Hello hello! Welcome to the One Room Challenge Guest Participant Reveal Day! If you are new here and haven’t been following along, you can start here and then scroll through each week to see my progress. The One Room Challenge happens bi-annually (Spring and Fall) and it’s a chance for us designers, DIYers and design aficionados and enthusiasts to get things done, change a room up and sometimes make miracles happen- in 6 weeks.
For this round- ’cause it’s not my first time at the rodeo, I (we) did my kitchen. I wasn’t even supposed to have gone this far with my kitchen but things just snowballed and well, I’m the happy owner of a new to me kitchen. I’m proud to say that it’s been done since about Monday morning and I’ve actually cooked 2 whole meals in the kitchen so far (one of which I burned- a little. It was still edible). I’m not proud of my cooking skills but my tiling skills… man are they awesome!
Shall we take a look at a little before and after?
Yup, that’s that window- minus all the junk and recycling.
That beautiful chair came from a beautiful soul who I miss dearly. Thanks Denny.
Wanna see more pretty pictures?
That large and lovely picnic basket, a Mother’s Day gift one year from my boys.
Every self respecting Cuban has a Cafetera. This one was my Abuela’s and I love the color!
The above cookbook was my Great Aunt (Tia Fina) and it holds some of the most yummy Cuban recipes on earth.
And who can forget this stunner…?
This kitchen was truly a labor of love and learning and patience. I want to thank my Dad for teaching Craig and I his master DIY skills and helping us create a truly stunning space I will always cherish not only for its beauty but the time I got to spend with him. Thanks to my husband Craig for always putting up with my crazy ideas with a smile on his face and only a few curse words on his lips. Also, a big thanks goes to my friend Rob, our mailman (turned friend) who helped us out with a tile dilemma. I can always count on him for some handyman advice when I need it, a good chuckle and my mail delivered on time with a smile. Seriously it takes a village and I’m not talking about raising kids here. Speaking of children, this renovation couldn’t have gone so smoothly without the help of my babysitters: my Mom and my Mother in Law. And to my brother Pete and sister (in law, but really my sister) Roxana who came over with their daughter to occupy Freddy and Henry. (We owe you a nice meal instead of Indian take out.) Thanks all for taking the kids so we could get stuff done!
To my awesome sponsors who provided me with their great product.
The stunning paint from Rethunk Junk by Laura. The most complimented thing I’ve gotten through this renovation is the paint color we used for the cabinets!
And Liberty Hardware for the super coolness that is the cabinet hardware. I can’t get enough of their matte finish and how it plays off the other black elements in the space.
There is so much more I could say about this space. It’s filled with some treasures (new things I picked up, thrifted things and antiques things), cool pieces of art and some amazing things I was given from people who have passed away as of late. But most of all, it’s filled with the hard work I can see in each tile that was cut and pasted, in the 50 trips to the local hardware store and the “where the hell did I put the ruler!?” Dad, the one in your hand…?
Cheers to all the rooms that were completed. I am thrilled for everyone who crossed the finish line! Including me.
Please go check out the reveals of the Featured Designers. I can’t wait to sit and read through all of them and of course my fellow Guest Participants.
Thanks to One Room Challenge and Better Homes and Gardens for this opportunity to showcase all of our work! I know I’m grateful for all the love and support and the Instafriends I’ve connected with along this journey!
Photos by Creepwalk Media Tim you are the best!

The mix of modern and vintage is just perfect! And I can see why the paint color has gotten the most compliments. It is gorgeous!
Thanks Tricia! That’s what I was trying to achieve. 😉
Wow, that is a total transformation! The room before was quite nice, maybe a little dark. Without moving any elements, you made the room feel completely different and so much brighter. Very nice job. The corner with the window has inspired me to look at my recycling area with fresh eyes. Thank you.
Also, you seem to have the same cast iron baseboard I do. Have you painted them with traditional latex or something formulated for high heat?
Thank you Linda, what a lovely compliment. We just used regular wall paint for the heater. I didn’t even think about using a specific paint! But it was already painted so the new paint went over smoothly.
The turquoise, the black, the pops of brass – it’s all so perfect! Congrats on a stunning makeover! Glad to have connected with you on the ORC!
Thank you so much! Yes. It’s great how it connects everyone!
Holy Bananas Batman!!! This is absolutely divine and such good Inspo! I totally love this Mary! Now come do my kitchen exactly like it please!!!
Any time Jewel. Thanks for the love.
Wow! You did such a beautiful job! The oven and cook top area is my favorite but all of the details are so good. Lovely space!
Thank you! Makes cooking a little easier instead of a chore.
What an incredible change!!!! Those countertops are just gorgeous, and so is that light fixture.
Thank you so very much. I can’t decide between those two which I like better…
I absolutely love the paint color, and it is a gorgeous room! Well done!!