Divamum,

Hi! I can totally relate! This is not the first kitchen we've done, but the first one we've renovated. I'm so glad we didn't do it when we first moved into this house 11 years ago, cuz we've done a much better job (IMHO) then we would have then when money was MUCH tighter. We did most of the work DIY, so budget is still a concern, but we've saved for 11 years, so we're able to do a much nicer quality than we would have done then.

So, I'd say the first thing is actually the Aesthetics- I can feel the smile on my face as I walk into the kitchen (as I push aside the plastic sheeting as we're still in the midst of renoing the whole house). I know my DH is really enjoying it too, as he is spending a LOT of his free time sitting and reading at the peninsula! I love the Tigerwood floors, am even mellowing out over the gouges DH has already made, and everytime I use the kickpan for the central vacuum, I am filled with glee! I haven't even brought a dust pan into the kitchen yet!

Functionally- my ASKO DW is great! Dishes are so clean, it is so quiet, and the SS interior is SO much nicer looking than the rusty ol plastic one I'd had. Having a layout where 3 or more people can work comfortably is a true pleasure- it IS too bad, we had to wait until the kids left home before we could afford it, but oh well...

We are having our first dinner party tomorrow night- so wish me luck- hope I have enough done that I can relax and enjoy the evening.

Mine's been done for over 3-1/2 months and there's so MUCH that I love about the new kitchen. Overall, though, my first is that it's actually FUNCTIONAL. My old kitchen wasn't very functional at all. Now I have room for all of my food and dishes in the kitchen, there's good work space, and everything is new. My second is that it's beautiful overall.

DonnaR/CA

Yes, we discovered last night that we can BOTH cook at the same time - we are going to get soooo fat, because we're enjoying cooking like we haven't since we were first married! It's great. I knew we'd like the new, improved space, but I'm still fairly blown away that it is making THIS much of a difference in our quality of life!!

Wow. I can't decide between the hardwood floors, the counter height window, or the lazy susan and my kitchen isn't even done yet.

Everything - just having a working kitchen after two years was good enough - things being new, clean and nice was good enough. It didn't really matter what the new materials were as long as it wasn't the old stuff (our kitchen was that bad).

Yeah, well I think that's part of what's influencing my feelings too, PCJs - after living with 24" of (icky, badly-tiled counter) workspace, a 24" stove and a layout that owed more to the average closet than "design", EVERYTHING feels wonderful! And we're not even done yet... ;)

I think the fact that there is not an inch of pink formica anywhere in the kitchen is the best thing of all. Unfortunately, it is still left in my 2 bathrooms.

It's easier to clean, warmer (both visually and in the it's not freezing because there's no insulation in the walls kind of way) and the storage is more functional. But the thing I like most is the sense of accomplishment we have in a job well done - our kitchen was mostly diy.

I think we're putting the floor down next weekend - that's the last major item on our list.

I love that it feels like our family. It isn't someone else's kitchen that we took over. We designed it, we gutted it, we built it back up. I love looking at everything and remembering all the pain and suffering we went through as DIY'ers. *LOL* I also love that the new space gives us so much more room to work and entertain. One of my favorite things is inviting a friend to sit at the island with me for a cup of coffee and a chat.

In terms of function, I too love that corner base lazy susan. It's right next to the stove, so my pots and pans are literally at my fingertips. I also love the tall pantry drawers and the base pantry in the island. My kids' favorite is the deep base drawer that holds all the bags of chips and other pre-packaged junk that they shouldn't eat. :)

Toni

Toni

I love how my kitchen looks, but that's not what I love most about the kitchen. We remodeled because we didn't have adequate venting over the range, and also counter space adjacent to the sink was inadequate. Only one person could work comfortably in the kitchen.

So, what I love most:
*Good venting over the stove (no more food smells all over the house)
*Single bowl sink, with counter space on both sides
*Bonus: bar height counter - great for kids and guests

I totally agree with the aesthetics and super susan, but must add full extension drawers. The old kitchen drawers only opened halfway and you had to dig the stuff out from the back. I absolutely love full extension drawers!! :)

How I love my new kitchen - let me count the ways

1. No more peeling laminate
2. No more loose hinges and cab doors about to fall
3. More cabinet space - some drawers now empty waiting
for me to hoard stuff I don't use
4. No more white walls
5. No more mix of laminate wood for floor
6. No more greasy less than useful fan hood
7. No big chunky microwave on the counter
8. No breakers tripping
9. No dirty white faux wood blinds
and lastly...drum roll please

10. I did it all my way.

That it's not my old kitchen--lol!

I am with cat mom. What do I like best about my new kitchen??

That is doesn't hurt my eyes.

Hmm, what I like most about my kitchen...

We finished 3 years ago and I like everything about it but maybe most of all that we managed to make it look as if it had always been here- only better.

We have a 1940s colonial. Didn't want fancy, wanted simple and functional and warm and welcoming.

