CHRISTINE KOHUT INTERIORS

The Finale: One Room Challenge Fall 2020

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Finale is being used loosely here.

The grand finale! The big reveal!

Yeah, no.

What has been done in the last two weeks since I talked to you last? Honestly, in this room? Not much. I am not dragging my feet here. I just have a lot going on, and not a lot of resources available to do magical things overnight. There are things I was going to do in my ORC room but might just skip. I’ll tell you about that in a minute.

It’s not like an HGTV show over here.

My life is more like a Netflix comedy special, really. Sometimes I wonder if I should be like some of my design friends and just do a lot of insta stories, reels, etc etc. Maybe a regular YouTube channel to document my personal design dilemmas? Who will take time out of their day to watch my antics? I can at least write about them a little bit. Let me know what you guys think. And I probably still won’t do it. LOL.

Currently those antics involve making fun of the stupid things in this new house of mine, and lamenting the lack of tradesmen available to help me transform this into something I might be able to enjoy a little bit. Every time someone buys a 30+ year old home, they have to be prepared for some fixing up, right? But some of this is so wonky, it makes me laugh and wonder WHO DID THIS??

For example:

I think there have only been 2 owners of this house since it was built. I am not sure who decided to do what was done, but hopefully I will not go broke trying to change some of these things.

Ok, back to the finale…

WEEK ONE || WEEK TWO/ THREE || WEEK FOUR || WEEK FIVE || WEEK SIX

Or whatever we are calling this. Here’s the gist of the story: I bought a house in October, two weeks after the One Room Challenge started. Mind you, I NEVER SAW THE HOUSE before buying it because it is in New Hampshire and we were in California. WHAT?? Yeah. Who does that? The most expensive thing I ever bought in my life and I didn’t even walk through it before making an offer.

We saw it online, sent some local friends to look at it, and then I reached out to my old friend Joe Leddy from the Bean Group in NH to be my buying agent to make sure this was going to go well. He made sure this transaction went smoothly and quickly, and kept checking on my sanity (which is quite questionable). And now here we are.

Oh, and while I was still in CA, I decided to sign up for the One Room Challenge and I was just going to make over one of the bedrooms on the second floor that one of my daughters could use when visiting, like I did for last year’s Project Coast to Coast.

Before

After buying the house, I walked through it and decided to throw that idea out the window and do something else completely! So I started this challenge behind schedule and with two weeks lost, I had no idea what I was going to do after all. I looked at this room and decided it will become an office just for me. The official Christine Kohut Interiors office. I felt so fancy!

This first floor room was used as a bedroom by the previous owners.

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This is what it looked like when I moved in:

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Honestly, out of all the rooms in this house, this one was probably the only one that had a color I could’ve worked with. It’s (well it WAS) a pretty shade of gray-blue. Oh well, bye bye.

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I had this velvet flocked wallpaper to use and I am still laughing at myself for choosing it. While I guess I’ve been known for color, pattern and texture in my work, my own spaces are usually quite simple. At least in my mind.

Since I was planning to use the wallpaper in one of the girls’ bedrooms, I had in my head that my own office was going to be WHITE. I know, can you believe it?? I seriously was so distracted, stressed, and overwhelmed by everything that was happening in my life, that in one split second decision, I was like, whatever, let’s put that in the office. There are the boxes of it, on that chair in the corner, the night I decided to make this an office.

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And I got it installed before I could change my mind.

Even Ozzy thought this might be a bad idea. He looks like he’s laughing at me.

After

And now I’m sitting in here writing this, looking around and thinking this looks pretty fun. The velvety finish on the wallpaper changes in the light, so sometimes it looks really green and sometimes it looks almost black. I think that it’s neat to see it change throughout the day.

I may earn a little money if you click on the links to some of the products in my blog and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. It helps fund this blog, so bonus for you and bonus for me.

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Shop: ART || Shop: FRAME

But not really the finale

It’s not really the finale because I still have to hang more stuff up on the walls. I have the amazing photograph of Dave Grohl, that I talked about near the end of my last post HERE. Guess what? It’s at the framers and they said it will be FOUR TO SIX WEEKS until it’s ready. Story of my life, and everyone else’s in 2020, right?

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The entire One Room Challenge is normally only six weeks from start to finish. This is actually week seven (or maybe eight, I’ve seriously lost count) and I have to wait another four to six weeks to get the art that will go over the bar cart. Thanks 2020!

It will be the first thing you see when you walk into the room.

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So here it is in it’s current state.

I’ve collected a bunch of cool bar carts for you here.

Unless I change my mind when I actually get the thing. Which is why I haven’t put up this big ol’ mirror I’ve had in my life since I last lived in NH. My parents got it for me at a yard sale sometime around 1995 or 96 and it’s all banged up and imperfect but I still love it.

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I plan to hang it on that wall and stick a removable magnetic dry erase board on it. That way I can use it to create mood boards and write notes. I can then pop the board off the mirror and take it with me (whenever I’m going to get to see clients in person again). But for now, it’s sitting on the floor. I look at it from my desk chair and I can see my butt on the seat and my shoes. That’s attractive. Sigh. I have the picture hooks sitting next to me and might hang it after I finish this post because that is just NOT pretty to look at.

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If you noticed, the house came with a blue cushion in the window seat. I complained talked about this before, but I just couldn’t find anyone to sew a new cushion cover for it, and to be honest, I don’t feel like spending that much more money in here. Yet, I still hated it, so I threw a super soft sheepskin rug on it. My dog has decided it’s his favorite place, and he rests his head on the pillows and watches the critters outside.

