Does anyone else find it interesting that the same collection of articles first features Peacock $185K kitchens and then notes that demand for luxury kitchens is flattening? And does anyone else think that the Peacock look (white marble counters, white cabinets, lots of silver to be polished) is super high maintenance? Or that it can be copied/approximated for a fraction of the cost?

Bluekit, here are two interesting quotes from the Peacock article:

The person who buys this kitchen isnÂt polishing their own hardware," said Mr. Peacock, stating the obvious.

"My husband wanted a Christopher Peacock kitchen  period," said Lisa Skinner. Her Scullery kitchen arrived in her new Greenwich home in September, she said, over the protests of her builder, who wanted to replicate a Peacock kitchen and promised to do so for less money. Ms. Skinner said her husband, Chip, who is a fund manager, "just kept saying, ÂWhen you spend a lot of money you go to a specialist.Â

That about sums it up, does it not? :)

Did anyone else notice there are *4* pictures of white traditional kitchens with marble counters? And was indifferent about them? Gosh, you know you've been hanging out in the Kitchen Forum too long when you look at a luxurious white, marbled kitchen & think ho-hum seen it before.

And the Times made no mention of this forum! They're so out of it :)

This is my inspiration kitchen, the one with which I fell in love a few years ago and started my journey .... I love it!

Ours is nearing completion and I can tell you it'll cost significantly less than a Peacock kitchen. But I was kinda shocked at "only" $185K, because when we first started this whole process I called the Peacock showroom in Chicago (closest to me) and was told by them, given the size of my kitchen and our location, it would be closer to $200K, and that's without the sterling hardware!

Guess why we didn't get a Peacock-brand kitchen?

Oh my gosh too funny. My old boss is one of the families mentioned in the article. Funny how we are both doing a similar look in a kitchen, but mine is not a Peacock kitchen. I suppose some of that is the difference between living in Greenwich, CT and the Northwest.

I think many of the kitchens on this forum look as impressive or more so! I can't imagine that much money going into a kitchen! The green recycled article is very cool-how great!

I'm with awm03. My reaction to the Peacock kitchens -- boooorrrring! But then, our old kitchen was white on white and we couldn't wait to get rid of it.

I thought the list at the end was really interesting!

A Designer's Punch List

Here are 10 items Christopher Peacock said clients have asked for but don't often use, and 10 items they don't think to ask for, but should consider.

SELDOM USED

Pot-filling faucet

Pantry dishwasher

or refrigerator

Kitchen desk

Trash compactor

Large microwave

Rangetop grill

Two-tier island countertops

Large island

Appliance garage

GOOD TO HAVE

Refrigerator and freezer drawers

Two dishwashers

Warming drawers

Small microwave

Bookshelves

Tray storage

Roll-out drawers

Message center

Marble countertops

Wood countertops

I think HGTV should approach this forum to recreate that look on a much smaller budget. with our resources, advice, wisdom, I think we could do it for $40,000 (four secrets - DIY, IKEA, ebay, GW)
:)

I just read the NYT article and smirkingly (real word?) agree with all your comments. One comment on the last page caught me off guard though: "...there were Molton Brown candles flickering alluringly in every room of the Peacock showroom..."

Last month a friend brought me a box of Molton Brown candles as a housewarming gift. I thought it was just a nice gift--I had no idea of their significance. I guess I'm now officially "lah dee dah!" LOL

her husband, Chip, who is a fund manager, "just kept saying, ÂWhen you spend a lot of money you go to a specialist.Â

That about sums it up, does it not? :)
-------------------------

Yup -- "There's a sucker born every minute" :P

Perspective. To a fund manager that's a nice kitchen. Not beyond over-the-top that we mere comfortable folks think it is. (And if you're here renovating your kitchen you fall into the comfortable category on some level.)

I, too, was interested in the "seldom used" list. I'm planning a large island because I have lots of windows and very little upper cabinetry. No exposed ends, just cabs all around.

And contrary to my name here (homage to my home state), in Wisconsin where I live now it's tough to grill anything outdoors for many months, so I was kind of interested in being able to do a little grilling indoors, with a serious exhaust system, of course. What do folks with any item on the seldom used list think?

uh uh uh ooops barf!

Get real!

We could do that kitchen for $40K but it wouldn't be authentic! The article said they are selling authenticity these days... um, what is authentic? Do they mean the authenticity of a real Englishman selling you an English kitchen? They do look divine tho.

Imo, I think the backsplash in that $185K kitchen looked a heckuva lot like alku05's backsplash.

authentically overpriced :)

I'm laughing at the seldom used list. "Appliance garage"- I bet it means they seldom open it and use the appliances in it!

LOL! My husband and I both read the article. I was originally going to go with that white kitchen look, but I realize that I am more of a cook than a housekeeper. So out of style granite and wood cabinets are my choice!

My sweetie was laughing. He wonders whether the people who buy these kitchens ever cook anything in them.

And I thought the crown point cabinets I wanted where pricey!

