Hey guys!! Holy cow, I can’t believe that it is Wed. already. This week is flying by!
I wasn’t planning on posting today, but I just wanted to pop in with a huge thank you! I loved getting feedback on the post yesterday about the cabinet doors in The Nugget.
Here is the thing with the cabinets. I’m with you, they’re fine, but they aren’t amazing. I am a few steps ahead of what you guys are seeing on the blog and I have been feeling like something just isn’t right with the design. Like its just off. Yesterday’s post/comments were exactly what I needed to hear. So thanks for your feedback friends, it means the world! I hope that you guys are enjoying the real process, good, bad, and ugly. I know I am!
I like the cabinets. But you do always have a way of making everything look amazing, so I’m sure everything will continue to transform and we will all be stunned by how cool it is. Love the real time blogging. It is fun to see things as they come along…the good, the bad, and the ugly (:
I am loving this! It makes me want to do exactly what you are doing. You are so talented and I love that you are sharing that talent! Can’t wait to continue to follow this!
Oh Mandi! You’re my new big DIY crush so I am definitvely loving everything you post because it just feels so real and it’s inspiring me to try different stuff in my appartment. Nevertheless, let’s face it, out of the good, the bad and the ugly that you share with us, 99.9% is just fabulous! Looking forward to what is next 🙂 all the best from Brussels, Belgium, Europe 🙂
I really like the contrast between the wood and white!
https://www.fashionablyspeakn.com/2014/09/hello-moto-fall-2014-inspiration.html
Hi mandi, I love this little nug! I live not too far from you in the western Colorado desert and I find it so difficult to incorporate that deserty feel without venturing into teal and maroon southwest overstuffed couches and weird kokopelli art! But I love the trim, although I can see that it does feel a little off, but what if it was painted a light pink or grey ( from your inspiration piece)? Then it might stand out in a cool way but be it’s own element. Also I found an orange enameled sink on Craigslist that might fit perfectly in there! Check it out https://westslope.craigslist.org/hsh/4671613947.html
Good luck!
Linda
I was hoping you were feeling like Hmm i still need to fine tune this. and I know whatever the end result is — it’ll definitely be the best decision for the little nugget!
Hi Mandi, I’m with the others on your last post. The unpainted trim is stealing the show from the floor. Have you considered painting the trim white? I think the highlights and shadows that would be naturally created from the sun would really look amazing. You are so talented and you are not making any mistakes, just going though the creative process! Can’t wait to see what’s next, you’ve got me wanting to overhaul an old trailer too!
Thanks for your graciousness in accepting suggestions/critique, Mandi. I was one who left a suggestion yesterday and was hoping it didn’t come off as discouraging (most of the other comments I saw seemed to want the same thing – to be helpful, not judgy). We know you’ll rock it out!
This is so charming. I love seeing your creativity brought to life!
Definitely boring. Paint inside the trim different colors. Or an ombre effect.
I think you should paint the wood trim teal. Or orange. It was my initial thought when I saw them, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to speak up. I have a weird thing with cabinets matching the floors beneath. Personally, I think that’s my own weird quirk that prevents me from falling in deep love with their existing state. <3 ya.
I’m in Kaycee’s camp. The interesting wall and floor treatments are great! The “rest” in between them (cabinets painted a solid color so block shapes aren’t competing with diamonds and circles) might be just right. Like everyone who reads your blog, I love what you do!
You are really good at DIY! How amazing it looks! I moved to Toronto a week ago and I decided to try to use vintage furniture. Thanks to the blog era, I found a post with some vintage shops so I hope they will have some unique pieces there and I will not get lost in the city 😉 I’ve been trying to redesign my new small flat myself and I hope that the result will be worth it. So, I admire your work because I know how difficult it is to DIY. You are doing a great job!
Hey Serena,
Welcome to TO, otherwise known as the Big Smoke. There are so many great vintage shops in Toronto. Most of them live all along Queen St. East and West. Check out Guff out in the east end, they great mid-century furniture. Queen West Antique market, and there are plenty of others along that strip. There is Smash on Dundas West and about 3-4 others along Dundas as well as Keele. Of course there is alway Sally Ann aka Salvation Army and Value Village. These of course are much cheaper than the others mentioned above. Good luck and Happy shopping.
