Reveal (and another ABB club member)
We're still ABB, but it may be awhile before we get there. I welcome any suggestions for the perfect neutral backsplash!
We have lived in this house almost 6 years and have been planning a remodel that entire time. As you can see from the befores, we lived in a "one butt" kitchen. I'm really glad we waited as long as we did because we created a much better layout than anything that we (or any KDs) came up with when we first started planning. We always knew we would knock out that back wall (there was an underutilized bedroom back there), but it wasn't until we realized we should just flip the entire footprint around that everything fell into place. You can see the odd bump-in from the adjoining dining room. That was due to our built-in hutch that was the inspiration for the style{{gwi:807}} of our remodel. Our house is a 1910 Craftsman that has been largely updated save for the kitchen (and an epic lavender bathroom - next project). We wanted the style to be fitting of the house - thick crown, simple Shaker style cabs, wood floors, clean lines. The woodwork on the rest of the first floor had been painted white so we went that direction vs. the dark wood style. Inset would have been lovely but like everyone else, we are on a budget and with the scope of the construction, and the projects that remain in This Old House, we did makes some compromises.
Turns out that I really like the aesthetic of the OTK ;) I changed my mind about a lot of things over the last six years but white cabs were always in the picture. We had contemplated going with IKEA cabinets but since they got rid of their wood shaker style, none of the door styles really sang to me. We were going to go with an online{{gwi:807}} only company but at the last minute, our GC just didn't have a good feeling about it so he asked a KD he works with to price out something similar. Our cabinets are Waypoint maple painted in Linen. They were only about $200 more than the online place and it made our GC feel better to work locally. So far we like them a lot. Yes, they show dirt and we have a toddler so there have been a few mystery stains. No regrets there at all. They are full extension, soft close drawers and doors, very nice construction and so much cheaper than any other full service line we priced out. We have a trash pull out, tray divider, lazy Susan and 18" upper uppers.
We had a few snafus - the biggest was finding out that we had no load-bearing wall. We decided with consultation from a truss expert that our second floor hadn't fallen down in over 100 years so it was probably going to last another 100. The alternative would have been a very costly steel beam that would have destroyed our dining room hutch and a room in our basement. It meant that I didn't get coffered ceilings but our budget was maxed and then some by the end anyway.
To accommodate the bump-in, we created a pantry wall. It was a joint design{{gwi:807}} effort with consideration for budget and we love how it turned out! The floor to ceiling cabinets are 24" deep except for the upper-uppers which only came in 12" deep. Love the storage space in the 24" cabinets. The bar height cabinets are 12" deep and wonderful for storage. We have cabinets that are still empty! DH and I painted and installed the shelves ourselves so we have to take full credit{{gwi:9241}}/blame. I think we did a pretty good job.
Things we love: the extra money{{gwi:9241}} we spent to move the exterior door was worth every penny as it revolutionized (is that hyperbole?) our kitchen's functionality. Having 2 different countertops. Our red oak floors - we spent about 2 minutes picking them and couldn't be happier. Our kitchen TV - this has been the most used TV in the house! We don't have an open floor plan so I love being able to watch TV while cooking. Helps entertain our Little Miss as well. I love the microwave in the island but with the kiddo we need to learn how to lock the buttons. I love my 36" Kohler Whitehaven. DH doesn't love it as much as I do, but guess who uses it a lot more? Putting an island and a table even though our GC thought it would be too tight. We have 10" overhang on our island and I was really worried about it but it is just fine - any deeper and it would have made the walkway too narrow. The hardest part was finding barstools to fit.
Things we learned: see your templated slab before it is cut. We picked our island slab from a sample, albeit a big one, but it was not the same. We thought we were getting a creamy white and gray veined stone. We didn't anticipate the Bordeaux and tan veining and overall warmer color. I really hated it at first but I'm ok with it now and if I still hate it in a few years, I can get one of the dozens of marble-look quartzes that will be out by then. We DO love the honed finish though.
