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.

Give a timeworn table a fresh look with fabric. The tablecloth is made from inexpensive burlap that's hand-painted with red dots for a custom touch.

Countertops accessorized with red small appliances and decorative knickknacks bring spice to the space.

On Target: New Furniture
It was time for a new breakfast table--or a new look for the old one. The mustard yellow color of a budget-friendly burlap tablecloth provided a perfect accent to the red walls and fabric. To further connect it with the room, the team hand-painted polka dots all over the cloth. (Keep in mind that burlap doesn't handle spills very well, so use place mats.)

Kay found a narrow marble-top iron table to use as an island. The small size allows plenty of room to open the oven door, but it still makes a great landing spot for a hot dish. She also uses it to serve appetizers when entertaining.

A stucco finish on the walls lends character to the kitchen. It was applied directly over the wallpaper. Kay displays vintage tins for additional color.

Calling for Backup
There were a few things Kay left up to the pros. She hired someone to install tumbled marble countertops and a backsplash. An electrician added recessed lights to brighten up the space.

The Wrap-up
The group took home a new appreciation for what they can accomplish when working together on a project, not to mention new friendships that will last a lifetime. Some even took a few ideas to try in their own homes, such as hanging plates on the wallspace above cabinets or adding a colorful patterned rug instead of a plain, solid one.

Sure, Kay could have done most of the work herself, but it wouldn't have been nearly as fun as gathering a group of new friends to share in the creativity.

"Team Up for a New Look" is from the August 2006 issue of Southern Living.