Sita Montgomery Interiors: The Primrose Project Kitchen Reveal

As promised, today I am back with the reveal of the Primrose Project Kitchen. My client's previous kitchen was pretty, but it wasn't jiving with the bright, fresh feel they wanted for their home. So we decided to gut the kitchen and start from scratch. All new white cabinetry was installed. We kept most of the appliances in the same spaces, but we upgraded them to professional series appliances, including a range with a steam oven. We also opted to panel the full size refrigerator and freezer. The other major change we made was taking out the angled corner pantry. We then added gorgeous quartz countertops, a white beveled subway tile, with a pretty marble herringbone accent, beautiful brass hardware and lighting. Again, we replaced the old tile floor with gorgeous quarter sawn white oak wood floors, which we continued through to the living room, and finished with a rich, dark stain. The result is a fabulous and functional kitchen, perfect for cooking up meals and hosting family gatherings.

The angled corner pantry was squared off. We made it larger by borrowing room from the laundry area that was behind it. We then gave it a fun cabinet front, swinging door to keep it hidden and continue the flow of the cabinets. 

Thats's a pebble ice maker you see in there! I am so jealous!!

A  new round dining table, pretty wood and upholstered chairs and a beautiful new light fixture found their home in the dining area of the kitchen.

Brass barstools? Yes, please!!

Here is what the kitchen looked like before:

and now:

Isn't it just perfect? I certainly think so. My clients have enjoyed cooking in the kitchen and then gathering around their new 72" round dining table. The large table is perfect for this family of 7! My clients said that it had changed the way they interact at meal times. They are having more conversation than ever before! Now that is beauty and function at its' best. I hope you enjoyed the kitchen reveal!

GET THIS LOOK

(click on the image below to be taken directly to the source)

Sita Montgomery Interiors: My Home - Lighting Update

I'm back today to share another little change we have made to our home as part of our #smihomeupdates2015. If you have been following me on Instagram or are regular reader of blog, you have already seen many of the changes we have made to our home this year. A few weeks ago, I shared a little peak of my new island pendant light. Today I'm sharing pictures of all the new lighting fixtures we have added to the great room area of our home. 

I loved so many of the light fixtures the builder put in our home, but there were also a few I really didn't love. I had the builder switch a few of them out before we closed on the house, but as we started making changes to our home this year, I knew that I wanted to switch up the lighting to be more cohesive with the style the home had taken on with my designs. 

I truly believe that good lighting is one of the best investments you can make in your home. I always encourage my clients to leave plenty of room in their budgets for statement making lighting. I have never had a client regret doing so. The lighting changes I made in my home have really transformed the space. The great room feels much more cohesive now. Take a look.

 These gorgeous pendants are perfect in my kitchen. The picture does not do them justice! I also switched out my brushed nickel cabinet hardware for antique brass. This really helped bring the kitchen and the lighting together.

The fixture above my stairwell was replaced by this beautiful piece. I'm sure many of you are familiar  with this pendant light and have seen it many times before, but there is a reason it is so widely loved. It is a showstopper in every space I've ever seen it in, and hanging in my stairwell is no exception!

This 9 light chandelier from Hudson Valley has been on my radar since the first time I saw it. I knew it would be the perfect light for over my round dining table. Again, it is so much more gorgeous in person!

The new fixtures blend seamlessly with the pendant light that I already had in my entry. 

I am so pleased with how all the new lighting looks in my home. It truly has helped transform the look of my main floor. A huge thank you to Lighting Design, who helped me with selecting and ordering the new lighting for my kitchen. They were so helpful and professional. They also happen to have an incredible selection of lighting for every space in your home, that will also fit every budget. Lighting Design is a great resource for your lighting needs. You can go visit one of their showrooms or on the web at lightingdesign.com.

Later this week, I'll be sharing a round up of my favorite statement making lighting in a variety of finishes and price points, so be sure to check back. You won't want to miss it! 

Sita Montgomery Interiors: My Home - Laundry Room Makeover Reveal

Today, I'm excited to share another reveal with you! This time I am revealing the makeover I gave to the Laundry Room in my home. Before we start, I feel the need to give you this little disclaimer: I photograph all of my own projects and work. This normally works out okay for me, but I will never profess to be a professional photographer. Case and point... photographing without natural light. I can't do it. I have no idea how it is done. My laundry room in an interior room with no windows and zero natural light. So, please excuse the less than stellar photos you are about to see. Can you try to look past them and see the transformation the space has undergone? Thanks, now we can move on. ;)

So here's the thing. When we purchased our home 3 years ago, the room I hated the most was the Laundry Room. Even though our home was new construction, I did not get to choose the floor plan, since we purchased it shortly before completion. I adored the layout of 99% of my home, but I despised the laundry room. Here are a few reasons why...

1. It is a long, narrow, galley style room.

2. You have to walk through it to access the main part of our home, if you are coming through the garage...I really, really hate that.

3. For storage, it had a couple of upper cabinets,  a lower cabinet under the sink and a bench seat with hooks placed along the back wall for coats and backpacks, etc. This did not function well for our family! More on that later.

4. It was a bland and boring space with no personality or natural light.

The fact is, I loathe doing laundry more than any other household chore, and the state of the laundry room was only contributing to my disdain for it. 

It only took me 3 years, but I have finally made over my laundry room into a space that functions well and that I actually like to be in! I still hate doing laundry, but my new Laundry Room is making it bit more bearable. 

Here is what the space looked like when we moved in.

And now...

One of the biggest changes made to the space was done so with the addition of cabinetry. Since this room functions as both our mudroom and laundry room, keeping this space tidy and organized is key.

First the old bench seat and hooks were ripped out and replaced by 3 closed front lockers, one for each of my 3 kids. Each locker has hooks and shelving inside to help organize their backpacks and coats, etc. There are more cabinets for storage above each locker. Below each locker is a shoe drawer that helps corral my kids' shoes. The lockers alone have changed my life! Putting all the mess behind closed doors has helped keep this room, which was always messy and chaotic, clean and tidy. Yay!!

Before, the cabinets over the washer and dryer did not go to the ceiling. There was an awkward 6 inch gap from the top of the cabinet crown to the ceiling. I never understood why it was installed like that, it just seemed odd. I had my contractor move the cabinet to ceiling height. This also allowed him to bring the lockers and new open shelving to ceiling height and tie it all together with new crown moulding.

The sink cabinet and countertop were already in the space when we moved in, but above them was a clothes rod and a single shelf. We never hung anything on that rod and the shelf was so high, and close to the ceiling that I couldn't reach it or fit anything substantial on it. So we ripped those out too and replaced them with a large open shelving unit with adjustable shelving. This space is so great for storing household items in an easy and accessible manner. 

Before, the space to the right of the base cabinet was open and wasted. I had my contractor install rails on each side to hold laundry baskets. Now the baskets are neatly tucked away when not in use. I was so tired of seeing them on the floor or piled up on the countertop. I love when everything has its' own place!

Too give this space some character, I added a full backsplash of subway tile with dark grout and some pretty floral wallpaper. All the white in the room helps brighten up the space, which does not have any windows or natural light. The cabinet hardware was replaced with new brass pulls and knobs. A new rug and a couple of new light fixtures complete the space. 

I am so happy with my new Laundry Room. I hope you enjoyed the transformation too!