We have a small starter home and remodeled the whole place on a budget. Because this was way back in 1991, styles and tastes have changed dramatically in a surprisingly short time. I'd probably do something quite different in cabs, appliances, and counters nowadays. The layout, at least, is very good and so much better than what was there, I wouldn't change that.

What makes the kitchen still attractive to everyone is the terrific view from an entire wall of picture windows across the back of the house. It cut deeply into our cab storage since there could be no uppers on that wall, but it was worth it then, and still is.

It totally stops visitors because they walk into a simple little cottage in a modest neighborhood...and discover a contemporary, vaulted-ceiling space with an unobstructured hillside view 24' across and 16' high! It brings every nuance of light and color into the house, flooding the house with daylight all day long, and has been the major factor in giving me a kitchen that still makes me smile every time I walk into it.

Stiles - what exactly is your island countertop?

bluekitobsessed: What is your blue granite? I love it. I want Azul Bahia but it's just too expensive.

Kea: it's Azul Macaubas, which has a very wide price range depending on the color. Mine has gray instead of white and cobalt instead of summer-sky blue so it's less expensive. Blue Bahia is also a very pretty stone. I had to visit dozens of granite yards to find the right stone at the right price, so don't give up. HTH.

Blue

Lululemon-my island is lava stone(pyrolave) and perimeter is calcutta marble-honed. Love the lululemon bags!!

Melinda

I had the Wall Words company make letters that I placed on the soffit above the recess that houses our kitchen table. These are burgundy letters 5" tall and the phrase is 5' long: "What would Julia do?" Friends crack up when they see or re-see it. I still love to refer to it when faced with culinary challenges. Wish I had a photo but I hate cameras. You'll have to use your imagination.

Here is a link that might be useful: To order stock or custom wall words

Mom2reese, what is that backsplash?

Wow! I kept saying that with each new picture I saw as I scrolled down this post. I know I sound like a broken record, but
WOW!
Such beauty. It's so much fun to look at all of these inspiring and creative kitchens. It's a great lesson in how we can all make our own sanctuaries in our homes, with our own personal twists. It has little to do with money, and everything to do with the passion we put into it.

You guys inspire me!

Compared to most on here, I don't think our kitchen "pops" so much. I can honestly say, my goal was to try to make it look like the kitchen would fit in with the age and style of this old farmhouse (140 years young!). (and did anyone ever notice that the more you try to be "vintage-inspired" the more expensive the kitchen gets? Yikes!! In order to match my built-ins from the next room over, this kitchen would have easily been in the 80K+ range...and the house only cost 125K from the get-go!!!)

I think you probably want to know what "wows" people when they walk in. Most commented on things are:
--fireclay sink
--double SS oven
--soapstone counters
--counter/seating area over the old cast-iron radiator
--Brazilian cherry floors
--paneled dishwasher

I would love to say people like my Walker-Zanger hand-glazed green subway tiles, but they're NOT INSTALLED! Nor is the trim we had fabricated to match the original thick stuff in the rest of the house. Those will be my things that "POP" when they get done!!!

Sarah

I love the classic look of your kitchen,Sarah. I cannot wait to see the pics of the tile that's up. It sounds beautiful!

It always strikes me when I look thru the threads and see kitchens I have seen before but notice something different each time. I love looking at all of the photos and occasionally look back thru the FKB. It amazes me what can be done with some of the ugliest and most limiting spaces! Even just little things, like the changes made by the owner of "the kitchen that wouldn't sell" bring pop to a kitchen. How lucky we are to be able to share these things and help each other! Wonderful!

jeannie kitchen, What color is your island granite? Lovely!

SOrry mom2reese, I saw where you posted a link.

Oh, I totally missed your question kitchen1921! Glad you found the link :)

In my kitchen it's the backsplash, especially where we brought it up and over the window above the sink.

Great thread!
Pbrisjar, what is the name of your granite? It's beautiful!
So many styles, and each has a wow factor.

Wow!!! Love seeing all these beautiful kitchens.

Stiles, could you tell me about your hardware. I am looking at Jeffrey Alexander that look similar to those, but like the round knobs on top like yours. What color are they and who are they made by?

Jeannie, could you tell me your terra cotta wall color. Looks great! I am also looking for a similar color, but have several samples on my wall and am confused. So far I like BM Audubon Russett.

Keep the kitchens coming everyone! I love them all! It is great to see such a variety of style!

I'm having some major kitchen envy right now :) Great post!

Laurie

Your tile is beautiful ooafsis! Do you mind me asking what it is?

in case flyleft looks again, here are more pictures of the light fixture you asked for:

Mom, our tiles are very, very similar. I saw your other posts and looked closely at your tiles -- which I absolutely love. They look stunning in your kitchen. I think mine are more translucent than what you have, sort of milky, like stained glass.

Mine are ElysEdwards glass tiles. The standard size is only 1/2' high by 8', but I was able to get them to custom size them to a full inch height by eight wide. They're made in Italy. I love how they look with our Cararra counters.

oofasis - mine are translucent, too - kind of like the bottom of a coke bottle.