The Christopher Peacock kitchen is gorgeous but it doesn't strike me as practical for someone who is a serious cook. That kitchen is more for show than function. Can you imagine how that kitchen would look if it got hard, every day use? The cleanup would take as much time as the food preparation. Of course, someone who can spend that much money on a kitchen can afford to hire someone to do the cooking and cleaning but since I don't fit into that category, I'm better off with my stained wood cabinets and low-maintenance granite countertops.

I'm reminded of a chick lit book -- I think The Nanny Diaries -- in which the mother/trophy wife had absolutely the latest trendy appliances, cabinets, gadgets, everything, but no idea where the flour was kept.

Also, since joining this forum I've been so impressed by the many beautiful kitchens and their owners' creativity and budgets -- I think some of the talented DIYers could come up with an improvement on the $185K kitchen, and for about $184.99!

My friend from London is here visiting and fell off the chair in hysterics when I read her the article. No one in England has ever heard of him: he totally reinvented himself (kudos to him) after starting as a drummer in a band and then a lorry driver. My friend, who has elegant taste, is appalled by the "frilly English kitchens" that are all the rage and that he is trying to imitate. Despite the fact that he worked for such minimalist, sleek places as Seimatic, he is copying that last place he worked for (and lost his job from) and there are enough people with no minds of their own & megabucks, who don't cook but have housekeepers to clean the sterling silver cabinet hardware to make P.T. Barnum's phrase a reality ten times over.
What a hoot!

Love it, Raynag! LOL! My ID and I were discussing Peacock and the NYT article today as well. And, as most of here have concluded, we observed that Peacock is so much the hype. Further, that in homes of great wealth,historically-speaking, the kitchen was never the "showplace" nor intended as the owners' hang out. Yet, today's over-the-top, Peacock kitchens are built primarily to allow their wealthy owners to be able to say: "Look at how much money I have to burn!" (Yes, pun intended).

In these times of the ever widening gap between "haves" and "have nots," these increasing displays of pure conspicuous consumption are tragic. (Of course, if I were to be honest with myself,there are times I can find myself being guilty of the same behavior -- even if only within the narrow realm of my own means. It's all relative.)

raynag,
LOL, love what you said about drummer/ truck driver/ turned kitchen designer ..... reminded me of one of my old classmate friends who later grew up to become a well-known ID. At a class reunion a few years ago I was surprised when I heard him speak -- he had developed his own "European accent" to impress his international and local clientel.

Napagirl - I would probably have asked him "what is that phoney accent?" How did you restrain yourself?

Marthavila - we all have our levels of splurging, but some of us at least USE our kitchens! We actually ate in all week - LOL.

I guess I'm going to have to chime in and support the guy. He does a very beautiful classic kitchen. We would use him if we were looking to do a white on white old fashioned kitchen. His cabinets are very high quality. His attention to detail is fantastic. Yes that stuff costs money, but you do sometimes get what you pay for. If we buy the home we want in Duluth, I'd be calling Mr. P for quotes. Honestly...the style is just perfect.

I don't think it's fair to hold it against him that he's held other careers. I've met some really crappy KD's who have degrees, and I've met some great craftsmen who don't that can do three times the design work. I myself can list in my background, banker, oyster farmer, secretary, public speaker...and now I'm trying to learn to be a designer. To hold my past against me is rather snotty really...what ummm if I'm really good? You're not going to buy from me because I once drove a truck?

An all white kitchen isn't a nightmare to upkeep either. It's like all white linens (which we have) lots of bleach and you can clean easily because you can see the mess. I don't see that the fund manager's kitchen is "over the top". It's a lovely kitchen and if it was posted here I'd share that with them.

As to the list...we use our trash compactor daily, but did opt out of a big microwave. I hate our current appliance garage and have never liked two tier islands. I do however like big islands, but we tend to entertain in the kitchen and I like room to move. I do hate a desk in a kitchen, but if the kitchen were big enough..maybe.

We grill outside in any weather, and if we can do it, I don't think there's a "grilling" season :oP We grill 3 to 4 times weekly, and I don't want that done in the house, so I think that makes sense. I see a lot of homes with shiny grills inside :O) Which means they're not being used too much.

I can see the need for a second dishwasher on occasion, and would love to have one if I had the room. I personally would like a dishwasher drawer dedicated to stemware if I had my druthers. Maybe in my next kitchen :)

If I had an older home, and wanted a white kitchen though...Mr. P would be on my list of contacts.

And we have a very sick child...we often get to see specialists ONLY Because we can afford to pay for them. I can see what that person quoted was saying. I believe it myself.

It's great that in the USA someone can move up the economic ladder even if they started off as a driver.

it's not great, however, that in the USA people can only see specialists for their sick kids if they can afford to pay for them.

(oh, and good post, igloo)

While we're grousing, I'd like to add my pet peeve: the stereotyping of the rich. I know a few people with money. They earned it by being smarter than average, staying the straight & narrow path, acting on their good ideas, & generally working their rear ends off. Why are people so derisive of their fancy kitchens or other goodies? It's not like the moneyed set didn't work for them.

