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| Hi All,
So I've been reading/repositing tonnes of threads on this site and I thought I'd finally let you in on what I'm doing ... I'm a serious amateur chef and wanted a few things absolutely - range, fridge, sink ... there's not a lot of fluff in this new space ... it was a total Kitchen gut and rebuild down to the studs and on a budget Old Kitchen was "A" Spec for 1964 ... hadn't been touched since then (e.g. Frigidaire oxidized Avocado brown appliances) Gutted the place down to the studs Updated all electrical/plumbing/HVAC to code Home Depot American Woodmark cabinets - Townsend Auburn Maple Glaze Capital Culinarian 36", 6 burner, manual clean range 48" BI Sub-Zero Planning on soapstone countertops and greenish subway tile backsplash I would love to know your ideas on how to finish the project (e.g lights/pendants, counters, backsplash, etc...) |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Jul 5, 12 at 18:26
| Not sure why the pictures I'm submitting aren't showing up in the thread ... any ideas? |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Jul 5, 12 at 18:27
| An overview of what is being done |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Jul 5, 12 at 18:29
| the "Fridge/Peninsula' wall |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Jul 5, 12 at 18:31
| Capital Culinarian - 6 Burner, Manual clean Range ... Wok Ring installed |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Jul 5, 12 at 18:33
| Culinarian frontal ... GC has to replace doors on cabinet to the right and above right of range ... he installed them to open the wrong direction |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Jul 5, 12 at 18:35
| Culinarian frontal ... GC has to replace doors on cabinet to the right and above right of range ... he installed them to open the wrong direction |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Jul 5, 12 at 18:53
| Punch list of remaining items Countertop (Heavily leaning towards Soapstone) |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Jul 5, 12 at 18:57
| All burners on full ... Almost 150,000 BTU?! |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Jul 5, 12 at 19:03
| Typical of the six ... Needs some adjustment for a "true" simmer |
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| Now there's a serious cook's kitchen! Couple of things: *Do you have a trim piece for the corner of the peninsula facing us as we look at the first photo? |
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- Posted by remodelfla (My Page) on Thu, Jul 5, 12 at 20:27
| As a soapstone owner I will say that it totally rocks as a cook friendly option. I'm a very passionate home cook/baker. Love to experiment and entertain. I am somewhat tornado like when I'm in full throttle mode and I find my soapstone to be indestructible in addition to gorgeous. I love it whether I feel like waxing or letting it go natural and each stage in between. Each level of luster has it's own beauty. The best part is it's function. You won't regret it. |
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- Posted by motherof3sons (My Page) on Thu, Jul 5, 12 at 23:25
| What a great space! That range rocks!!!! |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Fri, Jul 6, 12 at 0:46
| Good eye Suzannesl! Yes .. we're pre-install of those final trim pieces - as I'm told, the GC is holding off until the counters are installed since there may be some minor settling once that occurs ... there are also some pieces to be installed on the non toe-kick bottom edges (e.g. the bottom of the beadboard fronts ;-) Yeah - on the different color outlets ... the whote dacora outlets are sort of garish ... I'll definitely be replacing those as the kitchen goes into use the puck lights are my only under cabinet lighting ... it turns out the mis-spec is going to cost me 300-500 to resolve ... I'm now leaning toward having a second set of remote battery operated LED Puck lights from Costco installed and calling it a day There's a single pendant to be installed over the peninsula ... http://www.ylighting.com/george-kovacs-counter-weight-pendant-p542-612 .html ... it can go up for diffuse area lighting or down for task lighting which is what I was looking for Thanks for the affirmation on the soapstone ... its funny how everyone looks at you sideways when you say you want something other than Granite |
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| More affirmation: I am really loving my (DIY) soapstone so far! |
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| C - I had to do a double take on your kitchen as it is almost identical to our new kitchen except we put a cooktop in where your range is located and wall ovens where your peninsula juts out! (and we put in more drawers) Even the colors are similar! We put in plug mold uc as well as GM larc led light bars on dimmers. Electrician is going to move them back a bit as when we added the trim, the light doers not diffuse as far as it should ( I chose the location -oops) Currently in the abb club. I saw some beautiful green tiles at heath tile. Talk to Wendy and she will send you samples. Search for chitown post on her backsplash. I love what she did and plan to do something similar. Please post your progress! Usual iPad cryptic and completion matching errors. |
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| Angie and remodelfla - I wish I could say the same about my soapstone (I feel like an addict who's coming clean). It's beautiful barocca, just a gorgeous stone. But it dings and scratches at every turn. I feel like I put a towel under everything. My DH accidentally tipped the sugar dish and lid fell off - another ding. I colored it with a sharpie, but that's getting old. Oil doesn't cover those dings up, either. I wanted SS for so long, but now wishing I'd got a look alike. I haven't tried sanding stuff out, but it's not realistic to pull out the sander after every meal. I feel guilty about it, but I guess I'll live with it a few years, til I can justify changing it out. My DH says let's just let scratches, divots, chips happen, since we typically like patina. I do like patina, but the dings and deep scratches at the least little thing is more than I expected. Sorry to be OT, but something to think about when choosing soapstone. |
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- Posted by remodelfla (My Page) on Fri, Jul 6, 12 at 15:54
| I totally get it Lake Girl and I'm sorry for your disappointment. I almost did n't go for ss when my original samples like the Santa Rita (which I loved the look) dinged and scratched like crazy. When I found a harder variety that had the crazy veining I wanted... I knew it was perfect for me. |