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Click to shop SHEEPSKIN RUG

That works, right?

Is it cheating? I don’t know. I don’t care. It’s checked off my to do list, and I’m on to the next thing. Like finding the perfect spot for my pencils.

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You can also shop for a similar lamp HERE.

If you can remember the beginning of this mega long post, I had some black metal and gray wood shelves sitting in the before pic. They were from Project Coast to Coast. I used them here with the lamps on top, and they work fine for now, but eventually I think I will get nicer looking storage after I spend all my money on other, more pertinent parts of the house. Like my leaking sink in my bathroom and the toilet that won’t stop running. Mine have three shelves, but THESE are similar.

I got the blue chairs as part of my sponsored post I shared last week, HERE.

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I think they are perfect for clients who come to my office (someday post-pandemic), and for my besties to sit when we need a private place to chat and have a cocktail (hence the bar cart).

For the closet, I stuck a rolling shelving unit I had bought for my temporary living space in NJ (when I sold my house and had to rent for a year before I could move to CA). I jammed a bunch of supplies, including paint, wallpaper and fabric books into the crappy closet for now. I am debating what to actually do in there. I might set up a big shelving unit to house all the big work stuff in the basement (the door is right outside my office). That way I can keep this office neat and organized and not filled to the gills. So for now, I’m just gonna close this door and check this off.

Speaking of the closet door. I was so distracted I forgot to check on the gorgeous handle that Belwith Keeler is sending to me. It was delayed and never arrived. (SURPRISE!! F U 2020!) Even though it’s not in this finale post, it’s now en route so check back or follow my instagram account to see that when it gets installed (as well as all sorts of good stuff).

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How does Ozzy end up in so many photos?? I swear I didn’t see him there when I took this.

Finale Shminale

So, as you can see my ORC finale is not really finished, but I’m ok with it so far. I will finish up the odds and ends and may edit this post down the line. I have been spending time in here every day, getting my business ready for 2021.

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Can’t forget my little Mushu.

That being said, how did I do with this finale? Are you let down that I’m not “officially” done? What is your favorite part?

I know this post was long, so if you’re just scrolling and skimming, here are a couple of before and after shots:

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Looking ahead

Now that this finale is finally behind me, I have to start working out the plans for the rest of this house. The outside needs just as much, if not more work than the inside, so I will be very busy for a long time. I am also getting excited for 2021 and what kind of clients and projects I will be working on. Things are changing here at Christine Kohut Interiors and I now that I have a home base set up, I AM READY.

I hope you enjoy reading about my One Room Challenges. I am thinking that if I do it for the spring 2021 season, I will do client project like I did with Project Shut the Front Door and Project Get Clean. Let me know if you think you have a project that might work next spring!

You can catch up on the other ORC guest participants and the 20 featured participants. Better Homes and Gardens is the media sponsor for the One Room Challenge.

Albie Knows | Ana Claudia Design | At Home With Joseph | Barbour Spangle Design

Dwell by Cheryl | Eneia White Interiors | Gray Space Interiors | Haneen’s Haven | Hommeboys 

Interiors by Design | Jana Donohoe Designs | Laura Hodges Studio | Lauren Nicole Designs

Nicole White Designs | Nikole Starr Interiors | Nile Johnson Interior Design | Prudence Home + Design

Thou Swell | Traders Haven Design | Whitney J Decor | HPMKT

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Libbie@alifeunfolding

This looks GORGEOUS! Can’t wait to see your print when it comes back!

Thanks Libbie. I can’t believe I’m still waiting for it!

Cassandra Patterson

I freakin LOVE that wallpaper! I never would have thought to buy or use anything like that. I bet you are so glad to have set up your own space first so that you have a spot to go to that’s all yours (well, maybe Ozzy’s too) and dream about how great 2021 is gonna be. Can’t wait to see what else you do to the place, I’m sure it will be amazing! Welcome home!

Janet Lorusso

The design ninja rides again! Seriously awesome job, Christine, and so perfectly suited to you! I am also done-not-done with the fall ORC, but thrilled to have a working space again. Congrats, and here’s to a 2021 filled with great things!

Cate

LOVE LOVE LOVE this space!! Kind of makes me want to kick one of my kids out of their bedrooms so I can make a completely gorgeous home office that feels inviting instead of punishing!!

Lisa

This is YOUR work oasis…never had a doubt it would turn out spectacular! You will create many more transformations from this room CK!

SUSANNAH WATTS

It looks amazing for it “not being finished” yet! I love the wallpaper- nice work friend!!

Judith

I’ve enjoyed following your IG posts. That Wallcovering is so unique. Congrats!

Lauren Servati

That wallpaper is dazzling, Christine! And I love your desk. I believe I used to have the coffee table version of it. What a gorgeous space you’ve created.

Kari

Seriously love how real you are! Can we be friends? Cause I need one of these mugs!! The ORC was no freaking joke. First timer over here and I was so glad to wrap it up last night. Your wallpaper selection is amazing!! And velvet texture too. The entire office is awesome!

Mary Ann Benoit

Love it, came out perfect! Ozzie is the best model and I really need one of those coffee cups!

Diana

Was quite a journey for this challenge. You are amazing. Love the room and can visualize it complete. Great job!

Leslie Carothers

I love it, Christine. It came out so perfectly YOU and the fact that you now have an office just for you is so exciting. I love your bar cart selections, too.

Congratulations for getting it to the point it is, despite all else you had going on!

kate

It’s so fabulous and the best part is, it’s your space!!! bravo!

Marina V

Looks great. Enjoy to the fullest!

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