Entryway / Mudroom

There is a tiny vestibule between my front door and main living area.  Its about 5 1/2 x 5 1/2, with both doors centered on opposite walls.

 Finding functional storage that fit was be tricky.
I purchased the  Ikea Children's Odda storage unit that combines a rolling hamper, drawers, and a clothes tree. This unit met my exact need for stylish compact storage and seating.  
For wall decor I purchased a canvas print  and arranged 5 Ikea malm mirrors over the top and along the right side of it. 
To add visual interest, as well as functionality, I replicated the same style of the "clothes tree" and made 2 wall mounted "hooks" for the wall adjacent to the storage unit. 
I mounted  an Ikea Billdal Mirror on the wall across from the unit and placed an Ikea FÖRÄNDRAD Vase, that I spray painetd black, with a smycka Gladiolus flower under it. On the storage bench I placed 2 cushions (2 inner cushions covered in Ikea Nils Eslöv Black/White pattern )

Vision Board

Floor Plan

Final Product

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Kitchen Update

My kitchen was in desperate need of updating!

When we first moved in the walls were all beige and worn, there was a white fridge and the rest of the appliances were black. I used stone contact paper as "back splash", painted the walls green, and added a Tuscan Retreat wall border and window valance. 

After 6 years it was definitely time for a change!

I painted the walls a dark Chocolate Brown (with 2 kids and 2 large dogs the walls get a lot of marks, especially on the lower half). I simply replaced the old wooden knobs with Antique Brass Knobs and installed Smart Tile Back splash. I built a custom kitchen counter top and storage unit and incorporated the same Smart Tiles and Antique Brass Knobs. I ordered 2 large poster prints and added a Greek Key marble wall border over the cabinets to lighten up the kitchen and add contrast to the dark walls. And purchased a wine rack that both cleared the top of the fridge and is a nice vertical interest piece to the wall. 

Vision Board

I am very pleased with the kitchen update!

  

Custom Kitchen Counter Top and Storage

I wanted to update and create more counter top area.

I already had an Ikea Expedit Unit (now the Kallax) with 8 large Lekman storage bins. 

For this Expedit/ Lekman/ Linnmon hack I used the supplies pictured

I bought 2 Linnmon counter tops and sawed one of them to complete the desired length of 67” when joined together. I marked the actual expedit counter width (so once mounted it lays flush on top) and used 2 flat braces to join them together.

I then covered the merged counter tops in marble contact paper and secured the counter top to the expedit using 4 “L” braces at each corner at the front and back of the unit. To cover the silver “L” braces from showing on the front of the unit I simply used black electrical tape. Once the counter top was secured I used peel and stick marble finish floor tile on the top of the counter for a durable heat resistant counter surface. Being that there is a baseboard heater on the wall that the new counter will be in front of, I installed a total of 8 Flat "L" braces to the back of the unit to stop the Lekman boxes from sliding past the unit to the wall.

I covered the front of the Lekman boxes with the same Smart tiles I installed as the back splash in my kitchen. I used a box cutter to cut off any excess off the edges. I then used screw to poke a hole through the middle square opening of the Lekman and used fiberboard that I stacked and taped together as a spacer/washer for the Antique Brass knob pull.

I am beyond pleased with my new 

custom counter top and storage unit!

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