3 Years Later... Pic Heavy!

14 years ago

Hey all,

My kitchen is 90% finished, but I can't wait for the last 10% - I'm posting photos now! We started demo 3 years ago, ran into some financial difficulties, and were unable to finish until now. I lived with plywood floors, no sheetrock on the walls - just studs & insulation, wires and light bulbs hanging down, no sink except for the utility sink in the laundry room, all contents of my former kitchen cabinets spread out in the dining room, and I became an expert in cooking with a grill, microwave, toaster oven, and electric skillet. Finally, after far toooooooo long, I have a BEAUTIFUL kitchen that I absolutely LOVE. There is only one thing I wish were different - I wish we'd had room for a double oven. Maybe in my next life...

I tried to resize all of the photos, but for some reason, photobucket would not allow me to shrink a couple. Sorry!

Some of the pictures show the cabinets too yellow, and some too white. They're actually in between.

The hole in the brick chimney is for a woodstove, soon to be installed.

Trusses were built and installed by my husband - his company builds timber frame barns.

There will be a table in front of the banquette seating - hopefully sooner than later.

BANQUETTE

TRUSS

SITTING AREA

PANTRY

COOKTOP & SINK

SINK

MICROWAVE

ENTRY

Cabinets: Plato in Sunlight

Counter & sink: Soapstone from Green Mountain

Floors: variable width Quarter Sawn Oak with a 50/50 mix of Minwax English Chestnut & Red Mahogany stain

Faucet: Rohl

Hardware: ORB - cheap from HD

Walls: Morrel from BM

Trim & woodwork: BM colormatched to cabinets

Backsplash: to be determined

Ceiling in sitting area: tin in a copper finish

Hope you enjoy...

Bebe

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Comments (34)

rhome410
14 years ago
You have a gorgeous space! The very first photo took my breath away-- The chimney next to the banquette with the soapstone, wonderful wall color, and amazing trusses....A fantastic combo. And you have a "chef's cockpit/command center" the way everything is arranged. Looks great!

I wish you could reload the photos and leave them larger-- I want to crawl into them to see everything! Really, could you possibly do that and size them to 'large?' Then a link to the album would be great, so you don't have to repost them all here. :-)
remodelfla
14 years ago
I love how rhome said "command center"... what an awesome use of space. I'm totally enamored with the truss... GORGEOUS. Congratulations on your long awaited well deserved end result. It's fabulous.
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That is one amazing DIY. You guys are so clever and creative! That soapstone is killing me -- I'm trying to touch that incredible vein through my monitor. Now I have to ask -- what is on the other side of the kitchen, beyond your angled wall and little table-n-chairs set? It looks like more chairs. What's that room, if I may ask? I love your trash can in your island. I love all of the clever ways you added space...the soap pullout, the angled tray cabinet, etc. Brilliant! Congrats -- enjoy it!
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cat_mom
14 years ago
Great job! Ditto on the truss; it looks great in and of itself, and really accessorizes the space as well!

PS love the model in your pics!
marthavila
14 years ago
You're kidding. You hope we'll enjoy? Gimme me a break! I'm not enjoying this at all! In fact, I'm here, drooling and seething in a pool of green envy! Oh, what I would give to have a kitchen like that!

Seriously though, Bebe, that is one fantastic kitchen you have there! From the opening words of your post, in which you describe the long road to 90% completion, I was imagining the journey and how tough it must have been. (I've been on and off for 3 years too. But, not ever "off" when down to the studs, wires hanging, etc. Wow.) I was also hoping that, after all that, when I when I saw your photos I would be impressed. Well, m'dear, you got it! I'm thoroughly impressed.

Indeed, your kitchen is simply stunning. From the banquette area and truss to the copper ceiling, brickwork and abundance of light on your walls and as skylights, everything is eye-popping. I'm also loving the way you used color! All in all, a very nice job for which you deserve to be proud. Only thing I would add at this point is to ditto Rhome's request for more and bigger photos. Congratuations!
lascatx
14 years ago
Charming and well worth the wait and getting it all done right. You have one lovely and very proud lab. ;-)
pattyk_64
14 years ago
I'll add my request for bigger photos. What an amazing gorgeous space and I'm sure well worth the wait. I would happily move into that kitchen myself!
wisrose
14 years ago
Exceptionally lovely....however I must agree the pictures are a little to small for us to really enjoy what you have accomplished.
pluckymama
14 years ago
Three years is a long time for you to have had to live like that, but you have outdid yourself! An absolutely gorgeous and remarkable kitchen! Please try to enlarge the pics.
elizpiz
14 years ago
Bebe, what a simply stunning kitchen! I love everything about it. It has so much personality and charm. Those trusses, the windows, the brickwork - not to mention your beautiful furry friend - WOW.

You must be thrilled to be at the end of this project. Enjoy cooking in your new space.

Eliz

PS. Ditto on the pix - make 'em big!
mythreesonsnc
14 years ago
WOW! It is spectacular! I love all of your choices, a favorite has to be the trusses. I have been thinking about posting for a little while to ask some questions about how they would look in a kitchen --- now I know and I love it! We are planning a similar look, so I do have one question if you have a chance....One of my trusses will be over a large island. I love the smokebell pendant lanterns (like Redroze has and several others), and would love to incorporate them into my kitchen. I am having trouble visualizing any hanging lights with the trusses --- do you think they are mutually exclusive?

