When Yamile reached out, she spoke passionately about her kitchen—a space full of memories where she’s created countless meals and moments. She didn’t want a full remodel; she wanted to highlight its beauty while letting go of what no longer worked.
The project involved adding doors to unfinished shelves, replacing worn ones, and converting a hinged door into a sliding barn door. As I worked on the door, I discovered layers of paint meant to mimic aged wood, ironic because the door itself was already old wood. Stripping the paint revealed its history—each layer representing a period in the house’s life. This wasn’t just a renovation; it was about giving the kitchen a fresh season while honoring its story. By removing the excess and letting the natural wood shine, we brought new life to a beloved space.
I gladly accepted this project, thinking it would be an interesting but standard project. However, everything changed when I started working on the door. The door had been painted to mimic aged wood, which surprised me because, paradoxically, it was already made of old wood. As I stripped away each layer of paint, I discovered something fascinating: each layer represented an era, a version of the house, like the rings on a tree that tell its story.
That door showed me that this project wasn’t just practical work; it was a way to give the kitchen a new season, a renewal that honored its past while revealing its natural beauty. The focus shifted from simply fixing what was functional to celebrating the essence of the wood, allowing its character to shine without unnecessary embellishments. Now, I’m working with a new purpose: to restore the soul of Yamile’s kitchen so it remains the heart of her home, rich in history and ready for new memories.