Thank you ed, and I completely agree with you. We know we're fortunate every time we talk to someone who hasn't been able to see a pediatric specialist. Someday we'll sell our business and my dream is to start a foundation that will cover the costs of travel outside of Alaska for diagnostic care (which is not covered in any of the current charitable offerings). I want to cover for both the poor and the working class who can afford to see a doctor, but can't afford the extra costs of flying and hotels etc. So many kids fall through the loops here ;(

You caught me on a passionate subject :) I'll hush now...and awm...good post! Amen Polie!

I have an appliance garage and it's used everyday. Guess that's because we put "everyday" stuff in it that would be an eyesore out on the counter. Currently it's been removed because we're waiting for granite to be installed and I miss it.

I don't understand about the sick child comment. My youngest child is 19 years old and has a neurological condition in addition to being on the autisum spectrum. We have had excellent access to specialists including the Mayo clinic. We consider ourselves middle class.

Nessie the very low income have to get approvals to see specialists most often from the state (or whatever federal program they might be on). It's very hard to get those darned referrals for MANY people. Add to that the inability to literally "get to" the specialist (let's say fly across the country or even an hour or two drive). In my state, that's compounded by the lack of specialists (all are in Anchorage so if you're not here you must fly to see them) and to do that you often have a six month or more wait, which as you know, does not always work. If you have to leave the state (which we've had to do for almost everything) you have to foot the bill for that yourself (air, hotel, rental car etc). So having insurance is great, and we appreciate it, but for many, the added expenses just don't fit in the budget.

For me, a trip to the Mayo is a few thousand dollars, that would be the part not covered by insurance. :( Can you imagine doing that monthly! It's a killer on the finances of many people!

Ahem . . . back to the subject of Mr. Peacock's kitchens . . . His kitchens are absolutely gorgeous, but they are for people who want to make one phone call to get a kitchen. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I can't imagine anyone on this site (including you, Igloochic! I've read your posts!) who would willingly hand over the whole job to someone else. We all know too much and are way too TKO (and, frankly, most of us are control freaks). If one of us DID hire him, we'd drive him crazy and he'd probably walk off the job furiously after about a week.

At the risk of turning this trhead completely off topic I have to chime in on the healtchare comments. Igloochic - I think your comments about access to pediatric specialists are off-base and biased based on your location. There are many excellent children's hospitals throughout the country (typically in major metropolitan areas) - staffed with pediatric specialists - that anyone has access to. There are no abnormal wait times, etc. Access is very easy.

Now if you happen to live in a rural or out of the way place, then yes, access becomes more of an issue simply because you typically have to drive / fly to the nearest major metro area with a children's hospital. But thats a choice people make in where they choose to live and what they have access to. That is not the fault of insurance for not covering the travel costs

I am also a bit surprised at the degree of "ad hominen" anti-Peacock sentiment here. You may not like his style, but there is no kitchen that appeals to everyone. His work is quite beautiful, though we can certainly argue as to practicality etc.

A lot of the criticism seems to be based on the amount of money being spent. I find that hard to buy on this forum! Let's list some of the appliances that GW Kitchen and Appliance posters (including me) are constantly oohing and aahing over:
LaCanche ranges: $8-15K
Miele dishwashers: $2k (often x 2)
Wolf and Miele ovens ($3-5K for doubles)
Refrigerator drawers ($2K or more)
SZ refrigerators: $7K-14K
Custom 1500 cfm ventilation systems ($3K)
Granite, soapstone, marble countertops (thousands)
and then add the custom cabinets with Blumotion hinges, Franke sinks, pendant lighting etc etc

Let's face it: many of us are either doing, or would love to do, renovations that approach or exceed six figure sums. Peacock does beautiful kitchens--maybe not everyone's cup of tea--but he is not the only one who promotes "the best of the best" in kitchens.

I just refound this thread, and wanted to quickly comment to berryberry. My experiences with a lack of quality specialty care are not only related to where I live, but related to the experiences of other parents who I have shared time with in many hospitals around the country.

Try to see an immunologist who specializes in IgA deficiencies...the wait to see a doctor is a couple of months, not days, but months, for anyone. Think you have EE? The wait is 60 days or more to see the top guys in that field at Cincinnati Childrens. Eating disorder? Three to six month waits are the norm. The care costs hundreds of thousands and does not include the housing or travel.

You can say that people "chose" to live where they live..and in my case that's true, but for many, they live where they can afford to live, and so many can't afford the costs of getting to medical care that you and I might find reasonable. Some folks can't afford to fill their gas tank, so a two hour drive isn't a reasonable thing...and they probably aren't living where they chose to..they're living where they have to because of their incomes. Add to that the need to have DSHS approve the speciality care..and you have a lack of specialty care for the poor in more than one fashion.

Now back to nice kitchens...I'll put my soap box in the washer :oP