Congrats on such an awesome space --- talk about some WOW factors!

Here is a link that might be useful: Redroze kitchen
Gena Hooper
14 years ago
Oh, how absolutely gorgeous! The materials and space...So airy and yet cozy and inviting at the same time. And I'm seriously envious of your trusses. Do you mind sharing how you made your banquette? The look is exactly what I'd envisioned.
erikanh
14 years ago
Oh my how lovely!! I love your banquette, beams and that yummy wall color ... and everything else! I too would really like to see larger photos and more of them! After such a long wait and inconvenience you must feel like you're in heaven!
atlbeardie
14 years ago
Fantastic! LOVE it - congratulations!
remodelqueen
14 years ago
Your kitchen is BEAUTIFUL! Your dog is cracking me up!!! DH says when our kitchen is finished, the dog is not allowed in there...... like *that's* gonna happen!! LOL
Maria410
14 years ago
What a beautiful space! I love you cooking area -- looks like it will be an easy place to work in. The trusses are incredible -- I want them now, LOL!! The sitting area looks so inviting. Oh and the puppy ...
alice462
14 years ago
WOW - this was well worth the wait! The banquette, the trusses, the miles of counter space, the sink, the wainscoting and cabinets, the colors and most especially your adorable dog! It just looks so "livable"......hope you are enjoying it!
scootermom
14 years ago
I love all your counterspace (sigh, I want!) and your banquette. Are you planning to add a table and chairs there? Do the benches open up for storage? They are so pretty! Congrats on finishing things up, it's wonderful!
kitchenkelly
14 years ago
That is one gorgeous kithchen. Well worth the wait!
sweetpea87
14 years ago
I love your kitchen! It's so warm and inviting. You really must be enjoying your new space after all this time.

My parents were always doing things to our house as we grew up, so I can understand some of what you lived through. Congratulations....it's really beautiful.
morton5
14 years ago
Your kitchen is stunning. I love the truss, the sink, the brick, and the skylights. Even with all that natural light, you paid a lot of attention to your lighting scheme, and it looks very great. I am so glad you were able to realize the kitchen of your dreams.
krissd
14 years ago
The brick and banquette and truss make it all so cozy. (In addition to everything else...) Gorgeous!
timber.j
14 years ago
The whole space looks beautiful! The truss is the crowning touch! If we ever finish this house and need a new project, we will build the timber frame home we have been dreaming about for years. Your kitchen could go right into our "Inspiration" files!
busybme
14 years ago
Oh, bebe, that is one gorgeous space! Congratulations! After your long road it must feel good to be able to call it done (or at least 90% done).
desertsteph
14 years ago
beautiful kitchen - I'm for bigger pics also... my eyes aren't that good anymore...

love your 'Vanna' doggie! It IS a real dog, right? lol!
susanlynn2012
14 years ago
I love everything about your kitchen especially your gorgeous floors! Please post the pictures bigger. You did an amazing job well worth the three year wait. I also like how your microwave is low and not high up since I am very petite and can't reach the insides of microwaves above stoves.

Just perfect so far. I can't wait to see what backsplash you choose. Please post the pics bigger. :)
lyno
14 years ago
I, too, hope for larger pictures to make the viewing even better! You kitchen is beautiful!
tigger
14 years ago
Gorgeous kitchen!!!! You must be so thrilled to be finished after 3 long years. Honestly, I think you must be a saint to have made it that long :) We're going into month 8 of an addition that includes a new kitchen and I'm about at the end of my rope - any advice for not snapping and killing the contractors?? :)

But really, I don't see a thing that you could possibly want to change! And of course, every "finished" photo makes me rethink all my decisions - too late now! Love how your doggie inserts himself (or herself) into all the photos also - so cute! Congrats and enjoy your kitchen!
debsan
14 years ago
It may have taken three years, but girl did you/they get it right! Beautiful welcoming space with a uniqueness about it. It's a white kitchen, but it doesn't look like "just another white kitchen". I love how your take on the white kitchen is a fresh take--and it has a contemporary feel without losing the comfortable hominess of a traditional kitchen.
donka
14 years ago
WOW! You must be a very patient person to have lasted all 3 years. Kudos to you! That is one gorgeous payoff you've got there. I love everything about it! Fantastic job...your whole space is so beautiful. Count me in the 'jealous' group :)
julienpete
14 years ago
I love how your doggie is all the pics. My dog is the same way - it's like "if you are taking a picture, I'd better be in it!" I LOVE the black farmhouse sink, that is so unique and if I had seen it before I would have considered it. Very pretty - everything!! Well done!
lisa_a
14 years ago
Stunning! You are one patient person but oh, it was worth the wait. Like others, I love the trusses, the brick, the flow - oh, heck, I love it all (and cutie-pie puppy, too).

Do you like having your oven installed below the counter? Why did you do this instead of a range?
amck2
14 years ago
Since my own kitchen was done over a year ago I don't check in here as regularly as I did throughout the process. I'm glad I popped in today and got to view your beautiful kitchen.

I echo everything said above. It's a beautiful, welcoming space that you will enjoy for years to come. Worth the wait!
plllog
14 years ago
How lovely! Patience has tangible rewards, too!
scrappy25
14 years ago
Wonderful! Can you post or send me your layout? I really like your unusual peninsula and the banquette. What size is your kitchen?
Nancy

3 Years Later... Pic Heavy!

Comments (34)

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