When my stepmother,
Faby, sent me some pictures of her amazing second hand furniture transformation, I wanted to know more.
Faby moved in with my dad to find a quirky house: Rooster backsplash
in the kitchen, fish tile in the bathroom, and blue plaid couches to start. I didn’t
mind the interior design decisions because I grew up there but I could see how it
wouldn’t appeal to someone else. Since my childhood house sold, they moved back
into my stepmother’s house but not without changing a few things first. Now I
couldn’t actually VISIT my dad and Faby for the home tour since we are going to
my see my husband’s family for Thanksgiving, but she kindly sent some picture of
her favorite designs.
DDD: Why did you want to remodel
your home?
F: I wanted this house to be Tom
and my house, nothing from my previous relationships. Our own space with
something we like, nothing from the past. When I moved to his
house it didn’t have my touch. I can’t live with clutter. I am minimalist.
DDD: What is your favorite part of
your remodel?
F: The kitchen.
DDD: What was the most challenging
part of your remodel?
The most challenging was tearing
the walls door. I wanted three walls teared down. The pantry was way too big. I
wanted two walls at a ninety degree angle.
DDD: How long did this take?
F: 3 months
DDD: What advice would you give
someone going through a remodel?
F: I would suggest to go to family
owned stores because when you go to places like Home Depot, huge, huge, places,
it’s too much that you get overwhelmed. You have no idea where to start. I
wanted someone to give you one to one service. I wanted to see a place that has
classy style. I went to a store where the daughter and son owned the store.
DDD: What inspired you to reuse
some pieces of furniture?
Because you know how I think, I
believe in recycle, reduce, and reuse. So I said, Why am I going to buy something when I can do something?
DDD: What piece are you proudest
of in your home?
F: I wouldn’t say proud. The piece
I like the most is my Buddhas. The ones I have I call the Buddha of Silence and
they remind me to be calm.
DDD: Are there any projects left to
be completed?
F: Inside the house, no. Outside,
we still need to do the yard.
DDD: How would you describe your personal
style?
F: Minimalist. I get rid of… you
have no idea. Bags and bags and bags. It took weeks to get rid of everything. The
less I have, the better I feel.
DDD: Where do you think your style
comes from?
F: My philosophy has always been
the less you have, material things, the more you connect with your spiritual
life. When you are occupied on what you can have, you will never have enough.
There is always something new you will want to have. I want this, no it is ugly, no it’s out of style you will always be
changing to keep up with everything on the outside. You get too buys in things
that aren’t important so you don’t have time do to things that are really
important.
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| Faby designed the kitchen with cabinets that opened up, rather than out. She also said that everything is white for a reason: white walls, cabinets, floors. She wants people to see her for who she is, white doesn't hide anything. |
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| All of the following pieces were painted for $28. What a beautiful transformation! |
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| This is what the pieces looked like before. |
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| After |