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| moral of the story cIRCitmage - get a hard soapstone variety. I think it would be beautiful in your kitchen. |
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- Posted by remodelfla (My Page) on Sun, Jul 8, 12 at 10:50
In case you haven't already seen it a gazillion times; here's a closeup of my ss and you can see the seaglass green colored glass tile behind it.  |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Sun, Jul 8, 12 at 13:21
| Thanks all ... I'm agonizing over this SS vs. Granite issue and have possibly over-informed myself ... analysis paralysis ... I think it may come down to color choices ... in SS - i'm partial to the greenish grey with white silver veining - is that a "hard" SS and what is its name? I'm also considering a tan with brown veining granite since the kitchen is sort of dark and the 80sqft expanse of dark maple cabinetry needs some lightening ... can anyone point me to some pics of dark maple cabinets with dark soapstone? remodelfa - those are *exactly* the backsplash tiles I was considering ... funny how your and my project are so similar ... can you post or direct me to other pics? |
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| WOW! What a wonderful space! Your stove is to die for!!! |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Sun, Jul 8, 12 at 14:47
| Thanks abctate (and others) ... The fridge and the stove were the only items we didn't go budget on ... everything else is cut rate - IKEA, Home Depot or Costco (lights, faucet, outlets, etc...) ... there was some extensive structural work that had to be done as well to open the wall near the peninsula ... it was otherwise cutting off both the view and the space for no obvious reason ... the home was designed in the 60's with a 60's state of mind and had not been updated one iota since then ... lots of mad men era fixtures, and room flow patterns (small, low, brown, green and blue color palette ... I'd post several pics of the work we did, but it'd be off topic for the thread ;-) |
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- Posted by remodelfla (My Page) on Sun, Jul 8, 12 at 15:20
| cIR... there does seem to be some parallels. Here is a link to my 80% finished reveal and more pics or info then you could every care to see. It still, over a year later, sits at 80% done. |
Here is a link that might be useful: my kitchen
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Mon, Jul 23, 12 at 17:21
| Also pulled the trigger on Anastacia soapstone ... Went to M Texeira in Hackensack ... was told that Kanada and Anastacia were the hardest SS with greenish hues ... Liked the Anastacia best, although the Kanada was on a 20% sale ... hoping to see templates up against the slabs we picked soon and delivery within about a week ... more pics once the counters are in! ;-) |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Aug 2, 12 at 20:07
| Promised the pics ... pre-oiling |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Aug 2, 12 at 20:12
| Peninsula |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Aug 2, 12 at 20:13
| Peninsula |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Aug 2, 12 at 20:15
| Sink corner |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Aug 2, 12 at 20:17
| on-oiled counter running from refrigerator |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Aug 2, 12 at 20:19
| after oiling ... some of the nice greenish "sworls" we liked in our Anastacia soapstone |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Aug 2, 12 at 20:21
| after oiling ... some of the nice greenish "sworls" we liked in our Anastacia soapstone |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Aug 2, 12 at 20:22
| after oiling ... some more of the nice greenish "sworls" we liked in our Anastacia soapstone |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Aug 2, 12 at 20:24
| a more panoramic shot |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Aug 2, 12 at 20:26
| I'd actually like it to be between this and the unoiled "grey" ... we'll see how long it takes for the oil to dry off |
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- Posted by cIRCitmage (My Page) on Thu, Aug 2, 12 at 20:56
| Some notes on the install I used M. Texeira in Hackensack, NJ .. they gave me a good price, a small sale discount (10% vs. the 15% I would have liked) and covered some additional sqft that appeared after templating at no charge ... all in all - very nice and professional on the sale side Templating was done in Hackensak at the fab workshop (vs. the main office) ... we went and choose what sections to use for which pieces based on how the clear template revealaed the features in the stone we liked ... our primary focus was the slab used in the peninsula and we tried to get the highest concentration of green "sworls" that we could in that piece after fabrication, an unfortunate installer accident resulted in the large slab used for the peninsula cracking along the two of the veins ... rather than being one piece - it actually is three ... it remains to be seen whether the patch job that they used will be acceptable, but it is not easily apparent to the uninformed eye or finger ... the installer ("Jose") from M. Texeira owned up to it right away and offered to replace the slab at no charge but the replacement would take a week to fabricate ... Tex sent Leo up from the fab shop and he assessed the damage and monitored the repair and install all afternoon ... we left it at "I'll see if this patch/glue job works and reserve the right to have you come back and replace the one you broke at a future date" ... after the accident, I feel that M Tex did a good job of owning and fixing the problem ... Hopefully I made the right choice Some small issues - the undermount sink is slightly offcenter and not siliconed in ... the small slab to the left of the range is light enough to move easily and not affixed to the counter ... there is a gash in the new paint to the side of the sink corner that needs repair All in all, the broken peninsula slab has me concerned but the repair may be an acceptable fix ... a reduction in the invoice would be a welcome accomodation to address the defect |
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| Very nice! The soapstone looks great. |
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| Wow, your soapstone looks gorgeous! Cannot help you whether you made a good repair or not, but just document everything and send in an email to whoever you are working with to confirm anything agreed to verbally. Great choice and love your kitchen. Glad I caught it! |
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