Very belated update on our kitchen reno, sorry!

14 years ago

I feel bad for just disappearing after all the great advice and support you all gave us last spring when we were agonizing about our kitchen reno!

We got about 75% finished with it -it was mainly DIY so that did take longer than normal- and then discovered a huge mold problem in the master bath/bedroom that completely usurped our time and money. Sadly, that project is still not complete, as our gorgeous custom calacatta marble shower had moisture problems that have have not been remedied yet :(

Anyway- nearly a year after we began the kitchen, we're making progress again. I finally installed the backsplash last week! It's pretty boring, white subway tiles, but we need this kitchen to be fairly safe and classic for resale in a few years. The tiles themselves are quite lovely, with a nice surface variation that echoes the movement of the marble counter and cherry grain.

Next: trim for the cabinets, top and bottom and light rail...

I'd like to report that the kitchen works really well. Several of you (rhome410 and laxsupermom in particular, and others!) convinced us to move the kitchen to a new area, in the middle of the house. The layout works beautifully. We love being able to look down into the LR/DR area, and we love the hearthside sitting area now adjacent to the kitchen...thank you :)

Backsplash pics:

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Comments (25)

susanlynn2012
14 years ago
Staceyneil, I love the backsplash that lets your cabinets and marble counters take center stage as well as keeping your kitchen happy and bright. I love the marble counters and of course I love your NXR. So sorry about all your stresses during the remodel with other parts of your house. I have been there and understand how stressful life can be at times but we do our best and you are doing a great job.
Diane Clayton
14 years ago
Really nice countertops. Although I may be prejudiced. I picked a white (Misty Carrera) Ceasarstone and since I am not planning on leaving will put in a red glass tile back splash although I haven't committed totally.
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Hello again all, I have been taking these past few days one at a time. Some are good days and some are bad days (both for me and Jelika). But we are trudging onward. I am so grateful that I can come here and read all your posts of encouragement. It appears I am not the only one who has gone through this type of pain (even though some days it feels like no one in the world can understand what I'm going through). I am so glad that there are so many pets out there that have good and obviously loving homes. It makes me feel better. Biwako, my hat is off to you for bringing 15 deserving kitties into your life.. I don't know if my heart could stand losing that many... Yesterday was a bad day. I came home and Jelika did not want to eat or get up all that much. But Saturday was a relatively good day. Again we went outside in the sunshine and just sat there (which was nice because we have had about 35 solid days of rain here.. and she so loves to sit in the sun). She is still on Pred.. this coming weekend I may start the weaning dose... the vet wants her to come in for another check up but I just don't know if I can do that to her. She hates it so much. She may be getting slightly more dehydrated though so I should bring her in for a shot of the sub-q's. I really don't know why they didn't show me how to do it at home when i specifically asked them to last time (so that I wouldn't have to bring her in again for it!). Grrrr. It is so frustrating. Also, I am experiencing a problem that may be of my own making. My other cat, Kitty, has started "attacking" Jelika a little more lately.. and she has been acting like she's holding a grudge.. which she may be. I know I have been ignoring her a bit lately because I want to spend all my time petting/being with Jelika. Because I just can't stand the thought that one day soon there won't be a Jelika there to pet anymore. I do try to make a little "Kitty time" each day. But because I have to feed Jelika special food (stuff that Kitty really likes too, but she's a little too..uh...healthy (read fat) to eat it all the time) So she just sits there and watches me feed Jelika. I do try to give her a couple of "treats" at the same time so that she doesn't feel too left out, but I think she does anyway. I feel really bad about it. They have never been the best of friends, and Jelika has ALWAYS been jealous of any time that I spend with Kitty. If she ever saw Kitty in my lap cuddling, Jelika would come right up and sit even higher up on my lap or chest.. to get in front of Kitty (as if she OWNS me.. well I guess she does :) So anyways I have this dilemna because I don't want Jelika to see me spending too much time with Kitty in what could be her (Jelika's) last few weeks, but I also don't want to ignore Kitty too much and alienate her... I mean they do get along and they are friends.. but there has always been a bit of rivalry going on as well... Anyway I will update shortly. P.S I haven't tried pumpkin yet, but the lactulose seems to be working.. however it is dehydrating so i have only been giving it once a day instead of two.. I think I will try the pumpkin.
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There sounds like a lot of miscommunication here. Did the GC hire the cabinet company, or did you hire them direct? Who did the measuring? Who did the designing? Did everyone get together and step off the design in the actual space before it was ordered? That's all water under the bridge now, but maybe someone else can benefit from your situation. It sounds as though you have several design errors, and then there are several order entry errors. The wrong sink base could have been a design or order entry error (and it really doesn't matter which to you). If the GC engaged the cabinet maker, then it's up to him to make it right. If you engaged the cabinet maker directly with the contractor just doing the install for you, then you (or hubby) are gonna have to yell at the cabinet maker yourself. The bar area will definately have to have some space between each of the end cabinets and the wall. Otherwise, your doors and drawers don't have enough clearance. You shouldn't need more than about an inch or an inch and a half. I usually do 1 1/2" on each end because that's a single 3" filler split down the middle and is easier for the installer. But I don't work with cabinets that are able to be customized width the way your line is able to do. For your case, an extended stile of about 1" is enough wiggle room to be trimmed to the wall. For your hutch area, I have an idea that might be an upgrade for you if you like it. What about using punched tin inserts, to make it look like an old fashioned pie safe. Or you could use some highly patterned opaque glass that you couldn't see through. That way you would be able to go ahead and install those cabinets and not wait on them to be replaced. Just remember: alcohol for the current stress, steel for the spine in the coming confrontation, and patience for this too to pass. Concentrate on the end result as being your goal, and all of the labor pains will be minimized when it's finally over.
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The floor is a semi hopscotch pattern. The 13 x 13 brown tiles vary in color and match perfectly with the granite. The lighter 6x6 tiles we really feel break up the darkness of the floor and look great. Whats great is the 6x6's will match perfectly with the tile back splash. We are using 2x2 witch are the same color as the 6x6's we are also doing a decorative pattern along the wall and something special I'm going to make you all wait for for the "wow" factor. The granite is called bay brook brown it has light and dark browns, black, cream, and golden flecks. the granite perfectly matches with the floor and you can find all the colors in it. those who say you cant do a total gut renovation on a budget must be crazy. All it takes is some shopping around. We spent many weekends in Lowes and Home Depot picking the perfect tile and ascents I think we are proof of what such little money can do and we are very proud of that!
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Fori
14 years ago
I still like it!

