Before & After: A Breakfast Nook Seriously Lightens Up
I am all for exposed wood. Whether it’s a beautiful piece of antique mahogany furniture, a fabulous hardwood floor, or a vintage cabinet whose original materials speak louder than any paint color could, a good wood is always great in my book. There are, however, exceptions—times when wood, no matter how well-intentioned, is just not good. This was almost unquestionably the case in the newly purchased home of Erin Kelly, the blogger behind A New Bloom. “When we first moved into our home,” Erin says, “there was dark wood paneling everywhere. It overwhelmed the small rooms and made our space feel tight and gloomy. Since we spend a lot of time in our breakfast nook, it was the first room we tackled (and was our first experience painting wood paneling…talk about a challenge!).” Erin and her husband, illustrator Rich Kelly, were certainly up for the challenge, painting and updating the room with serious panache and style—the end result is a room that is fresh and modern, but still respectful to the home’s beautiful 1932 bones. Check out the full transformation, plus Erin’s design notes, after the jump! —Max
