With help from some good friends, Kay's kitchen now spills over with rustic charm and vibrant hues.

Imagine a design ambush on your home. A troop of 10 women enters, armed with paintbrushes, fabric, and accessories. They are ready to do anything to redecorate a room--like a style SWAT Team--and they won't quit till the makeover mission is complete. Sound like a movie? For Kay Clarke of Birmingham, it's a true story. The idea was to get connected. A group of women at her church wanted to get to know one another better by sharing their talents, and one of their challenges was to redo Kay's kitchen. How did she get so lucky? Kay's name was pulled from a hat. The team met once a week for three months before turning her shabby kitchen into one chic spot to cook and dine.

Ready, Aim, Paint
Previously the kitchen featured dark cabinets paired with navy blue wallpaper. Now zesty red walls bring new life to the space. One team member specializes in faux finishes and simply covered the papered walls with gypsum drywall mud for a stucco look. The end result brings a rustic element to the Country French-inspired space. The cabinets were sanded and washed with a black stain. Team members removed the upper cabinet panels and replaced them with shirred, red-and-white check fabric and chicken wire.

A color boost helped update this rich cooking space.

Cabinets, dressed up with fabric and chicken wire, are completed with whimsical hardware such as this fork pull.