn’t want my backsplash poppin’ hard with my cabinets.

4 Ways to Add Style with Subway Tile

THE CABINET HARDWARE

I went with cabinet hardware supplied by the cabinet maker, making life easier than me ordering two dozen different styles from Wayfair. However, you can get them at Wayfair too.

Look at its cute lil feet!

RICHELIEU HARDWARE ON WAYFAIR

The key to picking hardware isn’t just in the finish, it’s in the fit. This means that a handle or pull needs to FEEL good. It should have a tactile element so that when you grab it, it feels solid and quality (just like a good husband).

If you need hardware ideas for your own kitchen, I’ve got some beauties HERE.

THE WHITE OAK WOOD FLOORING – GOODFELLOW

I’ll say it time and time again, OAK IS TIMELESS; it’s all in the grain and the stain.

This is why, when choosing new flooring for our home, I wouldn’t look at anything BUT oak. I also chose a stain that isn’t super light OR super dark, giving it a bit more longevity and flexibility.

We actually used this SAME floor in the ‘natural’ look in my sister-in-law’s home…

See more of this project HERE

This is an engineered wood product from Goodfellow. A lot of people confuse engineered and laminate, thinking they’re the same thing – they’re not. Laminate is not real wood, engineered is real wood on the top – just not all the way through.

THE PENDANT LIGHTS

While I didn’t want frosted shades or fabric-covered ones, I also don’t love seeing a bare bulb. With their unique textured glass, the shades I chose hide the bulb a bit more than clear shades (no longer available on Wayfair – insert sad face HERE).

The above photo also gives you a peek into our living room.

So, there you have it, all the dirty details and THEN some!

READ MORE

Our Entryway Remodel: From Dark and Dismal to DAMN GORGEOUS!

Our Open Concept Kitchen and Dining Room Makeover

5 Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home

4 PART SERIES: How to Create a Timeless Home

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Colour Consulting packages! 

Chat soon,

The post Our Revere Pewter Kitchen Cabinet Remodel – ALL THE DETAILS! appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Let’s start with the outside. Because it was new construction, I obviously don’t have before photos – unless you want to see two acres of trees and bushes – whoopie ding, right?

It was a CRAZY sunny day when I took these photos, so it was hard to capture how beautiful the colours and curb appeal of this house are. We went with Benjamin Moore Rockport Gray, one of my fave greige paint colours and Cloud White trim.

Step in the front door and you’ll see a gorgeous staircase and reclaimed solid wood flooring from Antique Impressions. We chose Benjamin Moore Gray Owl for the main hallways, entryway and stairwell.

If you look to the bottom left of this next photo, you’ll see my puddle of drool…yes, this house made me drool (but I blamed it on the dog).

Read more: Colour Review Benjamin Moore Gray Owl

On to the heart of the home next…

Black granite and butcher block countertops were partnered with Cloud White cabinets for a high contrast, but subtle country vibe. The paint colour on the walls is Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere.

Read more: The 3 Best White Paint Colours for Cabinets

Obviously, I’m not a pro photographer so I couldn’t quite capture EVERY awesome moment of this house, so I’ve tried to focus on the areas that are the most amazing (soooo, pretty much everywhere).

Seriously, look at this friggin’ fireplace…

My client got some old wood, whitewashed it and applied it to the fireplace surround (he’s not just good lookin’ you know). Oh and the fireplace insert? LOOK AT IT! It is THE most gorgeous wood burning fireplace…evah. Love how the glass front slides up, so you can have an open fire or a closed one!

And guess what? There’s ANOTHER awesome fireplace. This one has a more industrial application as it’s in my client’s home office. We went with a palette of Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal and Navajo White to set off the faux metallic surround.

This fireplace is see-thru and because I’m not the best photographer, I couldn’t get a decent shot of the one on the other side (which is again, different from the one in the living room).

Now, here’s where I’m going to blow your mind. Are you ready?

Look at this built-in bookcase. Sure, the decor looks good, the paint colour is gorgeous, but WATCH THIS…

BOOM – MIND BLOWN! He’s seriously living out my childhood dreams…

Okay, deep breath – WHERE’S MY WINE! On to the master bedroom and ensuite bathroom…

We used Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter in the master, along with Cloud White trim. With the reclaimed wood and blush accents, it gives a super rustic romantic vibe.

Read more: Paint Colour Review of Revere Pewter

The paint colour is Benjamin Moore Wickham Gray, a gorgeous gray with blue-green undertones.

And check out the pebbles under the freestanding tub, giving it a relaxing spa vibe. The same pebbles were used in the shower base (no photo, sorry).

Now, we’re going to move to the ‘kid’ section of the house with a few quick pics before we wrap up our tour…

Their daughter wanted a purple room, so we went with the lover-ly, Benjamin Moore Lily Lavender, which is beautiful with gray and white accents.

Their teenage son wanted a more studly colour, we went into the blue world with Benjamin Moore Colorado Gray. Chicks dig it.

And while I don’t have a great shot of the whole family room, I do have a GORGEOUS shot of the paint colour, Benjamin Moore Sea Star…

And lastly, the kid’s bathroom…

The paint colour is Benjamin Moore Ocean Air, one of my fave blue paint colours.

PHEW, we did it! Now, do you want to meet the guy that did all of the hard work on this house? Here he is…

Seriously though. Hunter the dog had some serious help from the owners, Scott and Erin Allen of Millhouse Projects, who not only created the AWESOME floorplan of their custom home but also helped build it themselves, including those FABulous fireplaces – they put a heck of a lot of heart in this home.

Chat soon,

NEED HELP WITH YOUR OWN HOME?

CHECK OUT MY AFFORDABLE AND FUN E-DESIGN AND E-DECOR! 

READ MORE

Our Entryway – From Dark and Dismal to DAMN GORGEOUS! 

A Whole-Home Makeover/Update with White Dove and Edgecomb Gray

The Best Farmhouse Paint Colour Palettes

The 12 Best Whole Home Paint Colours – Gray & Greige

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2018, UPDATED IN 2021 FOR FRESH LINKS!

The post A Modern Farmhouse Style Home: Paint Colours and More! appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Sometimes a home comes into my inbox that has everything going for it – everything but the paint colour. And this home was DEFINITELY one of those.

I loved what I saw in the before photos; the cabinets, lighting and appliances all looked great, but the dirty dingy paint colour was weighing it down. So what did we do? We went white (and I’m not just referring to my fave wine).

When it comes to white paint colours, it can be hard to find one that works every time in every home – because that magical paint colour just doesn’t exist! However, Sherwin Williams Pure White comes DAMN close and it certainly saved the day this time.

The Foyer, Staircase and Office

Before, the architecture was great, as was the light fixture, but things were lookin’ a weeeee bit murky…

AFTER, it’s like it was always meant to be (just like me n’ Tim – RIGHT TIM???)

BTW, ALL after photos are courtesy of Rich at Western Exposures Photography – awesome job.

Look at how the white walls POP against the black front door, stair railing and gorgeous sliding barn door going into the home office. White is one of the BEST ways to get strong features of a home to stand out…

Pure White also created a seamless transition between trim, ceiling and wall. Not that this space NEEDED to look any bigger, but this application creates a larger, less cluttered look…

Now, moving along to the REAL showstopper of the home – the open living area.

The Open Concept Living Area

Before, the paint colour made the dark wood cabinets look dated and in need of some paint themselves (seriously, I will paint ANYTHING)…

But AFTER, I’m actually inspired to put dark wood cabinets in my own home! Not only do they ground the space, but they also create a gorgeous contrast with the soft white of the walls…

Read more: The Best Paint Colours for Dark Wood Trim

And seriously, cognac/tobacco coloured leather is my long-time love, I’ll NEVER get tired of it. But I also said that about the perm I got two years ago (#wishIwasjoking)

Taking a look at the dining and kitchen areas – woooooof. If you know me well, you know I say that when I don’t like the looks of something, or when Doug (our dog) asks me a question.

After, LET THERE BE LIGHT! Sweet hallelujah…

I’d add some filler words, but I know you’re all here for the pretty pictures. JUST JOKING, I know you’re REALLY here for my charm and wit…riiiight? I’m pretty sure only my Mom would answer yes to that one.

On to the next zone, which had a gorgeous stone fireplace and built-ins, but was CRAVING a little KLC…

Seriously? Seriously…

LOOK AT THOSE FREAKIN’ BUILT-INS! Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart was the PERFECT paint colour (see more ideas here) as it grounded the space, gave contrast to the stone fireplace and white walls AND brought some of the contrast of the kitchen into the living room. Painting the built-ins DARK was important for flow based on the dark stain of the kitchen cabinets.

BTW, stunning photography by Richard at Western Exposures photography, he totally captured the brightness and beauty of this family home.

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Colour Consulting and E-Books! 

Chat soon,

READ MORE

Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore White Dove

Sherwin Williams Pure White in a Brand-New Home!

The 5 WHITEST White Paint Colours 

The post E-Design: A Paint Makeover with Sherwin Williams Pure White SW 7005 appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Are you struggling to find inspiration for the exterior of your home? Are the homes on Houzz a little ‘out of your league and budget?’ I hear you, which is why I’m here to share some REAL home exterior makeovers with you, to get those creative juices flowin’ and paint rollers rollin’ (creative juice in our house is always mixed with wine).

Sample photos from a client’s E-design consultation

What’s a REAL HOME? Well, it’s not that fancy-schmancy homes aren’t real – they are, but they aren’t always ‘really applicable’ to the average homeowner, and sometimes it’s nice to see a home similar to your own, that’s undergone an affordable and FABULOUS colour makeover!

‘Because not every home comes perfectly coordinated, sometimes you have to find a happy medium between what YOU want and what your home can handle based on its existing finishes’

Sherwin Williams Alabaster siding with Aloof Gray shutters

EXTERIOR MAKEOVER #1   Clean Colours vs Dirty Colours

This first one was a TOUGH one – I had to put on my serious drinking thinking cap. My clients hired me to pick a new garage door colour, but looking at their photos, I knew there was NO magical colour that was going to pull everything together as the right bones weren’t in place.

• while the beige of the trim was fine with the stonework, it was too dirty looking for the yellow siding (clean and dirty colours don’t always love each other)

• there were both beige and white on the trims (beige main trims and white gables)

I never like to see clients waste money on painting projects when we aren’t fixing the REAL problem – even if that’s not the main thing they hired me for. So, I went out on a limb and asked if they’d be open to painting the trim – as well as the garage door, and freakin’ hallelujah, they agreed (I assumed painting the siding was a bit much to ask, and I didn’t think we needed to go THAT far to get great results)!

And look at her now…

It’s like the whole home breathed a sigh of RELIEF (as well as me, because it IS all about me…right?). Not only does the yellow siding look better with the stonework, but the home now has a thoughtful palette that looks PURPOSEFUL and intentional, rather than accidental.

BTW, my blog relies 100% on photos from my Online Paint Colour Consulting clients, so thanks to everyone who’s sent them in! 

We also refreshed the front door with Sherwin Williams Cyberspace, as yellow, white and navy is ALWAYS a classic combo…

The Best Teal and Navy Blue Front Door Paint Colours

EXTERIOR MAKEOVER #2   NOT SO GREEN WITH ENVY

This was another project that had me twitchin’ in my seat. My clients were looking for JUST the right paint colour for the cedar shakes on their home, but there was NOOOO way I was going to suggest a THING without seeing the trim and shutters painted first.

Let’s spend a visual moment with the green on the trim and shutters…

Feeling a wink nauseous yet? The two greens were fighting each other big time. And while the green of the shutters was oooookay with the brick, really, nothing was working and the home was at a FRACTION of its potential. However, I knew that with the right palette, this home could make a SHOCKING turnaround.

After, HOLY FREAKIN’ CANNOLI…

I KNOW it all costs money, I get it. But sometimes, if you can spend smart money, you’ll add visual, emotional and ACTUAL value to your home – rather than making things worse. My clients were getting their home ready for sale, and I can say without a DOUBT that the curb appeal doubled on this beauty.

The Best Paint Colours for Your Front Door

EXTERIOR MAKEOVER #3    A Mid-Century Marvel

Those who’ve been with me for a while (thanks for drinkin’ the Kool-aid) know this one will ALWAYS be near and dear to my heart…

This home had GREAT lines and the potential to be a real show-stopper – look at it NOW…

Did you sneak a peek at the orange front door? Let’s take a closer look…

See ALL of this project HERE

LOVE IT! While the owners made a few structural changes around the front door, for a paint palette we chose Benjamin Moore Ballet White, Willow and Sherwin Williams Knockout Orange on the front door.

EXTERIOR MAKEOVER #4    THIS EXTERIOR HAD ME WEEPING (you’ll get it shortly)

The colour on this next home was just a bit too warm for the roof, and the front door was too garish for the classic design of the home. And while you can’t see it from far away, the mortar was applied to the bricks in a weeping style, creating WAY more visual texture than the standard application…

After, the home is sitting pretty with Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray on the painted brick, Extra White on the trim/garage door and Tricorn Black on the shutters and front door…

Here’s a better look at the weeping mortar if you’d like to shed a tear or two…

The depth of Dorian Gray keeps the shadows created by the weeping mortar at a minimum, blending in the texture a bit more, with the black shutters and front door drawing the attention.

EXTERIOR MAKEOVERS #5 & #6    Ink Pink, You Stink

Pink is hands-down, the NUMBER ONE colour that haunts my Online Colour Consulting clients as they look to update and modernize their pink brick fireplaces, countertops and carpets and exteriors. And while the before photo of this first home is a bit blurry, you don’t need rose-tinted glasses to see the pinkalicious vibe of the stonework…

After, it looks like a BRAND-NEW HOME with the charcoal roof coming to life in juxtaposition to the warm wood garage doors and creamy warmth of the painted stone and siding.

From the palettes suggested, my clients chose Sherwin Williams White Duck, one of my FAVE warm off-white paint colours (I’m also a big fan of it on interiors).

As for this next home, again, it’s that DARNED PINK BRICK!

And after, what a cutie-patootie!

While there’s still pink brick on the front patio, the Benjamin Moore Sioux Falls is the perfect, gentle complement to it, while a stronger teal could’ve bounced too hard off of it.

EXTERIOR MAKEOVER #7   Brand Spankin’ New

My next clients were looking for a white exterior, partnered with shutters that would complement their metal roof and warm-toned brick. And naturally, being new construction, there aren’t any ‘before’ photos of this bad boy…

But after photos? HELLS YES!

We went with Sherwin Williams Alabaster for the siding and Dovetail on the shutters, a soft, medium-toned warm gray. A cool white would have been too stark with the warm-toned brick (on the foundation and chimney), but we also didn’t want to go SO warm that the house turned out ‘cream’ or overly yellow.

The 8 Best White Paint Colours

EXTERIOR MAKEOVER #8    Brown Brick Beauty

I love brick. I mean, I don’t love ALLLL brick as there are some darned FUGLY ones out there, but this was one I wouldn’t DREAM of painting over…

However, the homeowner was bored with the lacklustre beige on the siding (Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth) and was looking for more interest, while still humouring the needs of her home (roof/brick/exposure) – and she got JUST the interest she was looking for with Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray!

At first, she chose not to put the shutters back up…

And while her home could’ve EASILY gone shutter-free, we both agreed they would be the perfect finishing touch. I don’t have FULL home shots with them installed, but I do have a close-up as well as a shot of the detached garage (Minwax Dark Walnut).

The Best Exterior Paint Colours: Why Your Home’s Exposure Matters

To see more colours like Gauntlet Gray, read this post HERE

EXTERIOR MAKEOVER #9   Shutter Love

While I don’t have ‘before’ photos of this project, I’m SUPER happy with how it turned out in all of its teal and gray glory!

You’re looking at Benjamin Moore Gray Owl on the siding with Sherwin Williams Drizzle on the shutters.

A light colour like Gray Owl can be a tough one if you have TONS of south-facing light or afternoon western light shining on your home as this depth of colour can wash out, which is why it’s important to partner it with clean white trim to show contrast.

The Best Teal and Blue-Green Blend Paint Colours

EXTERIOR MAKEOVER #10    The Green Machine

I love a unique home, and with its green and teal palette, this one was DEFINITELY an eye-catcher!

It was important to take our colour cues from the driveway, as the roof wasn’t visible and there wasn’t any stone or brick on the home to humour. Now, let’s see how she turned out…

We went with a palette of Sherwin Williams Polished Concrete, Pure White trim and the glorious Sherwin Williams Still Water on the front door.

