The Before:

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And After - New Kitchen, Window Moldings & Blinds:

Overview

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Close Ups

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Night Lights

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Storage

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Woodwork

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On Being TKO & GW Grateful:
A witty post awhile back spoke of the formulaic 'reveals', before & after shots prefaced by thank you's, details, and caveats, as if our kitchens are winning an academy award or entering the show ring for judging. I forget the OP's main message now, but I remember resonating with the observation while smiling that such posts are my favorites. Everyday I jump on GW to scan for any post that includes the words "final" & "pics". And I love sharing my oohs and aahs!

Posting mine now, I get it on the poster's end too - this remodel needs an end point, even though it's never really done. It hijacked my brain, time, $; sent me into chaos and distraction, and I need to get my life back. I drove by a home improvement store last week sad that I had no reason to go hunting for a big ticket item...how crazy is that!?

But these posts are also a way to thank GWers. As I became TKO, this forum provided a solace with other like-minded obsessed people. I walk into my friends' kitchens now, and all I want to do is examine and talk about the most obscure kitchen construction minutia. They are right there with me if they lived through their remodel, otherwise merely polite until I cue to signs that it's time to contain my curiosity.

I also discovered a gold mine of technical help. I'm shocked at how many DIYers, KD & related professionals contribute to this site consisting of lots of people like me who are clueless. Design & remodeling are NOT my worlds! Thank you to all who either directly responded to my pleas for help, or posts you've made to others that answered my questions as well.

Another surprise @ GW is what I call the 'Cohort Phenomenon'. Early on, it was noticeable who among the current contributors were at the same spot, as if we are in little cohorts on the same track. A thread contains responses from those currently working on the same, infused with ideas from the cohort that just completed that task. I'll never forget the surprise & sudden camaraderie with complete strangers as we shared about our impending demolitions. It's fun reading threads of others anticipating demolition, cab install, & template day...all those major milestones that bring back (sometimes traumatic!) memories.

So here it is. I'll spare the details of what led to all the zillion little choices along the way. The biggest challenge was picking a style and going for it because I've yet to see a kitchen that I don't like...I don't have a favorite color or food or...I like them all! Quartz, granite, marble, wood, soapstone... What's not to love about each?!. In fact, my overt choice to break the 'law of 3s' and choose a different color for cabs & counters (hence 4), pays homage to my sadness over having to pick '1 thing'.

We've made lots of changes over the years, making a house lacking in charm a bit more like a home. The kitchen remodel, while not ideal in many ways, has sealed the deal...for the first time I truly "want" to be in this space.

I've named products along with the pics. How about a different kind of list:

What would I change:
Besides the location of the house and few more structural charm elements? :-): A bunch of nit-picky to unrealistic things, but practically, the bump out at the sink. I wanted variation so bad, and the bump out spoke of changing up the line. Little did I realize that it would force my sink to sit back a bit more, harder on the back if I'm not careful when washing dishes. Live & learn.

Worst design feature:
Speaking of the original architect, who puts a kitchen so close to a flight of stairs? We thought of totally rearranging everything...every possible variation, including moving the steps. We also knew we could shorten the island. None of those options worked for a bunch of those zillion reasons. We are installing a 1/2 pocket door to pull shut when lots of people might be milling about. Previous owners used a baby gate.

Favorite element:
I'm thoroughly enjoying it all - single basin sink, the bi-level island, multiple work zones, the quartz, the different colors, to induction cooking facing open space. And I did become totally possessed by all things metal tile backsplash - which was the most fun assembling. But as I said in another thread, the 3-part trash sorter. It has helped with our #1 recycling issue - the fact that our kitchen had devolved into a trash zone. Not any more!

Thank you GW anonymous posters! It has been so fun mutually commiserating with my cohort, being watched over by those who came before us, celebrating as each of us graduate, and cheering on the incoming class. And to the professionals who are always there ready to chime in - you've seen this cycle over and over, yet you patiently revisit the same topics with us newbies again and again...thank you!

Here's to graduating, never really being 'done' (you'll see me post when we begin reevaluating our current paint colors) and continuing to search for all posts with pictures!

You did a beautiful job. Enjoy!

And I have to ask about reconstructing your backsplash: I will need to do this this week, and would love some details about materials and technique.

Great job!

I will look later, but great speech!!

Nancy

Claybabe, I did find some info on the mosaic forum, but most are artists out of my league. Once I knew I wanted my own constructed 6" trim, I searched YouTube for video instructions. The method that seemed the easiest for me was using fiberglass mesh bought online from a tile mosaic hobby site. Couldn't find the stuff in any local craft stores. Ordered a glue recommended in one of the videos. I also chose to keep my design very geometric, using 1" square lined paper (forget the name of the stuff - but comes in 2'x3' or larger sheets) to map out my design.

Using the paper, i messed around with my design. The lines give you perfect grout space...no spacers needed as when applying tile by tile to a wall. I made a 6" x 18" template, color coded it so I'd know what piece to use next, etc. Placed that sheet under plastic, lined my tiles down upside down (accounting for the inverted design), smothered with glue and then placed mesh on top. Once dried, flip them over, and was ready to go. It also was the time to peel off and replace any crooked pieces.

The nice thing was I could make strips of varying length to help avoid GC from having to cut tiles at corners and ends. Hardest part was the beating my fingers took from peeling mosaics off of the Fiberglass mesh they come on...just handling the mesh, period, as it pierces and scratches the skin easily. Definitely noticeable that it's homemade...my copper tiles were not as thick as the rest. I should have beefed up the back...

Let me know if I missed something.

Lavender_lass, I have been enjoying your small home posts. I think you do the Tuesday Morning tea posts once in awhile? One of these days I will be joining you. Thanks for your celebration of the new space!

A2, you are getting there lady, soon as that BS is picked and installed. Hang in there fellow quartz and shaker cab user!

Great job, and I'm sure you will enjoy your beautiful new space for years and years to come.

PS. love the pups, what cuties!

It is amazing what you learn on this forum. For instance: THERE'S MOSAIC FORUM????

Kaijutokusatsu, can't wait to see the choices you eventually make!

Motherof3sons, I bet tomorrow is happy mom's day for you? Thank you for kind words. I never imagined I'd "love" a BS as much as I do this one. And never thought I'd venture into using my kitchen walls as a place to do some arts and crafts. :-)

DJHinVa, yes, the Mosaic Forum - the fact that there IS one is amazing enough, but such a rich learning environment as well!

Looking forward to meeting my "class" here, just in the planning stages now. I think a visit to the mosaics forum is now in order...

The mosaic forum has some great talent over there...

Best of luck putting your kitchen together!

According to your name, hope this means you are celebrating mom's day today.

BTW, my name is Anna too! Cheers!

Love your spices, your backsplash, and the cabinets look fantastic. Fun pulls, too. Those knobs in the centers of the uppers were...interesting.

And your backsplash....

bean

But, the blue and white kitchens you and beekeeperswife have put together...if I had a different home layout, I think that's the way I'd go. Your colors are just beautiful!