Boop’de’da’dooooo! Now that the first episode of Rock the Block is finally out, I am so excited that we finally get to share our house and each of the spaces that we worked so hard on with you!
WOW! Episode one started the season off strong!
This season we had the absolute pleasure of competing against:
Dave & Jenny Marrs from Fixer to Fabulous, Keith & Evan from Bargain Block, and Egypt & Mike from Married to Real Estate.
In case you missed itI, the season kicked off with the kitchen and the dining room design challenge. We had one week to completely transform the spaces into something we thought home buyers in Charleston (and the judges) would love! To style this home, we decided to go with an earthy-eclectic theme.
The Kitchen & Dining
The main goal of our kitchen was focusing on how to make it the most functional for entertaining. Although we might be from the PNW, we did do our research on Charleston, and if we learned one thing, it’s that the south loves to entertain! Knowing this, we knew we had to create a space where someone could serve and seat at least 15 people!
We began the renovations by pushing the island away from the stove, expanding the island, and adding the massive dining table! By doing this, we not only added ample seating, but we created a distinct marker between the living and dining room/kitchen.
The Pantry/Storage
To make the kitchen stand out but still stay neutral, we went with blue cabinets and an (absolutely in no way possible, basic) quartz countertop!
Much like the other teams, I hate corner pantries. So instead, we went ahead and swapped the pantry for more cabinets and floating shelves to make the space more functional, and let’s be honest, easier on the eyes! Because we decided to remove the pantry, I knew we needed to expand our lower cabinets all the way across the wall for even more storage.
Even with the added seating and serving space, something still felt like it was missing. So we went back to what we learned in our research and what we were told over and over again, “make this a home all about entertaining.” With that in mind, I had an idea!
The Sweet Tea Station
Did you know that South Carolina is basically the birthplace of sweet tea? What screams ‘southern hospitality and charm’ more than a sweet tea station literally built into your kitchen. Imagine instant hot water to make hassle-free sweet tea for yourself or get-togethers. Plus, when you’re not using it to make tea, it doubles as a pot filler. It’s such a unique and fun idea, and honestly, I kind of want one in my home!
Seamless Indoor-to-Outdoor Living
Although you haven’t seen our completed patio/backyard yet, we knew extending the living space outdoors was essential. To create that seamless flow we knew buyers would love, we decided to swap the dual french doors for a large accordion door that slides open to create one wide-open space versus two. Plus, it allows for a ton of natural light to brighten the indoor living spaces when closed.
The Floors
Since our overall theme was earthy-eclectic, we wanted to continue the earthy tones from the kitchen throughout the home. When it came time to pick flooring, we went with our favorite luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring.
We used Homestead Flooring’s JetCore XL in Country Retreat to add the warmth we were looking for. LVP flooring is much more cost-effective than hardwood, but it is a little more durable and still super stylish! Website linked here.
Brand: Homestead Flooring
Flooring Collection: JetCore XL
Flooring Specifications: 7.72” x 48” x 7.0MM
Color Used: JetCore XL – Country Retreat
The Bathroom
Our combined experience in Real Estate has taught us that most times, homes with more bedrooms/bathrooms without a walk-in pantry are likely to appraise higher than a home with fewer bedrooms/bathrooms and a walk-in pantry. So we decided to keep the bathroom!
Also, considering our overall budget of $225,000 (and that it’s only week one!), we thought that moving the bathroom from where it was already plumbed would not be worth the costly expense! Especially if we wanted to add it to another spot in the home.
Because we weren’t making a massive difference with our bathroom, to stand out against our competition, we knew that we needed to make it a beautiful and unique space.
You know that we are OBSESSED with wallpaper if you’ve been following us for a while now. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again, if you are going back and forth on adding wallpaper to your home, DO IT! I promise this isn’t like your grandma’s wallpaper. It’s much easier to use, and it’s such a simple way to make a statement in any space!
We were lucky enough to use Olive Grove in the color Ochre from my favorite wallpaper brand, Hygge and West! You can find it linked here.
The Staging
Staging in a home sets the stage and allows buyers to really see themselves living in the space the moment they enter! For staging, I wanted to keep the earthy feel with lots of wood, glass, clay, and of course, a lot of greenery! I also went ahead and added pops of color with fruit, bright color mugs, and placemats.
If you want to achieve a similar look at your home. Here are some of our favorite Lamb&Co products to help you get there!
Round Natural Woven Palm Placemat
Terrain Maize Mug- Light Yellow
Acacia Wood Tray/ Cutting Board with Handle
We also had the opportunity to work with an incredible artist from our area, Gabis of Art by Gabis. Unique artwork adds so much to a space, and the kitchen is no exception!
If you are interested in any of her pieces, we have linked her Etsy Here.
Overall, we could not be happier with how the kitchen worked out!
Even though we were not the winners of this challenge (great job to Jenny and Dave! You both deserve it!), this experience has been absolutely amazing, and we can not wait to show you the living room and entry next week!
Want to show us your support by rocking some #TeamTwinWin merch? Check out our Lamb & Co. merch here!
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XO
Lynds
