Beginning Major Kitchen remodel

15 years ago

We have a 1905 home that I absolutely love. The kitchen was a good size but had a terrible layout. With our three young boys (6, 4.5, and 1), we knew we would have to make the space more functional. We have decided to knock down the wall between our kitchen and dining room, put in an island, and also build a small powder room on the main floor. We will lose some space with the powder room but gain some with the wall gone and the rearrangement.

The back wall of our dining room is a medium reddish-brown built-in buffet, so I knew I wanted to incorporate a similar look to our kitchen cabinets, giving a classic overall feel. I have ordered inset cabinets (also medium reddish brown stain) from Great Northern Cabinetry; they will arrive mid-July. We have ripped up the tile floor, under which lay linoleum, under which is wood floors. We are in the process of scraping as much adhesive as possible from the wood (a hair really helps soften the gunk!). My husband also has removed the plaster from the wall, and that will come down and a beam inserted to carry the load of the second floor.

I will most likely have schoolhouse-style fixtures--I know a number of companies carry them; have any of you seen a difference as far as quality goes?

I love the look of soapstone but with three boys am wary of it holding up. I am absolutely in LOVE with the ocean green honed granite that I have seen on other postings, but I have no idea if it will be difficult to find in Denver. Any thoughts/contacts?

What I don't know is how to choose the finish of the lighting/faucet/cabinet pulls. Are there any rules to this, or do I just go with what I like? I'm not particularly drawn to one over another, but I will have stainless steel appliances and I don't know if that is a factor.

I am not sure how to attach pictures, but if you would like to see where we're at so far, you can check out my blog at www.tunheimfamily.blogspot.com. I would welcome any thoughts as I move along. Thanks for reading!

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Comments (6)

palimpsest
15 years ago
There are several schools of thought as far as knobs and pulls and lighting and such all matching. Try searching matching finishes and see if you can pull some of them up.
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sfcitydweller
15 years ago
Check out the link below for SchoolHouse Electric Company. They make amazing fixtures, from the original 1900s cast iron molds. Super cool company history!

Here is a link that might be useful: SchoolHouse Electric
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Thank you ladies!!! Yes, williamsem, I am going check out appliances forum, good suggest. Bahacca, I will gut the existing kitchen and move some appliances, all appliances will be new. Probably leave sink and dishwasher in same place. I really should take a picture of existing kitchen and figure out how to get it on here so you beautiful people can continue giving me great advice. Island will be situated so that there is flow room for new configuration. Catlover5, I hate bending over too, and I'm short! I can do it but that's part of why I liked the double slide in, that small stove on top!!! And the fact (rocketmom) that it's small (energy saving.) Christie327, if you loved yours so much, can you tell me specifically why you're changing to wall ovens? I'd like to have a small wall oven over a larger one. Do people do that? I really think I wouldn't mind the larger one being lower, as I hardly ever use it! That'd be more $$$ too. Ahhh! I'd like to put the cooktop (if that's the route I go) in the island but then I'd need a vent hood installed (I've been told the downdrafts don't really work) and I don't think I want a hood hanging down in the middle of my not very big kitchen. Thanks for hearing me vent about a vent!!!
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TB, it happens that my kitchen layout appears to be very similar to yours. I'm wondering if you've posted any other photos. From the vantage of the one in this post, it is set up like my kitchen viewed from the opening of our dining room. Presently, we have a set of cabinets to the left of our range, and attached to that, a matching pantry piece. For all the kitchen real estate it consumes I find that big pantry is not the most efficient use of space. The top shelves are hard to get to and the lower shelves are so deep everything in the back gets lost. Your plan seems so well thought out and I am curious to know what type of cabinetry/storage you used to the left of your range. Thanks -
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I thought I'd give you an update on the remodel. It took longer and created a lot more dust than I ever imagined, but here's the result. I'm very happy with the way it looks and functions. In the second picture you can see part of a wall on the left (behind the fake orchid) and on the right (beside the refrigerator). These walls formerly extended in straight lines until they met in the foreground. That was the enclosed kitchen. The entrances to the kitchen were where the microwave is now and where the double ovens are now. The kitchen had no windows or other sources of natural light. It was a small, dark room. Now it is completely opened up into the living room. This is a 1600 sq ft condo, so it's not very big to start with. The countertops are leathered finish granite which doesn't reflect the undercabinet lighting like polished granite. I love it. Refrigerator and ovens are The Signature Kitchen by LG. Induction cooktop and dishwasher are KitchenAid. Backguard with two warming racks is DCS. Hood with warming lights and inline blower is from Proline. This is a Before picture. The kitchen is behind that bookcase. They managed to detach the bookcase from the wall and move it into the dining room seen through the doorway on the left. That's not the wall you see through the bookcase. That's the back of the bookcase painted the same color as the wall. This is After. That's a Delta faucet and Nantucket zero radius sink with rack. The drain is on the right in this picture but on the left when you're working in the kitchen. I love it. And a shot from the opposite direction
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Buehl
15 years ago
Welcome DenverSquare! You've joined a very active group of people who love kitchens!