The Best Navy and Blue-Green Paint Colours for Your Front Door

READ MORE

4 Tips to Read Before Picking Your Exterior Paint Colours

E-Design: A Brick Exterior With a Fresh New Look!

How to Add Curb Appeal to Your Home’s Exterior

Quick & Easy Rancher Paint Colour Update

What is Your COLOUR IQ?

CLICK HERE OR ON THE ABOVE IMAGE TO SEE AVAILABLE PACKAGES

Chat soon,

The post E-DESIGN: My TOP 10 REAL HOME Exterior Makeovers – Before & After appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

When picking paint colors for your home’s exterior, you have to take your time and do your research. Why? Well, choosing an exterior paint color might SEEM straightforward, but just like interiors, there are some major considerations you could be ignoring!

This is why this blog post will be DARN handy, so you can step back and view your home from a DIFFERENT angle, not just the one that’s based on your personal preferences.

That’s right, sometimes what YOU want and what your HOME wants are two different things – and you have to listen to your home first and then work out from there to see if you can squeeze your personal tastes in (which is where front doors come in handy).

STEP 1  LOOK AT YOUR STONE OR BRICK FOR INSPIRATION & GUIDANCE

For MOST homes, because stone/brick and siding are on the same vertical plane, your eyes will usually make the connection between those two first and THEN the roof (but that doesn’t mean you can forget the roof entirely!). This means it’s UBER important to get the colour connection BANG-on.

FIND THE MAIN UNDERTONES IN YOUR STONE/BRICK

You can get a LOT of inspiration from the stone or brick on your home, but that can be HARD if you don’t LIKE the stone or brick that you have. But if you ignore the needs of your home’s finishes, NOTHING will look good – you gotta work with whatcha got! The exception to this is if you have a particular layout where the stone or brick plays a second fiddle to your roof, which is the more dominant feature.

Look at the main neutrals in your brick or stone. And don’t just focus on the stone/brick itself; pay VERY close attention to any MORTAR around them, as this is often the first place I look when choosing exterior paint colors.

What are the main neutrals you see (if any)?

What undertones do they have?

What undertones DON’T they have?

If you want things to FLOW, pick consistent undertones so that everything visually connects.

Not sure what undertones are? Check out this helpful blog post. 

This next photo is a great example of paint samples that connect with the homeowner’s favorite parts of the stonework…

In this next photo, see how the paint samples connect with the colors in the stonework and their undertones…

The above stones have a variety of neutrals, but we focused on the gray stones with violet-blue undertones, reflecting that on the front door, just darker!

This next photo shows trim and shutters that pull in PERFECTLY to one of the colors in the brick, as well as suiting the front steps…

In this next BEFORE photo, the violet hue in the siding clashes with the brick and windows…

After, with a little KLC, and by tuning in to the undertones and needs of the brick and windows, everything flows better. It’s ALLLLL about connecting the undertones…

TRY CONTRASTING THE COLOURS IN YOUR STONE OR BRICK

You don’t always have to MATCH; you can also try contrasting or complementing your stone brick with an OPPOSITE or complementing color. However, it can be tricky, and you MAY need to hire a professional to get the right look.

In this next photo, notice how the colors of the house, trim, and shutters COMPLEMENT the brick without clashing…

Photo via my awesome client House of Blue Hues

The siding color is Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter, with Graystone on the shutters. These are both grays with warm gray undertones that contrast and complement the red brick.

In this next photo, notice that we pulled the color OUT of the stone and put it on the siding as a way to enhance the warm colors in the stone. The more colors your stone/brick has in it, the more options you’ll have!

Main house colour, Sherwin Williams Roycroft Pewter

And remember to look at the mortar around your brick or stone. Often, the mortar plays a bigger part than the stone/brick surrounding it! If you don’t like what your stone or brick has to say, your mortar MIGHT give you a bit more flexibility.

If you’re unsure about stepping OUTSIDE of the colors in your stone or brick, sometimes it’s safer to CONTRAST or COMPLEMENT the colors in your stone or brick via the shutters or front door (or plant pots), where the color becomes more of an accent rather than a full-home commitment…

What are the Best Paint Colours for My Front Door?

STEP 2  CONSIDER YOUR ROOF/SHAKES WHEN CHOOSING YOUR COLOR

(STEP 1 if you don’t have any stone or brick on your home)

The roof? That’s right. So many people forget that the roof plays a BIG PART in the color palette of their home – ESPECIALLY if there isn’t any stone or brick to consider.

By the way, almost every photo you see on my blog has been sent in by my Online Color Consulting clients – you guys make my colorful little world go round! 

Some roofs have a LOT of flexibility regarding the colors they can be partnered up with. The ones you have to be careful with are the roofs with dedicated ‘colors’ or undertones:

• Gray roofs with a distinct green or violet undertone. Remember, GRAY HAS UNDERTONES – even your gray roof, so it’s important to figure out which undertone you’re dealing with!
• Roofs with a strong orange/purple blend.
• Tile roofs. 
• Metal roofs as they don’t have the variation that you’ll find in traditional asphalt slate roofs.

BTW, did you know that some driveways can also be as important as the roof colour? This is especially true if they have strong undertones such as orange-pink or violet-pink (more common in the southern states).

STEP 3  BLACK, WHITE, OR TAN COLOUR WINDOWS? FIND THE BEST PAINT COLOURS 

Windows can REALLY throw a wrench into your colour palette and are an expensive update if you want a clean slate.

BROWN WINDOWS & EXTERIOR PAINT COLOURS

A lot of my clients have brown windows and are hoping to update their home with a classic gray – but the two don’t always jibe, and sometimes they have to consider warmer options in order to humor these warmer-toned windows.

WHITE WINDOWS & EXTERIOR PAINT COLOURS

White windows are DEFINITELY the most flexible of the bunch…

Sherwin Williams Alabaster & Aloof Gray

Benjamin Moore Rockport Gray & Cloud White

The only combo I’m NOT a big fan of is white windows with black trim. This is a high-contrast look and makes the windows pop, whereas they usually aren’t the focal point of the home. But it’s not ALL ABOUT ME (well, let’s be honest, it is – right Tim?).

TAN OR BEIGE WINDOWS WITH EXTERIOR PAINT COLOURS

When choosing paint colors with tan or beige windows, you’ll want to consider the warmth of them in your palette rather than trying to ignore them or distract from them. If you’re dreaming of a white home, you’ll be out of luck with beige windows, but you might be able to squeeze in a gray as long as it has some good depth to it, warmth, and makes sense with the other fixed elements on your home.

However, it can be hard when the different features/surfaces of your home aren’t well-coordinated to start with. This was the case with our home when we bought it (below). Notice that the beige windows look yellow-green compared to the pink undertone of the siding (wooooof). Beige windows really were the WRONG choice for the charcoal gray roof – black or white windows would have been WAY more appropriate (and you guys know I’m ALL about being appropriate – wink wink).

Look at my one-legged child! She must’ve had some serious momentum going…

In the end, I COULDN’T work with the color of the windows as they were the wrong color for our home and some of its most gorgeous features, like the stonework and roof lines. So, in the end, we replaced the windows with white for a fresh, clean look! We might be living on Kraft Dinner and weiners for the next five years to pay for them, but that’s kind of my specialty anyway.

BLACK WINDOWS & EXTERIOR PAINT COLOURS

Black windows are definitely the second easiest to accommodate when choosing exterior colors, and just like with white windows, you’ll find WAY fewer limitations, leaving you to focus more on the needs of the roof, stone, brick, and exposure.

Generally speaking, black windows love white, gray, greige, cream, earth tones, and SO much more.

STEP 4  CONSIDER THE EXPOSURE OF YOUR HOME

North, east, south, west – which paint color is the best? Well, it depends not just on your stonework, brick, and roof; it ALSO depends on the exposure of your home. And while I could get down n’ dirty, I’ve actually dedicated an ENTIRE blog post to this topic HERE.

Main house colour Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray

However, exposure plays a smaller part if trees surround your home OR your neighbor is super close-by, blocking most of your natural light…

See the BEFORE & AFTERS HERE

Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a few reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

• samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on the location
• they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling
• if you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room – on walls and against furniture

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

STEP 5  NOTICE THE COLOURS IN THESE ‘OTHER’ EXTERIOR SURFACES 

Fixed elements can also call a lot of the shots when it comes to choosing an exterior paint colour, for example:

THE COLOUR OF YOUR GUTTERS & SOFFITS

The wrong colour gutter can throw a HUGE wrench into your paint palette if it doesn’t fall in the right family. Keep in mind that when painting the exterior, MANY people decide to paint the gutters and soffits at the same time (I did on my own home), usually making them the same colour as the trim.

THE COLOUR OF YOUR DRIVEWAY & PATIO/FRONT PORCH IF IT’S STONE OR BRICK

Depending on the product on your driveway and layout, it can lay a pretty big part in the colour selection process. This next home is the PERFECT example of that…

Before, the yellow of the siding in NO WAY RELATED to the roof, brick, stonework, OR exposure – it was probably chosen considering ONLY the homeowner’s preference for a ‘yellow home!’

Luckily, the roof, brick, and driveway were pretty well-coordinated with each other, so it was about finding the colour that pulled them all together in a full palette…SO MUCH BETTER!

Previously, the yellow hue of this next home clashed with the undertones in the driveway, but AFTER, it’s like a brand new home…

The Best Sherwin Williams DARKER Greige & Taupe Paint Colours

As for the front porch/patio (stone/brick), this plays a MINOR part compared to the all-important main stone, brick, and roof, but it doesn’t hurt to consider it as well, especially if it has particular colors or undertones. However, in terms of PRIORITIES, I put it lower on the last and usually only hone in on it when choosing the front door color.

The Best Navy Blue Paint Colours for Front Doors, Feature Walls, Cabinets & More

And guess what, there’s a BONUS step for you…

STEP 6   CONSIDER SHEEN, TEXTURE & EXPOSURE WHEN CHOOSING EXTERIOR PAINT COLOURS

These topics are blog posts unto themselves, which is why I have blog posts written specifically for these topics (and more!). Be sure to check them out before you start your painting adventures!

READ MORE

The Best Paint Colours for Your Front Door

North, East, South, West: Which Paint Colours is the Best for Your Exterior?

My TOP 10 E-DESIGN Exterior Makeovers

The Best Paint Finish For Your Home – Walls & Trims & More

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Colour Consulting packages! 

Chat soon,

The post How to Choose Your Exterior’s Best Paint Colours: 5 Easy Steps appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

North, East, South, West – Which EXTERIOR Paint Colour is the Best?

Today we’re talking about exposure. Not the indecent kind that can get you thrown in jail, but the DIRECTIONAL kind that can make your exterior paint picking process a HECK of a lot harder than it should be!

And while I’ve talked EXTENSIVELY about how exposure can affect your interior paint colour picking, I haven’t dived into the deep end of the pool on exteriors…but today, we’re going swimming, and with reference to OTHER type of exposure – we’re skinny dipping.

Exposure (for painting purposes) refers to the orientation of the FRONT of your home and how that relates to the direction of the sun. There are ALWAYS exceptions, of course, like unique homes with more modest fronts and more impressive backsides (sounds like a description of me), but generally speaking, orientation refers to the front of the home. And if you’re new to my blog – yes, this is how my brain thinks. And not only am I funny (wink wink), I’m also a darned smart cookie when it comes to paint colours.

Let’s look at an example. 

This home is south-facing, as you can see by the sunlight and shadows…

Now, let’s look at the NORTH-facing backside of the same home…

Same colours, different exposures.

And the reality is that SOMETIMES, you can’t make all 4 exposures,  AS WELL AS your stone, brick, roof AND yourself 100% happy. 

So, does that mean you should focus on the FRONT of your home only? No, but you may need to prioritize things, so here are some tips for figuring out which side of your home matters the most.

1. Which side faces the road (curb appeal)
2. Which side do MOST people see?
3. Which side affects YOU the most (ie: you don’t have much road and spend a lot of time in the backyard, not the front – in which case, you might focus on the back

Why does it even MATTER which side is the most important? Well, as you saw in the last example, a single paint colour can look DRASTICALLY different from one side of your home to the other, based on the type and quality of light they’re getting. A colour you LOVE on the front, might not be your fave on the back, but SOMETIMES, something has to give.

(I’d rather see a browner mulch, but the house COLOURS look good!)

So, now that you’ve figured out which side is your most IMPORTANT one, you need to figure out which DIRECTION it faces!

1. Bust out your Boy Scout toolkit and use a compass
2. Use your phone (a how-to for i-phones HERE / looks like it’s an APP to download for Blackberry users)

And if all else fails – just look out the windows on what you’ve decided is the most IMPORTANT side of your home and think…

• Does the sun shine in my windows more or less all day? Probably south-facing
• Does the sun shine in my windows only in the morning and then not in the afternoon? East-facing
• Do I get no sun in the morning and LOTS in the afternoon? West-facing
• Do I get NO FRIGGIN’ SUNSHINE ALL DAY LONG? You live with me on beautiful Vancouver Island…or you’re north-facing (and I love my island in all of its rainy glory!)

Of course, there are also MIXED exposures, overhanging trees and shrubs, but seriously, I can only cover so many things in one blog post.

Read more…

5 Tips for Picking the Best Paint Colour for the Exterior of Your Home

Looking at this next home, I would bet the FRONT of the home is north-facing and the side is west-facing. Why? Notice how much WARMER and brighter the right side of the house looks compared to the slightly flatter look of the colour on the front of the house – it hardly looks like the same colour!

Let’s look at a before of that bad boy, just for fun…

See the full blog post of this project HERE

Now, of course, we haven’t talked about trees yet. Even glorious southern sunshine can be blocked by a well-placed forest. In this case, exposure will play LESS of a part in your paint process as the trees will limit the amount/quality of light you get.

So, now that you know the EXPOSURE of the most IMPORTANT side of your home, let’s look at each one more closely…

BTW – Keep in mind that I don’t remember the exposure of ALL of these projects, I’m just going off the photos for reference.

Paint Colours on a Home with North-Facing Light (Northern Exposure)

A home with north-facing light isn’t a BAD thing, even though this light is often the grayest. North-facing light is the most CONSISTENT light and has the LEAST change throughout the day, making it more predictable for choosing paint colours.

Let’s look at a good before and after…

Do you want to see something CRAZY (insert image of me here)? Check out this next photo compared to the LAST photo. The photo below is actually the darker version of the colour used in the above photo, but because of the shift in EXPOSURE, it actually looks LIGHTER!

North-facing homes will have a more shaded front. Now, don’t confuse SHADY with SHADOWS. Shady is when you pour me four ounces of wine when I asked for six, or when there isn’t any direct natural sunshine. SHADOWED is what happens when light hits a surface, creating a grayish space (a shadow) behind it. Because north-facing homes don’t get direct sunshine, they don’t get shadows. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have an overall ‘gray cast’ that’s created by the lack of it.

SO, HOW DOES NORTH-FACING LIGHT AFFECT PAINT COLOURS ON THE EXTERIOR OF A HOME?

• You can expect paint colours to look MORE like they do on your small paint sample, whereas on a well-lit side, they can look quite a bit lighter than you’d expect!
• The gray north-facing light will subdue warm colours, flattening them out a bit
• Gray light often suits gray paint colours with a BIT more ‘colour/undertone’ to them, to counteract a bit of that gray light, but of course, it depends on what your brick/stone/roof can handle too!
• With north-facing light being that bit heavier, you’ll want to pay attention to the LRV that you choose so that your house doesn’t look TOO dark. READ MORE HERE

Paint Colours on a Home with South-Facing Light (Southern Exposure)

A south-facing home is often considered the most desirable, however, that can change if you have a pool and want that glorious sunshine on the BACK of your home, heating up that pool water – it’s ALLLL about perspective and what’s best can be SUPER subjective to the people living in the home!

South-facing light is definitely not as predictable as north-facing light but is WAY easier to work with than east or west-facing homes (which can be real buggers).

(no before pic, this was new construction)

So, there you are, basking in the glory of your south-facing light…

And THEN it happens…clouds.

The above home belongs to an E-Design client of mine, House of Blue Hues – Jenn is CRAZY talented!

