If you’re a full-on interior design addict, you already know the One Room Challenge is the biggest event of the year for us and you’ve probably seen all of these already. They’ve been shared across every designer’s instagram stories and blog out there multiple times in the past few weeks. So this post is more for the uninitiated – or just you know, regular people who like interiors fine but have a real life and hobbies and don’t look at pillows and color schemes all day. I mean if that’s your thing whatever. It’s weird, but whatever.

The concept is simple, designers pick a room and they have 6 weeks to make it over completely, including construction if needed.
We follow the progress week-to-week until the big reveal where we get to enjoy the resulting awesomeness from these wonderful creative minds. You can check out my post about last year’s transformations here if you need a refresher.

Now this year, I wanted to keep it short and sweet, so I’ll just include my top favorites but I’ll show you a little more of the spaces, and even include the before so you can see all the work that went into these beautiful spaces. I mean, everyone loves a good before and after…

Alright let’s dig in ! So this year, there are two kitchens that really spoke to me.
First up, my gorgeous friend Jewel from Jeweled Interiors. Here’s what she was working with :

By painting the cabinets, changing the countertops, and “covering” the island she completely brought the kitchen to life, without starting over from scratch. Jewel moves around a lot (and I mean a lot), so she’s the queen of making the existing work for you.

Check out the jaw-dropping result :

Everything in this kitchen is just so gorgeous, I don’t even know where to start. The mix of blues is a wave of good vibes, chic but not overly formal, the marble waterfall counter, I mean, I would sleep on this island instead of my bed in a heartbeat, and of course, my biggest crush from the start : The. Burl. The burl, guys ! As soon as I saw that moodboard on her IG, I knew it was coming…

Be sure to check out all the amazingly detailed picture Jewel took on her blog and the whole story behind the process !

Next up, a kitchen from the wonderful mind of Erin Kestenbaum. Now Erin took a different approach and just ripped up the whole kitchen, including walls. In six weeks. This girl is straight crazy.

Here’s her before :

Erin removed everything and started from scratch, with custom cabinets all around, rearranging them where it made more sense, new gorgeous appliances, flooring, and a color palette that brought a lot more light to the room. Drum roll please ….

This is just a whole new level of class right there. I imagine that she feels like the classiest person ever whenever she steps into the kitchen. She even has a hidden coffee bar for god’s sakes !

There are some many more awesome details in the room, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Next up, we have last year’s darling OldBrandNew, who transformed a blank room into an extra dope eclectic office space. The starting space was a completely blank canvas :

And BAM ! Cozyness explosion !

Dabito is a total color genius and the mix here is just so soothing and wonderful. Bonus points for the chinoiserie rug, something I’m deeply obsessed with at the moment, and all the amazing accessories used to style the space, most of which are from personal travels so you can really feel the hominess.

And now we get to what is a serious contender for all-time-favorite : HommeBoys. I followed their antics in IG stories and these guys worked their asses off like I’ve never seen. Basically, the only reality show I’ll ever care about … will the fabrics get delivered in time !?

Despite the rush and stress, they soldiered on and pulled off the most amazing room ever.
Looking back, here is the sad, blank space before :

And what comes next is a mix of textures and softness the likes of which the world has never seen …

I mean, where to begin : handmade, uniquely shaped headboard that takes up the whole wall, check – with built in mirror and a perfect row of round sconces to match of course, textures olive green walls, check, heart-stopping wallpaper ceiling, check.
Black velvet doors….. I’ll say it again : Black. Velvet. Doors. People !

Seriously though, can we make this the new standard for “cali cool” ? Because that style needs to die like right now.
I love absolutely everything about this room and I think it’s fair to say it’s probably impossible to leave. Go look at all the good stuff on their blog, there’s also a beautiful bathroom I didn’t even get to show you ! Run !

So there you go ! I hope you are now feeling all warm and fuzzy for all the gorgeousness, I know I am. Go show these people some love if you’ve got some time and enjoy your weekend !

— Marie

The One Room Challenge is an bi-annual makeover challenge, where designers take on a project (in their own home or a client’s) to be completed and photographed in 6 weeks’ time. There’s an array of sponsors to help them source all the furniture and materials to meet the deadline, but creatively, the sky’s the limit. It’s an amazing source of inspiration for me and since they just crossed the finish line a few days ago, I wanted to take the opportunity to share all the eye candy on this Inspiration Friday ! 

