I totally relate to that—some of my favorite kitchens I’ve worked on have these little “mistakes” that end up making the space feel real. One time, I left some original chipped tile in a backsplash because it just had this charm you can’t fake. Here’s a trick: if you lean into those quirks, try layering textures around them—like a rough wood cutting board near a scuffed cabinet. Suddenly, it feels intentional. Not everything has to be polished to perfection... sometimes the best spaces tell a story.
Not everything has to be polished to perfection... sometimes the best spaces tell a story.
Interesting point. I get the appeal, but I worry that leaving “mistakes” could look like I just missed something during the reno. How do you decide what’s charming vs. just worn out? Is there a line where it just feels sloppy?
Honestly, it’s a fine line. I always ask myself if the “imperfection” adds character or just looks like I got lazy. For example, leaving old brick exposed can look intentional and cool, but chipped cabinet paint just feels unfinished. If something looks like it could be a safety hazard or makes the space harder to use, I fix it. Otherwise, I try to keep a couple of quirks that make the space feel lived-in... not neglected. It’s all about balance—if you have to explain why you left something, maybe it needs another look.
Couldn’t agree more about the fine line. When I’m redoing a kitchen, I always ask: will this “quirk” help or hurt resale? Exposed brick? Usually a plus. Chipped paint or sticky drawers? That’s just going to turn buyers off. My rule of thumb is: if it looks like a shortcut, fix it. If it looks intentional and adds value, keep it. Sometimes I’ll leave an old light fixture if it fits the vibe, but anything that feels like deferred maintenance gets addressed fast. It’s all about what actually adds appeal versus what just looks unfinished.
- 100% agree on the “intentional vs. shortcut” thing.
- Here’s where I get stuck: sometimes what *I* think is a cool, artsy touch (like painting one cabinet a wild color) just looks like a mistake to everyone else.
- Exposed brick? Love it. But I once left some old tile because it “had character” and my mom said it looked like I forgot to finish the job...
- Sticky drawers are the worst. I tried to ignore them for a while, but every time I opened one, it felt like the kitchen was judging me.
- My new rule: if it makes me hesitate or apologize when someone visits, it’s gotta go.
- Old light fixtures are tricky—sometimes they’re vintage chic, sometimes they’re just...old.
- Still learning where that line is, but I guess that’s half the fun (and half the stress) of redoing a kitchen.