The difference is subtle, but notice in the FIRST photo…

• The siding looks a bit warmer than the bottom photo
• The shutters look a wink greener (that’s the undertone) compared to the more greige/taupe in the bottom photo
• The trim looks a bit less white and a bit creamier than the bottom photo

Read more: The 9 Best Benjamin Moore Gray Paint Colours

Let’s do that again. Sunny day in the late summer…

Cloudy day (in early Spring)…

This is our home, which I’ll be doing a blog post on soon! 

SERIOUSLY, this is why I write these blog posts and why I don’t sleep at nite – paint colours are CRAZY and the more info you’re armed with going in, the better chances you have of picking the best colours for your home!

SO, HOW DOES SOUTH-FACING LIGHT AFFECT PAINT COLOURS ON THE EXTERIOR OF A HOME?

A home with southern exposure will change throughout the year as the seasons change. Now, I’m a Colour Consultant, not a meteorologist, so I’m not getting into the nitty-gritty of that, but I can tell you a few things…

• At noon, paint colours will appear the MOST washed-out as the sun is at it’s brightest/whitest. So, if you sample your paint at NOON and no other time, you might be surprised at how much colour shows up in the morning and afternoon once you’ve slapped that paint on your home! You HAVE to look at your samples at all times of the day – says me
• In the mid-morning and mid-afternoon, you’ll hit the magic spot of southern light where it’s bright and warm
• You can FULLY expect south-facing light to make paint colours look lighter than you’d expect – even two to three tones lighter is not unexpected!
• South-facing light can enhance colours slightly
• If you choose a colour with blue in it, when mixed with the yellow of the southern light, it can sometimes lean a wink green, depending on the type of blue you pick
• You can also get some green if your light is filtering through trees with a lot of greenery on them
• With south-facing light being brighter, you’ll want to pay attention to the LRV that you choose, so that your house doesn’t look too washed-out. READ MORE HERE

Paint Colours on a Home with East-Facing Light (Eastern Exposure)

East and west-facing exposures are the redheaded step-children to north and south-facing homes. They’re unpredictable and UNDENIABLY the trickiest lights to pick paint colours for.

East-facing light will be brighter in the morning. Not necessarily WARM, but not cold – it’s more of a soft clean light that can sometimes wash colours out a wink.

And then BOOM, the light’s gone, and just like magic, your home is a different colour! In this case below, it really IS different…because it’s the AFTER photo, but regardless, any colour will look quite different from morning to afternoon.

This home has a slightly mixed exposure as you can see some dappled sunlight

And here’s the BACK of the same home, totally shaded…

See the full blog post of this project HERE

SO, HOW DOES EAST-FACING LIGHT AFFECT PAINT COLOURS ON THE EXTERIOR OF A HOME?

• East-facing morning light is bright and will make paint colours look MUCH lighter than they will in the afternoon
• An east-facing afternoon will look an AWFUL lot like a north-facing one in that it gets NO sunshine and no shadows. It’s also similar to a west-facing morning light – flatter than a pancake
• In the afternoon, east-facing homes can look more shaded – more like they do on the north-facing side (or western morning)
• With east-facing light being tricky, you’ll want to pay attention to the LRV that you choose. This way, you can land on an LRV that doesn’t wash-out too much in the morning, but also doesn’t look too heavy in the afternoon. READ MORE HERE

Read more: Sherwin Williams 10 Best Gray and Greige Paint Colours

Paint Colours on a Home with West-Facing Light (Western Exposure)

Just like east-facing light, west-facing light is a tough one to pick paint colours for.

West-facing light will be flat and gray in the morning – no shadows and acting more like northern light. A west-facing afternoon will be GLORIOUS and warm? Did I say warm? Oh, I meant HOT FRIGGIN’ TAMALES!

This next home is a good example of what looks like western afternoon light, along with some shade from trees. You can actually see the blotches on the home where the western light hits (this is the before image)…

After, same filtered western afternoon light…

And look at the detached garage and how dark it looks, getting NONE of that warm afternoon sunshine…

SO, HOW DOES WEST-FACING LIGHT AFFECT PAINT COLOURS ON THE EXTERIOR OF A HOME?

• Western morning light is flat and drab and will make colours look that bit flat as well – a bit more like a northern light or east-facing afternoon light
• West-facing afternoon light will cast an almost orangey-golden glow in those later hours
• West-facing afternoon light will LIGHTEN and BRIGHTEN colours, so be prepared to see your house look like a different colour – same IDEA, but a good two tones lighter and MUCH warmer looking as well
• If your western light filters through green trees, a gray home or white home could pick up some of this more so than other colours
• Western light will cast SUPER long shadows on your home
• With west-facing light being so unpredictable, you’ll want to pay attention to the LRV that you choose. This way, you can land on an LRV that doesn’t look too drab in the morning, but also doesn’t look too washed-out in the brighter afternoon light. READ MORE HERE

These are before photos of a client’s home (I don’t have the after photos yet), but they’ll show you how DRASTICALLY light can change from morning to afternoon!

SERIOUSLY, you’d hardly think it was the same house…

And btw, HUGE thanks to my Colour Consulting clients who send in their AFTER photos, you make my colourful lil’ world go round! Well, you and wine. 

This also means that sometimes the photos aren’t 100% magazine ready, but that’s okay, because this is the REAL world, and sometimes we need to see real homes in action. As long as it shows the IDEA that I want to get across, I’m cool.

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Colour Consulting!

Chat soon,

READ MORE

5 Steps to Picking an Exterior Paint Colour for Your Home

4 Things to Consider BEFORE Picking an Exterior Paint Colour

The Best Paint Colours for Your Front Door

The Best Navy and Teal Paint Colours for Your Front Door

The post The Best Exterior Paint Colours: Why Your Home’s EXPOSURE Matters appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

A home update CHOCK full of great ideas that YOU can do too! 

You know how some rooms just speak to you? If you don’t, you should drink wine like I do and then you’ll be having full conversations with everything from rooms to dogs! Seriously though, have you ever been in a room that’s out of your comfort zone or not your personal style, but there’s SOMETHING about it that hits a happy place? This home definitely did that for me.

I think it’s a combination of the look along with the homeowners’ obvious blood, sweat and tears that drew me in.

And who are the homeowners? Melisa and her ever-loving, EVER-PATIENT hubby, John. I bet if John and Tim got together they’d be able to swap wife war stories for HOURS. Oh, and did I mention that they did all of this with FOUR kids under the age of NINE underfoot. Yup. (insert wine and funnel here, or maybe that’s how they GOT all of those kids…wink wink).

This home really IS a reflection of the tastes of the people who live there and THAT’S what makes a home to me.

Now, with this whole remodel, there were a few things staying put:

• The beige laminate perimeter countertops
• The black appliances (being changed to stainless steel eventually)
• The maple cabinets
• The wood flooring
• The backsplash

But a few things were going to change – DRASTICALLY…

• The island would be taken down to one height
• The NEW island countertop would be marble
• The over-the-range microwave came DOWN
• The soffits would be filled in to get a full-height cabinet look
• The area to the left of the fridge would be changed to add MORE storage and CHARACTER

Let’s see how it all turned out…

The Main Kitchen Area: Painted Cabinets and More…

As you can see, they filled in the soffits, added crown moulding, rebuilt the range hood and filled in the ‘glass’ portion of the pantry door…

And here it is. Seriously? Yup, seriously…

And not only did they paint the cabinets, but this husband and wife duo even painted the BACKSPLASH.

Can you really paint backsplash tiles?

HECK YES YOU CAN!

Melisa handpainted each backsplash tile herself. She wanted the look of handpainted Zellige tiles and used a combination of colours to get a soft, subtle, textured look. SO FRIGGIN’ AWESOME! (I know some of you are thinking of paint YOURS now!).

And I really respect that Melisa and John did all of this on a budget – a SERIOUS budget. I mean, anyone can create a dream home with a huge bank account and professional help, but there’s something to be said for ‘improving and adding to what you already have WITHOUT breaking open the kid’s piggy banks’.

Read more: 4 Ideas to Update Your Kitchen on a Budget

The Rebuilt Fridge Area

Let’s look at that fridge area a little closer…

The rest of the open layout space

The glory doesn’t just stop in the kitchen…

Did you notice the dining chairs in the above photo? We’ve ALL seen versions of those, but I bet you HARDLY RECOGNIZED them in their new glory! It’s AMAZING what a little paint and fabric can do to Grandma’s old dining set (let’s safely assume there was some wine in the mix as well).

And are you ready for THIS…?

Ermergerd. So…cool. And again, you don’t have to LOVE a certain style (I’m more of a west-coast-transitional-mish-mash gal myself) to be able to appreciate HOW FRIGGIN’ WELL it’s been done. (Just look at the arms on those chairs…I’m melting).

And seriously (because I never stop talking even though I know you’re just here for the pretty photos – and my charming wit), I RARELY get clients with mad style and photography skills like Melisa. I hardly had to edit the photos, they came in crystal-clear. And Melisa’s decorative style? Holy friggin’ cannoli. You don’t have to be a fan of the romantic style to see how beautiful this space is, it speaks for itself whether you’re into mid-century modern, traditional or modern farmhouse!

And get a close-up look at the paint colour in these next photos. Calm perfection.

And how about those PAINTED CABINETS?

Believe it or not, they found a salvaged piece of marble for the island countertop (it’s what really inspired this whole thing). It had a few scratches that they EASILY overlooked for the price tag!

Read more: How to get the LOOK of Marble Without the Price Tag

Read more: The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They ‘Rock’

So, I’m sure by now you’re thinking, ‘Kylie, I’m DYING to know what COLOURS they used, can you spit it out already?’

• Walls in the open layout kitchen, dining room and living room: Benjamin Moore Classic Gray
• Cabinets: Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray
• Trims: Benjamin Moore White Dove
• Backsplash: A blend of Agreeable Gray, White Dove and Collingwood

Read more: The 12 Best WHOLE HOME Gray and Greige Paint Colours

Now, let’s talk about BUDGET…

Believe it or not, they did this all for under $3000. That’s right – 3…thousand…dollars.

Without getting into the nitty-gritty, let’s hit a few main details:

• The cabinets were going to be $4000 to get professionally painted. They hired someone to spray the DOORS only for $1000 and did the rest themselves!
• The marble island was a SALVAGED PIECE with a few scratches that were EASILY overlooked for the LOW price tag!
• The furniture pieces were passed down from grandparents and painted to suit their style
• The light in the dining room? You’re not going to believe this, but they found it broken and encased in 6 inches of solid ice. They brought that glorious beastie back to LIFE, even if it took 10 years off of John’s life
• All of the decor was found at salvage centers and marketplaces

I’m just so friggin’ PROUD.

Chat soon,

NEED HELP WITH YOUR HOME UPDATES?

Check out my Online Paint Colour Consulting, I’d love to help! 

READ MORE

Kitchen Cabinet Makeover with Benjamin Moore Classic Gray, Granite and More! 

Should I Paint My Kitchen Cabinets? A QUESTIONNAIRE

The Best White Paint Colours for Kitchen Cabinets

How to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets

The post A Budget-Friendly REAL HOME Kitchen Makeover: Painted Cabinets, Tile and MORE! appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Seriously, nothing makes me happier than ‘after’ photos flowing into my inbox. Well, except wine, wine makes me happy. Oh, and Ryan Reynolds, he makes me happy too. Combine wine, Ryan and some after photos and it’s a GOOD NITE in the Mawdsley house (maybe not for Tim).

So, when my E-Design client sent photos of her painted maple cabinets, it was definitely time for celebration – WHAT a transformation!

Before, the kitchen had a nice layout and gorgeous granite countertops. And while the maple cabinets were in good shape, they didn’t DO anything for the rest of the space…

And after, can I get an AAAAAMEN!

Another before…

And after – fresh, clean and simple.

The cabinet colour is Benjamin Moore White Down via my Cabinet Paint Colour Package. White Down is an off-white paint colour that’s warm and creamy with a neutral base calming it down, so it isn’t OVERLY yellow/creamy.

For the ceiling, we went with Sherwin Williams Alabaster which looked gorgeous with her existing paint colour, Valspar Pawnee (similar to Benjamin Moore Putnam Ivory).

LOOOOVE that backsplash and the orderly cabinet display!

What do you think, would YOU have done the same? Or more to the point, would your HUBBY do the same? We know how weird those hubs are about their wood (no pun intended…okay, maybe a bit intended).

Want to see how painted maple cabinets hold up? Our Painted Maple Cabinets – 2 Years Later

Want to see another gorgeous maple kitchen makeover? Maple No More: A Cloud White Kitchen Makeover

Chat soon,

Looking for ideas to update YOUR kitchen?

Check out my affordable and fun E-design and Online Paint Color Consulting packages!

Chat soon,

READ MORE

Quick & Easy E-Design Package. GET THE HELP YOU NEED! 

Benjamin Moore White Dove Kitchen Makeover

The Best White Paint Colours for Cabinets

The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They ROCK! 

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2018, UPDATED FOR FRESH LINKS IN 2020

The post EDesign: Painted Maple Cabinets – A Gorgeous Off-White Makeover! appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

As featured in Apartment Therapy

If someone had told me that one day I’d paint two of our rooms black and white, I’m sure I would’ve said, “Not bloody likely!”.  That is, until I painted Cassie’s room white with a black feature wall.  And I didn’t stop there…

I also painted my office black and white.

Okay, let’s back up the bus a bit here. Obviously, I work from home, and I work from home A LOT, to the tune of 8-10 hrs a day.  Since my Online Color Consulting has taken off, I’ve cut back DRASTICALLY on my local work and spend most of my time drinking wine, coffee, and Bailey’s coffee, talking to myself, and typing.

However, working from home is not always good for ye ole mental health/social life, and adding to that was the fact that I was working in a lovely lil’ bat cave – one small window and three pot lights – dats it.

It took only a few months of twitching and crying in the corner for the hubs to agree that maybe it was time for a bit of a remodel – taking my office to the next level with regard to lighting and layout!

My new office had to be majorly multi-purpose, so when planning the space, I needed to make room for the following:

• Two+ desk spaces for me n’ my homies (the kids). I like company and am happy when they come down and do their homework. Tim also helps me out A LOT with my website, so it’s nice to have him sit down for a while – nice for him that is
• Table and chairs to lay projects out on or for the kids to do crafts on
• Comfy chair to watch TV from
• Murphy bed.  OH yes, a Murphy Bed
• Closet

And I managed to fit it ALL in with room to spare!

You ready?

The Hallway Leading to the Office & Family Room

This WAS the hallway leading from our new entryway into the office/family room area.

When you stood in the entryway and looked down the hallway, you saw a lovely…red…wall (the door to the office ‘was’ on the far right).

Look down the hallway now, and you’ll see a 36″ extra-wide glass door and a 6 1/2′ window. The room used to be smaller with a weee lil window. We had to steal space from the family room (which we definitely don’t miss) so that we could fit that large window in – it was kind of a deal-breaker.

While the above photo makes it look like the wall is on an angle, it’s not – it’s now a perfect 90 degrees.

And this is just a SNIPPET of what you NOW see when looking down the hallway.  And yes, the house came with a free garden gnome.

The Lighting Situation

No matter how beautiful your paint colors are, if you don’t have enough lighting, NO paint colour will save you!  The lack of natural light and tragic interior lighting pulled the room down, giving it a dark, shadowed look.

This was my office BEFORE being remodeled (again, the red gave me conniptions).

And now, the space is light, bright, and multi-purpose!

How Light Bulbs & Kelvins Affect Paint Colors

And you’d think that black would drain a space, but think again!  In the right space, black can add just the right contrast and impact. The combo leaves me feeling inspired…I tried to come up with another gobsmackingly amazing word, but really – that’s all I’ve got.

LET THERE BE LIGHT…and there was.

Where Should You Paint an Accent Wall & What Color?

Before, we had three pot lights and a 2.5′ x 3.4′ window.

NOW we have…

• six-and-a-half-foot window
• 18″ x 42″ foundation windows (x2)
• Chandelier
• five pot lights (no, not THOSE kind of pot lights – I may be from Vancouver Island, but wine is my weakness)
• Wall/task light (which you’ll see below)

Of course, the six-foot window adds a ton of light, as well as the interior lighting, but it’s the foundation windows that REALLY jack things up to the next level.  They make a HUUUUGE (pronounced HOOOOGE) difference with regard to the flow and vibe of the room, rounding it out nicely.

Look at this corner before…

And look at it now!

AN IKEA DESK HACK THAT FITS TWO

(three people if I add another extension) – right now, it’s 10′ long and just perfect!

