First of all, be honest…how many of you thought our big announcement was that we were having another baby? Â Um, NO. Â If you’ve met Coco Miller, our youngest, than you know why we decided to stop at three.
BUT our actual big announcement might be just as hard as having a fourth child.  We will let you know when the six weeks is up because we have decided to tackle the ONE ROOM CHALLENGE.  And doesn’t Mike Miller just look oh so excited about it?!  He is just absolutely  thrilled especially since it was totally his idea…well, at least in a way it was.
First of all, when I sat down to write my first One Room Challenge post, I immediately started falling into the comparison trap. “What will everyone else post on their first day? Â What are we supposed to post? Â What details are we supposed to include” Â Then I snapped out of it. Â Whatevs. Â I’m not a rule follower and I suck at following suit. Â I have no idea what I’m supposed to do or how this works so I’m going to do what I do best…play it by ear. Â And playing it by ear means that I’m going to share the story of how this all happened.
So in case you are meeting cc+mike for the first time, we are high school sweethearts who build and flip houses together in the Midwest.  We have lived in 12 different places in our 14 years of marriage.  We have built and moved A LOT.  We designed and built our current house and moved in a year ago and alas, there are still a few unfinished rooms—our breakfast nook being one of them.  Currently, it is a sad, empty little space that I have to stare at daily.
SO…I had this brilliant idea that I wanted to make the breakfast nook into a sitting/coffee room.  I put together a gorgeous design board featuring some of my Rosemary Beach Wall Art (my sister and I have a print shop where we sell our photography for design), four amazing Lulu & Georgia chairs and a rug, an Anthropologie coffee table, and some bookshelves that were to die for.  It was going to be GORGEOUS, and the price tag was definitely going to reflect that.  I showed Mike Miller the design board and waited for the dreaded questions.
“What is that going to cost?”
I reluctantly told him then I got what I like to call the “Mike Miller air of disapproval.”
So…we had a heated argument, I mean, a loving discussion where we used nothing but positive words of affirmation, and we came to an agreement.  No high dollar sitting room.  I would like to pause this story to now tell those of you who don’t know me well that nothing, and I do mean NOTHING, is more motivating to me then being told that I can’t do something.  OK, resume story.  So I have now been told I can’t do something (in a silent disapproving type of way) so I immediately my wheels start turning.
“OK…no sitting room? Â Well then I will sign us up for the One Room Challenge and we will do the entire room for under $500 and I will pay for it myself by selling other unwanted items around the house.” Â That’s right. Â I have no sponsors lined up as of now. Â I have thrift stores and a warehouse full of some treasures that I’m dreaming up a use for. Â I am going to use some old, forgotten items I already have in storage and repurpose them. Â I’m going to kill some local thrift stores. Â I’m going to make some things by hand, and I’m going to turn this empty, drab, BORING room into FABULOUS in 6 weeks.
Who wants to come along for the ride?!?! Â So that’s how the Miller’s are going to do this One Room Challenge. Â And Mike Miller is SO excited that he said no to the sitting room idea because now he gets to help me with all my amazing DIY projects like re-staining and recovering some thrift store chairs.
And at the end of all of cc+mike will tell you the verdict…does he wish I would have paid for all the fancy sitting room items or does he love my DIY, repurposed, breakfast nook on a budget? Â We are cc+mike…and this is how we do the ONE ROOM CHALLENGE.
Cue Rocky Balboa music babe. Â You’re gonna need it Mike Miller. Â #eyeofthetiger
So here was my original sitting room idea. Â Wasn’t it so pretty? Â It also had a pretty price tag and Mike Miller shut that down. Â Challenge accepted Mike Miller.
Here is the before picture of the room we will be doing. Â It’s empty and BLAH BLAH BLAH right now. Â I can’t wait to show you guys the after pictures in 6 weeks!
So here are my inspiration pictures for the breakfast nook that I will be doing instead using DIY items, thrift store items, and items from storage that we already had and will be repurposing. Â I really want this room to be minimalistic, simple, and natural but you know me, I have to incorporate some pops of colors so you can guarantee there is going to be some BOLD colors in the room somewhere. Â I love these inspo pics because I feel like they have captured the essence of what I’m wanting to do perfectly. Â They are simplistic and natural yet incorporate little pops of color in the perfect ways..
-  Love this design by Pink Peppermint Designs.  The way she uses that turquoise on that beaded light fixture to add drama and color to the room in a small dose of perfection is SO GOOD.  The use of those Serena and Lily chairs in this room is perfect as well and I love the simple white table.  That is the exact type of table I am wanting to use in my space.
2.  This Breakfast Nook from the Chinoiserie Chic is speaking to me for inspiration too.  Those BAMBOO CHAIRS and that brass light fixture, oh be still my heart!  Paired with the simplistic table and all that natural light with those pops of color, it is absolute perfection.  You know this entire room is calling my eclectic glam loving name.
3. Â I’ll save the most minimalistic for last. Â Those white wishbones chairs are calling to me. Â Like I wake up at night and they are speaking to me, telling me I have to use them in this breakfast nook. Â You think I’m kidding, but I’m not. Â You can ask my friends….things speak to me. Â I will be at a thrift store and look at my best friend and say, “I swear that painting over there is talking to me.” Â It never fails, if I don’t buy it when that happens, it will haunt me in my sleep until I go back and get it. Â Oh the horror when I go back and it isn’t there. Â That happened to me just this week and I still haven’t fully recovered. Â But anyway…back to the wishbone chairs. Â I love the white bamboo chairs and I love the Serena and Lily bistro chairs but I think it’s these wishbone chairs that I’m going to have to go with in some way. Â What else do I love about this room? Â The gold light fixture paired with all the white then the pops of colors on the pillows. Â This is what I’m going for in my One Room Challenge breakfast nook….simple, clean, minimalistic, cool chairs, white table, brass light fixture, and oh YOU KNOWÂ I’ll have to find a way to get some BOLDÂ color in there somehow. Â Because that’s how I roll.
