progress report: eat-in kitchen

Hey everyone! Missed me, eh? I’ve been so pre-occupied with moving and getting settled into the new house that SimplyChic has been sitting on the back burner. I did, however, want to whip together a quick post to show you one of the many rooms we are in the process of updating! Check it out:

BEFORE

^This is how the previous owners had the room (I snagged the photo from the orginal online listing.) To me this screamed cluttered, dreary and just plain ‘blah.’  The first thing to do was get rid of that violet/gray sponge paint! (Hard to see in the picture but it was not pretty)

PROGRESS

^Room cleared, trim taped off and walls ready for paint!

PROGRESS

^ That left wall above the chair rail will soon be knocked down to create a more open kitchen concept. 

PROGRESS

Fresh paint, wall art, island, bar stools, and a plant make the room feel instantly updated and more ‘at home’ so to speak.

Our next project before we can say this room is truly complete is to install window treatments. I’m thinking bamboo roman shades that match the dark wood floor - thoughts?  Speaking of the floors, I would also love to re-stain them — you can’t really tell from the pictures but the stain that the previous homeowners applied is fading in spots and the varnish is peeling off – wah, wah, wah. I would also love to install beadboard underneath the chair rail. Okay, I could honestly come up with a never-ending list of things I’d “like to do” but I’ll spare you and stop right here.

So long story short, now that I’m in the new house and getting my hands dirty, there will more than likely be many more interior design/decorating posts to come! Stay tuned!

moving day!

Today I’m moving 90 miles to my new house! (see last post for reference) That being said, blog posts may be lacking for the next week or so but I will be up and running writing again soon! Thanks for sticking with me! :)

room recap + big news.

Hello! So big news to share with you all… my fiance and I bought a house! Exciting stuff, huh? Okay, I know what you’re thinking – “Wait a minute… you recently finished college, you’re in the midst of planning your wedding, and now you bought a house, too?!” Yep - I’m either the craziest person ever or just ridiculously smart by knocking it all out at once… or perhaps a mix of both. Nonetheless, before I move I wanted to take the time to give tribute the place I’ve been living for the last 14 months… but first, a little background info!

For those of you who don’t know, I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity live at my grandpa’s house this past year after I had just gotten out of college and while Rey was overseas in Kuwait. This gave me the ability to save money for the wedding and help my grandpa out at the same time – win, win! I have been meaning make a room tour blog post for a while not but never got around to it. Now that I’m moving in just a few days (ahhh!), I had no excuse to not snap some shots before I start loading up the boxes. (Ugh, don’t remind me…)

So let’s get to it! *Side note – I had the top floor of the house to myself which consists of two bedrooms (mine is the largest of the house, so no complaining there!) and a full bathroom.

What you see when you first walk in!

The details of this side of the room, starting from the far right…old, weathered side table – free (hand-me-down), IKEA plant pot – $2.99; IKEA lamp – free (gift from friend)

mirror (using as headboard) – free (hand-me-down from old college roommate), IKEA duvet cover + shams - $19.99; Pier 1 Imports accent pillow – $6 (on clearance); faux fur blanket – free (Christmas gift, orig. from Target); faux fur rug – free (gift from fiance, orig. from Target); candle wall sconce – $14.99 @ Target

“J” wall art - $1.99 @ Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store in Brooklyn Center; table lamp – $8 @ Encore Consignment in Mankato; white stone side table – free (hand-me-down from friend who got it from Craigslist)

from top to bottom & left to right: clock - $1 @ MRCI Thrift Store in Mankato; vintage food scale – $7.49 @ a local church rummage sale; wicker basket – $3.99 @ Goodwill; Blue Ball mason jar – always finding these at garage sales and thrift stores for less than a dollar; woven basket – $1 @ garage sale; “@” bookend – $6.49 (on 50% off clearance) @ Michael’s Craft Store; little vintage jar – $0.50 @ Hidden Treasures Thrift Store in St. Anthony; vintage suitcase – free (found in my grandpa’s basement); white owl bookend –  $8 @ Home Goods; green magazine/paper holder – $4.99 for 2 pack @ IKEA; brass bird cage (being used as candle holder) – free (given to me by my mom who probably got it at a garage sale); brown storage bin – $8.99 @ Target.

Where all the blogging magic takes place:
swagged light fixture – $2.49 @ MVAC Thrift & More in Mankato, desk - $30 @ Walmart; ottoman (being used as chair) – $10 (on clearance) @ Gordman’s

curtains - $14.99 @ IKEA; mail organizer – $7 @ TurnStyle Consignment in Roseville; plant pot – $1.99 @ IKEA; pen organizer – $4.99 @ Target; giant paper clip - $3 @TurnStyle Consignment in Roseville; brass bird paper weight - $2 @ Valu Thrift Store in St. Paul; dish (used to hold stamps, paper clips, USB, etc.) – $3 on clearance @ TJ Maxx

bulletin board – $1 garage sale find

wall mirror – $4.99 @ Salvation Army; wicker drawers – free (hand-me-down from mom, orig. from Pottery Barn); mirror on floor – free (my fiance’s); snake plant - $10 @ Walmart; area rug – $19.99 @ IKEA. (And just in case you were wondering what is behind all those doors — door #1 is the entry, door #2 is the walk-in closet, door #3 is the attic space)

wooden tray (for keys, chapstick, etc.) — $5 @ Walmart; recycled picture frame (holding an inspirational quote) – $1 garage sale find; candle holder – $1.99 @ Goodwill in West St. Paul

Directly across from the bed:wall art – $14.99 @ IKEA; woven basket (being used as blanket storage) – $5.99 (came as a set of two) @ Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store in Brooklyn Center; vintage mustard chair – $10 @ Vine Thrift Store in Mankato, handmade floral accent pillow – free (gift from a friend’s mom); stool (being used as side table) – $4.99 @ IKEA; glass vase w/ rocks & bamboo sticks – free (a dumpster-dive find in college); TV stand – $20 garage sale find; floor vase with sticks – free (hand-me-down from college roommate)

And we’re back to the beginning…

I’m sad to leave my beloved room behind but excited for the big changes ahead! Hope you enjoyed the tour!

Until next time,