I would have an exquisite period kitchen, arts and crafts freestanding pieces, oil-rubbed quarter sawn oak with leaded glass lights, counters of finely laid tile and dark wood, burnished copper accents, an Aga cooker, polished nickel faucets, hand-painted art nouveau detailing on the wall, intricate hexagonal tile floors, refrigerator concealed in a vintage wooden icebox.

In the corner of the room, there would be an ornate wrought iron spiral staircase. It would lead down to the basement. Where the real kitchen would be.

It would have a rubber floor with a central drain. Steel walls. An eight burner Garland with salamander and double ovens, a wok range with jet burner, a grill, a deep fryer, a couple of immersion circulators, a Big Green Egg. Enough venting to pull off your hat. High-temp, high-speed dishwasher. Lots and lots of steel countertop, prep bowls, good knives and a heavy duty food processor. A reach-in cooler and freezer, and walk-in wine cellar. A really nice sound system, with tube amps and horn drivers A woodstove, a couple of deeply creased leather chairs and a tippling table with a half-full bottle of scotch, plus a fresh one in reserve. A cot for naps. A yawning chow chow (to keep the floor clean and one's feet warm). Don't forget the hand-lettered sign: "No Girls". Every self-respecting man cave needs one.

I guess I'd need a dumbwaiter and intercom.

I actually have the basement for it. 1,000 sq ft of potential kitchen . . .

Since I've never purchased a lottery ticket, and probably won't, I'll send hubby over to take the order - they need the business (LOL). He's a CKD and VP at a cabinet manufacturer with 35-years of experience with the same company. Some of the kitchens they do are breath-taking. We've seen several of them featured on HGTV.

I'm getting a new sink and faucet in the kitchen, and a new coat of paint, and I'll be DELIGHTED with that. That will be enough inconvenience and mess.

We're do-it-your-selfers and we just installed a lovely new kitchen hubby designed for our daughter and son-in-law this summer. Everyone should get at least ONE new kitchen!

-Grainlady

With a $100 million..... a personal chef at my beck and call!!
He/she could design the kitchen. with that much money, I would be too busy with other things to cook!!

I'm in the middle of getting a new kitchen right now. The old kitchen is gone ans we are down to the bare walls. The electricians were here yesterday and also the cabinet maker. He drew on my walls and so it's much easier to get a feel for the out come. He calls my cabinets Silver Birch, they are quite contemporary.

The counter top is a dark gray quartz, the flooring is vinyl and the appliances all SS. I can't wait! I am hoping that it is usable by Thanksgiving.

But if I won the lottery...... this house goes on the market and we buy a new one right here on the same lake.

Nancy

I like my kitchen and wouldn't change it. The only thing I would consider doing is adding a second dishwasher to the butler's pantry area where our glassware is stored.

If I won the lottery, I'd simply stop worrying about the costs of college.

Jo

If I won a lottery with that big a jackpot, my new kitchen would be in a specially designed home in the NC mountains. It would be a B&B and retreat for quilters, crafters, etc. The kitchen would have wood floors, lots of windows, a six burner commercial stove with a grill, a large Sub Zero refrigerator, a baking center, an eat-in kitchen area as well as a large dining room for the guests, a small sitting area so the cook can put up her feet, and a center kitchen work table. A huge pantry adjacent to the kitchen would hold all the cooking staples, large pots, and a big freezer. The laundry room would be in the same area of the house and be large enough to also serve as my sewing room.

I'm sure I could think of more!

Teresa

I buy a lot of lottery tickets to give away. I have a ton of leftover lottery tickets in a big box which I have never checked.

At 170 million to one odds, it is a complete waste of time to check.

But if I do win, I don't think I need a fancy kitchen. Good food does not have much to do with expensive appliances.

Instead, I would have many regular kitchens, in many interesting places. Paris, Rome, China, Tokyo, ----etc. The kitchens would be walking distance from fresh food markets. Depending on my mood and the season, I would go to different kitchens and --------.

Well, you know how wonderful this can be.

By the way, European home kitchens are very small, yet they make very good meals.

dcarch

If I won the lottery, I'd ignore my own kitchen and build a shiny commercial kitchen in a sparkling new red barn and open a custom cake/baked goods business. It would have great lighting and a huge oak table to seat family and friends for celebration dinners, and of course, a little cubby in the back for me to take a noontime nap. Yeah.

Everyone should get at least ONE new kitchen!

Ya! I agree! We remodeled our kitchen six years ago, so aside from a few minor tweaks that I would do now that I've lived in it for a while, I'm pretty darn happy with it as is!

However, I do have a list as long as your arm of other things I need to do to the house. Beginning with redoing my driveway which has a big crater in it caused by the roots of a horrible tree that we cut down when we bought the house. And ending with putting a pool in the back yard. $100 million ought to JUST about cover all the other stuff in between.

Wow May I can't believe that was 6 years ago. I remember when you got your new kitchen. That was before Miss Chase brought me out of lurkdom lol

I would just have everything brand new in my lottery kitchen. I've been living with an original 1911 kitchen (except for the appliances of course) and I am ready for a kithen from this century!