We would love if you want to follow along with our One Room Challenge journey! Â We will be doing daily updates on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
Stay tuned next week for my mood board and updates on our progress. Â I was going to share the mood board this week but I thought nope, I’m going to make them wait until next week for that one!
Peace Out!
cc+mike
Please make sure to visit all the other participants of the One Room Challenge here.
The project sounds awesome! I am looking forward to updates!
Thanks so much Paige!!
I absolutely cannot wait to see what you come up with! You crack me up; I am still sitting on and waiting out some hard decisions (like my coveted RH desk). Except, my husband is actually the encourager and I’m the one saying “no” hah! I am so glad we get to go through this together- you are gonna kill it!
Love it! I decided not to inform my hubs that I was doing the ORC again because the previous 2 years involved lots of his wood working skills! This time, it’s all on me! Can’t wait to see what you come up with, it’s going to be beautiful. ~Sonya
Sonya! I’m so glad I’m not the only one who sprung the ORC on my husband. Thank you so much for the sweet words of encouragement!
It’s going to be gorgeous CC!!! I just know Mike Miller will be pleased with every dollar you spent! I can’t wait to follow along, hold hands, encourage each other and cry together if necessary!
You are so sweet girlfriend!!! So excited to go on this journey with you! WE GOT THIS!
Don’t hate me but I’m kinda glad MM made you change directions. You know I love a gorgeous thrifted, repurposed room! I’m sure whatever you do will be gorgeous my friend!
Girl I could never hate you. I hate to admit it but Mike Miller is always right. I am so motivated right now I’m going to knock this out of the park! 🙂
Oh my goodness! I’m already in love! I just know you are going to knock it out of the park! Your inspiration is fantastic!! I can’t wait to follow along!! xox, Emily
Thanks so much Emily! SO excited to follow along wiht your bathroom redo as well. I love a good bathroom redo. They are always so dramatic!
You are too funny! I didn’t have ANY sponsors last time around either and you know what, it makes you be more creative and frugal and your space will turn out even better for it!! Good luck, CC – can’t wait to follow along!!
P.S. I really want those serena & lily chairs… swoon.
Thank you so much Jenna! I just absolutely love a challenge so I’m looking forward to it! Can’t wait to follow along with your ORC as well! PS I want those chairs too but they aren’t in the $500 budget! 🙂
Can’t wait to see what you do with it. Tulsa has some amazing thrift stores and your style is exceptional!
Thank you so much Tracy! I’m looking forward to the challenge!
I can’t wait to see how this comes together! I am the same way about being motivated when someone even implies I can’t do something. Your inspiration images are all gorgoeus and I’m sure your room will be too!
Thank you so much Melissa! Can’t wait to follow along with your journey too!
I love your style of writing, lady! You’re hilarious!
But oh my, what an undertaking!! Under $500 where you technically don’t spend a time? More power to you! Judging from the rest of your rooms, you’re just the person to make it magical! (Seriously obsessing with your house right about now…)
Thank you for your encouragement Oksana. So excited to go on this ORC journey with you!
Hey CC and Mike! I love your spunk and all your ideas – this is going to be great. And I have to say that your master bedroom is one of the inspirations for the bedroom redo I’m working on right now. Love your work!
Oh my goodness Brit that was such a huge compliment that my master bedroom was an inspo pic for you. Makes me smile! Thank you so much girl!
That space looks perfect for a breakfast nook. And even though I don’t usually like light wood floors (it’s what we’re living with now) I love the flooring in your room. Your inspiration is gorgeous, too. I’ve always wanted to do that with our dining area. Can’t wait to see the finished space!
Thank you so much Leslie! I’m so excited for you to follow along on this journey with us!
Oh my gosh, your original inspiration was AMAZING, but I just know that you DIY version will be just as fab! I can’t wait to find out if Mike Miller wishes he’d yet him off easy by spending the big bucks 😉
You are so sweet Angela! Hopefully I can do the breakfast nook on a budget up right so I won’t miss my original design too much! Can’t wait to follow your ORC journey
CC!!! You are keeling me over here! Oh my gosh, you are like my long lost design twin. I looooove all your inspiration and I’m so excited to see how you will use all your thrifted treasures in that space. I’ll be cheering you on over here! So glad we’re doing this crazy challenge together!
Thank you so much Yuni!!! So glad to have found you and so excited to follow your ORC journey!!
CC! I just love you! I am so thrilled to be following you along on this journey! I know you are going to make that room into something that will knock everyone’s socks off! I love how you add dramatic pops to each of your spaces! I can’t wait to see what your pop is in here! xoxo
Randi you are so sweet to follow along on this journey with us. I appreciate it so very much!!! Thanks for taking the time to read our blog and comment. Means so much to me!
Excellent! I’ll be thrifting for my ORC challenge room too. Bargain hunters, unite! 😀
-Stacy @BlakeHillHouse.com
Heck yes Stacy! Can’t wait to follow along. Thrifters unite is right!!!
Haha I’m so glad I discovered your blog! U are a total crack up and I can’t wait to see what you do!
Thank you so much Mysha! I really appreciate you following along with us!
I’m so excited to see what you do! Your mood board is soo up my alley!
Thank you so much Keila for following along with our ORC!
Love the inspiration photos and what you are doing with a tiny budget! Can’t wait to see how it all comes together!
Thank you so much Rosanna!