Soapstone: Yes, it will get a patina of dings & scratches...but...that's part of the "charm" of it. The patina gives it a well-used (& well-loved) look. However, if you're the type that likes a clean house all the time, likes to have everything in it's place, will be worried about your children "damaging" the counter, or prefer a more formal look, then soapstone probably isn't for you. If, OTOH, you like a more informal or rustic look, don't mind the look of aged/well-used, and won't worry over some dings or scratches, then soapstone may very well work for you.

Here are a couple of sites that talk about or sell soapstone. M Tex, in particular, ships slabs to anywhere in the country.

M Teixeira Soapstone: http://www.soapstones.com/
Creative Soapstone: http://www.creativesoapstone.com/
.....(contact: joshua at CreativeSoapstone dot com)

++++++++++++

Hardware/Plumbing Fixture/Lighting Finishes: There are no hard & fast rules...personally, I think they should stay in the same color family (like silver or gold) but there's nothing that I know of that says you have to. I, for instance, have brushed nickel faucets, soap dispensers, and air switch; SS sinks; pewter pendants; and antique iron cabinet hardware. None are exact matches, but they all "go together"...at least I think so! Black would probably look best w/the "silver" colors, ORB may be able to go with either, brass would be in the "gold" family. Copper...hmmmm...don't know off hand where that would fit! I would probably lean toward "silver" or black w/SS appliances, but I don't think the appliance colors are as important in the "matching" arena as the other, smaller elements.

I checked out your blog...any layout? We're always curious about layouts! However, if you don't want any unsolicited advice, it might be better not to post it...we have a reputation for speaking up regardless of your preference. It's not that we're contrary or trying to cause problems, it's just that if we see a way to make it better we have a hard time keeping it to ourselves! Since you've already ordered your cabinets it's probably too late to make any significant changes...but maybe minor ones... It's up to you.

Again, welcome and I hope the above helped!

Here is a link that might be useful: Read Me If You're New To GW Kitchens!
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Buehl
15 years ago
I think I should have phrased it a little differently....
..if you're the type that likes a spotlessly clean house all the time...

...and no, this is not meant as a criticism of anyone, it's meant to help someone (in this case, DenverSquare) determine if soapstone is right for her/him.
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denversquare
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks so much for the welcome; I happened upon this site and it has been invaluable to read other's posts! The only layout I have digitally is front facing pictures of cabinets; no bird's eye view. I think I've got a bird's eye view at home, and then I can scan it soon. We didn't have a ton of layout options because of existing doors/windows/dining room buffet, etc., but this new layout will be a HUGE improvement.
The wall is coming down and beam installed today--I'm excited!
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Buehl
15 years ago
Scan it or take a pic with a digital camera...either one will work.

Enjoy the progress...and when you hit a snag, don't get too disheartened, all projects hit snags here & there. Post here if you need help finding solutions, need help handling contractors/subcontractors, or just need to vent/rant (better venting/ranting your frustration with us than DH!). We're here to help!
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Beginning Major Kitchen remodel

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palimpsest

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Beginning Major Kitchen remodel

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