If money were no object: glass front upper uppers with back lighting, coffered ceiling, a fancy dancy range and fridge, the Artistic Tile jet marble mosaic backsplash that I can't get out of my mind; would have loved the money for a mudroom addition
Things that still aren't finished - backsplash, obviously; deciding what, if any, window treatments; a few decor elements here and there.
Cabinets - Waypoint in Linen
Countertops island - honed White Delicatus
Countertops perimeter and bar - polished Opalescence (I wanted honed, DH wanted polished, he won)
Fridge and range - our old Kenmores as we ran out of cash
Range hood - Cavaliere-Euro SV218B2-30 30 Inch 900 CFM from Ventingdirect.com
Lighting over sink and island - Landmark Chadwick collection in satin nickel
Lighting over table - Design Classics Craftsman with alabaster glass in satin nickel
Hardware - all Stone Mill from yourhomesupply.com in Nantucket cup pull, Laurel cabinet pull (on pantry cabs) and Mystic knobs all in Swedish Iron. This was our steal of the whole remodel - all the hardware including shipping was DW - Maytag MDB8949SBM from AJ Madison
Micro - GE PEB2060SMSS also from AJ Madison
Disposal - InSinkErator Essential (love it!!!) also from AJ Madison
Sink - 36" Kohler Whitehaven cast iron in white (my baby)
Faucet - Whitehaus Vintage III in Pewter (love, love, love the finish) from Vintage Tub & Bath
Flooring - red oak in medium stain, don't know the brand. We had maple adjoining the kitchen on one side and oak on the other so we had to decide between the two.
Wall color - Ace Dover Gray
Open shelving - homemade planks painted matte black
Table - 42" that we had a ton of problems with so I won't even tout the brand
Bar stools -World Market
Rugs - indoor/outdoor rugs from Overstock that are a breeze to vacuum and hose off when dirty
Back door - Beyer Built steel door in Bahama Brown (another quick decision that I am thrilled with). It has really nice dentil molding on the outside. Hardware is Kwikset in ORB.
If you have any other questions, just ask. I know I forgot details despite my novel. Thanks for looking and thanks for all the inspiration, advice{{gwi:9241}}, and wisdom over the last many years.
View from dining room before
After
Former kitchen in all its glory
Is now our pantry wall (complete with dog photo bomb)
This post was edited by threegraces on Mon, Dec 23, 13 at 7:15
Comments (58)
bpath
10 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
debrak2008
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Professionals
St. Louis Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Boca Raton Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Chicago Ridge Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Deerfield Beach Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Lisle Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Eureka Cabinets & Cabinetry · Indian Creek Cabinets & Cabinetry · Maywood Cabinets & Cabinetry · Milford Mill Cabinets & Cabinetry · Phelan Cabinets & Cabinetry · Elmwood Park Tile and Stone Contractors · Santa Monica Tile and Stone Contractors · South Holland Tile and Stone Contractors · Soledad Tile and Stone Contractors · Honolulu Design-Build Firmsillinigirl
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoschoolhouse_gw
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agokam76
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoinfinitylounge
10 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
romy718
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agodeedles
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agokksmama
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoltlfromgardenweb
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agodccurlygirl
10 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
enduring
10 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
a2gemini
10 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
westleyandbuttercup
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agomagsnj
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agokariwb
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agokariwb
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agothreegraces
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agowestsider40
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agothreegraces
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoHere is a closeup of the island granite with white subway tile (the front runner for the field tile on our BS).
Our previous kitchen was 9'x15', it is now 22.5'x15'!!!
Mags438
10 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
Holly- Kay
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agorosefolly
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoikeltz
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agothreegraces
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoikeltz
10 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
gr8daygw
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoozzyjude
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agojennvettek
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agothreegraces
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agopeony23
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agothreegraces
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoplnjmw
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoa2gemini
10 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
ritaweeda
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agorhome410
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoPeke
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agocolorfast
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agothreegraces
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agofirstmmo
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agocanuckplayer
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agothreegraces
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agothreegraces
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agogreenhaven
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoVanillaCottage
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoCEFreeman
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agohappyallison
9 years agothreegraces
8 years agomushcreek
8 years ago
patti43