I agree with you... How many of her choices are final? Changing the flooring to something warmer would make a big difference. Maybe couch it in terms of comfort, safety and cleanability. A glossy black tile on a kitchen floor sounds like a recipe for unhappiness.

Could be a classic look too. Depends on the styling of the things maybe.

It doesn't sounds like there's anything going on there that could be called country. In fact, your description sounds similar to my husband's first house that he bought before we met. More industrial than country.

Putting aside the black floor, I think the worst mistake here is the gray tile backsplash and counter. It makes me think of some of those awful homes that you see on BBC. Tile backsplashes are so labor intensive. It took my husband a week to rip out the old backsplash and put in the new. You do not want to make a mistake in this area!
Try to find a way to convince her to use white tiles. So much better for re-sale and her decorating options in the future would not be so limited. I personally don't like an all white kitchen, but my mom has one, and with all of her accessories she's made it very country.

Gray tile sounds like an ugly public restroom or doctor's office to me.

I think sweeby has a very good approach- if you suggest the comfort or practicality angle it could work. I am guessing you need to be diplomatic BIG time. Then again, sometimes people think they like something but continue to pick out contrary styles. To be the one item that seems to really seal the deal is the gray. Even though the floor soudns quite contemporary, with diff countertops(un-gray) it might be sort of ok. Well maybe not.
Maybe you really can take the country out of the girl? (seriously, though, I hear you. you say her house is country).

I think it depends on the gray she chooses... she should get more of a blue/gray color, don't you think? I say this b/c I am thinking of the New Englandy kitchens w/that type of paint... (my hubby says New Englandy isn't a word, but it is for me... since I'm from there, I say it all the time!) I am in the south now, and I tried to recreate that feel in my kitchen as well...

How are the floor tiles being laid -- grid or rectangle?

Here is a link that might be useful: Black, white, gray bedroom pics

Sounds a bit cold to me!

(yes -- I could be quite wrong here -- just my first impression .....))

I have what could no doubt be considered a country kitchen. I'm working with what I have (an extremely tight budget), I can't really change it now but I've thought A LOT about what I'd change to update it if I could.

I think she is wanting a neutral backdrop, with the white cabinets/gray floors and countertops. Do the cabinets have panels or beadboard, some detail to make them less plain?

I have white ceramic tile countertops and backsplash, with the backsplash laid on the diagonal. My first order of business would be to replace the backsplash with beadboard, and then replace the countertop with anything BUT tile, it's impossible to keep the grout clean!

I think she may be thinking of the look of soapstone for the flooring? I would suggest that for the countertop instead (or something that looks like it), and a lighter colored ceramic tile or engineered wood for the floor. A high gloss surface would be extremely dangerous, too slippery for a kitchen. We have a neutral ceramic tile, a patterned gray and tan that hides dirt pretty well.

Fluorescent lighting is where I think she is really going wrong. I think good lighting in a kitchen cannot be overlooked. I was fortunate to have recessed lighting and, while my white canned ceiling fan is a bit dated, it has a ceiling medallion that makes it work a little better. Think schoolhouse pendants for a real country feel.

I actually have pale gray cellular shades, but I leave them open all day (north and east facing windows). Gray isn't traditionally "country" but it is neutral. JCP has roller shades for a good price, and country curtains could go a long way towards warming up a neutral space.

I don't like the idea of the gray paint color at all, but since that is the easiest and cheapest thing to change/fix, I would let it be for now. She can always change the hardware and paint the walls. We learn best from our mistakes, but must be allowed to make them.

teacats, that was my first impression. When I think gray walls and counter I think "morgue."

squirrel the floor tiles will be laid on the diag. The counter in a sqare pattern, the backsplash in a brick pattern.

I just spoke to DH and asked if she bought the paint. He said she was going to let him go buy it. He said she told him it was a gray w/blue. So maybe it's the one she and I picked out. I surely hope so because like that link squirrel provided, that is such a beautiful color combination.

She reminds me of me. She likes a lot of styles and gets sidetracked. I think her biggest downfall though is listening to the suggestions of too many people. I'm no designer, but I have learned so much from this forum and I tried to pass what I've learned on to her. She asked for my advice because she and I have the same taste, i.e., country, traditional, antiques.

As long as she goes with a blue/gray paint I think the kitchen will look beautiful and timeless and not industrial.

When DH is finished with the remodel I will post the before and after pictures for you. You'll be amazed at the before and know that whatever she chooses will be a vast improvement. Poor darling had cabinets and shelves that were literally about to fall off the walls.

Her kitchen was in such disrepair because her two grown sons who live with her, wouldn't contribute anything to the house. Now that they are entertaining ladies, they want their house to look nice. They realize they are no longer "kids." They both work and make good salaries and are now contributing to the improvements. That's so ironic being they destroyed all the improvements she made years ago when they were young and crazy kids. My DH has completely remodeled her entire house over the last 10 years and unfortunately some of it was torn up by the kids. Now, whatever changes are made, will stay nice for a good long time.

I'm so happy for her because cooking is her pasttime and hobby. She's a divorced mom who works full time and piddling in the kitchen is her "fun." I can't think of anyone who deserves a new kitchen more then her. That's why DH agreed to do the work for half his usual labor charge so she'd be able to get a new kitchen and have her living/dining and hall painted, moldings and casings replaced and laminate flooring installed.

I don't know Brutuses, if she asked you and then ignored your advice...what can you do? I had high gloss marble in one of my old houses and it was a bear to keep up. It's a hands and knees kind of job for sure. I don't know if the porcelain would be the same but I suspect with the high gloss, it might be?? How about a few little sentences said casually from you like..."I had a friend with a high gloss floor and she said it was so hard to keep clean" Something just to get her re-thinking.

I keep trying to find photos of the combo she is suggesting but haven't found anything yet.

