Love how the backsplash compliments the gorgeous wood throughout! Well done!

That is one COSY kitchen. That looks like a wonderful place for a cup of coffee and a scone if I ever saw one! Really like the warm tones throughout!

It is beautiful! Congratulations, enjoy!

What a warm and cozy kitchen! Your layout in the kitchen work area is almost exactly like my kitchen at our previous house. I wish mine had been so pretty! I love your floors with your cabs and BS! Your built-in seating and the pantry are gorgeous! I could sit and look at that view all day, sipping a cup of hot tea and reading my cookbooks. I hope you'll post again when you find your table! Enjoy!

I would like to be on that wrap-around bench with a big mug of coffee and the Sunday paper (and a table). So comfy looking!

It looks great! I love the built in seating. Enjoy

Wow. That is an extremely inviting space. Very warm, and such beautiful graining on the cabinets. Congratulations!

What are you going to use that cool hutch for? Is that like a "butler's pantry" area?

The seating is beautiful! I personally don't want small tiles for my backsplash. But I have to tell you that is probably the prettiest, most complementary backsplash I've seen yet!

Nice! But I want to see the lake! You did what we did re: the fridge. We built the wall out to cover the side of a traditional-depth fridge. It worked out great for us, too. Perfect solution.

And I love the bench. Are those wooden floor registers used as accents? Nifty idea.

Ohmigosh - I *love* that (I seem to have been saying that a lot lately; but I do!!). That bench is about the nicest looking place I can imagine. Is it to be wrapped around a table? Because I would just love it with big fluffy pillows like a window seat. That might leave you a table short but it would be so comfortable...

I like your pantry too -- a little bit like what I was sort of planning. Can you please tell me how wide is yours?

Mmmmmm..... the colors are delicious!

Great backsplash and wonderful built in seating!!! Very nice, overall.

Your kitchen is very interesting! I am particularly liking the intensity of the cherry--especially how it shows different color in different light. Great natural light by the way! And the nook seating is really exquisite.

I agree with everyone else who is remarking about how cozy, warm, and inviting your kitchen it, because it is so true. What are those neat grate inserts in the banquette seating area? They look cool.

Love all that beautiful wood. I want to come and cook at your house!

Beautiful kitchen. The cherry cabinetry gives off a warmth
that is both inviting and charming. The walker zanger stone
tile creates an organic texture while adding subtle drama.
Your built in seats are a perfect creative way to add
seating and keep your views of those tall trees outside.
I have to ask the beautiful picture on the wall of a lake
and small islands. Where is it from? Is this where you
currentlty live? Is this VT or Canada? I love that you
incorporated that photo into your decorating. Excellent.
~boxer

I'm a sucker for cherry every time--those cabs are beautiful! And I love you backsplash and the light fixture,too. Very pretty! Enjoy the new space!
Cj

Beautiful - I love cherry. Your backsplash and counters go so well with it. Enjoy!

Your kitchen is beautiful! I love the color of your cabinets. I am also having a darker stained cabinet and love the look. While all these white kitchens are beautiful, they really aren't my style. I would love to do a banquet as well, perhaps someday.

Thanks everyone! The nook seating certainly sets off the area. Our GC worked very well with us throughout the design process as it evolved through our many conversations.

marcolo - the hutch replaced an angled breakfast bar that took up too much floor space. So now the hutch acts as additional storage and message center. The cubbies hold keys and ipods and the charging station is on the counter. Since it is just outside of the kitchen area, we did not want it to look out of place so we tried to make it look more like a piece of furniture than a kitchen cabinet. It does not go up to the ceiling but has crown detail at the top, the center unit extends out 3" inches from the sides and has a wooden insert in the back rather than tiled backsplash or paint and we added an arched trim at the bottom of the center unit.

momtofour - My goal was to find a small tile I liked because I thought the typical subway tile would look too big in the smaller kitchen since we have no long run of counter. I started with more of a minature subway tile but stopped when I found the mosiac. To me it captures all the colors without a trendy style - all part of the timeless look we were going for.

jakabedy & Adrienne2011 - the grates in the seating area are made of wood. We found them from patterncuts.com that mostly suggests using them as air intakes. The grates are laser cut with many patterns to choose from or you can design your own. Our GC suggested routering out the seat back and added rounded edges to the grate so there is a flush and customized look. The grates were added for a purpose - we have hot water baseboard heat under the seating and these grates allow the heat to escape and flow into the room. So far - it is working well. There are also three seats that open for storage underneath.

jakabedy - the lake is down a slight hill just beyond the trees outside of the kitchen window!

aliris19 - The pantry unit is 60" wide. The center is 30" with each pantry side equalling 15". I designed the center unit and Norcraft (a semi-custom co.) custom-made the center drawer unit as that was not a stock item.

boxer - the picture on the wall is of Malletts Bay in Lake Champlain. That is just north of Burlington, VT. Our summer home is docked at a marina there and is visible in the picture. Our house is on an inland lake not far from there.

kbmboston - I too have enjoyed seeing the white kitchens on GW and would go for one if I had a new house. Our current house has absolutely no white of anything so a white kitchen would look so out of place!

Thanks for all the compliments - reaffirms the decisions I made worked out well!

just beautiful. those cherry floors are amazing. your kitchen complements them wonderfully.

the backsplash is just the right touch in scale and tone. great choice!

i bet a lot of people come to GW craving inspiration for a wood kitchen. this is just the ticket! it will be fun to see the table when you find it. good luck! :)

Ironcook is a mind-reader --I read this thread looking for inspiration for a wood kitchen, and I couldn't have found a lovelier project! I adore the backsplash -- after looking at countless "inspiration" photos, I don't think I've seen any tie an entire space together as well as yours. Great choices!!

Love the nook. Love the floors. Love the back splash. Everything is so sweetly put together. Great job.

That kitchen is beautiful. The backsplash is a perfect choice to tie all the wood together. I'm not a wood kitchen person but that kitchen could convert me. It is gorgeous. It looks really warm especially with all that snow outside.

Ooooh, so rich and yummy, like a piece of chocolate cake. You've pulled everything together so nicely. I agree that your bench is the perfect spot to cozy up with a cup of coffee and chat. Enjoy your new kitchen!