New Client Reveal: #LLProjectRuby

It’s always bittersweet when a client’s project comes to completion, but this one, in particular, was surprisingly so. I fell head over heels in love with the sweet couple who now reside amongst these walls, and to this day am saddened by the fact that we’re no longer in constant contact. Ivonne, a neuroscientist, was particularly wonderful to work with. Not only does she have the sweetest, gentlest, soul, but her approach to decision-making and rationale was incredible. It ended up being a really wonderful collaborative experience, and I’m thrilled to share the results today (complete with all the before and afters).

SHOP THE LOOK:

BEFORE

Ivonne and Alex purchased their home together, just west end of the city, and emailed me the minute their offer went in so we could move quickly in transforming their builder basic purchase into something more representative of them. And while their current kitchen was okay, it felt dark and void of any real personality. We ended up keeping the current layout (and floor tiles), primarily for budget purposes but played around with finishes to infuse some serious wow factor.  

AFTER

SIMILAR SOURCES:

A cabinet refresh, a fabulous marble backsplash, an extra large farmhouse sink, some sumptuous linen curtains and new counters instantly made this space feel brand new. Painting the island in a deep black grounded the space, ensuring it didn’t feel overly feminine. We also switched out the previous owners’ existing, oversized, pendant over the island for two smaller ones, which felt much more appropriate scale wise. Lastly, some new brushed gold hardware was just the ticket – the prettiest finishing touch to bring it all home.   

BEFORE

On the opposite end of the kitchen, directly across from the stove and refrigerator, sat this big, empty wall, just begging for something fantastic.

AFTER

We ended up installing a huge pantry with more storage than any human should ever need (not pictured – it’s just to the right of the shot above), and kept a little nook for a built-in desk meets wine bar. These two are avid wine drinkers and eventually plan on tucking in a pretty little wine fridge below. In the meantime, this nook is a great spot to get some work done or lay out drinks and appetizers while entertaining. We repeated the same backsplash for consistency and added some more open shelving to display some of their lovely dishes and wares. 

BEFORE

Apart from a linear crystal chandelier that had seen better days, the dining room was basically a blank slate. 

AFTER

We installed some flat panel wainscotting on the one wall to add interest and depth, without commanding a lot of attention. This addition alone instantly added oodles of character, and helped define the dining area in an otherwise open floorplan. A small bench acts as a nice, space saving, alternative to traditional dining chairs. And the brushed gold chandelier speaks to the gold moments in the kitchen beyond, interlinking both spaces.

SIMILAR SOURCES

BEFORE

Much like the dining room, the living room beside it was a completely blank canvas when we first began. 

AFTER

Ivonne and Alex had the grey slipper chair and coffee table to start, which acted as a great jumping off point for the rest of the space. Structurally, we beefed up the fireplace by adding a simple, chunky, MDF mantel painted out, and added beadboard and floating shelves into the nooks flanking said fireplace. Hints of blush and gold sprinkled throughout added just the right amount of girliness, while a rolled arm tufted sofa kept things classicly timeless. 

SIMILAR SOURCES

BEFORE

The aforementioned fireplace nooks – they were clearly calling for some sort of purpose

AFTER

Simple beadboard, as mentioned, was an inexpensive addition that made a subtle, yet impactful, change.

A big thank you to Style at Home for featuring this project earlier this year. And to Stacey Brandford for capturing it to perfection! If you liked this, you can check out more of my own client work right here. All of the actual sources are listed in the magazine. But if there’s anything specific you’d like to know please leave a comment below and I’ll be sure to answer each and every one as soon as I’m able. 

PS: there’s more from this project on Instagram right here

Interior Design: Myself (Lark & Linen) | Photography: Stacey Brandford for Style at Home | Styling: Stacey Begg