Thank you Traditional Home and Grandma Lottie

 
I feel so honored to have been selected to be a part of the first Edition of Great Kitchens by Traditional Home.   Here is the e-mail I received this morning!
 
Drum roll, please! Editor in chief Ann Maine and I are pleased to announce that our Thermador-sponsored Great Kitchens digital issue is now live:http://www.traditionalhome.com/greatkitchens/

Thank you so much for being a part of this exciting project. We look forward to your blogs, as well as your tweets and facebook posts! Enjoy!

Marsha A. Raisch
Executive Editor
Traditional Home

 
Thank you readers and friends for all for your support! 
 
I also want to thank my photographer Marquette Bellinghausen with Simple Treasures Photography for taking such great photo's of the kitchen.  She is incredibly talented and has a spunky, fun personality behind that camera  that is contagious and loved by so many!
 
 
We had a fun day together and had some good laughs!
 
I also want to thank my client for allowing us to come in and invade her kitchen for the photo shoot.  She has been so supportive and has been my greatest cheerleader! 
 
 
Because of Grandma Lottie (see article), my client has a beautiful kitchen and can now make her famous brownies that everyone loves!!! 
 
Grandma Lottie passed on a gift to all of us!  I have a feeling she has been watching us from above and is feeling pretty blessed herself!
 
Have a great long weekend with your family and friends!
 
Known for creating luxurious, relaxed spaces where family and friends can gather, proving style and budget are not mutually exclusive. I make my clients’ homes look collected not decorated
 
Visit my website DecRenew Interiors to see my design portfolio.

Kitchen remodel just in time for Grandbaby!

6 weeks later and we are done with this kitchen remodel.  Haven't placed any accessories yet but my client had a grand baby yesterday!!!!  Whew we made it just in time!!!
 
This couple wanted a classy, clean and fresh look with little fuss.  They have raised their kids in this home, paid for graduations, college and weddings, etc. etc.  It was now time for them to get the kitchen they so desperately wanted. 
 
BEFORE
(sorry for the fuzzy photo but I really wanted you to get the idea of the horrible before)
 
AFTER
 
 
Took the cabinets to the ceiling, added crown molding and painted them a soft gray!
The stacked stone was the one thing that they were really scared about.  It's now their FAVORITE thing about their kitchen.
 
 The black ceramic back splash is out of this world.  Pictures don't do it justice.
 
AFTER
 
The granite and stacked stone are the shining stars in this kitchen!
 
My client started off very scared of change but moved forward trusting me each step of the way as we followed the design I put together, just for them. I was so proud of her! She says she was stretched way beyond what she thought she could do and she is incredibly glad she took those risks.  She LOVES everything now and so does her husband.
 
 
BEFORE
 
 
AFTER
We made the island round to give them more space and add some shape and interest.
 
BEFORE/AFTER
 
 
AFTER
 
 
The gold door handles will be changed soon to brushed bronze by the homeowner.
 
 
See what I mean about the stacked stone? It's like art!
 
AFTER
 
All of her items she only uses once a year are stored up in the new cabinets.
 
AFTER
 
Recessed lighting and pendants make everything feel up to date.
 
  Ruthie Tip:  Don't overdo the recessed lighting, it can make a kitchen feel busy! 
 
 
 
Such a great little work space!  This backsplash makes my heart stop every time I see it!
 
 
 
BEFORE
 
 
AFTER
 
Good bye old lighting!
 
 
These wall sconces really add some beauty and character to the eating area and can be dimmed as needed for ambiance.
 
BEFORE
 
 
AFTER
 
 
Furniture shopping is next.
 
BEFORE/AFTER
 
 
We modified the mantel some by taking away the "fussy" molding.  We painted the fireplace insert with heat resistant black paint.  We didn't like the pink brick so we had it painted a similar color to the kitchen cabinets and then sanded them down.  Instant change with paint!  Dramatic don't you think?  Amazing how much bigger the space feels now!
 
BEFORE
 
Yikes!
 
AFTER 
 
 
We adjusted the entertainment center to house a bigger TV. Painted and added new hardware. 
It will look amazing when it's all accessorized.
 
 
Don't skimp on your hardware! 
 
The laundry room and pantry got some extra attention too.  Painted this wonderful color blue called "under the sea" by Sherwin Williams.  This color is also in their pantry and behind their bookshelves.   A mini bar will be installed underneath the counter.
 
 
The hardware matches the color of the walls in the kitchen which is right off the laundry room.  Great way to bring the rooms together!
 
 
 Great colorful pantry!
 
 
Their dining room got a transformation too!  Gone with the old floral wallpaper and in with a powerful red that makes a statement when you walk in.  Hardwood floors were installed throughout the entire home all the way into the master bedroom! 
 
Hope you enjoyed the tour!
 
Next, we are on to a big install this Friday.  Installing brand new drapes, furniture and accessories for another wonderful client.  Her entire downstairs will be transformed!  I'm so excited and feeling blessed that I get to do what I absolutely love!
 


See more before and after photo's on my website DecRenew Interiors. 
Follow me on Facebook here
  

Kitchen Remodel Glimpses and a Time to Serve

This week we are wrapping up a kitchen remodel.  It's been an incredible process and I've enjoyed working with such amazing clients.
 
We installed the hardware today on the cabinets in their desk area. I couldn't find what I was really looking for so I created these little lovelies above. I love creating something from scratch and making it a "Ruthie Original". 
 