The backsplash isn't boring at all. It's serene and sophisticated and is much more than just filler. What did you do over the sink? That was a tricky area wasn't it? (You said it's been a while--you can't expect me to remember!)
three_daisies
14 years ago
It's beautiful and serene! As one who has a white subway backsplash, I'm a fan and love it with the marble and cabinets in your kitchen. Not boring at all.
Christine Clemens
14 years ago
It's lovely stacey. The cherry cabinets are beautiful and I love the countertops. It like the simple, peaceful style you chose.

I want to thank you again for keep us posted on your NXR over in Appliances. I am STILL debating NXR vs. Blue Star. I know... unbelievable.

Beautiful job. I could handle a few more pics in all your spare time!
pricklypearcactus
14 years ago
Very beautiful kitchen! I love the warm shaker cherry cabinetry contrasted with the crisp lovely marble. Looks like a kitchen you will really enjoy and buyers will love it in a few years.
timber.j
14 years ago
Stacy-
Thanks for posting an update. I have enjoyed seeing the progress you have made in your house (and compared to the speed of our remodel, yours is happening very quickly!). I hope your moisture problems get resolved soon.

The backsplash complements your cabinets and beautiful marble very well. I need to resume the search for a backsplash for my kitchen, and your kitchen is leaning me back to subway tiles again. :)

Did you decide on a paint color for your living room?
Stacey Collins
Original Author
14 years ago
Aw, you guys are so nice :)

So, what do you think: will my knife magnet with knives on it ruin this wall if I install it under the right-hand cabinet? I love the clean look right now, but have no where for the good knives :(

Fori- you noticed I didn't include a shot of the sink area?! I wanted to wait till we got the painted wood "cap" or "sill" installed on the openings to the living room there. Right now it's still just the raw 2x4s, yuck :( The subways just run along there, two rows of them, with bullnosed pieces where there won't be a cap. Hopefully in less than 2 weeks I will have pics of that!

odie- I am still happy with my NXR, for what its worth! I was just thinking that this morning as I cooked breakfast. It was definitely one of our best decisions. Then again, I did not have the budget for more than about $2600, so Blue Star was never in the running.
poppy09
14 years ago
Your countertop/backsplash/cabinet combo is serene. And lovely. Love your marble! Do you mind me asking what faucet you have?
Fori
14 years ago
I'd hang the knives on the fridge cab!
Stacey Collins
Original Author
14 years ago
poppy, the faucet is a HansGrohe Talis S faucet.... LOVE IT. it is much more low-profile than most faucets on the market now, which we like because there is only a 6" high wall there opening to the next room, and I didn't want a big high-arc faucet on view from the living room all the time. i got it for about half MSRP by shopping on line.

fori- me too... seems like a nice place for them, except DH is worried that the tips will gouge the cherry. They probably would. I don't know if you have ever used one but when you tip the knife to "unstick" it from the magnet, the tip does touch the wall :(
Fori
14 years ago
Well I guess he has a point. You could maybe put a strip of matching wood right above the block to run interference, but at a certain point it's just going too far. And no, I'm not trying to play on "point", it just keeps sneaking in.