I love the color of your tile, and the 1x8 size is really nice, too. I'm going to save your tile in my "for future projects" file :) Thanks for sharing!

crazyhouse6,

I really like your kitchen and the way things blend, it's very soft. Which granite did you choose?

IÂm glad this thread is still alive  itÂs been great. It's a dreary rainy afternoon and it has been so much fun to catch up on the latest posts and pix. What beautiful kitchens! And so many I haven't seen before.

Cross stitch, thanks for the link - that's a very cool idea. I'm only sorry you are camera-phobic - would love to see what that great phrase looks like in your kitchen.

Another thing to add for the "pop" factor is art. We are just in the process of hanging some of our paintings in the new kitchen and itÂs adding a really nice  and personal - touch.

Eliz

hondagirl - I ended up with Giallo Ornamental. Certainly doesn't "pop," but it works well with the cabinets and backsplash. Thanks to many of you here on GW with that advice.

Oofasis, I love the backsplash. Did they tile after your crown molding was on. Would love to do something similar but not sure is possible to tile around a large, curved crown molding.

Oofasis, I love your backsplash too. Do you have any information on where I can see Alys Edwards tile? I know this question came up before. Where did you buy yours?

Erica  Yes, the tiles were installed almost a year after my remodel was "finished" -- so, post-crown molding installation. None of the installers who bid on the tile project expressed a concern about interference from the crown molding , and it went without a hitch. Our bigger challenge came after the tile was installed around the window, when we installed the wooden Roman shade. The screws had to go through my new tiles, and I was panic-stricken. I asked Bill V for advice, and he directed me to a specific drill bit that the window installer didnÂt have and which I couldnÂt find for the life of me. We just held our breath and drilled through the glass. No breakage, no problems!

Sankaty, IÂm in San Diego and bought the tiles from International Bath & Tile. They can ship anywhere and Tina was nothing short of wonderful to work with. Call her and tell her itÂs my tile (she knows me by Denise and by Oofasis), and sheÂll send you a sample. Tina is at their North County showroom, (858) 481-4984. I've linked to their website below.

Here are some close-ups of the tiles. You can really see their milky-ness. I have an entire box left over that IÂve been meaning to post on CraigsList for months now.

HTH

Here is a link that might be useful: International Bath and Tile

This thread is very disturbing to me - I look at all these gorgeous kitchens, and I'm incredibly jealous! All these beautiful elements - and btw, I don't always agree with what the poster says gives it the most pop, sometimes I think it's something else. Often a backsplash, or the combination of some gorgeous granite with backsplash. Or the staggered height of cabinets. Or in rhome's case, EVERYTHING. (Honestly, I never thought I'd like a kitchen with three different colors of cabinets, different countertops, different backsplashes - I would have thought it would be too much. But it's all so harmonious!!! You rocked it, girl!)

It all makes me look at my not-quite-finished kitchen (still have to paint) and wonder - what design elements give mine any pop? Do I *have* any pop? I chose elements that work together (I think), and I like them all, both individually and in combination, but I think I missed the "pop" thing. I suspect I needed to spend more effort on choosing the backsplash (I was totally burnt out at the time). Maybe something will pop out at me more when it's painted and has a window treatment. I don't know.

Maybe this pathetic woe-is-me post belongs on the "other kitchens seem more sophisticated than mine" thread. ;-)

Anyway, congratulations to everyone on their beautiful kitchens!!! The photos I see on this forum are *way* better than *anything* in the kitchen porn magazines. :-)

Oofasis, Thank you so much for your information. I am on the East Coast so I will give them a call. I have been looking at some glass tiles from Ann Sacks but yours seem to be more suited to my kitchen. I have a soapstone counter and white cabinets. Your special size is also very interesting. Your kitchen looks fabulous.

I have loved seeing so many of these kitchens, seems like there are some different photos - I'll never tire of this!!

hmmm, don't think I have much to offer the OP since I'm not done yet. One of my favorite things is actually the lack of pop - my completely integrated subzero fridge and freezer. I love that it's hidden into the cabinetry and friends have had to ask, "is this the fridge???"

hoping it will be the combo of elements that give the whole kitchen a 'pop'!! Although, I'm waiting on my samples of white onyx tiles for the backsplash to see how it goes with the granite.

Charlikin, you would know this better than any of us as to what is going on with your kitchen. But, IMHO, YOU are the "pop" in your kitchen! After that fabulous transformation you did on that teeny galley space, I can only imagine the "pop" that comes with your big grin when you go in there now. Keep your chin up! Your kitchen is -- and looks -- great! And, I'm serious as all get out when I say that some kitchens let the people who work and play in them be the real stars of the room. As well it should be!

I think the most 'pop; in my kitchen is the brightness: white cabinets and backsplash; much reduced number of wall cabinets, making it seem lighter and brighter; keeping the few wall cabinets away from the newly enlarged window has also made it feel brighter, lighter, more open. The simplicity of a wall of white subway tile, with a chimney style vent hood, and no upper cabinets, has been the most commented upon.