The ORC has 20 official and 187 guest participants this year, and lots of great projects got done (if you want to see the whole list check it out here). Some were amazing remodels of the space, with jarring before and afters, and overall everyone did really wonderful work ! But I wanted to show you the ones that made me drool all over my keyboard, gasp, spit out my drink ! … The colors, the textures, the details, and overall … the creativity ! 

I’m preparing my own home for a photoshoot this month (shhhh… it’s a secret!) and this is just the inspiration and the kick in the ass I needed ! I’m gonna be painting, gluing, and sanding all weekend and I’m veeery excited it about it 🙂

Here are the most standout projects for me this year : (Make sure you scroll all the way for the one who stole my heart)
I’m only adding one picture for each because every contestant documents their makeover journey so please follow the links on their blog names to see all their hard work and details ! All of the contestant’s page either has the “before” picture or a link to it handy, so make sure you check out their posts !

Bathrooms :

House of Brinson did a beautiful dark vintage bathroom makeover, and while my style isn’t quite as classic as you know, this room packs such a visual punch I was very impressed ! Also those floors are goooorgeous !

(Source : House of Brinson)

SGStyleBlog also kept it dark in the small bathroom makeover, but in a modern and bold way ! I loved the details of the wall tiles, and that lighting !!

(Source : SGStyleBlog)

For a different look, Veronica from The Naked Decorator created the loveliest ode to Parisian décor in her powder room ! That shade of pink is so sweet and cosy, I love it. And all that brass…. so pretty !

(Source : The Naked Decorator)

Entryway :

J+J Design Group created this really classy and colorful entryway, and those doors really brought it home for me. Although you know I love me some pink + green combos so it checked all my boxes ! There’s a lot of great behind the scenes in the posts about the making of the doors for instance if you’re looking for DIY tips !

(Source : J+J Design Group)

Kids & Guest Rooms :

Diving into color in a big, big way, this amazing, over-the-top (in the best way!) kid’s room by OldHomeLove is suuuch a fun project ! This is really what I picture when I think of the ORC, just total craziness and not limits !! I mean, how much fun is this kid gonna have ! Make sure you check out their post to see the rest of the room, every inch is awesome !

(Source : OldHomeLove)

Speaking of going all out, MurphyDeesign knocked it out of the park with the wildest makeover ever of this unused space into an amazing guest room, and the space planning here is absolutely genius !! I’ll keep it to this intriguing picture to draw you in, because it’s such a small space you need to see every angle separately to get a real sense of everything she accomplished. I’ll just say this : it’s a train sleeper car inspired bunk bed experience ! If that doesn’t make you curious I don’t know what will … Do yourself a favor and run to her blog !

(Source : MurphyDeesign)

Office :

Eclectic Twist is one of my favorite people on Insta and should be following her and if you don’t literally just stop reading and do it now. I’m not kidding. Her space was already pretty perfect I’m not gonna lie, so the before and after isn’t as shocking, but the changes she made really are amazing so I had to share ! This woman has actual perfect taste, it’s extremely annoying !

 (Source : EclecticTwist)

Bedroom :

Erin Kestenbaum showed off her bedroom makeover and thought wow, serene, collected, beautiful. It’s a little too “nice” for me maybe because I like to throw in weird and off-beat stuff in my rooms, but in terms of design it was really just perfect, I didn’t know how else to describe it. And then I saw the closet. Oh myyyyyy the closet. And everything took on another dimension. This is just fabulous and beautiful, and I love it. Bravo Erin !

(Source: Erin Kestenbaum)

Living Rooms :

Ariel from PmqForTwo is a color genius so I had no doubts she’s knock this one of the park. Again, do yourself a favor and go check out her super detailed post about the space, every nook and cranny is insanely beautiful !

(Source: PmqForTwo)

We’re coming to the end of my run down so here is my runner up, from JeweledInteriors, here is the Glam French, Queen inspired living room/dining room combo of your dreams ! There is too many awesome details to mention, but every piece of furniture, color, texture, pattern is to die for and the mix is just incredible. I want it all indeed… :p

(Source : JeweledInteriors)

And finally, the one that knocked my socks off, get ready for the color explosion goodness that is the OldBrandNew guesthouse !! This is just what I needed in my life and in my eye sockets this week. I have literally nothing to add, it’s absolute perfection.

(Source : OldBrandNew)

Congrats to every one who participated and my hat’s off to these wonderful people in particular, you guys are so good at what you do !! Now go to bed you poor sleep-deprived bastards ! 😀

Make sure to swing back here on Monday, I’m putting together a post about some very special art I saw in a gallery yesterday, you’re gonna wanna see it !

Marie