I couldn’t find a desk I loved, so I pieced this together using Ikea Alex drawer units and Linmon table tops. I’m SUPER happy with the function of it, and when I get bored (so like tomorrow), I can switch things around.

THE IKEA DOCKSTA PROJECT TABLE

I bought the Ikea Docksta table as it’s just the right diameter. I would love a marble top version, but money talks.

The accent chairs were on clearance at Scan Designs, so I got the pair for a great price!

This stunning shade of black on the upper part of the foundation wall is Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black – it’s pretty much the most badass colour out there. Paired with fresh white trim and Benjamin Moore Cloud White on the lower foundation walls, it’s a super dynamic combo!

THE MURPHY BED

I’d always wanted a Murphy bed, but it seemed like a luxury item. Luckily I found a local fellow (Creative Wall Beds in Victoria) who does a great job making/assembling these beasties! It’s all wood and painted in Benjamin Moore Cloud White.

Benjamin Moore Cloud White Paint Color Review

I planned it so that when the Murphy bed comes down, all I need to move is my lovely golden chair – everything else can stay where it is.

THE ORGANIZING BITS & PIECES

I bought the mother-of-all corkboards online as I couldn’t find a big enough one locally. At 3 x 5, she’s HOOOGE, and while she was ‘functional,’ she wasn’t very ‘funk-tional,’ so I grabbed my trusty staple gun and wrapped her up in fabric!

You can also see my task light from Wayfair and some smaller corkboards for the wee bits.

I also love clipboards (clearly, I throw my love around a lot). They’re a great way to tackle magazine pages, to-do lists, and more.

THE IKEA RASKOG CART

I’ve showcased the Ikea Raskog cart many times in our home – from the girls’ bedrooms to our homework closet; I can’t get enough of this handy little unit (I say the same thing to Tim on Friday nites).

THE FUN STUFF

Okay, maybe it’s all fun, but I’m particularly jacked up about my décor. And if you’ve ever tried to decorate above a foundation wall, I’m sure you feel my pain. Luckily I know what I’m doing…most of the time, anyway.

THE VIEW FROM THE FAMILY ROOM

With our remodel, we stole square footage from the large family room and reconfigured the wall to use the space better.

The photo below shows how the house was when we first viewed it. Notice that the red wall was about seven feet long and on an angle that SUPER cut into my office space (behind the red wall).

The next photo shows the in-between phase. I did have mad love for my farmhouse barn door, but knowing that trends come and go, I decided to go with something a bit more timeless with the new design.

And now, everything is light, bright, and perfectly homey!  I painted the end wall in Benjamin Moore Steel Wool so that it flows off of the entryway seamlessly, along with Sherwin Williams Creamy on the main walls.

Can I tell you how much I love this space?  Do I NEED to tell you how much I love this space??????  I’m sure my photos show how happy I am with how our home turned out!

So there you have it – this is where the magic…or at least MOST of the magic happens.

READ MORE

The Best Whole Home Gray & Greige Paint Colors

Where Should You Add an Accent Wall & What Color?

6 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas

The Ultimate Guide to White Paint Colors

Want some help with your home? 

Check out my E-design and Colour Consulting Packages!

Originally written in 2017, edited/updated in 2020 to make Google happy!

The post My Black & White Ikea-Inspired Home Office (Budget-Friendly) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Adding Personality to a Small Bathroom (Corner Shower)

This bathroom was one tough customer. With its corner shower and pedestal sink, it was less than functional and super fugly – unless you’re a fan of fluorescent pea soup green. And while I could definitely improve on the vanity and paint colour, there wasn’t a lot I could do about the corner shower.

Holy Hannah, I kind of forgot how ugly it was…

In the ideal world (and because there was AMPLE room for it), the shower would have run across the back wall, approx 3′ deep by 6′ long. HOWEVER, because the toilet was installed too far over (1/2″ clearance with shower door), we couldn’t extend the shower without having to move the loo. And seeing how this was all installed on concrete, I wasn’t about to haul out my jackhammer and wallet.

Really, they could have chosen to not even PUT in a shower and made it into a lovely little powder room, which would have also given me more closet space in the hallway. This is one reason why I LOVE to look at clients floorplans, so I can suggest alterations before the walls go up – preventing mistakes like this from happening.

I wanted the colours in the bathroom to jibe with the family room as they were related to each other in the floorplan

Another important factor in NOT re-doing the shower was that this bathroom was built for the family room, meaning it didn’t have a bedroom that needed it. So while I HAD relegated Tim to this bathroom, MOST people wouldn’t ever even USE the shower in here.

Soooo, I decided to save $4000 and left the shower as-is and just added a little KLC to the rest of the space!

You ready Betty?

It’s hard to believe its even the same bathroom!

Let’s do a quick refresher of those green walls again…

And now…

I wanted to add some personality to the room without killing my budget, so I decided to do a marble herringbone feature wall to add some SERIOUS visual value. Now when you walk in, its the pattern that grabs you, not the day-glo paint colour.

Read more: The Best Paint Colours to Coordinate with Marble Tile

And of course, the floor tile and feature wall were installed by Brett and his team of stud muffins from BE Tile. They also had to chisel up the old tile floor – poor buggers, but better them than me!

If it were me doing it, that big orange bucket would have been full of wine.

Read more: Bathroom Update Ideas: High-End Style for Low-End Prices

Lighter, brighter and DEFINITELY more clean and fresh looking.

Now, here’s a shot of the vanity area in the ‘in-between’ phase, where I slapped some paint on the walls just for the short-term. It definitely helped, but was kind of a ‘putting lipstick on a pig’ situation, ya know?

And now…

Much better! I got the vanity from Lowe’s for $399. I fell in love with the marble top, no fuss handle-free drawers and was excited to do a wood vanity, rather than white or gray. I’m not REALLY a gray gal, but it’s good for resale and the wood brought some warmth back to the room.

The paint colour I chose was Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray, one of my fave soft stormy grays. I had it lightened by 25%, just to freshen it up a stitch.

Read more: Colour Review Comparing Stonington Gray and Gray Owl

The light fixtures were a SUPER score from Canadian Tire at $49 apiece and with their rounded shade, were JUST what I was looking for. Because this room had no windows, the lighting situation wasn’t great. The old walls sconces with their lovely mint green shades cast a weird light on the walls and didn’t do anything for ma purdy lil’ face when I looked in the mirror.

And ABOUT that mirror! I couldn’t find what I wanted and it HAD to be round, courtesy of the awkwardly placed outlet (and yes, it needs to be updated to white, not janky yellow). I found this wood mirror at Home Sense for $39 and painted/distressed it to give it up some personality.

And just ONE more shot of that glorious green…

Project Cost

• Vanity – Lowes: $399
• Faucet – American Standard: $129
• Mirror – Home Sense: $39
• Light fixtures – Canadian Tire: $49
• Feature wall – Lowes: $275 (24 sq ft)
• Floor tile – City Tile: $250
• Paint – BM Stonington Gray: $45
• Tile installation – $1300

TOTAL COST: Approx $2500

So, what do you think, $2500 well spent? I think so!

Need help with your small bathroom?

Check out my affordable and FUN E-Design and Online Paint Colour packages!

Chat soon,

Read More:

Our Greige Bathroom Remodel

Our Kitchen Remodel – No More Maple! 

Our ‘Real’ Family Room – The Final Reveal!

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN 2017, AWESOMELY UPDATED IN 2020

The post Small Bathroom – From Boring to Beautiful On a Budget! appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

A Farmhouse Style Bathroom Renovation

You know, sometimes colour work is a challenge (insert wine here) and I have to put my big girl panties and buckle down. But, there are the times when I’m handed a gem in the making – and this bathroom remodel was definitely one of those times.

Now, the interesting thing is that if you look at the BEFORE photo of my client’s bathroom, parts of it were totally workable…

• The flooring looked like some of today’s trendy vintage style tiles
• The vanity was SUPER paintable
• The countertop was neutral and easy to work around
• The wallpaper was…fugly. Definitely fugly

But regardless, my client wasn’t interested in a salvage project, she wanted a brand-spankin’ new bathroom and a new bathroom she GOT…and it’s friggin’ gorgeous.

The lighting is a bit subdued in the loo area, but you get the idea – she’s got some serious style.

Using the gorgeous Printmaker’s Double Washstand from Restoration Hardware vanity (the price is NOT for the faint of heart), gorgeous cement tile floors from The Tile Shop and Sherwin Williams Argos, my client’s bathroom went from homely to homey. Argos is a light-medium depth gray with a HEAVY green-blue undertone.

Read more: Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Argos

Read more: The Best Gray Paint Colours

Need help?

Check out my E-Design Packages! 

Chat soon,

RELATED BLOG POSTS

The 10 Best Blue-Gray Paint Colours

Bathroom Update – Greige, Subway Tile and More!

Small Bathroom – From Boring to Beautiful on a Budget

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2018, AWESOMELY UPDATED IN 2020

The post E-Design: A GORGEOUS Farmhouse Bathroom with SW Argos appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Before & After: Brick Home Front Door Colour Makeover

Featuring:  Front Door Colour Consultation Package

As I’m sure you know, paint colours (and wine drinking) are kind of m’ thang and you have NO idea how excited I get when clients send me ‘after’ photos (and wine bottles with integrated straws).

What are the prerequisites to be featured on my blog?

1. You’ve used my Online Decorating Services (of course)

2. You did what you were told (wink wink) and have a freshly painted/decorated space

3. You can take decent photos worthy of a blog post/Pinterest (knowing I can do a bit of editing to jazz them up and watermark them)

4. You want to have a blog post dedicated to YOU and your home (you’ll be kind of a big deal). If you’re happy to see your photos, but don’t want any identifying info that is TOTALLY okay with me.

5. I see the potential in your home as a good fit for a blog post

So, enough chitter-chatter, let’s get at ‘er!

E-DESIGN Front Door Consultation

Emmie had the picture-perfect home with the type of brick that has a TON of fun colour opportunities…

And there wasn’t really anything WRONG with the black, but it supports my belief that black doors are a tough sell in a glossy finish – it can be DAMN hard to get a consistent, flawless look (like my face – wink wink). The colour itself looked sharp and classic but she was looking for something a bit more fun!

Emmie chose the ‘Front Door Paint Colour Consultation’. Using the photos she sent and guided by the answers on her personalized questionnaire, I gave her FOUR beautiful colours to choose from, including explanations so she could understand the ‘why’ of it all.

After…

Read more:  The Best Front Door Paint Colours

From the four selections she chose Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue (my FAVE!) and I’m THRILLED with how it turned out! (because it IS all about me, remember that).

Do you want to see other fabulous front door paint colours? Check this out… 7 Best Teal and Blue Front Door Paint Colours

Want some help? 

Find out the 3 BEST Paint Colours for YOUR Front Door with my E-DESIGN!

READ MORE

The Best Blue & Green Paint Colours for Your Front Door

What Are the Best Front Door Paint Colours

The Best Paint Colours to Paint the INSIDE of Your Front Door

The post Online Colour Consultation: Formal to Fabulous Front Door appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

If you’re looking for some white home inspiration, you’ve come to the right place.

For those of you who’ve followed me for a while (thanks for drinkin’ the Kool-Aid), you’ll know that 99% of my work is Online Colour Consulting (E-Design). In fact, I take only a limited amount of local projects each year. But regardless, when my sister and brother-in-law decided to build their dream home, I HAD to reserve a front-row seat on that bus. In fact, they bribed me with copious amounts of wine, not knowing they couldn’t have stopped me anyway – we’re family! But I still took the wine.

Another fun part of the story is that Sarah and Brett had been transients for over two years (I mean, not like homeless…but kind of homeless) and were SO excited to finally settle down. However, with a newborn and  2-year-old, settling in was low on the list and they were living out of boxes – literally. ANYWAYS, shortly after moving in, they went on a vacation and while they were away…I kind of took over (which is SO unlike me).

I unpacked every single box, and put my OCD to good use arranging cabinets, cupboards, the garage, storage room and closets – I even folded Brett’s underwear. Using a modest budget (with secret permission from him so I could surprise Sarah), I outfitted the house as much as humanly possible. They had a few basics to start – a sofa, two chairs and a sectional, but really, not much else for me to play with, so I had my work cut out for me!

Are you ready for a tour? Let’s start in the entryway

The Entryway

I love this space. It’s still waiting for a high shelf, board and batten and hooks (which is why the clock is so high), but even then, it’s still a beautiful place to walk in to!

Urban Barn clock (here). Adley area rug (here)

The clock is a big boy at 40″, he’s from Urban Barn and is a glorious beastie. The area rug is an indoor-outdoor rug, so it’s good and hardy for muddy feet and flat enough that the door doesn’t catch on it.

Next, let’s take a peek at that beautiful black front door…

FULL PAINT COLOUR LIST AT THE END OF THE BLOG POST

Front Door: Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black

And if you sit your lil’ toosh down on that bench and look ahead, you’ll see a GORGEOUS powder room that makes me GREEN with envy!

The Green Powder Room

Seriously, I’m lovin’ on this vanity, which was a brave choice for someone who wanted all-white walls! Partnered with the hexagon tile floor and gold fixtures, it’s a small space with a BIG personality.

And see how the entryway rug ties into the green in the powder room? It’s ALLLLL about connections baby.

And seriously, look at the link between the vanity hardware and the floor – MAD love.

Hexagon knobs Wayfair (here). Blais Light Fixture Wayfair (here). Faucet TBA. Mirror Home Sense

You can also get a feel for the layout, as the staircase going downstairs is to the right of the powder room…

And up as well…

Looking at the last two photos, notice how the shiplap is continuous (but separated by a ceiling) from the bottom stairwell to the top one! I chose SW Web Gray for the shiplap feature wall as it’s a great partner to the kitchen island, which we’ll get to shortly.

And while I know it’s popular to do wood on stairs, it’s also a) expensive and b) not great for acoustics unless you install a runner, which is another added cost. I’m a BIG fan of carpet on stairs and chose it for our own home too. With all of the activity in this area, there’s WAY more sound absorption and it was considerably more budget-friendly. Those reasons are also why we did carpet in the master bedroom (wink wink).

Read more: Where Should I do a Feature Wall and What Colour Should it be?

The Living Room

In this open concept home, the kitchen, living room and dining room share the same square footage, so it was SUPER important that we had colour connections via furnishings and accents.

I love the balance of the fireplace and the built-in cabinets, which are also handy for putting kid’s toys in when company comes over.

The marble coffee table wasn’t finished/installed by the time I did the photoshoot (I’m exaggerating, it was just me with my camera, a bottle of wine and a funnel, but I like to sound fancy), so I had to go back with my i-phone and grab a quickie shot, which explains the quality. It’s a stunning table from Vancouver Island owned, BC Marble Products and what a friggin’ amazing slab it must’ve come from – I can’t even IMAGINE an entire kitchen in this product!

The gallery wall was almost the death of me. I couldn’t use nails as there was a vent RIGHT behind the frames, so I used a popular velcro-style hanging strip and may or may not have wanted to shoot myself trying to get the damn things in a perfectly square display. Er…mer…gerd. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer using nails.

Below, you’ll see that we chose SW Cyberspace for the built-ins which are a) the same colour as the island and b) the darker version of the shiplap feature wall in the neighbouring stairwell. If we’d done the built-ins white, I think we might’ve overdosed a bit and lost the opportunity for some contrast and connection with the adjoining spaces.

And the fireplace – I just love me some mixed textures. With white shiplap on the top and painted veneer brick tile on the bottom, the textures add some subtle interest, without changing the paint colours.

If you’re wondering what white we chose for all of these surfaces, it’s none other than one of my FAVE white paint colours – Sherwin Williams Pure White. This home has a great blend of south, east and north-facing windows, so you can get a good feel for how it changes on a room-by-room basis!

Read more: North, East, South, West, Which Paint Colour is the Best?

Mosely area rug (here). Odin pouf (here). Higuchi black side table (here) Chairs: n/a. Similar look here/here/here

The Kitchen and Dining Room

The kitchen is DEFINITELY the heart of the home in this project as Sarah is an EPIC chef, to which my subtle buddha belly can attest to. And in case this is all ringing a vague bell, you might’ve already checked out the FULL kitchen in this blog post here.

