One Room Challenge | Fall 2021 | Intro to My Space(s)

I got up so anxious (but in a good way) to start my day! It’s been a long time that I’ve been this excited about my home. Maybe it’s because I’ve been stuck at home or my design studio/shop all of 2020 and most of 2021 – without a enough leisure time – but THIS is bringing me immense joy! I’m one of the featured designers for this fall’s One Room Challenge!

The One Room Challenge is a weekly series started and hosted by Linda of Calling it Home, where we transform a room from start to finish and reveal it at the end. Linda invites 20 participants as featured designers to post updates on Wednesdays, but anyone, anywhere, can join in as a guest participant and post their updates on Thursdays. Typically the ORC is six weeks, but this round we have EIGHT weeks to transform our spaces, having the big reveals on November 17th!

This is my second time being a featured designer. Last time was Fall 2020, where we virtually designed a space (for the first time in ORC history)! Below is a look at the incredible library I designed virtually and here’s a link to the full reveal of BOTH spaces. I designed a living room, as well, and both spaces were actually based on a huge construction project I’ve been working on! This is a RENDERING of my space! Looks real, right??

If you’re new here, I want to share a little bit about me. I’m Whitney, a New Orleans based interior designer & influencer. I’m almost reaching my 2 year mark of having a separate-from-my-home design studio/brick-and-mortar – open to the public for retail. Definitely check out behind the scenes of my everyday design biz on IG and support me by visiting my online shop! I am obsessed with adding large doses of saturated color in a sophisticated way and my main design goal (on every project) is to create a functional, beautiful home that’s reflective of my client with a little hint of ME. I absolutely love what I do.

I linked up as a guest participant in the Fall 2019 season of the ORC to transform my dining room – it was such a fun makeover! Check out the before and after of that space below and the full reveal here. I also transformed my ugly kitchen years ago as a guest participant of the ORC.

Now, for the plan for THIS One Room Challenge.

We bought our home in 2017 and I’ve always loved the layout, but really hated the finishes. We’ve worked a little at a time to make upgrades, but my living room area is the one I’ve held back on long enough!

Here’s what this space looked like when we made an offer:

I was literally DRAINED living here with all the dated finishes, so I made some quick changes, like changing the floors, painting the brick (well, priming – I never actually put a coat of paint on LMAO), painting the French doors, and painting the walls and “beams”, and epoxying the bar countertop. Here’s a look at some of the “upgrades”:

It’s cute, but definitely not a designer’s home!

I’ll be gutting my huge bar and completely rebuilding it, resurfacing our massive fireplace, doing lots of upholstery projects, painting my French doors again, replacing light fixtures, redoing the faux beams, and changing all the furniture (including building a piece that I’ve wanted for years). And, when I say EYE, I mean my dad, hopefully. LOL!

I’ll take you along my design process as I (we) transform these spaces like it’s a real project with real clients (I’m the “client”, though).

But wait, there’s more!

I’m also giving a light update to my kitchen, since it’s connected to the space. I updated it for my first One Room Challenge as a guest participant, but I must have been out of my mind when I decided to paint these cabinets white. I am not a white cabinets kind of girl – at all. YOU HAVE TO SEE THE BEFORE, THOUGH!

I’m changing the uppers, floor tile, backsplash, and range hood. I’m keeping my countertops and lower cabinets, but will be retrofitting the inside with some creative storage solutions. Right now, I’m struggling with how unusable the space is! This is one thing that I’m most excited about!

I’ll also be lightly refreshing my hallways and entry. Here’s what they look like now:

Next week, I’ll share details of the design process… If you have any thoughts on what you’d specifically like to see, please leave me a comment below!

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Can’t wait to share more! Be sure to follow me on Instagram, to catch the behind the scenes action AND you’ll get to see me actually go through the real mini-reno process of my own home.

And, if you’re in the market for home decor and fun accesories, be sure to take a peek at my shop!

Be sure to visit the other 19 featured designers below. You’re in for a treat!

Albie Knows| At Home with Savvy | Beth Diana Smith | Eclectic Twist| Erika Ward InteriorsFrom House to Home| G. Lebron Interiors | Goldalamode | Home Made by Carmona| Impeccable NestJeweled Interiors| Joyful Designs Studio| Joy Street Design | Our Fifth House| Peony & HoneyPinch Plate Party | Rebecca Propes | Reem’s Design | Saudah Saleem Interiors | Whitney J Decor Media BH&G | TM ORC

Till next time!