Today starts a new series! I’m helping a client turn a recently purchased home in Colorado into an income property. There is a catch; most of these improvements will be weekend DIYs by the home owner’s family. Since I believe in good old sweat equity and getting the biggest bang for your buck, I’ll be literally teaching you how to DIY your own home! So, say hello to the newest series: a budget home makeover in Colorado.
This is going to be an ongoing casual project with no set end date. Since most of these fixes will be weekend DIY projects, it’s important to not tackle too much at once. That’s the easiest way to resent your home, the work that needs to be done, and really, the whole design process. It’s just unnecessary stress. So, I am providing the design plans and the homeowner will give the place a proper face lift on a budget, over a period of time. Slow and steady wins the race.
This is my dream situation, by the way. Not many people know this, but eventually, I would love to flip houses. I think that my design tastes are so specific and in order to get what I want, I need to start from scratch. If you are willing to put in some work, your home can be customized by you and you can get exactly what you want on a budget. Sounds good, right?
The Design Process
Step 1: Determining Kitchen Needs
via Realtor
Here is the kitchen in its current state. Pretty 90s right? So much mid tone wood. But we have a lot to work with. It’s a large space with plenty of natural light. It will look gorgeous when we’re done.
Client goal: neutral kitchen
My goal: an updated neutral kitchen that feels fresh and inviting
Often times, the client goals are less specific and you need to dig for more information. In this case, the client’s only goal was to keep this kitchen neutral since it will eventually belong to a tenant and needs to last for years to come. My goal, however, is to make this a warm haven for the future tenant. Slight difference in goals haha.
One thing that drives me crazy about most apartments is that landlords use the rental equivalent of “builder’s grade” fixtures and finishes. The landlord will let the construction guys decide (NEVER DO THIS) or they will just pick whatever is cheapest. Nothing will be curated, nothing will feel special. Remember, this is someone’s home, not isle B at the hardware store. We can do better.
In this case, this home will probably be rented by a family because it’s a great area in a good school district. Doesn’t a family deserve to have a home that feels like home, not just a stepping stone to the next place? The kitchen should feel like someone thought of how it will contribute to the tenant’s life. I want this kitchen to feel updated and neutral, but also I want it to bring joy and lasting memories.
A space should evoke feelings, and if it doesn’t, your design isn’t complete.
Step 2: Style Tug of War
Studio McGee | Stephanie Kraus Designs
Your client will most likely want to remain on the safe side, which is fine, but it’s your job to show them what’s just beyond the fence. Your client won’t know everything that’s out there; it’s not their job. It’s your job to translate what your client wants and add a spark to ignite it.
Rue Magazine | Sarah Sherman Samuel
You go back and forth a few times determining where the boundary is when it comes to the client’s style. That boundary is where the special sauce is. That boundary is where you get the best possible design, and it wouldn’t have happened unless you pushed your client a little bit.
Coach Decor | Jaclyn Peters Designs
Do you see how the inspirational photos get more daring as they progress? This is how I like to work; I like to present options ranging from safest to probably not gonna happen. It’s always a good idea to grow your style and this is the perfect opportunity to let a client know what else is out there. Most of the time, while the “daring” option isn’t what’s chosen, the client finds things in the daring option that they do like but didn’t think they would. Sometimes, some of what they like in the daring selection ends up in in the space. Fancy that.
I knew my client wasn’t going to choose this green kitchen, but she also might like it. She might like the contrast of light and dark–which can be achieved with a more comfortable color. She might like the mid century sconces, the glass cabinet insets, the black hardware. The key here is exposure. That’s how a budget home makeover turns into a swan.
Exposing people to different styles can only yield better results. It truly doesn’t matter if they don’t pick the more daring options. That’s not the point of this. In this case, we went with the style of the first set of images. Perfectly okay. I never had brussels sprouts until I was 29, and now they are my favorite vegetable. You can’t like what you haven’t experienced.
Step 3: Visualization
I’ll be explaining the importance of visualization tools in interior design in a later blog post, so stay tuned! But the down and dirty of visualization is presenting your client with tools so they can actually see your ideas. Think of this like a proof of concept. This can be a materials board, mood board, inspirational images, etc. Nothing fancy, just curated.
WOW…are you still here? Congrats! Now let’s finally reveal the mood boards!
Client’s Budget Home Makeover: Mood Board Reveal
The plan for this budget home makeover is to tackle rooms one at a time. First up is the kitchen. You might remember my post about how to affordably update your kitchen cabinets, Well, now you’ll see me do it in real life! I presented 2 mood boards. The first is within my client’s comfort zone, and the second is still within the comfort zone, but elevated a bit.
First Look
Second Look
To see more of my thought process for this budget home makeover, check out my Colorado House Pinterest board. It’s a gold mine of beautiful kitchens that I can’t stop dreaming of.
I love when homeowners are willing to take their time and really enjoy the process of showing their homes some love. Because it is a joy! Transforming a space is underrated. A budget home makeover gives your dwelling new life, new energy, and a new purpose; it’s great for the soul and spirit. Peppering in some DIYs gives a home owner a sense of deep pride and accomplishment. It’s the best.
What do you think about this Colorado budget home makeover? Do you have a favorite mood board? Stay tuned for more on the Colorado Project!
-Kristen
More DIY Home Inspiration
- 2 Home DIYs with Big Impact
- How to Design the Perfect Dining Nook
- How to Design a Cool Entryway
- THIS is How to Use Shiplap in 2019
Want even more ideas? There’s a DIY section of this website!