Bar stools from Wayfair (here). Pendant lights (out of stock, but similar version here)

If you’re admiring the floors, they’re an awesome naturally finished product from Goodfellow flooring – durable and budget-friendly! We did the same product in our own home but chose a slightly darker stain (Stone White Oak).

The dining table and chairs also came late to the party, so again, I’ve got a slightly-blurry i-phone for now. Or maybe, you need to cut back on the wine as it’s PERFECTLY clear on my end of the screen, just sayin’.

Captains chairs (here). White dining chairs (here). Bradding dining table (here)

I’m in LOOOVE with the two captains chairs from Pier 1, that pattern just slays me. And we actually had that same dining table in our last home, which I loved so much I got it for Sarah too, so I could relive the glory of it again.

I made sure to coordinate the dining chairs with the counter stools as I didn’t want too many different styles going on and wanted the consistency of the white as well.

And btw, I’m sure you know that the ONLY painter I use in my own home is Delea of Details Painting, so naturally, we got her to paint this one too and she did a great job (as usual).

Read more: Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Pure White

The Playroom

At the top of the stairs, we decided to use the space above the garage for a playroom (originally slated to be storage). But first, let’s look at the landing, leading to the playroom…

Both the bench and the bike canvas were from my secret garage stash and it’s like they were MEANT for this spot. I’m gonna miss that bench though…

And more of that shiplap staircase wall we looked at earlier…

Light fixture (here)

In the above photo, you can see how the 2 storey entryway opens up to the landing at the top of the stairs, letting SO much light spread throughout the top floor! And that light fixture is one of my FAVES and I have a similar, larger version in our home which is pretty badass.

Now for the playroom…

Buffalo check poufs (here)

Seriously, could it be any cuter? I stretched the budget FAR on this bad boy. The cutie-patootie poufs are from Walmart and almost ALL of the furniture and storage items are from good old Ikea!

And she might just be my fave thing ever…(Home Sense)

Now, I’m not known for being brief, and there are SO many more beautiful spaces in this home that I want to show you, so from here on out, I’m just going to give you snippets of a few of my fave spots so you can keep your sanity (mine is irrelevant, it’s loooooong gone).

The Master Bathroom

Just look at that large white hexagon tile. Sarah and Brett shouldn’t be surprised to find me showering in their bathroom one day. I know they’re crossing their fingers…

The Family Room

I LOVE the gallery wall in the family room, it’s full of some of my favourite people. And because I used NAILS, it was way easier to hang than the four pieces in the living room!

Really though, by the time I got to the family room, the budget was exhausted (and so was I). I was able to use their original pieces and grabbed a bookcase from my hoard for under the TV! I also love that we were able to continue the shiplap look down here, which was a great way to add personality to this space without spending a ton of money. We went with SW Grizzle Gray, which is a wicked gorgeous darker green-gray.

The Laundry Room

We chose a budget-friendly laminate countertop from Formica for the laundry room and it turned out awesome. It looks like marble, without as much maintenance and is perfect for this busy lil’ household.

Read more: The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why It Rocks

So, there you have it – well, most of it anyways!

Need help with YOUR home? 

Check out my E-DESIGN services, I’d love to help! 

Chat soon,

PAINT COLOUR LIST

• Walls, trims, ceilings: Sherwin Williams Pure White
• Kitchen and bathroom cabinets: Sherwin Williams Pure White
• Front door: Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black
• Kitchen island and living room built-ins: Sherwin Williams Cyberspace
• Powder room vanity: Sherwin Williams Isle of Pines
• Feature wall in the family room: Sherwin Williams Grizzle Gray
• Feature walls in staircases: SW Web Gray
• FLOORING: Natural Wirebrished Oak from Goodfellow

The post Sherwin Williams Pure White, Walls, Trims, & More appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Painted (and stained) Cabinets: Before and Afters (and a BONUS project!)

I know how much you guys love your before and afters, so I figured it was time to show a few of my recent ONLINE PAINT COLOUR CONSULTING projects!

Now, I didn’t have enough good clear photos of each project to do up a blog post (I rely 100% on my E-design clients for their after photos!), so I figured I’d do a mixed post, which will also give you a whole whack of ideas to think about for your own home – it’s like a 3 for 1 deal!

PROJECT 1  PAINTED OAK CATHEDRAL CABINETS, GREEN GRANITE COUNTERTOP, AND TRAVERTINE BACKSPLASH 

BEFORE: You know, I didn’t mind the orange tone of these cabinets too much, they did coordinate nicely with my hair, but I was happy to hear that my client was ready for some fresh paint on them as they weighed down the kitchen quite a bit and kept it tucked firmly in the late ’90s…

AFTER: The kitchen is SO much fresher and brighter with the soft white uppers and lowers!

BEFORE: The island needed a little face-lift to modernize the look of the green and peach granite and the travertine tile backsplash…

AFTER: LOVE me some SW Grizzle Gray on the island! The kitchen now has some personality and a whole new lease on life!

And thanks to my clients for sending these after photo along as interior photos can be a REAL bugger to get just right – ya done good.

PROJECT 2   PAINTED MAPLE RAISED CABINETS WITH GREEN GRANITE COUNTERTOP 

BEFORE: Between the oak flooring and maple cabinets, there was just too much warm-on-warm for those green granite countertops and backsplash.

And you might notice that these first 2 projects have granite with green in them. This was a common trend in the ’90s and early 2000’s as admittedly, warm woods and green DO play well together, however, it’s about a) how much of one thing there is and b) the long-term limitations of committing to a colour in permanent surfaces, whereas neutrals tend to last longer.

AFTER: It’s like the room gave a GREAT big sigh of relief…

The new cabinet colour is SW White Duck, a really pretty warm, slightly greige/cream off-white. And notice how the floor and the countertops/backsplash balance each other off and play with each other, whereas before the room was heavily weighted into the warm family.

The Best Off-White Paint Colours

The Best Hardware to Update Wood Cabinets

PROJECT 3   CATHEDRAL STYLE OAK CABINETS PAINTED WARM WHITE!

For this project, I don’t have a FULL kitchen ‘before’ shot because it was from the realtor’s listing and I don’t have permission to use those! But, I have a few random shots taken by my client…

BEFORE: Again, that good old golden oak and cathedral style doors that were prolific in the ’90s. For this project, I had the warm-toned countertops and flooring to consider, as well as the travertine tile backsplash…

AFTER: Seriously, this kitchen just makes me SO stinkin’ happy! And look at how they filled in the bulkhead area for a full-height cabinet look – love it.

We went for BM Cloud White on the main cabinets, a warm white – a wink warm for the floor, but right on point for the countertop and backsplash. Sometimes you can’t 100% satisfy ALL of the surfaces, and you have to prioritize things based on how they visually connect.

Read more: Our Painted Kitchen Cabinets – No More Maple! 

BEFORE: The island…yup, good old oak. And let me say that I am a HUGE fan of oak on cabinets and flooring, in fact, I redid our family room/bar area in oak (stay tuned for that one). However, it comes down to the stain and grain for getting a look that steps out of the ’90s and into a more modern style.

AFTER: Seriously? Seriously. I love this island. We went with BM Ocean Floor, a gorgeous blue that works it’s magic with the beadboard detail.

And I say ‘we’ as in the ‘Royal we’, as what I do is suggest a variety of options to try, based on the finishes in my client’s home and their personal tastes. From there, it’s my client who chooses the one that they love the most! I think this is a REALLY important part of the process for a sense of ownership and pride! And of course, if they can’t decide and need a 2nd opinion to finalize their choice, I love giving my two-bits.

And guess what? There is oooooone more project. But THIS time, my client wanted to KEEP their beautiful oak cabinets and was looking for some paint colour/countertop/backsplash ideas to update things…

PROJECT 4    Oak Cabinets – Stained with New Backsplash and Countertops

Now, you might be thinking, ‘Kylie, I thought you just drank wine and consulted on paint colours all day?’ Well, back in the day (like last year) I did consult on hard finishes like countertops and backsplashes and loved it. Flash forward to this year where my lil’ self is bustin’ her butt just to get through all of the online paint colour consultations that I had to limit what I had to offer.

However, I’m HAPPY to say that I will be reintroducing the countertop option in the near future!

Now, back to this ‘au naturel’ ginger-inspired beauty (no, not me – the kitchen). My client’s package included paint colour for the walls, island, backsplash ideas and countertop options…

BEFORE: It had great bones with raised panel door style and crown moulding.

AFTER: Seriously…what a game-changer for this kitchen.

BEFORE: That’s a WHOOOOOLE lotta wood (that’s what she said).

AFTER: Painting the island was a great way to break up all of the wood without taking away too much.

BEFORE: Super heavy looking and the products aren’t doing ANY justice to that beautiful oak!

AFTER: With a fresh new warm gray paint colour, backsplash and countertop, this kitchen has a WHOLE new lease on life – I couldn’t be happier (because it’s all about me – don’t forget it).

Read more: Subway Tile Backsplash Ideas for Your Kitchen and Bathroom

So, there you have it! I hope this has gotten the creative juices flowing! If you want more, see the links below to more articles on great ways to update oak/wood cabinets!

Not sure how to update YOUR oak or maple cabinets?

Check out my Online Color Consulting packages!

Chat soon,

READ MORE:

5 Ideas to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets WITHOUT Paint! 

4 Ideas: How to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets

The Best Hardware to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets

Kitchen Cabinet Makeover with Benjamin Moore Classic Gray, Granite and More! 

The post E-DESIGN: 3 Painted Oak & Maple Kitchen Cabinet Projects appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

If you love the classic look of white and blue, you’re going to love this open layout kitchen and dining room! And this blog post actually started out MUCH bigger, as these spaces are part of a new build that I helped with. However, I took SO many friggin’ photos that I had to break things down into a more manageable size, starting with these 2 rooms. You’ll get some sneak-peeks at the living room below and I’ll be posting the WHOLE project soon!

This home belongs to 2 of my fave people – Sarah and Brett (and their 2 lil’ nuggets), who also happen to live 3 blocks from us AND are my brother and sister-in-law (lucky buggers). Sarah had been dreaming of a white-on-white home for YEARS and after living a somewhat transient life (okay, it wasn’t THAT bad), they finally found the lot and home plan that they loved. So, with a bit of blood, sweat and wine, I helped them create the home of their dreams and it all started with the open layout kitchen and dining room.

The kitchen, and in fact, almost the WHOLE home is painted in Sherwin Williams Pure White, one of the BEST whites for kitchen cabinets. It’s a white that is juuuuust shy of being crisp and clear as it has a wink of softness to it. I partnered it with Sherwin Williams Cyberspace on the island which is a subtle and striking navy blue.

The Lyla spindle back counter stools are from Wayfair and are great partners to the dining chairs which you’ll see shortly. Sarah wanted stools with backs on them for support for the little’s and the grandparents! With them in mind, she also didn’t want fabric stools – you know how messy those grandparents can be.

The Brenton pendant lights are also from Wayfair. When you live in Nanaimo, your shopping choices are (ahem) pretty limited and I usually have to shop online to find just the right piece. I’m pretty sure that once this project was done, Wayfair’s stock price went down.

And notice the gorgeous oak flooring. Oak is my FAVE wood for floors and for this project, I went with a more natural look with Goodfellow natural wood wire-brushed oak. I have MAAAAD love for this floor and we actually did the slightly darker version in our own home.  This floor here would give a similar look, as would this one if you like to do some shopping around.

The L-shaped layout of the kitchen meant they could have a prep/bar area, with a wine fridge that was greatly depleted by the time I was done on this project. The full-height cabinets also give plenty of storage for things that aren’t used as often. I did the same full-height cabinets in our own kitchen and use them to store moderation and a filter…get it?

At the above prep station, the 3″ floating shelves were a good place for Sarah to display some of her sentimental dishware and decor. The bevelled white subway tile backdrop goes from the countertop to the ceiling, so that the area is more of a feature wall, while still tying into the kitchen.

And let’s take a closer look at the white bevel-edge subway tile. I love how the bevel adds some texture and interest to the white layers of this kitchen. The countertop is LG Viatera Minuet quartz, a gorgeous white countertop with soft gray veining. It’s also more affordable than many of the popular white quartz countertops.

Read more: How to Choose the Right Subway Tile Backsplash

LOVE how the blue Le Creuset dishware pops on all of the white!

Now, over to the dining room…

When I took the main photos, the dining room furniture hadn’t arrived yet, so I snuck over a few weeks later with my phone to grab a few shots, so they aren’t QUITE as clear, but will do the trick if you put your beer goggles on.

The gorgeous Bradding farmhouse dining table is from Pier 1 and is actually the SAME table that we had in our last home. It has leaves that extend out on the ends, making it super handy when me n’ the kids come over for one of Sarah’s epic meals and the rustic brushed top means you don’t need to wipe it after every meal – a trait I look for in every table I buy.

And did you notice how the dining chairs coordinate with the island stools? LOVE IT! Personal high-five. Those are the Roudebush white spindle back chairs from Wayfair (and they come in other colours too!)

And seriously, look at those friggin captain’s chairs from Pier 1 – I covet them. One day they will be mine, oh yes, they will be mine.

So, there you have it! And I have a WHOLE lot more to show you, but that will have to wait for another day!

Need help with your own home?

Check out my E-design Colour Consulting packages! 

Chat soon,

RELATED POSTS

How to Choose the Best White for Your Kitchen Cabinets

Chef’s Dream – White Kitchen

Marble – Get ‘the Look’ Without the High Price!

Our Kitchen Makeover – Maple No More!

5 Ideas to Update Oak Cabinets Without a Drop of Paint

The post A Brand New White Kitchen with SW Pure White and Cyberspace appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

One of the BEST Greige Paint Colours…

Out of the THOUSANDS of online colour consultations I’ve done, there are ALWAYS a handful of faves – there’d be two handfuls, but a girl has to hold a glass of wine ya know.

And this dining room is DEFINITELY one of those faves BECAUSE it has dark wood trim – AHHH, THE DREADED DARK WOOD TRIM (ye shall dread no more)! With Pinterest and Houzz jam-packed with white painted wood, I was excited to work with this room, to help it look modern and beautiful – rather than dated and drab…consider it DONE!

Before, this room had the right BONES, but the warm paint colour wasn’t doing any justice to the dark wood or the room itself – it looked a bit suffocating.

After, with the PERFECT new paint colour and flooring, this room looks COMPLETELY different…

That church pew SLAYS me. I had a church pew in our last home and loved it, however, Tim was NOT such a big fan and since I ALWAYS listen to Tim (said nobody ever) so I sold it.

The styling was okay the first time around, but the SECOND time around she TOTALLY nailed it!

Click HERE or on the above image to see available packages

And who is ‘she’? She is Rachel from Gingham and Grace, who’s just a lovely soul with a great sense of style! If you love this dining room, you’ll LOOOOVE her blog (and she’s a cutie-patootie).

In Rachel’s E-Design consultation, I suggested several colours for her to choose from (along with some explanations and chit-chat) and was pumped when she decided on Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray. Agreeable is a light warm gray-greige. With an LRV of 60, Agreeable Gray was the perfect choice for this space AND the perfect colour.

Let’s take a quick break to talk about paint samples…

Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

• Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on location
• At $6.99, they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needing for traditional paint sampling
• If you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

Do you have dark wood trim? Read more: The Best Paint Colours for Dark Wood Trim

I also have a colour review on Agreeable Gray if you want more info on this fab colour where you’ll learn about LRV, undertones and more! Paint Colour Review: Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray

Need paint colour ideas for your room?  

Check out my affordable E-Design and E-Decor Packages! 

READ MORE

Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Repose Gray

The 12 Best ‘WHOLE HOME’ Gray and Greige Paint Colours

The 8 Best Warm Neutral ‘WHOLE HOME’ Paint Colours

KYLIE M INTERIORS E-DESIGN, ONLINE PAINT COLOUR CONSULTING AND E-DECOR    SPECIALIZING IN DIY DECORATING IDEAS FOR THE HOME AND BENJAMIN MOORE AND SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT COLOURS

Originally written in 2017, updated in 2019

The post E-Design: An ‘Agreeable’ Farmhouse Dining Room Makeover appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

I LOVE exterior painting season. Now, if you live in the south, you might have this season all year round, sitting in your swimsuit sippin’ Sangria. However, here on the rainy west coast of Canada, this short-lived season lasts from approx May-September (if we’re lucky) – and then the galoshes come out.

