MasterBrand had the pleasure of partnering with one of our favorite interior designers and influencers, Shavonda Gardner, to help her create a functional and inspiring kitchen using custom cabinets that perfectly fit her and her family’s needs. Committed to a downsized lifestyle, Shavonda wanted to show her followers how a homeowner could maximize a smaller space with a well-thought-out design and our custom cabinetry line, Omega.
The outcome was not only awe-inspiring but educational for her followers along the way. We encourage you to head over to her Instagram page to dive into the design process and get a better understanding of the renovation and how important the planning phase is for any successful home improvement project.
Shavonda graciously agreed to talk to us about her renovation after her kitchen was complete. Here is what she had to say:
Tell us about yourself and your design process for your new kitchen.
“My name is Shavonda Gardner and I’m an interior designer and lifestyle content creator based in Sacramento CA. My family and I committed to a downsized lifestyle and traded in our large newer construction home for our 1942 cottage bungalow, half its size, seven years ago. Going into the kitchen renovation, I had a very clear idea of what our exact needs and desires were after living with the original kitchen for so many years. At the core of the renovation was my desire to create a space as a homage to my grandmother’s kitchen in Louisiana. I’m also very much a fan of classic European kitchens so the idea was to create a space that felt like a rustic French kitchen meets quirky English kitchen and they go on vacation to Africa.”
What were your cabinetry goals for your new kitchen?
“I really wanted our cabinetry to be reminiscent of traditional English kitchen cabinetry. I wanted beautiful quality and great old-school craftsmanship. I wanted COLOR and I needed to be able to customize it to accommodate a lot of storage for our small space.”
What were the must-haves, the nice-to-haves, and any never-want-to-haves?
“Must-haves: Very specific storage! Pull out drawer for trash and recycle bin, integrated knife block, a custom storage hutch for dinnerware, and space to store my enameled Dutch ovens.
Nice-to-haves: Fun storage ideas I didn’t know were possible like the toe kick drawer!
Never-want-to-haves: Upper cabinetry.”
What doorstyle from Omega Cabinetry did you choose for the renovation and why?
“I chose Benson doors with inset construction because I love the classic Shaker style door, but it has just a bit of extra detail on the interior profile. I also loved that it’s a solid wood door. It’s just beautiful and exactly what I imagined.”
If you renovated again, is there anything you would do differently?
“I only have one regret about the entire renovation and that is the size of the cabinet to the left of the range. I really, really wanted to go with a larger drawer, but we weren’t sure what the allowance would be with the corner cabinet once the range got in so we were conservative with the size. In the end, we have about five inches to work with so we could’ve gone with one size larger and been flush with the door trim. I know it doesn’t sound like a lot, but every single inch counts in a small space.”
Do you have any tips you’d share about starting a kitchen renovation/cabinetry project for those who don’t know where to start?
“The biggest piece of advice I have is to know and understand what your NEEDS are and address those first. Also, prioritize the way you live in your home over what is trendy, popular, or all over Pinterest at the moment. Kitchens are meant to be workhorses and they really do need to work, so make sure you are leading with your needs first.”
Any surprising or previously unshared details about the project fans would be curious to know?
“Nope! I shared the entire renovation project through a vlog series so you get to see the good, the bad, the mistakes…. all of it!”
Thank you for taking us behind the scenes of your kitchen renovation using custom cabinets from Omega!
If you’re planning a kitchen renovation of your own, make sure to follow Shavonda’s vlog series as she explains the planning and execution involved in her kitchen renovation project. Shavonda also shares images and short videos of her hand-chosen storage and shows the viewer how each one functions.
If you are planning a remodel or new build, head over to Omega Cabinetry’s website to get inspired and explore their beautiful custom cabinets! Happy planning!