Guests will come in and sit at the island and snack and have a glass of wine and eventually look this way and that and ask, "You did something to this kitchen. (long pause) It wasn't always like this. Was it?"

I love the whole thing, but I'm really happy....

-- That most everything is in deep, wide, full-extension drawers. I feel like my motions in the kitchen are more efficient when things (food, pots, pans, utensils) are so readily accessible.

-- That we got a large island. In my old kitchen, everything (counters, stove, frig) was along the perimeter, so I always had my back to my husband when I cooked. The primary motivation for remodeling was to solve this problem, and it's wonderful to be able to talk face-to-face with him while I cook. We taped together a bunch of newspaper to figure out the right size -- planning space for the sink and our laptops -- and, at nine feet long, the island is perfect!

-- That we splurged for the Grabill cabinets. It's furniture, it's so solid, and it gleams.

-- That we didn't get blumotion. Fun in the store? Absolutely. But with carpal tunnel problems in both wrists (and a mother with osteoarthritis who visits), we decided against it. In our bathroom, which we remodeled at the same time, the cabinets came with blumotion and I find it slightly painful to use.

-- That it's done and we have our house back!

The layout.

It's the #1, far and away best feature of my kitchen. Everything is zoned so many activities can happen simultaneously, and every zone has the tools it needs within easy reach.

Oh, and the fact that the appliances are awesome, and the kitchen is super perdy ain't bad either... ;)

divamum, great thread idea! Would you please post a photo of your backsplash w/tile from Lowe's? I'd love to see it.

My new kitchen is not in yet, but I think the Herbeau farmhouse sink and all the new appliances are going to be great. I'm looking forward to the extra storage space -- a HUGE improvement over what we had before!

Er... not great photos but photos nonetheless. The colour is more accurate in the first photo, although it always photographs darker than it really is - it's a lovely warm mid-brown, not the darkish chocolate it appears in photos. I gather it's actually floor tile, but there was no problem at all using it for the backsplash. We used "Sandstone" coloured grout.

Before grout (you can just see the mesh joining the tiles):

And after:

The warmth and feeling of "home"
The functionality

Cameron

As Divamum noted- I am amazed at the change in quality of life for our whole family. We went from tiny horrible nasty 1920's kitchen (fridge blocked a doorway, no counter space, stove blocked doorway, no vent....) to a marvelous kitchen that has the perfect feel. We captured 1920's charm with modern convenience.

The space is so functional now- so much counterspace that it doesn't matter if there's a mess, there's still plenty of room. There's better lighting, more room all over. Not to mention a Wolf range that is amazing and a nice new fridge (Thermador freedom). Nothing hides in the back, nothing freezes in the fridge. We have this marvelous invention that is called a "dishwasher". My whole adult life I'VE been the dishwasher...

On top of the function, there is beautiful soapstone that goes without oiling for months, and a beautiful floor of checkered marmoleum.

Most of all, the function and space have now set me free to cook with my kids and throw dinners together after a long day out at work. We did tons of holiday baking and used cookie cutters for the first time (never had a clean enough, roomy enough kitchen to take that sort of time and care).

The sheer space and pleasantness make the kitchen a focus for lots of living and entertainment. I'll also note the little desk we worked in to the side corner allows my husband or I to work late, but still be with family, and/or allows my daughter to do crafts galore.

I knew I was yearning for a new kitchen, but I never thought it could make this kind of difference.

I love how organized our kitchen is. Everything has a place and is easy to access.

kay_from_ca,

I use these exercises for my mild carpal tunnel... and they have kept it from worsening.

I'm having new kitchen envy. I can't wait to actually start my kitchen. Business ups and downs and ups have stopped the reno countless times. Congrats to everyone who's got their kitchen in.

Yeona

Here is a link that might be useful: carpal tunnel exercises.

divamum,
Very nice backsplash! It looks fabulous! Thanks for posting. I'm off to Lowe's now...

Aesthetic- looks good with clean and simple design like my shaker style cabinets
Stainless steel appliances
before knotty pine wood cabinets and window trims which I hated but now a warm look

Functionality - before the stove was placed right next to the fridge, now it is across
before microwave was used as vent above gas stove but now I have the Zephyr duct hood with 600 cfm so I can do alot more coooking
before I didn't have eating area in the kitchen , now I have a peninsula with 2 pendants that I have yet to install

Not even done yet (should be 90% there as of this coming weekend) and already DD (age 6) was helping me in the new kitchen . . . we were cooking in a borrowed electric skillet and making something to which she had said "ew yuck I don't want that" and she was so excited to be standing next to me pounding chicken breasts and using the sharp knife to cut zucchini (which she hates).

So what's my favorite? The space is ALREADY hosting great together time, just as I envisioned. That it is open and light is not hurting it either!

Cheers, and thanks for the thread!

Nica