Maybe the opposite wall behind the orchid? A bit of a stretch but you'd only poke drywall.

Anyway, it would look fine on your backsplash. I'm just too chicken to drill tile. Especially perfect tile.
Stacey Collins
Original Author
14 years ago
I'll definitely drill in the grout line if I do put it there. That way I could probably grout over it and hide the holes fairly well if it looked crappy.

I got a new chrome knife rack for this kitchen from Ikea... much nicer looking than the utilitarian one I had before (wood with two magnet strips) but it's like 22" long. Too long to go on the little strip of wall behind the orchid :(
prill
14 years ago
Stacey - very, very pretty. I love the marble, and your cabinets are lovely.
laxsupermom
14 years ago
Your kitchen looks wonderful! You and DH did an awesome job. My first thought on the knife strip was to put it on the refrigerator panel, too. We(I) pull our knives off with a twisting motion, turning to pivot on the dull edge(top side) of the knife vs tipping up. But if you know that's not the motion you use, than I think it will look just fine on the backsplash. Can't wait to see the pics of the sink run, too.
firstmmo
14 years ago
Stacey: Your cabinets are so beautiful! I especially like the pairing with the marble. I think you have done a wonderful job.

Now the bathroom....mold??? Yikes! I have heard about this....sounds like it has been a really time/money sink. So sorry. So sad considering that you had the pretty calacutta marble. Keep us updated and post more pics.
plllog
14 years ago
Thanks so much for checking in!! I hope your mold and shower problems are solved soon. The kitchen is lovely, and it's so great to know how well it works!
rhome410
14 years ago
Lovely, lovely! The backsplash is so clean and bright. It's perfect in it's quiet elegance, letting other things take the main focus.
Gena Hooper
14 years ago
Lovely. So warm. I love how rhome put it. Quiet elegance. That's it perfectly. So sorry for your mold issues. How scary and frustrating!
danielle84
14 years ago
Beautiful choices. Great cooking earea. How deep are your counters? How many inches of granite from the faucet to the wall. We had to change our sink that was just like yours to a less deep one. Yours looks lovely.
Congrats
cat_mom
14 years ago
Beautious!!!!
holligator
14 years ago
Oh, I'm so glad you checked in! Your house is one of my favorite projects on here. I'm really curious to see some of the other aspects of your kitchen (what did you ever do about an island countertop?) and other parts (how did the pantry area and mudroom turn out?). Don't forget to post more as you get more done. And good luck resolving your mold problem!
Stacey Collins
Original Author
14 years ago
Oh thanks you guys, you are soooo nice to come and comment.

Holligator! I can't believe I forgot you- you were instrumental in the original plans, for sure :) The island has a cherry top and we LOVE it. The mudroom is so fabulous- every day I think to myself, or even say out loud, "I love my mudroom!" Especially now since I have been spreading compost and cow manure all over the yard and I actually have a place to come in and sit down and take my muddy boots off :) But the mudroom and pantry are not ready for pics yet. They need doors, trim, and pantry counter/sink installed. The *&^%$ bathroom mold debacle really derailed us :(

The mold is gone, now, our insurance paid for professionals to come and abate it. They also gave us rebuild money, so we designed decided to take the opportunity to renovate the master bath area. Gorgeous walk-in shower with frameless doors, soaking tub, custom mahogany vanity, mmmmmmm..... We even hired Bill Vincent to do the tile work! But there was a problem with the marble shower floor, the tile discolored right away, so he's having to rebuild it. It has been a real struggle. We've been without that bathroom since last April/May. I got to take about 8 showers in it before we had to stop due to the tile problem. So we're all sharing the tiny bath that was our "kitchen" during the kitchen reno. So not fun.

danielle- We havea pretty standard 25.75" countertop from wall to front edge. I did insist that the sink be mounted as far forward as possible... they had to notch the sink base cabinet's top support stringer to accomodate that.

I promise I will come back and post more pics as we get more finished!
tateland
14 years ago
LOVE your kitchen. I finished mine last may with b-splashed installed 2 mos. ago I too couldnt have done it without this site...my goal in the next week, post pics!
petra66_gw
14 years ago
I love the subway tile-countertop combination. Very elegant!

Very belated update on our kitchen reno, sorry!

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Very belated update on our kitchen reno, sorry!

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