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Our Bright New Kitchen

americanexpress

11 years ago

Hello all ... after saving up for several years, we were able to give our mom a new kitchen remodel she never knew she wanted. Tell us what you think? Yes the runners are Ikea, but the chandelier is a Schonbeck ;) you only live once (says mom who picked it out haha).

before ...

and after ...

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Comments (21)

annkh_nd
11 years ago
What a difference!
a2gemini
11 years ago
Stellar! I had the same cabinets in my kitchen and glad they are gone!
You even managed to get rid of the soffit! Wow!!
You are an amazing daughter to do this for your mom! She is going to love it! I bet she is in tears with happiness!
Congratulations on a job well done!!

I have to wonder if we are neighbors - I even had the same style windows - I ended up painting the frame as I had too many wood varieties - Oak floor, cherry cabinets, etc.
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Thank you for all of your comments and compliments... You have reminded me not to rush into changing things. The house has alot of trim work throughout, including on the dining room ceiling, dining room walls, living room, windows, entry/foyer, doorways, etc...In those areas, all the trim has been painted white, but it appears to be the same style and type as what's in the kitchen/family room. I guess I was thinking that the rest of the trim work should be white too. But, I see now that it doesn't have to match and will leave a bit of character to the family room! The wood for the built-ins do appear to be an upgrade over the kitchen cabinets. As much as I love the look of all white trim, the family room has such a warm feeling, as is, so I will probably just keep any furniture in the room light for contrast and accent with color. I will definitely not rush to change to quickly! Some of our main reasons for choosing the new home is because it was custom built, is loaded with trim work and moldings and is in an older neighborhood with lots of large trees and yards. Of course, there is also plenty of shiny brass in all of the bathrooms, door handles and foyer lighting that we will be busy replacing. And, the landscaping needs some updating from the overly manicured large bushes surrounding the front entryway of the home. I may have trouble with interior design/decor, but I am in my element with landscaping and yard work! I appreciate all the comments about the kitchen...My husband and I have done a lot of work ourselves in our current home. He does most of our home repairs too; he hates hiring out! Life has gotten extremely hectic these days, so we have less time for DIY work like the time it would take to do paint the cabinets. But, I think we can easily handle the backsplash and modifying the cabinets with beadboard on the sides, but will find someone for counters/sink and help with whatever we do to the cabinets. It sounds like if we have to hire someone to paint the cabinets, it might put us way over our current budget. While I still love my inspiration kitchen photo, I may entertain the idea of darkening the stain/refacing the existing cabinets, possibly painting the center island as one of you mentioned and updating the counters, sink and adding backsplash and other details. This would buy us time (and save us money), until we can afford to get the wood floors we want and the painting of the cabinets the way GreenDay detailed. I appreciate all the advice.
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By comparing measurements on the plan, it looks as if you have ap 47" aisle, counter-to-counter, between the range wall and the island. Maybe 34" between island, and fridge door handles, which appear to be elbow height. That's pretty tight, but just workable with a side-by-side or French door fridge, IMO, as long as someone isn't trying to get past while you have the fridge doors open. You can bring the cabinets out to 30", but that does not leave room for the corner susan, unless you give up the cabinet to the right of the sink. And the fridge still sticks out 8.75". Can you move the island a few inches, and/or recess the fridge (as long as it's not on an exterior wall) as fori and weedmeister suggested? Can you get shallower handles? Can the stub wall be cut back to 30"? Here's an option where I've cut back the stub wall and moved the fridge against it, thinking that might keep it from looking as if it sticks out all by itself. Also moved the base cabs out to 30", and uppers out to 15". I moved the island down and toward the sink a few inches, and you still appear to have 48" on that side. I rearranged the prep sink in the island, so that it's not back-to-back with the range. If that's not an exterior wall, you still could gain a couple of inches more by recessing the fridge. Any chance this would work?
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Haha, sorry this brings such a joyless feeling for you Tony!! The overall space is much brighter/warmer than the original photo on this post might be suggesting. I think Chris Veith Photography has captured the space in much better tone, check out the album here if you like: https://teoriany.com/projects/modern/sandspoint18
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So much fabulous feedback - THANK YOU!! @jhmarie - I think you are right about the white oak floors - they are very hard and don't really scratch. I'm going to consider quartersawn oak now... and you are definitely correct about a drab grey/brown combo. We are leaning towards the greige colors for the floors and backsplash. A cold hard grey won't really fit in with the rest of the house. @olmama - your kitchen looks fabulous and it really does remind me of ours. The ceilings are almost identical. @nosoccermom - I like the colors, but the shape is too modern. I think something between rustic and farm fits us better. I went to the website and saw those cabinets are oak... wow I had no idea oak could looks that good. lol. :) @Olychick - yeah I'm starting to have second thoughts about the knotty alder. with so many knots already, it might be too much "clutter" for such a small space. Out kitchen is not really that big - it just feels like it because of the open ceiling and the sun room with the windows makes it feel huge. @herbflavor - Thanks for the input on the flooring - I'm to the tile store this weekend to look at tiles like the ones mentioned above. @OneRidgeOff - Holy smokes!! I love your granite and backsplash. My partner also loves blues like that. He is going to flip when he sees your kitchen pictures. I'm so excited to pick our granite. :) @SJ McCarthy - you are 100% correct that we are going to struggle until we update the windows. the rest of the house was updated since building, but they did not update the sunroom, probably because of the cost. Those windows are HUGE. @Filipe Agostinho - I see what you are saying about contract - I'm going to focus on making sure there is contrast between the floors/backsplash/countertop and cabinets. This is a huge help. Ok, so to recap - definitely going to focus on greige floors, and will look at quartersawn oak, since it will match the trim in the rest of the house, and modern shaped cabinets will still update it, without having to update the rest of the house. You all are awesome. Thank you so much. :)
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Ilene Perl
11 years ago
What a beautiful new kitchen!! Am sure you're mom will enjoy it.
Kay515
11 years ago
What subway tile did you use? I love that its so glossy! Great countertop, too.
Linda
11 years ago
That is beautiful! How very generous of you -- I'll bet your mom is thrilled!!! Everything is so light and bright and fresh, and with that touch of bling!
Holly- Kay
11 years ago
Wow! A very gorgeous kitchen. I bet as much as your mom loves her new kitchen, the joy that her wonderful children love her so much gives her even more joy! You are indeed a special person, and obviously she is a special mom!
buildinva
11 years ago
That is gorgeous!!! What a beautiful kitchen and amazing gift. Your mother is blessed!
doraville
11 years ago
Great job! She has to be on cloud nine. I love the counters and all that white.
rkb21
11 years ago
Wow! Beautiful transformation. Love the light, airy feeling throughout the kitchen.
mama goose_gw zn6OH
11 years ago
Lovely kitchen--how wonderful for your mom!
carybk
11 years ago
It's beautiful. You've done such a great thing for your mom. I love that she picked out the chandelier after having had a long time with the "before" feel!
heidihausfrau
11 years ago
Wow! What a nice gift for your mom! Just in time for Mother's Day. She must be beyond thrilled. It is lovely.
americanexpress
Original Author
11 years ago
Wow thanks everyone, so glad to have GW approval from all you kitchen experts.