Here’s a shot from one of last year’s exteriors…

And things have been HOPPING this season with clients sending me some great ‘after’ photos of their projects. I have to pick and choose what I can share, as not all photos can be cleaned up enough for my blog (it’s the nudes that really throw me) – and it’s DAMN hard to get a good exterior photo, so mad props to those who get it done.

So, while I know these photos might not be magazine ready, they should give you some great ideas for how you could update your OWN exterior this season!

Project 1

A Stone and Brick Facade Face Lift

It can be tricky trying to marry up brick, stone, roof, paint colour and trim. Every product has its own specific needs and they don’t ALWAYS match up! So, I’m SUPER happy with how this gorgeous exterior turned out, giving some worn-out trim and siding a much-needed makeover.

BEFORE: Love the stone (you can’t really see much of the brick in this shot), but the OVERLY purple siding colour was fighting with everything.

You can also see how there was a different siding colour on the front left portion – more of a beige with a pink undertone to it, making me think they painted this section the same as the trim.

AFTER: As you can see, sometimes it’s not about making a HUGE shift on a home, but about making the RIGHT shift into better undertones…

A photo like the one above is hard to take when the back of the house is getting hit with a different light from the front, but it definitely shows you how things levelled out on the whole (even though the 2 siding areas still look different).

BEFORE: You can get a good eyeball of the brick in this next shot. Notice how the body of the house is too purple for the stone, brick and roof and the trim around that bay window is slightly too pink/taupe.

AFTER: It’s like the whole home took a nice DEEEEEP breath, and I took a nice DEEEEEP swig of wine and gave myself a personal high-five.

From the options I gave my client, she chose BM Metropolis for the siding and bay window surround with BM Smokey Taupe for the trim.

BEFORE: Oy vay, check out how the garage door colour was clashing with the siding colour. The garage door colour actually wasn’t BAD with the brick, but it was a hot mess with the stone and just wasn’t doing much for the overall palette.

AFTER: This image isn’t as bright as I’d like, but it certainly will give you the idea! I don’t like to over-edit things, I want to show you things as close to real as I can get them!

BEFORE: That purple was just hitting the brick so hard, made me a lil’ twitchy.

AFTER: I LOVE this before and after as it REALLY shows the magic of the colour change…

And check out BM Wrought Iron on the side garage door. It’s also on the front door, but I couldn’t get the photo to brighten up enough to really see the beauty of it.

Read more: The Best Blue Paint Colours for Your Front Door

Project 2

A Red Brick Rancher Remodel

BEFORE: Not bad by any stretch…but also not good.

The yellow-green undertone of the house wasn’t sitting well with the roof. And while it was an ‘okay’ compliment to the brick, it was no screamin’ glory.

AFTER: Now the funny thing is that the grass actually looked better in the before photo! But for the sake of climate change, I don’t mind seeing a lil’ yellow grass.

And my client actually DID send me a photo when the grass was green, but with the way the sun was in its full glory, it was harder to get a read on the house colours – still damn pretty though!

And look at those flippin’ shutters! Adding shutters instantly took this home out of the ’80s and gave it a great personality (the same thing happens when I straighten my hair instead of leaving it natural).

Of the colours suggested, my client chose SW Sensible Hue for the siding and Cyberspace for the shutters and front door with Pure White trim. She originally was hoping for a sage green, but I felt like sage green would be too strong for her roof, Sensible Hue nods towards her personal tastes while blending them with the needs of her home!

Want to know the best paint colours for YOUR exterior?

Check out my E-design for your own personalized colour palette! 

Chat soon,

The post E-DESIGN: 2 Exterior Colour Facelifts! appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Picking a Paint Colour that Matches Your Backsplash & Countertop

When it comes to updating a kitchen, painting the cabinets is one of the BEST bang-for-buck ideas out there. But, unless you have pro-skills and the patience of a saint, it ain’t for the faint of heart.

So, I’m going to share some tips and tricks for getting it right the first time, as not only have I consulted on HUNDREDS of cabinet projects via my E-Design, I’ve also painted DOZENS of pieces myself (because I am a glutton for punishment). And keep in mind, that there are SO many exceptions and other considerations (ie: flooring/exposure/style/etc…) and I can only hit SO many things on my weee lil’ blog. What I’ve tried to cover are the BASICS and some tips to get you on the right path. And if you need advice from there, I have a FAB E-design service and would be more than happy to help!

And I know this is going to hurt, but guess what?

It’s not about what you want – it’s about what your kitchen needs

Now, if you and your kitchen want the SAME thing, then hells bells, we’re on a roll! However, on a weekly basis, I find myself talking clients off the ‘white cabinet cliff‘ and into colours that are more suited to their kitchen and it’s specific needs.

Your kitchen needs to be able to visually support the colour of the cabinets – and not every kitchen can support bright white, gray or whatever cabinet colour is on-trend. In fact, more often than not, I’ve discovered that kitchens prefer a soft white, off-white or even cream.  But, how do you figure out what the right colour is?

You keep on readin’.

Tip 1   Test your paint samples the RIGHT way

Did you know that the FINISH of your paint will affect the way it looks? That’s right. So, if you make a cabinet paint sample in an eggshell finish (typical wall finish) and love it, that doesn’t mean you’ll love it in a satin finish, which is a more common finish for cabinets. The higher the sheen, the more light it will reflect. This reflected light can make a paint colour look a bit lighter and brighter than you’d expect it to (compared to matte/eggshell finish). You might even find that the wee paint chip that SEEMED a wink too dark for your cabinets, actually looks PERFECT when you sample it in the right paint finish because it looks a bit lighter.

Sample your paint in the same finish/paint you’ll be using on the cabinets. This will cost you more in samples but will be worth it

• Sample on a whiteboard/canvas
• ALWAYS do 2 coats
• Leave a white perimeter around 2 sides of the board as this will help to show you the level of contrast there is
• Judge it ONLY by how it looks vertically, NOT horizontally. Light reflects differently off of a horizontal surface vs a vertical one (it always looks lighter horizontally). Sure, lay it down with your countertop to make sure it jibes, but choose it based on how it looks on the upright

You can also order paper paint samples (some stores have them in-stock) and these can work pretty well as they tend to have a slightly higher sheen. Just do what my client did (above) and tape them to something white so you can see the depth/contrast.

Tip 2     The colour family of your backsplash & countertop will guide your choices

You need to figure out whether your backsplash and countertops are in a warm family or a cool family (and they should be in the same family). And this applies to white backsplashes, multi-coloured ones and even metal ones!

If you have MOSTLY warm tones in your backsplash/countertop

• You’ll want to look at warm colours for your cabinets (including warm whites)
• Warm colours include: off-white, cream, white that leans yellow or orange, brown, beige and some greiges

See the before and after of these painted cabinets HERE

If you have MOSTLY cool tones in your backsplash

• You’ll want to look at cooler colours for your cabinets
• Cool colours include blue, green, purple and gray or white (with those undertones)
• Some warm grays and greiges can humour cooler colours
• It can also include a clean, crisp white

And yes, it was hard to get a photo of this bathroom without being in it! Not that I’ve ever been camera shy…

If you have SOME cool/warm mixed together

This CAN give you a bit of flexibility to venture into warm OR cool, however…

• When it comes to whites, you need to go with the MAJORITY colour (so if your backsplash/countertop are MOSTLY warm, you’ll want to go with that)
• This could be a good opportunity to do a something different on the lower cabinets or the island

And when it comes down to it – SAMPLE SAMPLE SAMPLE until you hit the right spot (it’s my motto with wine and men as well – just joking on one of those Tim).

Tip 3     Look at your backsplash FIRST and countertop SECOND

Most people refer to their countertop when choosing a cabinet colour and sure, it’s VITALLY important, however, the backsplash is MORE important. Why? Well, the backsplash and cabinets are on the same vertical plane, which means they are initially more visually connected to each other and pass through your vision at the same time. Let’s hit that one…more…time.

The backsplash and cabinets are on the same vertical plane, which means that they are more visually connected to each other than the cabinets and countertops. 

This means that because your countertop is horizontal, it actually plays second fiddle to your backsplash when you’re choosing a cabinet colour. Now, if you don’t have a backsplash, that’s a whole different project and you can just move on to Tip 4, but for the rest of you, let’s take a closer look at things.

If you have a tile backsplash that is white or off-white

• If you are wanting white cabinets, your backsplash and your cabinets have to be the SAME WHITE.
• And yes, it can be a painful process trying to figure out which white is your white (I prefer Pinot Gris myself), but if you get it WRONG you’ll have a WAY bigger problem.
• If you’re wanting coloured or darker neutral cabinets, you need to coordinate colour families. If your backsplash is a crisp clean white, your cabinets will prefer a cooler colour/neutral. If your backsplash is slightly warm/cream, your cabinets will prefer warmer colours/neutrals.

Read more: The 8 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colours

Read more: The 4 Best Sherwin Williams White Paint Colours

And what happens if you miss the colour boat? Well, for example, if your backsplash is a soft, slightly warm white and you choose a clean, crisp white for your cabinets, your backsplash could look yellowish in comparison. If your backsplash is pretty damn white and you choose a soft, warm white for the cabinets, your cabinets will look dingy and yellowed in comparison.

If you have a backsplash with mixed colours/shades

Of course there’s a WIDE range of cabinet colours out there, however, most of my clients are looking for some form of neutral. What you want to do is find the NEUTRAL that is in your backsplash and pick that up on the cabinets.

• If you are wanting white/light cabinets, you’ll want to find the LIGHTEST colour in your backsplash and match it (undertones and all)
• If you are wanting medium toned cabinets, you’ll want to MATCH one of the light-medium depth colours in your backsplash
• If your backsplash has multiple mixed shades but NO white – you probably can’t paint your cabinets white, there will be no visual connection

And keep in mind that there are ALWAYS EXCEPTIONS, it would be virtually impossible for me to cover EVERY scenario (I’m good, but not THAT good). What I try to do is hit the most common colour conundrums.

So, THAT covers the backsplash and its needs. Now we’ll look at your countertop for our next clues…

Tip 4     Look closely at your countertop

Once you’ve narrowed down the colour candidates based on the backsplash, you can look at your countertop to make sure everything still jibes. If your countertop and backsplash don’t look good TOGETHER, you MIGHT want to check out Tip #6.

On the other hand, if you don’t HAVE a backsplash, this would be the first place to start!

See the before and after HERE

If you want white or off-white cabinets

• You might think that having black or relatively solid coloured countertops guarantees you any white, and while they can make life a bit easier, you still need to consult with your flooring, backsplash and appliances (black / white). And sadly, I can’t cover all of these things in one blog post which is why I refer to as many links as I can to help you along
• When choosing a white or off-white paint colour, you’ll want to match a white or off-white that is in the countertop. If you have an off-white in your countertop and choose too BRIGHT of a white for the cabinets, they won’t connect well. You must choose the same type of white. If you don’t have a white or off-white in your countertops OR backsplash, we might then look at other products in your room such as the flooring for guidance using the same rules

See the before and after of these painted cabinets HERE

If you want cabinets with a bit of depth to them (non-white)

• Find that colour IN your countertop and/or backsplash. If that colour isn’t in your products, it will be hard to paint your cabinets that colour (the exception are black and white countertops which have more flexibility)

See the before and afters of these cabinets HERE

If you want to paint your cabinets a COLOUR (non-neutral)

• You’ll want this to be a colour that is in the countertop or that directly complements/accents it

If you want to paint your cabinets a COOL colour and you have WARM toned countertops/backsplash

• #dontdoit

If you want to paint your cabinets a WARM colour and you have COOL toned countertops/backsplash

• #stepbackfromtheledge

Tip #6     How to pick the best colour for an island or lower cabinets

Often, the countertop is actually the DIRECT inspiration for the secondary cabinet colour (ie: lower cabinets or island). This is where you’d find a light/medium/dark colour that is living in your countertop and apply it to the cabinets as a complement to the main cabinet colour (which is usually white or a soft neutral). In this case, the countertop plays a BIGGER part than the backsplash.

There are 2 ways to pick a secondary colour…

#1 – Match a colour in your countertop

You can match it PERFECTLY or do a lighter/darker version of it (same undertones, different depth)

#2 – Complement/contrast a colour in your countertop (and/or backsplash)

This is where you can get a bit more creative and dabble in teal, navy blue and the likes, just make sure that it actually complements the countertop and doesn’t fight with anything in your room

Read more: The 3 Best Gray and Greige Paint Colours for Cabinets and Vanities 

REMEMBER, there are ALWAYS exceptions, I’m just here to cover the most common queries.

Why do I keep saying that? Because I just KNOW that my comment section will get flooded with these exceptions/questions otherwise. And for MOST of these exceptions, I do need to refer to my E-design as photos will show me what’s going on in your room and the questionnaire will help me to figure out what you’re HOPING you can do!

Tip 6    What do I do if my backsplash and countertop DON’T look good together?

You’d be amazed at how often I come across this – a backsplash that has been poorly chosen/matched to a countertop. And it ALLLL comes down to Tip #2 and #3.  So, if your cabinets/countertop aren’t a hot combo, you will want to favour your backsplash because the backsplash/cabinets are in the SAME eyeball and it’s more important that THEY coordinate (that being said, if things are lookin’ real fugly, a backsplash is WAY cheaper to replace than a countertop – just sayin’).

The above photo was a tricky one, but a great example for you to check out. You can see how the white of the subway tile is TOO white/stark for the warmth of the granite. And while my client wanted white cabinets, I recommended that she actually went into warm gray cabinets, hitting up those flecks in the countertop as a way of creating a ‘happy medium’ between the warm and cool colours in her products. If she STILL wanted white cabinets after our little discussion, she would have to choose the best white for the BACKSPLASH, not the countertop (and those are WAAAY different looking whites…and it would’ve been terrible).

Tip 7     My 2 Fave Cabinet (and trim) Paints

In my world, there is one CLEAR fave for cabinet paint…

Benjamin Moore Advance in pearl finish. And no, I don’t get paid to say that, I pay myself in wine and personal high-fives – that’s it. Seriously though, this is a GLORIOUS paint and gives a close to factory finish look (not including your painting skills, which I can’t account for). I tried the semi-gloss one time, just to SEE what it was like and if you like surfaces that you can see your own reflection in, then you’re golden.

I also like Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane. And because it says ‘urethane’ a lot of people seem to think it’s an oil paint, but it’s water-based and anyways, NOBODY uses oil anymore – well, except 65-year-old painters, they love that stuff. I find the sheen of the Emerald Urethane to be JUST slightly lower than BM Advance, which is why I lean toward BM. I’ve heard of a few complaints re: SW All Surface Enamel being a bit gummy, so I’ve stayed away from that one.

And these paints aren’t CHEAP my friend, but if you’re looking to save money – you should look elsewhere as when it comes to cabinets, you need it done right the FIRST time. GOOD prep, GOOD primer and GOOD quality application products (oh, and good advice helps too – wink wink).

I know you probably have questions and while I try to cover as MUCH as I can with my blog posts if you need some one-on-one help…

Check out my E-design services where I can VIRTUALLY visit your home! 

Chat soon,

The post Painting Kitchen Cabinets: How to Pick the Best Paint Colour appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

A New Exterior Paint Palette for a Brick Rancher

When it comes to picking paint colours for the exterior, there are SO many things to consider: roof, brick/stone, driveway, exposure, landscaping, and then, of course, you throw personal tastes into the mix and it’s no WONDER it’s a stressful process!

And this cute little rancher is the PERFECT example of ‘high needs’ as we had to accommodate ALL of the above considerations. Luckily, she had the right bones to be a beauty, she just needed a lil’ facelift!

From their questionnaire, I knew the owners were looking for something NOT warm, NOT yellow and HOPEFULLY taupe or gray – with green undertones. I figured we could squeeze in gray, but I couldn’t accommodate the green undertone. Why? Well, the majority of the products on this property are warm – orange to be specific. Sure, there’s some purple in the roof and driveway, but the dominant colour is orange. So, because opposites attract, if we chose a gray or taupe with green in it, things would have REALLY started popping/contrasting, without any SINGLE thing to visually tie them together. It would’ve been a HOT mess.

Instead, by listening to the homeowners wants and combining them with the needs of the home, I found the link – purple! You can see the purple in the driveway brick, as well as the roof. If you can’t see the purple, I recommend you drink a glass or 2 of wine, and then you will (helps every time). By choosing a gray with a PURPLE undertone, rather than a green one, we’re more likely to make a visual connection with the other finishes – BOOM!

And the results?

