sponsored by Clare 

The heart of a home is the kitchen, so it’s very important to me to be head-over-heels about my own. After purchasing my new house in February, I wasted zero time transforming my kitchen, and thanks to Clare, I’m so in love with its new look!

If you’ve been following me long, then you know that “Builder Beige” and anything “Plain Jane” are just not my thing. In less than a month, I’ve already painted every room in my house a bold or bright color! For the kitchen, I decided that the cabinets and island needed a fun color too.

BEFORE:

Although I loved the dark wood floors throughout the home, I did not like the dark cabinets in the kitchen. They were a total “meh.” There were also less windows and natural light in the space than the rest of the main floor, and I didn’t like the pendant lights and rubbed bronze hardware the builder selected either. But no worries! I saw each of these items as easy fixes and I had the perfect color picked out to take the space up a notch!

Clare was founded by interior designer, blogger and personality, Nicole Gibbons. As a Black, female creative and aspiring designer, I’ve admirably followed Nicole, her expertise and talented work for years, so when I heard she created a new paint brand, I was so stoked and excited to support! Like most startup stories, Nicole identified a problem in the industry - no company was offering an easy or convenient way to shop for paint. You either had to go to a hardware or retail store and sift through hundreds of paint samples to figure out what you liked (SO overwhelming!) OR sift through colors online and cross your finger that it appeared the same in person as on your computer screen when you ordered a gallon and roll it on the wall (what a crapshoot, and a potentially expensive one!).

Well, Clare fixes all of that! They make paint shopping easier than ever with premium, designer-curated colors and quality painting supplies — delivered to your door. With fewer, better colors, Clare takes the guesswork out of finding a paint color you’ll love. They offer an expertly curated palette of timeless colors, plus technology to help guide you with Clare Color Genius -- an interactive tool that asks a few simple questions to recommend the perfect paint color for your space. Clare is also a quality paint you can feel good about using. The ultra-premium paint is Zero VOC and GREENGUARD Gold certified, which means it meet the most stringent standards for low chemical emissions, releases fewer pollutants, and supports better indoor air quality, so you can paint a healthier, happier home. Lastly, going to the hardware store to pick out a handful of 8 ounce paint samples and literally watching paint dry is a thing of the past! With Clare’s innovative Perfect Color Swatch, you can sample paint colors in an instant - just peel & stick!

Clare’s Current Mood is a rich moody green, not too dark and not too leprechaun. LOL After receiving a few swatches of blue and green options, I was instantly smitten with Current Mood and ordered a few gallons (which ended up being much more than I actually needed because the coverage is that good!). Clare’s Interior Trim Paint has a subtle, yet radiant semi-gloss finish that’s perfect for trim, doors, cabinets and high-touch surfaces. My new friends at J E Remodeling removed my formerly boring-brown cabinet doors and drawers, sprayed them, the island and my guest bathroom vanity.

DURING:

Once the cabinets dried and were reinstalled by the painting crew, we added new hexagon brushed brass pulls from CB2 to each of the cabinet doors and drawers, and they instantly popped! Even better, weeks later my new Hinkley Somerset pendants arrived and I had them mounted asap. Guys - I’m completely OBSESSED! They completely transformed the space and brought lit up the kitchen so well. Between the new lighting, colorful cabinets and the complementing gallery wall I created with maps and artwork on the opposite side of the room, walking into my kitchen makes me feel like I’m entering a completely new house! I’m so pleased with the results, check it out!

AFTER:

I’m SO IN LOVE with my new kitchen. The builder beige walls are no match for my beautiful green cabinets! The entire space now has a completely new vibe and breath of fresh air! Thank you to the Clare team for creating an incredible color that makes me smile every single day!

Be Blessed,

ACG

Design Deets:

Paint - Clare Trim Paint - Current Mood

Cabinet Hardware - CB2

Pendant Lights - Hinkley Lighting, Lumens

Wine Rack - Anthropologie

Appliances - Samsung, Lowe's, Cosmo, Home Depot

Maps and Artwork - Marmont Hill, HomeGoods, Etsy, TJ Maxx

Counter Stools - Statements by J

Baskets - Marshalls

Painters - J E Remodeling

Lighting Installation - All Hands, Lots of Appeal

Professional Photography - drea speaks, LaJoy Photography