"That's exactly the situation designer Crystal Blackshaw of Crystal Blackshaw Interiors found herself in when rebuilding this 350-square-foot cook space in a 1900s Chicago bungalow. "Before renovations, the home overall hadn't been updated since the early '90s," Blackshaw says. "It showed a lot of wear, and there was little personality that we could salvage. The overall appearance was basic and boring.""
"Coupling the age of the home with a recent life change - in this case, Blackshaw's client (and her children) had recently blended their life with her new husband and his two kids - and a fresh start was in order, especially in the kitchen. "She wanted to reflect this new chapter into her home with a fresh, bright and fun interior design,""
"For Blackshaw, the "first order of business is to always tackle the bones of the house." It's important to make sure a home's rooms are "safe, secure, and sturdy from the inside out," she says. "Then we present the designs, all the pretty elements that the client gets excited about." Of course, the planning phase is also when permitting gets locked down - and the general design direction for the home is born. It's also a time where necessary fixes are identified."
Crystal Blackshaw rebuilt a 350-square-foot kitchen in a 1900s Chicago bungalow. The home had not been updated since the early 1990s and showed significant wear and settling. The project combined structural repairs — including leveling the subfloor and addressing settling — with a refreshed aesthetic. The client sought a bright, fun grandmillennial interior with abundant pattern, color, and improved functionality for a blended family. Planning included securing permits and establishing the home's general design direction while identifying necessary fixes. The renovation prioritized making rooms safe, secure, and sturdy before introducing decorative elements and finishes.
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