Kay515, those are simply Lowe's 3x6 subway tiles. We weren't sure if it would work at first, but glad we kept it simple in the end.

This post was edited by americanexpress on Wed, May 1, 13 at 0:55
azmom
11 years ago
I am sending this link to my daughter now!!!! ;-)

The kitchen is fresh, bright, soothing, and gorgeous, what a beautiful job! What a great gift to your mom.

The chandelier surely is a darling!
Gooster
11 years ago
Congratulations to a wonderful daughter. What a lovely gift for your mom. Love the chandelier!
americanexpress
Original Author
11 years ago
BTW we are boys in our 20's and 30's for those that keep referring to us as daughters. Boys can do GW too :)
azmom
11 years ago
You boys are very thoughtful and wonderful.

I did not assume the gift is from daughter(s), since our coworker and his brother just gave their parents a new bathroom.
smiling
11 years ago
What fabulous sons you are! That also says something wonderful about your mother, and I am touched and delighted for all of you with this remarkable kitchen transformation. You did a great job! Congratualtions to all three of you.
sis2two
11 years ago
Your mother is blessed to have such caring sons and the kitchen looks fantastic!
michoumonster
11 years ago
great job! what a nice early mother's day gift! your mom must be thrilled!
ppbenn
11 years ago
Great job guys! By the way I have a 23 y/o daughter - I wouldn't mind one of you for a SIL ;)

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