Here's a slide-show of my old ratty kitchen that I HATED...

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v228/Cindyu/Kitchen/Old Kitchen/?a lbumview=slideshow

And here are some pics of the new kitchen. I love it. There are still a couple of finishing touches to be completed, but I'm getting there.

View from the Den entry

Ladylux Plus Faucet doubles as a prep faucet and pot filler with the 360 degree swivel, but its too close to the sink edge. So we're replacing this faucet with the Ladylux 3 prep faucet.

View toward the den. Am loving the double ovens from KA with Steam Assist.

I am loving all of the drawer storage. Also, what looks like 2 doors on the island to the right of the cooktop is actually a double trash pullout. No more doggies surfing for snacks.

Love the drawers under the cooktop, and enjoying cooking with propane on the new Miele cooktop. Now I need some decent knives.

Everyone wondered what a "mockett" was..

I worried about switching to a single bowl instead of doubles, but this is a great change for us.

The Miele coffee-maker is one of my favorite things now. We got a floor display model pretty cheap. Also the 2nd drawer down is bread storage.

Over the oven dividers are great..

Loving the pull-out corner unit.

This was our huge find - the GE Monogram fridge at the Sears outlet for less than half price. The microwave came from Amazon Warehouse.

The pantry idea was the best idea we had. We got a ton of space back by going between the wall studs. The unit only eats up 3 inches of floor space, but is 7 inches deep when open.

Thanks for posting the photos!

Congrats, and Bon Appetit

Congrats!

wearyourbaby, the prep sink is stainless also from Big O and was only $42. It's 12 x 12.

I won't be able to return the faucet, which I got online from Irawoods. I got it last year around August, and it's too late to return it. I got a real bargain on them though, since they were having a half-price sale. I'm thinking I won't have a hard time selling this one, since it hasn't been used, and am going to let it go for about $200.

transitional, I got the hood on ebay from steamshowerstore, which has had some good reviews on here as a seller. It's 900 CFM and 6 speeds so it should be plenty powerful enough. Plus it was only $500.

sfmomoxo, the hardware is Top Knobs (Pull in Brushed Satin Nickel, model T-M536). I got that through my cabinet contractor so I don't know the cost of them yet. On knobdepot.com they are about $10/each.

The really big bargain was that fridge. I got it for $3,500 including tax at the Sears outlet, and it retails around $8,500. There are 2 dings that you barely notice, which totally made it worth it to me.

The ovens and the cooktop came from AJ Madison.

I purposely used the curve theme with the vent hood, cabinet handles, the island granite, the pattern in the rug, and the light fixture to go along with the curve in the mirror on the sideboard near the dining table.

The stain was made to match the dining table and sideboard. The barstools (also Big O)were picked to go with the dining chairs. I got lucky on that find too.

Also the backsplash tile was from Big O, as were the light fixture and rug.

My biggest splurges were the cabinets and the granite themselves. I went with maple cabinets with a custom stain. The granite is mascarello. Honestly? a few evenings I've spent just sitting in here at the counter with a glass of wine and staring down into that granite.

There are still 2 doors to put over the bookshelves to finish the look, some screw holes on the interior of the cabinets they will plug, and my dishwasher has to be set back flush with the rest of the cabinets.

BTW, the dishwasher was the only thing I think I bought locally - the Miele Optima II, and I am loving how well it works.

Dimmers definitely on all the lights. When they're on full you need sunglasses in here. And I WISH I had thought to leave room for step-stool storage.

I love how you used your "found space" (with the pantry cabs)!

Your sink cut-out is what I wish mine was--nice,flush reveal and nice 90° corners.

Great job!

The kitchen seems to missing something, though. Oh, I know what it is--your herd of camels! RFLOL! ;^)

Seriously, you have an absolutely gorgeous kitchen and room to do cartwheels! Congrats!

I have to know though, where is "the Big O" - is that Overstock.com? Just wondering - you got great stuff there and I've never heard of it before, and want to take a look!

Shelayne, don't give up on your hubby yet. Tell him there is a giant header that can do the job of those studs.

Redfeatherbutt, I'll take that pottery!

Beckyg75, yup its overstock.com. I love that place. Sign up for a membership and you get a discount on everything, and shipping is always 1 dollar. I constantly get discount coupons in email from them for 10% off also, including this past weekend which was a 10% off weekend. Sometimes you can't beat that with a stick.

Beautiful kitchen.

Under the prep sink, I put one I got at Lowe's that does not screw down. That way it can be removed easily to get to plumbing if need be. I keep a cast iron wok ring, skillet and griddle plate on that. The weight of those 3 anchors it in place. I worried that those would be too heavy in my pot drawer along with so many other pots in there. Plus, I just don't use them as often as my other stuff and they are easy to get to.

vanisleevt, I wear that coffee machine out. I am a coffee-holic and work from home a lot. Some days are 10-cup days. I used it the entire time the remodel was going on just sitting on top of a tv stand in the den.

Love your stools too. Its all "so my style".

We use the mockett way more than I actually thought we would. Here are two more pics of it.

The cabinets are actually custom cabinets from Tobitt Custom Cabinetry in Madison, TN. I love the cleaness of them - no little groves to collect dust or grease.

I am just enjoying cooking in here soooo much.

starpooh I'd be happy for you to add me to the finished kitchen blog.

For the pantry, remember that I mentioned there was a big "header" behind the doors so that the studs could be removed. It's a load bearing wall where the pantry is, and that required by code that a header take it's place. It CAN be done. Remember, that is exactly what happens when you have windows or sliding glass doors -- a header takes the place of studs. It's the same concept, but it had to be so wide that we wanted to hide it. The cabinet-maker stained it so it's not obvious even with the doors open.

The doors over the bookcases are fake doors to give it a finished look and to also hide the header.

Also, we replaced the prep sink faucet finally.. and it too doubles as a pot filler. The other one was just too long necked for the sink and would have splashed water on the floor. This one works just as well.

Your kitchen is stunning, thank you for sharing it!