It’s like a totally different home! A beautiful colour palette, lush green grass and landscaping – the value of this home (financially AND emotionally) just increased in a BIG way.

The new front door style and colour is a WAY better choice for this gorgeous home.

What colours did we choose you might ask?

The orange/beige represents the basic neutral on the brick walls/driveway and roof. Of the 3 palettes that I suggested, they chose:

• Siding: SW Mink, which is a med-dark warm gray with a purple undertone
• Trim: SW Alabaster, a soft, warm white
• Front Door: One of my FAVES, SW Iron Ore, which is a soft black.

NEED HELP WITH YOUR EXTERIOR?

Check out my E-Design, I’d love to help! 

Chat soon,

READ MORE:

E-Design: A Stunning Exterior Makeover – Painted Brick and More

How to Add Curb Appeal to Your Home’s Exterior

The post E-Design: A Brick Exterior with a Fresh New Look! appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

How to Pick an Exterior Paint Colour

Are you trying to pick an exterior colour and second-guessing yourself at every turn? If not, you should be.

That’s right, you SHOULD be second-guessing yourself. Why? Because choosing an exterior paint colour is a WHOLE different ball game compared to interior colours, which is why so many people find themselves picking the wrong one. It can also be CONSIDERABLY more expensive than interior projects, which is why choosing the RIGHT colour is even more important than ever.

Kylie M E-Design 

So, how do you pick the right one? Prayer, toe crossing, salt throwing and multiple bottles glasses of wine. Oh, and read these tips…

1. EXTERIOR PAINT COLOURS: It could look lighter than you’d expect

Expect your colour to look about half a tone lighter or MORE than it does on that wee little chip. Why? Well, paint tends to look lighter when exposed to natural light, especially on a large surface. Regardless of the direction your home faces, the amount of natural light it gets can make your paint look a little, or a LOT lighter!

In fact, if your home gets a good dose of sun on it, your paint colour can look 2-3 tones lighter, which we’ll get into below in the ‘exposures’ section (no indecent exposure though…this time anyway).

And because INFO can be boring, I’m also going to share with you some great before and after photos from my E-Design clients!

This home was tricky with its warm red terracotta tile roof, but it turned out GORGEOUS in the end with a greige and off-white paint colour palette…

Kylie M Interiors E-Design

The effect of natural light is hard to see on those wee little paint chips and even with larger paint samples (SAMPLIZE), which is why it’s VITAL that you look at your samples on ALL sides of your home and in different types of light (morning/afternoon/etc…).

• If you have a lot of landscaping that blocks natural light, then the colour won’t look as light as it would if it had DIRECT natural light
• If you find a colour that you love and worry that it will be too light – it probably will be. If you’re worried it’s too dark – don’t jump the gun as it could look lighter once it’s on the house
• With south-facing homes, the southern side will look at least one tone lighter OR MORE – until the sun starts going down obviously. At the height of the day the colour will look its most washed-out
• With north-facing homes, can look a bit lighter, but not as much as a south-facing side or morning eastern/afternoon western exposure

Read more: North, East, South, West: Which Paint Colour is the Best (Interior colours)

2. EXTERIOR PAINT COLOURS: Texture and shadows add depth

The above is not my E-design project, just a great example of a stucco finish

This is important for homes that have a stippled, stucco finish – I’m not talking about general ‘texture’ – I’m talking about the popcorn style of texture that has a lot of nooks and crannies. All of this texture creates shadows which can make the paint colour look slightly darker. If you have a home that has two types of exterior finishes (siding and stippled stucco) you can paint both areas the same colour and the stucco may look slightly darker than the siding.

• If your entire home is popcorn style stucco, by the time you take into account the craving for Orville Redenbacher’s, shadows from the stucco and the lightening from the natural light, your paint colour COULD turn out pretty darn close to the sample piece
• If part of your home is under an overhang that casts a shadow or is beneath landscaping/trees that reduce the quality of direct natural light, expect your paint colour to look darker

3. EXTERIOR PAINT COLOURS: Expect more colour

On an exterior, undertones can be a wink more obvious than what you see on those wee little paint chips (specifically the undertones hiding in neutral paint colours). Find out what the undertones of your colour are (if you are choosing a neutral) and decide if those are colours you can live with. I’m not saying they are going to go all dominatrix style on you, but they might be a bit more than passive.

The above shows you the variety of colours that can be found in gray! 

These next before and after photos are the END-result of the above paint sampling process…

Click HERE or on the above image to see available packages!

Let’s take a quick break to talk about paint samples…

Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

• Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on location
• At $6.99, they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needing for traditional paint sampling
• If you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

4. EXTERIOR PAINT COLOURS: The EXPOSURE of your home will affect how the paint colour looks

North, east, south, west, which paint colour is the best? You’ll want to figure out the exposure of the MAIN side of your home, which is USUALLY the front of your home. Now, this doesn’t mean you ignore the other sides, but you WILL want to give preference to the side that is the most important for curb appeal.

While I have an ENTIRE BLOG POST dedicated to this topic, I want to touch briefly on a few things…

HOMES WITH SOUTH-FACING EXTERIORS

Southern light is yellow and warm and is known to enhance some ‘colours’, while at the height of the day, direct southern light (like sunbeams shining ON your house) will wash out colours. I know…it’s confusing. Sip sip. Okay, that’s better.

My TOP 10 E-DESIGN Exterior Makeovers

HOMES WITH NORTH-FACING EXPOSURES

Northern light is gray and slightly blue-toned and can slightly (very slightly) neutralize colours – but not enough to make the undertones irrelevant.

HOMES WITH EAST OR WEST-FACING EXPOSURES

East and west-facing exposures are always a bugger as they aren’t quite as predictable as north/south.

East-facing light: This light is brighter in the morning and will actually HIT your home, whereas in the afternoon it will fall into shadow.

West-facing light: This light is more shaded in the morning and will hit your home in the afternoon with some relatively intense warmth!

And of course, there are MIXED exposures, but I can only cover SO much here, and these tips are just designed to get you in the right direction.

My next Online Colour Consulting client wanted a bit more WOW for her home and was tired of the taupe/beige that was there…

And WOW is what she got – so gorgeous with some late-afternoon western sunshine!

In the above photo, just LOOK at the paint colour in the dappled areas that are hit with afternoon west-facing sunshine – pretty crazy!

READ MORE: 5 Steps to Picking Your Perfect Exterior Paint Colour

5. EXTERIOR PAINT COLOURS: Sheen can affect how colours look

Paint finish (sheen) can affect how a colour looks. OH, WILL THE MADNESS EVER END????? No. It won’t, that’s why wine was created.

When it comes to exteriors these are the recommended finishes and how you might expect them to act. However, depending on your geographical location, your local paint store might recommend other finishes that are better suited to your particular environment (ie: ocean/forest/prairies)…

THE BEST PAINT FINISH FOR SIDING: WOOD, VINYL OR HARDI-BOARD

Low-Lustre or Satin finish

The lower the sheen is on your paint, the less washable it will be, so if you go low-lustre make sure you buy QUALITY paint (BM has a good one – Aura). Satin is good for washability, but can enhance texture a more and look even a bit garish.

The above was just a sneaky drive-by on one of my local projects, so I couldn’t move the hockey net

• The more textured your wood is, the flatter your finish should be. Sheen enhances texture, so choosing a low sheen paint will keep things looking calmer

THE BEST PAINT FINISH FOR EXTERIOR TRIM, SHUTTERS AND DOORS

Satin (although some people do semi-gloss on doors)

Satin and semi-gloss are great finishes for trims, doors and garage doors. I lean toward satin on the garage door and front door with satin OR semi-gloss on the trims.

• Satin has just the right sheen to accommodate smooth or textured trim
• Satin is in between eggshell and semi-gloss. Semi-gloss is THE most washable.
• A satin or semi-gloss finish will make your colour feel just slightly more saturated (colourful/bright) than a flat or eggshell finish (compared to your paint chip)
• When light hits sheen it can make a colour wash-out more and look brighter AND reflective, so consider how much direct natural light you get when picking your finish

THE BEST PAINT FINISH FOR MASONRY: BRICK, STONE, CEMENT

Low-lustre or satin at the MOST

Satin finish can work for textured surfaces like brick and other masonry. This keeps it easy to hose down without creating a smudgy surface as brick is often on the lower portion of a home, where it gets the most dirt. However, I personally prefer a low-lustre/eggshell finish to keep the textured look down and reduce the sheen.

• Semi-gloss can be TOO much with the texture/pattern of masonry
• Satin is in between eggshell and semi-gloss. More wipeable than eggshell without the sheen of semi or high gloss paint
• A satin finish will make your colour feel just slightly more saturated (colourful/bright) than a flat finish (compared to your paint chip)
• Low-lustre will have some sheen to it, but not as much as a satin – but not as flat as a matte/flat

Not sure which paint colour to pick?

Check out my Online Decorating and Color Consulting Services – I’d love to help! 

READ MORE

E-Design: A Brick Exterior with a Fresh New Look

How to Add Curb Appeal to Your Home’s Exterior: Budget-Friendly Ideas

The 12 Best Whole Home Gray and Greige Paint Colours – INTERIOR

Originally written in 2018, awesomely updated in 2020

The post Exterior Painting: 4 Tips to Read BEFORE Picking a Paint Colour appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Edgecomb Gray – My FAVE Greige Paint Colour

Greige is a tricky one. SO many people think that when they choose greige, they’re going to get this perfect blend of beige and gray, but that’s rarely the case! It’s kind of like mixing red wine and white wine – you don’t necessarily get a nice rose (but hey, I’ll drink it anyway).

So, when I’m looking for a relatively well-balanced greige that doesn’t pick up the typical undertones of either taupe or green – I look at Edgecomb Gray. Sure, like any greige, it can pick up a whole WHACK of undertones as it’s easily influenced by its environment/exposure/etc…but generally speaking – it’s pretty damn greige!

I used Edgecomb Gray throughout a local client’s home as shown here in Colour Review: Edgecomb Gray, so when my e-design client was looking for the perfect colour for her home, it was one of my TOP suggestions.

Before, the room felt weighed-down and a bit drab…

After, it looks MUCH more inviting and warm!

Before, the colours were a bit heavy and flat for the treed landscaping outside the windows…

After, when paired with Pashmina in the eating area/kitchen, the palette is way softer and more organic looking – and notice how the wood floors came to life!

Read more: Taupe and Greige: What’s the Difference?

To the right of the eating nook above is the kitchen. I have a blog post dedicated ENTIRELY to this kitchen makeover, so you’ll want to check that out once you’re done here, but I’ll give you a sneak peek…

I know, I’m such a tease (ask Tim…), but the kitchen turned out so cool that it really deserves its own spot in the limelight. If you want to check it out, you can see it here (but finish this one first!)

My client ALSO wanted to change the dining room into more of a casual family room, and let me say that it’s a good thing she did…the only thing the old dining room would inspire me to do is drink more.

Ummm, can I get a HELLS YEAH on changing this into a family room?

So there you have it, another paint colour transformation – And don’t forget to check out the oak kitchen makeover!

Want your own consultation?

Check out my affordable and fun E-Design! 

Chat soon,

READ MORE

Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

Oak Kitchen Makeover with White Dove

Taupe and Greige: What’s the Difference?

The post An E-Design with Edgecomb Gray: The Best Greige Paint Colour! appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Before & After Oak Kitchen Makeover

While wood cabinets are definitely coming back in style, there is something classic and timeless about a white kitchen. AND if you’ve been drinkin’ my Koolaid for a while, you’re likely familiar with my fave saying. Repeat after me…

‘Just because it’s wood, doesn’t mean it’s good.’

If I could, I would tattoo this on my chest and would proudly show it to anyone who thought that their cabinets were better off ‘au naturel’ (particularly men, who think that any wood is good wood). But then I realized how awkward that would be, so I wrote it in jiffy marker and just showed Tim.

And I’m not saying ALL wood needs to be painted. I’ve done MANY E-design consultations where I’ve given my clients a hard no when they’ve asked if they should paint their cabinets – some wood cabinets are FRIGGIN’ gorgeous! Others? Not so much…

Now, these oak kitchen cabinets weren’t BAD by any stretch of the imagination and in fact, had a lot going for them:

• Dentil style crown molding (those little things that look like teeth all in a row) – super nice detail
• Small recessed valance, meaning they could have under cabinet lighting (oak cabinets rarely have this)
• NO exposed hinges – HALLELUJAH!
• They were in GREAT physical condition

So, why paint them, right? Well, it wasn’t the WOOD itself that was the problem, it was the COLOUR of it. And really, once the cabinets were painted they would still BE wood, they just wouldn’t be a fugly colour anymore. Sounds good to me!

Before, the room had a weighted, heavy look to it…

After – a fresh new face!

Before, notice the raised peninsula which really chopped-off the flow of the kitchen into the eating area.

After, SO MUCH BETTER!

Before, low lighting and heavy colours weren’t doing this kitchen ANY favours…

After, it’s like night and day!

Read more: How to Update Oak Cabinets WITHOUT Painting Them

Again, there was nothing wrong with the BONES of this kitchen, it was just looking dated (and the forest green countertops weren’t helping either…)

My client chose White Dove for the cabinets, which is one of the BEST white paint colours for cabinets. You can see here how it acts like white, without being too stark/icy looking. The paint colour on the walls is BM Pashmina, a GLORIOUS medium toned greige.

So there you have it, another painted kitchen makeover. Want to see more?

• Maple No More: Painted Kitchen Makeover
• E-Design: A Gorgeous Off-White Kitchen Makeover

NEED HELP?

Check out my affordable and FUN E-design services!

Chat soon,

READ MORE:

How to Update Oak Cabinets WITHOUT Painting Them

4 Ideas: How  to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets

The post E-Design – An Oak Cabinet Makeover with White Dove appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Colour Consultation:  A Fresh Face For an Almond/Bone Bathroom 

Partner Post:  The Best Paint Colours for an Almond Bathroom

When you think of the word almond, you might get the munchies. However, when I think of that word I get slightly nauseous. Why? Because when I think of almond, I think of bathrooms. And when I think of almond bathrooms, I get a little twitchy, as bathrooms with that particular colour of fixtures can be a real bugger to update!

But I like a challenge.  Anyone can rip out a bathroom and start from scratch, but it’s pretty darned satisfying to save money and work with what ya got!

So I was RELIEVED when I looked at my client’s photos, showing a space with almond/bone fixtures, a neutral beige floor (PRAISE THE LORD) and a countertop that was slightly warmer toned, but relatively easy to work with. Phew.

Now that doesn’t mean that everything was easy-peasy from there, but it does mean that our options were a bit more varied courtesy of the flooring and countertop. Had those items been ‘true to their era’ – blue, dusty rose or (heaven forbid) forest green, it would have been a different story (involving a funnel and lots of wine. Wait, it kind of involves that anyway…).

My client bought the ‘Create Your Own Bathroom‘ package and selected the following topics:

• Paint colour for the walls
• Paint colour for the trim
• Paint colour for the oak vanity

And BTW, thank you to my lover-ly client for sending along the after photos for me!

Before, it was a ‘work-in-progress’…

And here’s how it all turned out!

Based on the photos of the bathroom and her questionnaire answers, I came up with 3 options for the walls, along with vanity and trim options.  Of those, she chose SW Magnetic Gray for the walls, BM White Dove trim and SW Night Owl for the oak vanity.

As you can see, the neutral floor tile made life SO much easier and even the tile detail around the walk-in shower was easy enough to manage.

In this next photo, you can see the almond tub in its full nutty glory!

And after, MUCH more relaxing!

Notice the painted trim/door.  We went with White Dove to add a slightly more fresh vibe.  I worried that a more tan/beige tone would date the space too much, but didn’t want a white that was too stark/harsh.

Read more:  Ideas to Update an Almond Bathroom

In the future, I might use an almond colour caulk, rather than white. And thank you for asking, I DO have an embarrassing story involving caulk! When I worked at Home Depot, we had a painting seminar in which we learned about the finer virtues of ‘caulking’. And I let EVERYONE know how much I loved caulk. Yup. Good times. They subsequently let me know that it was called ‘caulking – always caulking’. Duly noted.

If they were to use the same knobs/finish on the cabinet pulls it would be the icing on the cake! However the fleur de lis knobs might be a personal/memory thing, so I totally get it if that’s the case!

And the crowning glory…get it?  The throne?  Even the LOO looks better!

