Our Kitchen & Laundry Room Design

How we created a timeless, charming kitchen and how our values shaped our design. Plus, reflections on nearly a year of renovations.

Jan 10, 2024

I’m still chasing that New Year high. I love the feeling of a fresh start. It’s not often that we’re collectively focusing on the best visions for ourselves and allowing hope to guide us in a new beginning.

Looking back at 2023, I was in survival mode. We bought a fixer-upper and shortly after I started my own business full-time. I was so focused on what had to be done that I didn’t stop to recognize all that I had achieved or celebrate my accomplishments. It’s no surprise that it was the year I was drawn to exploring what it meant to feel at home!

Even though I’m not writing as often as I’d like, the mission of this newsletter feels more important than ever. I wish that everyone could find ways to feel more at home and I hope that my words and experiences can help you get there.

— Emily

2023 Home Renovation Reflections

Whew, what a year! It is hard to feel at home when you’re living in a to-do list, but these are some things I’ve learned so far that I hope can help anyone else in a similar situation or season.

Embrace Progress: For those of us with a vision, it’s hard to see that small updates are moving you closer to that goal. It helps to measure your progress in how far you’ve come rather than how far you have yet to go. Plus, small changes can have a big impact on your day-to-day enjoyment of your home!
Stay Optimistic: It’s easy to get down with home renovations, especially when you hit a major roadblock and you compare your situation to the cute instant makeover videos on social media. Do what you can to keep your spirits up and focus on the long game — even if it means pausing or spending time away from your house.
Lean On Your People: Don’t try to navigate the hard times in isolation. You may find it hard to ask for support, but I would bet that there are people in your life who want to be there for you. Give them the chance to be a shoulder to cry on and pick you back up with kind words.

Kitchen & Laundry Room: The Design

Where we last left off, we cleared out the space so we could start with a blank canvas. It’s a good thing that I have years of kitchen design daydreaming and some remodeling experience because I never dreamed that a from-scratch renovation would be the first project on the list!

Where to Start with a Renovation?

A kitchen and laundry remodel should prioritize function first. Especially for a modestly sized home, we needed to have a layout that gave us ample working, storage, and hangout space. To achieve this we adjusted entryways, removed an old furnace vent, moved the stove, and cleared out the laundry area:

Crafting the Vision

Now that function is out of the way, we can focus on the fun part. While I’m not unique in my desire for a Nancy Meyers kitchen, I think the magic has less to do with specific design elements and more to do with creating a charming, welcoming, and lived-in environment.

In addition to letting charm take the lead in our design, we wanted to honor our home’s period and architectural style. This led me to traditional materials, like saltillo tile and brass, and choosing earthy colors that can easily complement a variety of color pops and patterns. We sought out vintage elements while also prioritizing modern conveniences. Here are some of my favorite inspiration images:

These selections are on-trend now, but it’s how we’ve brought everything together that contributes to an overall timeless look.

One element that didn’t play much of a role in the design — resale. “But what will future owners think?” I’m tired of this question because — rant alert — it makes homes feel like soulless, temporary transactions. You see this from influencers who say “it’s not our forever home” while doing major renovations. I’m tired of how the fast flip mentality has gone mainstream, where design choices are hyper-trendy and meant to fetch top dollar. For us, we want to make design choices that will enhance the enjoyment of the home and that will stand the test of time.

What’s Next

I’ll share the after — or rather, almost after — photos of where we are now and share details on what we chose. We still have a few things on the list — tile, new windows, more lighting — and even the laundry room plan changed as of yesterday. There’s lots to be done, but we are so proud of our space and love the near-final result.