My new kitchen would be outside, next to a swimming pool.

Lars

Kyle,
I can't either!! It was completed in Nov 2004. It's still "new" to me... and I love it now as much as I did then. There's just something about picking every thing out yourself that makes it totally yours.

Oh man.... a fridge with beer AND food!

: )
lyra

I was all set to volunteer to be John's personal chef until I saw the no girls allowed sign. In any case, I'm completely and utterly sold on the two-kitchen idea. I'll take a covered outdoor one, too, like the rooftop kitchen above my apartment in Sydney. I can get by with just a grill and a sink out there. Preferably, it should be right next to one of these: http://www.trendir.com/outdoors/ which, if at all possible, should overlook one of these: http://darkelf.aminus3.com/image/2009-05-01.html. For the upstairs kitchen, I want a waterfall sink and granite countertops and hardwood floors-- since I won the lottery, I'm importing spotted gum for the flooring. Upstairs, I will pretend to cook (serve hummus in nice-looking bowls, mix martinis) and downstairs I will have a pull-down sprayer from the ceiling-- no, wait, I won the lottery. I'll have built-in sprayers in the ceiling, like the public bathrooms in England. I'll walk outside and push a button and it will clean itself. And then dry itself. No boys allowed. Unless they're willing to chop and do dishes, in which case boys are welcome.

I want a much bigger kitchen than I have. But, the one thing I would want is an island with granite counter top and sink. 6 bar stools so that all the grandkids can sit in there with me and help me cook. Now, my kitchen is so small, that we all step on each other when we are in there together. And, I end up yelling "Everyone, get out of my kitchen" Nice grandma, yes?

Karen

I love you all. Teresa_mn and pixistix, you two especially. Same dream!!

As for my own kitchen, I'd switch out my black granite for something creamy, get a decent hot/cold water faucet and a wall of windows. But I'd be at the retreat or commercial kitchen with teresa and Pixi so wouldn't get to use it much anyways.

Well, all I want at this point is a kitchen window that faces west and my horse in my backyard. I could do that if I won the lottery.....

I'm going to go visit Nancy when her kitchen is done, though, and steal all her ideas!

Annie

OK, I have the best idea:

If I win the first Mega-million Lotto price. I will give everyone here (not the lurkers) a new kitchen!

Wish me luck.

dcarch :-)

Since I love my 3-year-old kitchen (which is when I got involved here, but have been away from the Cooking forum for awhile) -

How about 2 exquisite newly renovated BATHROOMS, brand new plush carpeting throughout the house with plush padding, and an outdoor cooking area for hubby that includes a wonderful gas grill, countertop, and a patio cover?

Donna

Good luck!! :-)

I'm really liking darch's idea! Good luck is right..wouldn't that be wild if it happened!

I'd have three wonderful kitchens but the most wonderful of all would be an outdoor kitchen at my cottage. I can't describe it exactly because I haven't though of it much.

For sure lots of tumbled marble, granite and soapstone. A huge grill and flat top, a wood burning pizza/bread oven, a fancy, dancy smoker, outside sinks, good refrigeration, an open fire pit, a spiffy dining area and lots of casual seating plus a real bar...a for real bar.

I really need to hit the big lottery because the first thing I would need is a new cottage to handle all of that! LOL

After making sure all of debts were paid, my friends and family got their share of the money, and I bought a new car or two, I would absolutely build a home with a new kitchen. In the end, I would use the compounding interest to support some charities and find ways to give back to the community.

But that's not the question is it? By the way, you must live in Tennessee as our mega millions is about $117 million, think. Just off the diningroom (large enough to seat a dozen people) and with gardens (herb, cutting flowers, and vegetable), the kitchen would be an expansive open area, surrounded by floor to ceiling windows. It'd have a huge refrigerator and walk in freezer. The butler's pantry would have loads of room... enough for all of Kathleen's dishes. And I would fly her here to help me stock it, such a bargain finder and great taste to boot! The regular pantry would also be huge. There wouldn't be that many cabinets after that, so I'd do those glass front deals filled with pretty things. A couple of covered cabinets for the daily use things. There would be a beverage station. I sort of have that already. As poor as I am, I made sure to keep my coffee and cappuccino makers. I'd add a fridge to it for sure though. I like islands, but I'm not really sure I'd want one people sit at. I'd rather have a window seat and comfy cushions by the eastern facing window, fantastic for early morning sun basking and coffee sipping with company. The range I'm not sure about. I have had both electric and gas, both make me happy. I've never needed more than four burners, but more might be nice when I hire someone to come cater. And double ovens. One would absolutely be convection. I'd buy new pots and pans, copper bottomed, enamel, any and all types for all things. Real knives, a standing mixer, a food processor, and all the other gadgets everyone else has that I don't. I can't decide between dark wood, stained cherry or happy white with yellows and blues everywhere. But anything is good! Then, I'd fly anyone and everyone from CF there to come party! We'd have a grand time.