If I were you, I would be worried about DH doing a remodel for someone who is going to be unhappy with the end result. At the very least, this could cause a rift between you and your friend.

My DH and I both tried to tell her the floor would be difficult to keep clean, but she has in her mind that a lighter color will show the dirt. She asked me to go with her to buy the flooring. That was after her sons talked her into an industrial slate that was absolutely horrid. She finally took our word on that ugliness and returned them. I was steering her toward a more neutral tile that would be easy to keep up, but she was mesmerized by that black and there was no changing her mind. Poor darling has never had anything really nice, and surely not a nice kitchen. The beauty of the black just struck her as glamorous so she went with it.

I know how she feels. That's until I owned a black car. Never again!!

sarschlos, I won't have to worry about that. She's not that way at all. She's a very nice person and has an easy going personality. I do however want the kitchen to look its' best since my husband's name is behind the remodel. His workmanship is the best so whatever she choses will be installed and applied with great care.

I was wondering the same thing -- if she's striving for neutral, or maybe a traditional black/white kitchen with country touches.

High gloss on the floor is also slippery.

What I'm wondering about is all the hard, similar surfaces. All different patterns, too. Why the switch to a brick pattern on the splash? I think before finalizing anything she should look through some pics and find examples of what she's trying to do.

Brutuses, be careful. What if she decides to become a member here and reads your messages? As well-meaning and helpful as your suggestions are, she might not appreciate reading about it here. I know that's probably not going to happen, but that would be my luck!

BTW, I have the cutest black BMW convertible that I enjoy so much. Now that we're in a house again, and it has its own garage, it stays pretty clean!

Different strokes for different folks. Her black floor might surprise everyone, especially if she accents them with pretty rugs or runners......

She sounds like she's lucky to have such caring friends as you and your husband. Maybe she'll let you post pictures when the renovation is complete!

I found a fun website to play with on GE. It's a kitchen virtual designer. Too bad it doesn't have more choices but I was able to get a little close to her colors. No white cabinets, only cream to choose from and the walls are white not gray. Looks a bit industrial but maybe she could add some country touches with window coverings etc.

{{!gwi}}

Virtual Designer

squirrel, that's the funny thing. She subscribes (and I get them as she's finished) to Southern Living, BH&G, Victoria and other magazines. She tears photo's out. She does all this and then goes against all that appeals to her. Too funny. I guess, like me, she's having a difficult time "picturing" things in her space.

wodka, no chance on earth she'll ever come to this forum. She's not a computer person. I've told her a million and one times to come to the forum to look at photo's and get ideas, but she doesn't want to.

Beadboard was my first thought for her backsplash, but then DH reminded me how messy they are. They know it and she admits they are not the neatest or cleanest people. That's why she figured the black floor would cover the dirt. LOL DH is going to apply a sealer to the tile and grout to help repel the dirt.

DH just called and said the paint selected is definitely mostly blue so I'll keep my fingers crossed it will look good. He said he thought it would. I didn't ask DH to come show me the chip because she didn't ask for my final approval, so I won't offer it. I'm sure I'm worrying needlessly and it will all look great.

lindy, thanks for that site.

Next time someone asks my opinion, I'm charging them. Two reasons; one they'll just not ask if I charge or two, they'll actually take my advice if they have to pay for it. HA! HA!

Thanks everyone for your input. I can't wait to see the finished room and to show you how it came out.

Wow, a black BMW convertible. My dream is a red Lexus convertible. Yea, I'm dreaming way big!!! Do those little cars come equipped with a lift because that is what I'd need to get out of the thing. After driving a van for the last 8 years, getting in a car of any kind is painful because it's so low to the ground and getting out is something I could sell tickets to see!!

If she wants a grey kitchen, Martha's current kitchen is grey (it's *beautiful*, IMO, but then again I'm a huge fan of grey)...you can look at that and she can get a good sense of what her choices will look like compared to Martha's.

fly, maybe that's where she got the idea of gray.

Sounds cold to me too. Perhaps she will bring in a pop of color in her accessories? Maybe you should have her look at a bunch of Kitchen magazines & point out which looks she is drawn to. Then you could show her how to get that look.

I wonder if she might consider doing the floor in a black and white checkered pattern instead of all black? It would be a little more country or classic than modern and maybe it might soften the whole room up? All black just sounds so harsh to me and a bear to keep looking clean.

My first recommendation to her, keeping the budget in mind, was to tile the floor in black and white and the counter in black with white accents, but she went out and looked at other styles and decided she wanted something other than what I recommended. I thought the black and white would be a good start in getting it to country. She had decided on a nice yellow for the walls and I pictured some red accents. Well, she didn't picture the same thing and went off in a different direction. I think with the blue/gray walls it will be pretty. Unfortunately, she'll regret those black floors more than once, I'm sure.

Brutuses, I'm with you on this but you can't save the woman from herself. Morgue indeed! Lindybart's mockup looks like you could do autopsies in there.

Well, you learned one thing, eh? Next time she wants your opinion tell her the opposite of what you really think and maybe she'll do things your way. lol!

It's kind of your DH to reduce his fees for her. You tried to help her too, and that's all you can do. So pour yourself a tall cool one and just enjoy your own gorgeous new house. :)

hopefully it will be really pretty- hope to see it soon! I had to laugh when you wrote that next time you were going to charge someone because they would take your advice if they paid for it. years ago, when I was just out of college, I thought maybe I'd like to be a designer. Long story short, I ended up with a job on a high end hotel doing a ballroom. Well, this fellow also hired three other designers and then he (yes, he did) took one idea from each of our designs! So he took my wall covers and mixed them with someone else's carpet and someone else's tables and chairs. Oh, I wanted to die! that killed my dreams of being a designer once and for all.