So, sometimes it's not a Thing, it's the lack of it that creates the Pop.

I would say our backsplash definitely gives the kitchen that pop. We didn't put in a backsplash until 2 years after the kitchen was done so I can tell the difference. In general people compliment us on the open feeling - cathedral ceiling, oversized doorway, passthru which while it isn't the same as "pop" we were trying to have that open feeling while still keeping a wall/separation with the dining room. You of course can't see the oversized doorways and the cathedral ceiling from this pic, but shows the passthru
Before backsplash
{{!gwi}}

Backplash

{{!gwi}}

julie92- my hardware is by Topknobsusa and they are called Contessa and the finish is old english copper.

I hope this thread keeps coming because I love looking in one place at all the beautiful material!

We haven't gotten to the countertops and backsplash yet, but people love our "stained glass" window (actually a vinyl decal from Home Depot) hiding a view of the neighbor's water heater, and our magnet collection on the ceiling. Oh, and the skylight.

I also love your kitchen, what stone did you use for the backsplash? TIA

Thanks sewwhatsnew. The backsplash is 3 x 6 tumbled marble (4 x 4 with pewter insets behind the cooktop). The color is chiaro. Purchased from Lowes.

Stiles, I can't find your pull when I do a search. Do you have a link you could post? Or maybe a closeup of yours? Thanks!

You win, MLK! The window's great, but I've never seen a more appropriate place for a magnet collection (especially if you just happen to be a chiropractor). A whole new take on green decor, and it works really well with that great hood I see a peek of.

LOL, thanks, Rosie! We've had a ton of fun with "the collection" over the years!

The hood is copper and is original to the house, circa 1954. I love it and would never think of changing it.

Sprengle-when I looked at the topknob website I also couldn't find the knob-but when I googled it I found it at the website below with Homeclick. THe picture is not as shiny as the real deal.

http://www.homeclick.com/web/catalog/product_detail.aspx?pid=41383&chnl=cse&ven=googlebase&cat=Hardware%3ACabinet%20Hardware&brnd=Top%20Knobs&itm=41383M201%7CContessa%20Knob%20-%20Old%20English%2C%201-1%2F4''%20-%20M201&CAWELAID=167014875http://www.homeclick.com/web/catalog/product_detail.aspx?pid=41383&chnl=cse&ven=googlebase&cat=Hardware%3ACabinet%20Hardware&brnd=Top%20Knobs&itm=41383M201%7CContessa%20Knob%20-%20Old%20English%2C%201-1%2F4''%20-%20M201&CAWELAID=167014875

I think the thing that added the biggest pop to our kitchen was a few strategically placed glass cabinets - and since they were just plain glass fronts (no divided lights) they were actually cheaper than buying a regular cabinet door.

Besides that the other single item I get the most comments on is the Liebherr fridge - mainly because it is so tall.

how do i get in touch with mom2reese? the kitchen is spectacular and I would like more info on cabinets & backsplash.

Hi, kmo1 - thanks!

Info on my tile can be found here.

The cabinets are from Merit and are cherry in the Whistler style and Truffle color. I used the same style/wood in my master bath but in the Carriage Black, which is a deep, deep chocolate.

Whistler is ostensibly Shaker style, but it has wider stiles/rails (3"). Merit's "Prairie School" style is more traditionally Shaker. I went with Whistler because it has more of a contemporary feel as well as having the "heft" needed for the scale of the kitchen, island, large appliances.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

KMO -you might be able to get the info from the Finished Kitchens Blog, if mom2reese has posted her finished kitchen.

Here is a link that might be useful: finished kitchens blog

Our small kitchen I think, would be pretty ordinary looking were not for the Fire & Ice backsplash. But, it was not our first choice.

Just before ordering our original "silver-gray tumbled slate" backsplash, we discovered it was coming out of the quarry much darker and bluer than we had expected. Suddenly we found ourselves out looking for another backsplash.

The first photo shows the Fire & Ice, below that is a mock-up I did using our original choice when it was still silvery and light. Makes us glad the quarry was feeling a little blue. :-)

Jeffrey Court Pietra Opus Quartz Brick Fire & Ice

Silver-gray tumbled slate

{{!gwi}}

Jodi-

Jodi, I absolutely love your 'Fire and Ice' backsplash. Guess this just proves that the going awry of our best-laid plans can be a huge blessing. Your kitchen is beautiful, and that backsplash really provides the 'wow factor.'

nskylark, I love your kitchen especially that hutch! Could you give me the measurments on it. Did you design/ build it yourself? Love it and the ss sink!

Crazyhouse: Please give details on your floor and cabinets. Thanks.

This is a terrific thread and a great opportunity to drool yet again over some of my favorite GW kitchens!

Our kitchen certainly doesn't have the "pop" that many in this thread have, but there are a few design elements that seem to consistently get compliments. In order, people comment most on the the soapstone countertops, the travertine flooring, the tongue in groove pine ceiling, the nook in my pantry wall, and the open shelving to display my pottery. Maybe one day, people will comment on my fabulous, but as yet nonexistent, backsplash.