I've spent more than a little time lurking and learning from many of you on this forum as well as the appliance and lighting forums.

So thanks to all of you.

A little background; We've lived in this house for 24 years. It is an English Cottage style house built in 1923 out of structural stone. My guess is the kitchen was last re-done in the late '60s or early '70s. For a good laugh, check out the before and after link at the bottom.

A few details:

Cabinets: Custom by Knight Kitchens
Range: Bluestar 36" 6 Burner
Fridge: Samsung CD French Door
Dishwasher: KA
Range Hood: Proline 900 CFM
Sink & Faucet: Blanco
Countertop: Blue In The Night Granite
Floor: Montauk Black Slate
Lighting: 3" Recessed Cans MR16 Halogen

Window Wall

Pantry Entrance

Pantry

Fridge Wall

Range Wall

Floor

Window Wall II

Range Wall II

Any questions? Feel free to ask.

If you'd like to see the before and after (and you really should) here's a link.

What color/brand paint did you use for the walls?

I especially admire the way you used very generic tile to make an impact. I always like clever! And you have made the space far more workable without stripping its quirky charm

Enjoy.

Love the Montauk slate--you must have a very even subfloor for those huge tiles...we had to go with smaller ones. )-8

LOVE the shiny black Bluestar!!! It is like a super-schnazzy high-performance sportscar in your kitchen!!!

Enjoy!

Nancy

What's that neat inset cabinet to the right? How deep is it and what's it for?

I can't tell you how big an improvement this design is over the old kitchen. Having used the space for a few months, I have to say that there isn't anything I'd substantially change.

Here are some answers to your questions.

The space is small. The kitchen is 8x12 and the pantry area is 4x8. The archway between the two is about 18" deep.

The cabinets are painted BM Gardenia. The walls are a 50/50 mix of BM Metallic Silver and Feather Gray in an eggshell finish.

The cabinet to the right of the sink is only about 6" deep. We use it primarily as a spice cabinet. It existed in the old kitchen and we had it rebuilt for the reno. There is a similar cabinet on the right hand wall of the pantry.

The unit below the recessed pantry cabinet is a "sunrad" steam radiator. There is another recessed radiator in the wall to the left of the fridge. This radiator actually fits into a 2x4 wall. When you've got a space this small you have to use it all.

The kitchen backsplash is Daltile Rittenhouse Square 3x6 subway tile. In the pantry, beadboard painted to match the cabinets.

The undercabinet lights are LED from Emeralight.

BLFENTON, I agree that the bare bulbs make a fashion statement. I just can't figure out what fashion. We also love the big floor tiles. It tends to enlarge the room and as far as I'm concerned, the fewer grout lines the better.

SHANGHIMOM, The tiles, which are 24x24, are set in mud. The mud's thickness varies between 1 and 3 inches. The only thing in my house that is level is the new floor.

KRISTINEKR, The granite gets wiped down weekly with a granite cleaner and also daily with just a damp cloth whenever we're cooking. Happily, it is a type of granite that doesn't need to be sealed.

IRONCOOK & SHANGHIMOM, I love the Bluestar.

TRAILRUNNER, Here's a link to some other shots of the house.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31684028@N07/sets/72157626263035039/show/

Thanks again to all of you.

If you have any more questions feel free.

Well now I would love to see more :) Outside and in LOL. I will link the slideshow for others. Thank you . c

The new space is fabulous, and I especially love the floor, it does really open the space up. What a terrific makeover and great use of space.

This is a perfect transformation without taking away from
the home. I love your simple palette with the granite.
You would never know the blue in the night could come
off so fantastic. When I first read the post I was thinking
the old stark white and black and am thrilled I popped
in to see that this title should be called
Gorgeous Transformation
because (Finished Black and White) does not do your
work of art justice. You must be a decorator because you
have a subtle talent that shows volumes. I like the simple
cabinetry with the contemporaruy flashes of black and
even delicate molding around the window add a touch of class
without being overly dramatic.
Subltle, elegant and fun!!!

Truly a great kitchen renovation.
~boxer

Ps. I am going to borrow your paint recipe.
mettalic silver and feather gray.

fori & mabeldingeldine, I tried to donate the old range and fridge to the Smithsonian but they wouldn't take them. If you think the old wallpaper was bad, here's a shot of a pattern I found under a few layers of paint.

boxer, Nope. Not a decorator. Just a guy with an irrational fear of color. (comedic pause) Just kidding. We must have looked at 10 different grays but just couldn't find the "right" one. Metallic silver was too light and feather gray too dark and a little too blue. So we thought, what the hell, and had our local BM dealer mix up a 50/50 batch.

Bingo!!

I love your floor but also your backsplash. It is a striking design yet doesn't overwhelm the space.

It's a well-balanced design visually. I don't think I've ever seen anything better done here, out of the many kitchens posted on GW. Bigger, fancier, more 'fashion of the moment' - yes. But I'd rather have yours...and I don't say about many kitchens besides my own.

Congratulations on a job very well done!

Becky

jkom51 & Becky, Thanks. The project came out better than even we thought it would.

What a great kitchen! I bet you are enjoying cooking up a storm in it!

You're kitchen is BEAUTIFUL! I'm wondering if you could provide more information about the subway tile. What brand is it? And to the right of the sink where the tile stops...did you use some sort of cap?

Congrats again on an awesome kitchen!

--Amber

I don't mean to diminish the new; it's wonderful too. I guess style just shows out, new or old. Congrats on the rejuvenation without sacrificing the spirit of the old.

In any event thanks again for your kind words.

alouwomack, The tiles are Daltile Rittenhouse Square 3x6 subways. They make edge pieces with bullnose along either the 6" edge or the 3" edge or both. So that's what we used.

aliris19, While it's hard to see in the picture, the image on the wallpaper in the old kitchen was bottle caps. It was OK for the room it was in but, clearly the old kitchen had seen better days. I do miss the pots & pans hanging on the wall but with the new configuration there just wasn't going to be enough wall space. They now live in various cabinets and drawers. Not as convenient but a cleaner look. If you're on Long Island and you still want racks, I have the old ones.

Your kitchen is one of my favorites! I really love the overall look so much! I would have never dreamed such big 24 X 24 tiles would look so amazing! There is not one thing I dislike about your kitchen. I am now thinking of Halogen lighting after seeing your kitchen since changing my bulbs to the bright white light like halogens have in my ugly Fluorescent fixture that is so outdated, gave me the look that my neighbors have with the new tiles since they have track lighting using Halogen lights. That counter is so amazing and your kitchen cabinets are so perfect going up to the ceiling. The grout compliments the tiles and allows you to see the design you did with them and how beautiful and big they are. I also like how efficient it is and probably a joy to cook in! That backsplash is so amazing to me really tying in your whole theme and I love how the cabinets go up to the ceiling with the crown molding on top. I wish I had those two big windows over my sink. That is one thing I regret that I was not patient and waited until an end unit in a good location in my townhouse complex came available since I would like to have more lighting. But I fell in love with the layout of the unit I bought, the location, the fenced in backyard, the permanent woods (I live in the preserved wetlands and the town owns the woods and will never build on them) in back of my fence for privacy, and wonderful quiet neighbors.

I also had to move or sign a new lease where I was renting at a ridiculous amount I was paying since rents are so high where I live. My utilities also were so high were I was living since it was like living in a two floor tiny condo paying the water and sewer bill with a minimum fee, an electric bill and a gas bill since nothing was included in the high rent.

But I love owning a place and getting to install the appliances that make my life easier that I enjoy so much, decorating it to be my taste and having a garage.