BEFORE
 
 
I can't wait to show you the after when we are totally complete.  Here's a few tiny glimpses.
 
 
The cabinets!
 
 
The lighting!
 
 
The kitchen chairs are being reupholstered in this beautiful fabric above!  I found these adorable knobs for my client and she instantly fell in love with them.  Her daughter's did too!
 
 
The back splash got installed yesterday...wait til you see the finished product!  I'm so in love!
Draperies are being made in the workroom as we speak and we are so close to being done!
 
I just have to say that it's such a blessing to work with such an incredible crew!  God has really blessed me with talented and reliable people that work along side me and make my work look incredible. 
We are a TEAM and I couldn't do it without them!
 
They have worked especially hard this past week meeting deadlines because I'm taking a week off next week.   I'm off to serve at a WOI (Woman of Influence) conference.
 
Hospitality Team Last Year!  We had such fun and worked our tails off too!
 
 I'm going to be on the hospitality team, similar to what I did last year in Spain.  See my blog post from last year here.
 
 
 I love to serve and it will be fun to bless these woman!  They serve all over the world and need some encouragement and a break from the stresses of missionary life.  It fills my tank up too!
 
 
We are in the middle of a giant kitchen remodel as seen above. I can't wait to show you more pictures as this project unfolds when I get back from my trip.
 
Blessings,
 Follow me on Instagram "DecRenew Interiors" and you will see what I'm up to on my trip :)
 

Kitchen Renovation Sneak Peak

Today I finished up my part of a kitchen remodel that we have been working on for the last 5 weeks.  My team has been working hard to get it completed so my client can get back to regular family life in her kitchen.  Here are some up close shots of the details.  I'll be posting before and after pictures of the whole room soon.
I loved this picture of this turquoise vase on her new counter top.  I happen to set my camera down and came back later and caught a glimpse of this capture on my screen.  I'm glad I decided  to take this shot because it's my favorite.    The textures are so beautiful and represent all the colors we used in this kitchen.  Her laundry room that adjoins her kitchen is going to be painted this wonderful turquoise in Phase II of this project.
We painted the walls Sherman Williams "Brandy Wine" including the ceilings, making the room feel incredibly warm and inviting.  Yeah, no more popcorn ceilings.  Wait until you see the lighting in this new kitchen!!!!
The new back splash has tumbled stone, granite and glass tiles that make a huge statement when you enter the room.
We had a cabinet custom built for her new double oven.
The black counter tops are the jewel in the room!  The light ceramic floor tile has opened the room and makes this galley kitchen feel more open and airy.  The thin grout lines were a big part of making this tile look so fabulous!
The cabinets got a fresh new coat of paint (yeah, no more pickled wood) and now have an old world finish that looks stunning with the back splash!
Can't wait to show you the rest of it!
If you would like to see more of my work, visit my website  DecRenew Interiors to see my Design Portfolio.
(All above photo's taken by Ruthie Staalsen)

Kitchen Makeover Before & After

Everybody wants their home to reflect how they live and who they are.
This is especially true when you purchase a new home and it doesn't have your personality anywhere to be found.  My client who purchased this new home was smart when they decided to buy this incredible gem because it had great bones and character.  It just lacked those special touches that made it feel like home.  It needed an extreme makeover and lots of TLC.
BEFORE

Dark and dreary but not for long.  The center island and the back counter top was black tile with a stainless steel back splash.  Way too modern for my client who wanted a open, fresh and inviting kitchen.
It's been about a 5 week process but this week we finished their kitchen remodel. I stopped by today to take a few AFTER pictures while the cleaners were there. They were busy getting everything ready for the homeowners to move in this weekend.  My client is incredibly pleased with all the finished detail and loves the way every room now flows together with a purpose. 
AFTER
New crown molding added to the top of the cabinets, new paint and glaze, wrought iron hardware (the jewelry of the kitchen), new counter tops (with a different color for the center island), new back splash, and new wood floors throughout most of the house. 
 The entire house had different tile in each room which looked crazy but not anymore.  We also stained the bar area the same color as the wood floors and that really made a HUGE difference to the feel of the kitchen. 
It's hard to see in the photos  but the cabinets do have a subtle glaze like the above gently rubbed on them. 
The adjoining dining room..  It is so beautiful with the complimentary crown molding!  Sherwin Williams "Breezy"

The homeowner keeps telling me how refreshing and rewarding it has been to work with a decorator.  Having a professional by their side to assist them with ALL the overwhelming choices that come with remodeling or updating a new home has been a life saver to them.  In the long run it has saved them thousands of dollars because they have avoided bad decisions that could have cost them a significant amount of money if they had made wrong decisions during this process on their own.

The distressed floors turned out beautiful
From paint colors, floor selections, grout color, lighting placement, granite color choices, carpet color, vanity selections, etc. it is so overwhelming to make these decisions alone.   The homeowner can honestly say now that it's all done...."WOW, we love it and it feels like US" 
BEFORE
It was a construction zone for about a week with all the tile demolition in the house.
AFTER
(before grout)
BEFORE
AFTER
From a different angel but you get the idea.  The back splash really looks beautiful with the center island granite.  The client was really hesitant to do something different like this but now that it's done, it's their favorite part of the kitchen.  The granite is like a piece of art.
AFTER

Hope you enjoyed the tour.  The Slate fireplace is being installed as we speak so I'll post pictures of that later on. 
Have a great weekend!
Visit my website (DecRenew Interiors) to see more before and after photos.