Well, I didn't win the lottery but I am in the process of a new kitchen. So far it is very usuable, but not completed. I have new can lights, new ceiling fan, new cabinets, marble countertops, new backsplash, new built-in microwave, range, dishwasher, garbage disposal. In process is a large pantry, and a soon-to-be wood-look vinyl floor. I need to be painting, but I would rather cook. LOL

I don't have a built-in island, but instead I am using my stainless steel table from my previous kitchen. My appliances are all SS, except for my refrigerator which I didn't replace. It was only about four years old and is bright white just like the new cabinets, so it looks OK. My DH wanted to replace it, but I chose not to. What little wall space is left will be painted terra cotta. At my age, I wanted light, light, light. The cabinets are white, the marble countertop is almost white with some neutrals mixed in, and the backsplash is taupe with terra cotta and with randomly placed blocks of small assorted glass tile in groups of nine, scattered here and there. Eventhough it is still not complete, it is the best kitchen I have ever had. Woo-Hoo

Good luck, dcarch...

Party at Rob's!!!!

soonergrandma, the backsplash sounds nice, do you care to post a picture of it? As for colors, I LIKE white. The girls tell me that if I have 5 gallons of white paint I could redecorate an entire house, LOL.

Annie

I am torn between Teresa_NCs idea of the lovely huge kitchen in the B&B to host quilters and crafters (they would be welcome at my house too, but mine would focus on jewelry makers and metla crafters) and Pixi's idea of the commercial kitchen in the barn. Okay, I want both! LOL! The commercial kitchen to do the work, and the sparkling showplace kitchen in the B&B that is cozy and comfy for gatherings and never gets greasy or smelly LOLOL!

And Dcarch - that is a lovely sentiment. I wish you all the lock if the universe.

Alexa

I love reading this thread! Lots of great dreams. I like the idea of having a beverage and snack area in the kitchen. That would sure make my life easier as a lot of the time I'm just going in the kitchen for a cup of coffee and a muffin or a drink of water and my kitchen is in the back of the house. I would either buy or build a different house with my mega-millions. The kitchen would be the center of the home, not like mine is now, way in the back with no room for anyone to be in there. I'd get a fridge with METAL handles (what's with these plastic handles on fridges these days?!). One of the best things I ever had when I was young was an OLD and small fridge in one of my apts. but it had metal shelves that swung out so you could see what was in the back. Not sure why they don't make fridges like that anymore, but I'd have one custom made! I'm also thinking I might like a prep sink, it might make me more inclined to wash dishes as I go if I didn't have to do both prep and clean up in one small sink like I have now. As it is, I shove the dirty dishes to one side for "later." And I would like my kitchen to open up to a dining and family/living room. Wide open. And I have always wanted a breakfast nook, with a window! And a little desk area with a laptop and small printer and then shelves above for my cookbooks.

BUT, my real dream is that dream kitchen above and then a little breezeway/foyer out the back door of the kitchen, leading to a canning/preserving kitchen. That one would have a huge freezer on the wall, a large pantry, and a root cellar. Big prep sink and cupboards for spices, jars, etc. Anyway, you get the idea. And in front of the breezway a huge decorative herb/flower garden, and on the other side of the canning kitchen--the vegetable garden, barn for the chickens and small milk cow, and orchard. That's my mega-million dream. And here in NE PA it would be mega millions. I have a colleague who is living that dream but it is on a farm that was in his wife's family for generations. Over a million to purchase something like that today.

Oh, and I want a back porch to store all the weird things I never use except in the summer, and I want a playroom with a bar in it. I want it to be one of those tropical themed bars, lol!

And then my own personal chef, so that I could just focus on growing and preserving the stuff, since that would be more than enough to keep me busy.

I would have to buy another house to have the kitchen I want. In that kitchen I would have loads of white cabinets, cream with a little black granite countertop. There would be lighting underneath all of the upper cabinets. Gone would be the horrible GE appliances I now have. I would have a huge Sub-Zero fridge, large walk-in freezer, induction stove-top as well as a two hob gas unit. I would have two dishwashers and a huge island with two sinks, one of them a small prep sink. I would have a desk with a full size computer, no laptop. I would have a bookcase of all of my cookbooks and cook-notebooks within close reach of the desk. There would be appliance garages for frequently used small appliances on the countertop. I now have recessed lighting and I would quickly wave that good-bye and have much better lighting. I would have a large walk-in pantry as well as a large room just for china/dishes/glassware. A large linen closet to include room for various table linens and dish linens. There would be an eat-in kitchen area to seat ten people and a dining room to seat 24. And I want windows, loads of windows, with all kinds of birdfeeders hanging in the close viewing area, and a lush flower and herb garden as well as shrubs to look upon and past that all kinds of trees.

Nope, you don't have to have any of this to turn out wonderful food. It would be nice though.

Here is another great idea:

After the dream kitchen is completed. The first meal, I would invite all my friends for dinner, and hire Rachael Ray to fix the dinner for all my friends. This way I can proof to my friends that she really canâÂÂt cook.

dcarch