Am I the only one that doesn’t care for the tile?
Yes I agree for the size of the space there is no place for the eye to rest. There is a lot of eye traffic in a tiny space with so many angles and windows with competing geometric patterns. I think each element is cool in and of itself and looks great but perhaps less is more here? Maybe the cabinet doors need less focus as someone previously suggested by painting the trim white or painting the entire door a completely different color (solid) e.g. a few shades darker than the penny tile on the bottom with a lighter paint on the uppers?
I agree with painting the trims white. But I would totally paint the ceiling with a dark color. maybe black?
So, I know you’re getting a lot of feedback on the cabinets and I think you’re taking it so well. You’re very open about your planning process and I know you’re definitely not finished with it yet but I just wanted to throw out the idea of framing out a faux cabinet door between the two upper cabinets. I think it would help balance out the top area quite a bit and help the cabinets seem more custom. I personally wouldn’t add a cabinet pull there, just frame out a square area between the two doors. I hope that makes sense. I think they would look great painted white as well but I usually love the ideas you come up with so I’ll hold my tongue until you’re finished. I’m in design school in Georgia and I always love reading your blog posts because you have such unique ideas. Good luck girl!
Paint the wood trim a pop of color or add a printed wallpaper or design to the panels to give life & color! Or wallpaper the wall & paint the trim a pop and leave the panels white!
I didn’t want to coment because I don’t think it is you.The doors are wrongo.ok so how about get crazy and paint them a color like green froom the tile but,wait for it,high freakin gloss.Then clear stain the floor.Flat doors no trim.just my 3 cents.Ha.
So I’m a super straight dude that stumbled over here somehow. (Somehow being I’m Jamie’s cousin and she posted to facebook) But I gotta mention that that wooden flooring is the coolest flooring I have ever seen. Like insanely awesome and I hope to talk my wife into letting me do something like that someday.
I can’t stop staring at that wood floor! That is incredible!!!
I feel like the top cabinet doors are too small and too far apart. What if you just made longer doors so they met closer together? Either way, you always figure it out. Stay true to what you want. You’re doing great. 😉
Paint the trim white. They are stealing the show from those floors!!
I just read your other post about the nugget and went back to see these guys. Um. I think they are pretty awesome, but I remember when you redid those hexagons on the wall. Yeah. Go with your gut. You have lots of them and just have fun. I don’t know the meaning of life, but I’m pretty sure it’s not to have a bad time. {Gay Hendricks} 🙂
Squishy hugs to you, my friend!
You ready for more feedback from unqualified readers?? Well here’s my two cents: the white walls and amazeballs flooring steal the show. The cabinets almost feel like they’re trying to ride the coattails of the other elements. And the raw wood/white look is obvs very bright and clean so you need something to ground the whole room. Black, dark brown, or other deep color. Trim on these cabinets emphasizes any crookedness in the original cabinets and is too busy of a look (sadly cause i’m sure it took forever. Boo.) what if you just paint the doors some dark-ish color? Keep everything else white. It could look incredible and lend gravity to the whole room. Those are my thoughts! Way to admit when you know something’s off. You’re inspiring and super cool to boot. Can’t wait to see what else you come up with.
After reading the “reality check” post I had to comment and say first of all, I feel you. I sometimes get caught up in failure and it’s not always so easy to snap out of it. Second, I really don’t think that cupboards are that bad. I agree with some other comments that the original ones were not the best raw material to work with, but I think just changing the pulls would really help the situation. Anyway, don’t stress out about it too much and when you get frustrated remember you’re not alone!
I just wanted to add my 2 cents worth here too. I think you have done an amazing job with this little trailer but it needs a bit of tweeking! I do think the door pulls make it look too busy. I think you need something to bring the top cabinets together as the doors are so far apart. I wouldn’t add any dark colors to the walls unless it is a small amount. I am a big fan of color, but I feel the walls should be a light color. The white gives the trailer more of an open and bigger feel. I think the dark would make it too closed in. I do think something needs to be done with the cabinet door moldings. I do like them, but they don’t seem to fit, maybe if you fill in with some design on the doors and then see how they look without painting them. Maybe if you do that and add some wood knobs to match the molding it would come together. Just some thoughts….is your head spinning?? You will figure it out! Good luck and am always reading your blog! Love the things you come up with! 🙂