the inman company’s first annual ugly kitchen contest

i’m obviously a sucker for before + afters, but i also really love contests and giveaways. the idea of winning something fantastic with no strings attached makes me jump for joy. hence my boundless enthusiasm for the inman company’s first annual ugly kitchen contest. one lucky michigan family was given the title of ugliest kitchen ever, their prize, a brand new $35,000 kitchen designed by the inman company.
the big time winners just happened to be the down to earth slack family. the slack home has been in the family since the 1930s and in 1993 rick and amy slack purchased it from their aunt. initially they began remodeling the interior but after the arrival of their first child, priorities of where to spend their time and money changed, and their kitchen rehaul project was put on the back burner…until shane inman entered their lives. new cabinets, countertops, flooring, lighting, appliances, and luxury amenities were all donated by local suppliers and businesses to define the ideal family kitchen. how’s that for a winner winner chicken dinner?!

i would especially like to thank erica aicher for sharing transformations with us from the inman company’s archives.

beverly hills townhouse

y’all just ate up natalie myers’ venice canals kitchen makeover last week so i thought you’d like to take a peek at her recent revival of a beverly hills townhouse. described as dirty and broken, the bathroom and kitchen were dated to stay the least (check out that original tile). redesigned for a young engaged couple, the goal was to create a classy, transitional, and timeless home. by specifying neutral tiles and mid-tone cabinetry the residence instantly feels decades younger.

i would once again like to thank natalie myers of veneer designs for sharing transformations with us from her los angeles firm.

pink bedroom!

when i was little i made “pies” out of mud at the dead end of my street (instead of delicious treats in an easy bake oven), sported a bowl cut ala home improvement’s jonathan taylor thomas and mutilated my barbies. needless to say my bedroom wasn’t pink but maybe that was because i didn’t know lily zingman, designer of the cutest little girl’s bedroom ever. created using her service “z box”, lily put together the blush bedroom by creating a DIY guide for the homeowner, including detailed drawings of the room, a design concept board, finish samples, shopping resources and step by step instructions. the result, the bedroom of every little girls’ dreams affordably designed by a professional.

i would especially like to thank lily zingman of lily z design inc. for sharing her “z box” transformations with us straight from brooklyn, new york.

venice canals kitchen

nothing says shagadelic like terracotta. natalie myers of veneer designs was recently given the task of transforming an austin powers-esqe kitchen into a stylish southern california cooking oasis. located on the venice canals, the house has a natural cool factor that the original kitchen clearly didn’t vibe with. for the update myers specified modern espresso cabinetry, a mosaic glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, and chrome teardrop lighting pendants. so long hippy, hello hipster.

i would especially like to thank natalie myers of veneer designs for sharing transformations with us from her los angeles firm.

1950s bathroom rehaul

it’s a no brainer that i’m drawn to the design’s of tom mcelroy. he was born and bred in upstate ny near my family’s lake house, what what! and he began his illustrious career at feldman architecture, a big time favorite firm of raenovate’s. in november 2009, mcelroy performed one of the greatest bathroom modernizations of all time. dating back to the 1950s, the original lavatory boasted a claustrophobia inducing shower, an awkwardly placed window, and a unique color palette of butter-cream and brick.
after gutting the space down to the studs, tom was able to install a new vertical window and insulate the previously empty walls. by raising the ceiling height in the shower stall and using a frameless glass system from empire, it appears as if the bathroom has doubled in size. chrome hardware, caesarstone’s quartz reflections countertops, glass tiles, and a city cabinetmaker’s flat-front makore veneer vanity greatly update the space. goodbye 1950, hello modern day.

i would especially like to thank my good friend roberto tiscareno of SoMeMar for submitting this breathtaking california transformation on behalf of mcelroy architecture.