Want 3 custom picked colours for your room? Check out my affordable E-design and Online Colour Consulting packages! 

Chat soon,

Read more

Ideas to Update an Almond Bathroom

The Best Paint Colours for an Almond or Bone Bathroom

The post E-Design: An Almond Bathroom Gets a Fresh Paint Colour appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Virtual E-Design on a Country Farmhouse Home

If you follow my blog, you’ll remember a similar blog post from about a month ago re: a country paint palette with a REAL person in a REAL home with a REAL budget (here).

‘Real Homes, Real People, Real Budgets’ means (to me) that the homeowners have put a bit of their heart and soul into their home. That it’s not about what’s trendy – even if it happens to be, or what’s best for resale – even if it is. It’s about what feels good and is authentic to the family that lives there. It’s about homes that have a little bit of magic. It’s about products and furnishings that fit within their budget, even if they aren’t fancy-shmancy. It’s about homes that aren’t always magazine ready (even if they DO happen to be tidy and organized ALL the time). It’s about homes that invite you in for a glass of wine (because tea is highly over-rated) and would even let you pass-out on their couch, drooling, with Fixer Upper playing on the TV.  That, is a real home to me.

And JUST in time for fall, this REAL home is going to inspire you with a colourful, autumn-inspired palette full of country charm and more! You ready Betty?

Deedra has been a LONG-time e-design client (she bin’ drinkin’ the Koolaid for YEARS). And in the great words of her hubby…

‘…My wife can decorate with the best of them…however, she has changed color so many times, in so many rooms that we have been able to reduce our tax assessment as we now have less square feet of living space. You know what else we have less of?  Money!  Painting over and over again costs a lot, I meant to say, A LOT of money! The amount of money that my wife has paid to Kylie has WAY more than paid for itself in that we finally have paint colours that work! No more repainting! No more of my wife sitting on the couch with a half dozen paint wheels for hours on end…’ 

And let me finish that off by saying that Deedra has some MAAAD skills, her hubby is right, she CAN decorate with the best of them (including yours truly), now let’s take a look at her beautiful home!

A Farmhouse Country Kitchen

It only makes sense to start our tour in the heart of the home! nd if you’ve EVER tried to take interior photos, you know how hard it can be to get a crisp, bright photo. Deedra did a FAB job and while some of them I couldn’t edit enough to use, I got some beautiful shots to share with you…

When it comes to painted furniture, once I went black, I never went back and it looks like Deedra feels the same way!

Ooooh, this kitchen melts me.  With Benjamin Moore Powell Buff on the walls and soft white wainscoting (Cloud White) it has all of the charm of a farmhouse country kitchen (complete with black soapstone countertops – MAD LOVE!).

This photo gives you a good shot of the beautiful pine floors, butcher block island and a sneak-peek into the gorgeous autumn-infused dining room…

A Cozy Country Dining Room

I LOVE that Deedra wanted to embrace colour in her dining room, it’s not often I get to play with red (other than what is on my head)!

Of the beautiful red-inspired options, Deedra settled on Onondaga Clay (otherwise known as Boxcar Red, which I also used in my Mom’s kitchen). It’s a beautiful, grounded way of using red, without being either turned-on all the time or angry (which are common psychological reactions to red – just so you don’t think I’m THAT crazy).

And while I know white is the ‘go-to’ for most farmhouse country looks, I think it’s the black details that make this palette come together. Without them, the palette would have been missing a real grounding factor.

Above and below, you can see how the dining room is sandwiched between Powell Buff in the kitchen as well as the entryway, giving some flow, balance and a bit of visual relief to the stronger dining room walls.

Stairway

How often do you get to see solid pine stairs? NEVA! I love this staircase in it’s simplicity. My next passive-aggressive goal is to convince her to paint the risers, banister and spindles white (wink wink nudge nudge Deedra).

Below, take a sneak peek at the left side of the photo, you’ll notice the lovely bench from the entryway and see how the 2 spaces connect to one another.

The living room is a north facing space and it REALLY gave us a run for our money. Not only is it north facing, but it also has a deck overhang and an owner who is almost as anal about colours as I am! (that would be a compliment btw).

The winner winner chicken dinner was Benjamin Moore Lenox Tan, lightened by 25%. It hits the spot with regard to warmth and softness. It doesn’t compete with the pine flooring, doors and furniture, but also balances out the cooool northern light coming in the windows.

I love the rich, warm, earth toned neutrals and accents in this room. I could easily curl up with a bottle glass of wine for an evening.

The Master Bedroom

They say this is where the magic happens and I have NO doubt that’s the case with this beautiful room…

The paint colour is Benjamin Moore Arctic Gray, a gorgeous blue/green/gray blend.

Read more:  The 8 Best Blue Green Paint Colours

Want to see another gorgeous, farmhouse style home palette? A More Colourful Farmhouse Palette

The Home Office

I’d work in here all day! The office is painted in Benjamin Moore Nantucket Gray which is an earth-toned toned green with enough depth to be cozy, but not heavy.

The Guest Bedroom

And one of my fave rooms ever, the guest bedroom…

I’m personally not a blue fan, but Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue has won me over with it’s subtle gray undertone with a weeee willy wink of green in it to soften things up. Deedra may want to paint over this soon, otherwise, I might become a permanent guest…I’D NEVER LEAVE!

So there you have it.  Are you ready to commit to some colour in your home?

Check out my affordable E-Design and Virtual Colour Consulting and let’s do it!

Chat soon,

The post An Autumn Inspired Country Paint Palette: Real Homes, Real People, REAL Budgets appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

When we bought our home, this was one of the spaces I was REALLY excited about – I knew it had the potential to be the hub and heart of our home (which can’t often be said about a dark basement family room). And it’s not like it was THAT bad to start with, HELL YES IT WAS (sorry, that was my inside voice screaming at me), but it definitely needed a little KLC.

Let’s start with a nice general shot of the main area before.

As you can see, the hubs is standing at the bar, which was awkward for a few reasons…

a) He prefers to sit when he drinks beer and this was more of a ‘stand up’ bar, rather than a ‘sit at’ bar. Let’s be honest, though, as long as he’s drinking beer, he’s pretty happy.

b) It was a terrible layout; even if he were to sit at the bar, the countertop was chest height (even with tall bar stools) and he would be staring at a blank wall (similar to when he’s talking to me about my shopping problem).

b) It blocked the flow of light from that window, which we needed in this dark space.

d) It had cherry cabinetry which WAS beautiful, but not really ma’ jam.

But I digress. You will be seeing more of the bar area in the NEXT blog post, as it really deserves a spot of its own.  For now, we’re focusing on the main area, which has come a LONG way from its somewhat goth roots…

Same stone fireplace, but that’s about the only thing that survived!

Also, notice the lack of bar to the left of that brown leather accent chair and the fact that the TV becomes a secondary part of the room, blending into the paint colour (it’s like I know what I’m doing or something).

And in the title, you’ll notice I called it a ‘real’ family room.

Why?

Well, I find that a lot of the magazine, Houzz, and Pinterest photos that you see are either:

a) cost prohibitive – meaning they are out of reach for many readers.

b) they aren’t all that ‘liveable,’ meaning you ‘could’ relax and put your feet up, but the homeowner may beat you for doing so.

c) there’s a WHOOOOLE lot of gray and white, which can be beautiful, but I wanted to show you guys something more fun and colorful!

I’m also going to share with you some of the highlights of this room and some of the costs, so you can see where I found my happy medium between quality, price, and looks, all without having to visit a marriage counselor.

The Coffee Table & Media Center

Best…coffee table…evah.

Coffee Table: $200. This coffee table is unreal. Coming in at a whopping 54″x 54″, it’s really as big as they get. I bought this piece 2nd hand and while it’s ginormous, it’s the perfect spot for games, puzzles, drinks, and feet!  And notice it’s not accessorized with trays, floral arrangements, and artful stacks of books. That’s because that is HIGH maintenance. I like to keep things low-key and simple for everyday use – the above is about as artful as it gets.

Media Stand: $30. Did you notice the white cabinet to the right of the fireplace? It’s another 2nd hand piece. It’s solid pine and with a fresh lick of white paint, it turned into the PERFECT media center. I’ve got the cable box hiding underneath it and the drawers hide all of the technical bits n’ pieces. For a while, I had removed two drawers to house the cable box and whatnot, but I got tired of seeing all that junk (even though you KNOW how I LOVE going without any drawers…). And you’d never even THINK it was only $30!

And I’m a BIG believer in a home that is full of love, not just ‘home decor.’ Therefore, many of our decorative bits have meaning – you’ll see my Big Grandpa there, safely tucked away in the yellow container (so he can hear the hockey game).

Now let’s look at another before photo (always the best part…).

The Accent Chairs & Gray Sectional

Oy vay, what a dungeon – it may invite you in, but you might not come out alive!

Accent Chairs: $485 Pier 1. I have MAD love for my two leather accent chairs (the other one is to the left of the fireplace). Tobacco brown is my fave leather colour and it’s a fab complement to the warm stones in the fireplace and the paint colors.

Sectional: $2200 (on sale) Urban Barn. I’ve learned the hard way not to buy a cheap couch. This one was not crazy expensive, but it’s certainly more than I’d USUALLY spend. It’s comfy, quality, and the dark charcoal is a great foundation for the room (and shows less wine spills than a lighter fabric).

Artwork: $119 Home Sense. I LOOVE my pussy willow canvas!

The Family Gallery Wall

Standing at the fireplace and looking BACK into the room, you’ll see my favorite part (okay, maybe my 2nd fave part) – the family photo wall.

Before, this wall was bright red and overwhelming (this is how it looked when we bought our home)…

And NOW, it pays homage to some of our favorite people in the world (and in Heaven too…)

A few things to notice…

The wall is now longer than it used to be. This was all part of my ‘Home Office Makeover – a Black and White Affair.’ So, we actually LOST 2 1/2 feet of space in the family room, but we don’t even miss it. In fact, the flow is way better as there’s less non-functioning dead space.

The sofa table behind the couch: $250 (custom). This is a custom piece that I had Drift Designs in Wood make for us (amongst other awesome pieces in our home). It has two stools, so come game time, we can accommodate that many more people (plus it saves extra messy meals from being eaten on the couch).

The stools: $80. I got them for $80 a piece – brand new (but bought 2nd hand; they just hadn’t been used).

The buffet: $499 Home Sense. This houses our games, candles, and gardening gloves as it’s close to the backyard.

NOW…we’re moving on to my REAL favorite part – my books.

My Ikea Hemnes Bookcases

For those of you who know me well, you’ll know I’m a super nerd and love to spend most nites with a good book. And I’m a total hoarder too. While I don’t have a problem parting with books I didn’t enjoy, I’m pretty hard-pressed to give up my faves (just a couple hundred or so…).

This wall used to look like this…

There’s Mr. Studmuffin again.

And now it looks like this – sans Studmuffin…

Artwork: $59 Home Sense. This is sitting where there USED to be a door – ALL part of the plan, my friend (and part of the office remodel).

Ikea Hemnes Bookcases: $950 for all three pieces. These bookcases saved me. I used to have a long low bookcase that I painted black, but I was in the mood for something fresh, bright, and SUPER functional – and these bookcases fit the bill. Not only do they hold my precious books (said in the voice of Gollum from Lord of the Rings), but the drawers have ALL of the girl’s artsy-fartsy craft supplies and some great display spots behind the glass doors.

Freakin’ Glorious Chartreuse Chair: $525 Urban Barn. I…love…this…chair. Tim does not; he says it’s a Grandma’s chair. However, he doesn’t even know what chartreuse is, so he doesn’t get an opinion.

Hexagon Accent Table: $99 Target. And don’t even ASK me how much I miss Target (sob sob…sip sip – ALL BETTER!)

See how all of the textures and colours jibe? This space is my happy place.

Pouf: $59 Home Sense. I have a mild pouf obsession – amongst other things.

Area Rug: $329 (clearance) Home Sense. This is a big boy at 8×11.

And while I’m not SUPER anal with my books (says the girl who colour coordinated them), I do get a lot of mental pleasure from seeing all of my favorites displayed JUST how I like them.

See any familiar titles?

The top of the cabinets is also a great place for my globe collection (and dust).

Here are a few more bits n’ pieces that I love…

I love how my cool little Home Sense mirror reflects the photo gallery wall.

I love the look of this fold-up table ($99 Home Sense) with my little brass aviator-style clock ($29 Home Sense).

I love these particular books SO much; I even busted out of the color coding (deep breath) to display them on their own – topped by a clay creation that Cassie made when she was younger.

Now, after ALL of that, you’re probably thinking, ‘Well, that’s fine and dandy, Kylie, but what the HECK are those amazing paint colors?’.

You’re looking at…

• ACCENT WALL & BAR AREA (which was an EPIC way to lower the impact of the TV): Sherwin Williams Cyberspace SW 7076
• MAIN WALLS (which also run throughout the stairwell and living room): Sherwin Williams Creamy SW 7012
• BACK HALLWAY ACCENT WALL (which also leads into the entryway and my home office):  Benjamin Moore Steel Wool 2121-20

Read more: Paint Colour Review: Sherwin Williams Creamy

Now HOT on the heels of this blog post will be ‘Part 2 – The Home Bar’, which I can’t WAIT to share with you, so stay tuned – and it’s done now, check it out here!

Need help creating the room of YOUR dreams? 

Check out my affordable E-Design

Chat soon,

The post Our ‘Real’ Family Room: Budget-Friendly & Bright appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

My clients, Lisa and Brian Birnie, were the dream team. They knew what they liked, what they didn’t like, and were totally open to new ideas. Creating their home was all about blending their personal tastes with my knowledge, to come up with a design plan that suited them to a tee.

Working with Alair Homes and my new BFF, Dan (who is like the Rainman of home building and renovation), this home exceeded all expectations in quality and appearance and I know the homeowners were thrilled with the final product – it even got its own magazine feature!  I may have had to buy Dan’s love via Starbucks coffee, but hey, I’ve done way worse things for love (wink wink).

So without further ado, let’s check this bad boy out…

The Modern West Coast Exterior

Using Hardi Board in Cobblestone, we created a layered palette of black, brown and greige, with stone for texture.

Read more: The 8 Best Paint Colours for Your Front Door

The Modern Contemporary Entryway

Lisa and Brian had a vision of an entryway and dining room that were separated by beams. And while the whole ‘cedar beam’ thing is on-trend, they wanted something a bit more contemporary, so we kept it simple with drywall and paint colour and let the architecture speak for itself.

The dining room is a nice step off the entryway. The entire open layout palette consists of layered grays from the Sherwin Williams palette with colourful accents (see the end of the blog post for a paint colour list).

The Expansive Dining Room

With photography by their talented daughter, Jessie Robertson, the dining room makes a statement all of its own.

The Open Layout Kitchen and Living Room

I love the layout of this home. Just enough definition to create well-defined function from space to space, but open enough to feel bright, spacious and visually connected. We can thank Austin of Datum Point Studios for the fabulous home plan/architecture.

I love the way the island countertop rolls right into the view of the striking, vaulted fireplace.

With a nice peek-a-boo view into the dining room.

Don’t mind the dusty floors, this was obviously a ‘pre-move-in’ photo and I didn’t have my cleanin’ pants on.

OH WAIT, MAYBE I DID!  Look, Mom, my cleanin’ pants! (and yes, she is going to kill me for putting this photo in that SHE TOOK, but really, it IS my best side…)

Lisa’s LOVE of teal came through in the furnishings and accessories!

The kitchen countertop and island are topped with Cambria Ellesmere, a striking black, brown, gray and white blend quartz countertop.

Read more: The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They ROCK!

The Stairwell with Peek-a-boo Wine Room

Early on, we decided to open up the stairwell so that as you were walking down, you’d see down into the wine room/family room – it was an expensive, but smart choice!

Opening up the wall makes for a graphic detail, which is WAY more fun to look at than plain old drywall! And if you look juuuust to the left, you can see the bed that they’ve made for me – I live in the wine room now.

The Contemporary Cozy Family Room

The stacked stone fireplace is a nice balance to the dark espresso built-in cabinets and floating shelves created by Krystalyne at Mid Island Cabinets (official creative genius).

Read more: 5 Budget-Friendly Ways to Update Your Fireplace

The Master Bedroom

With an ocean view, the master bedroom is a restful retreat, equipped with a walk-in closet, laundry room and beautiful ensuite bathroom.