This is totally normal. I've had a small freak out at each stage of our project. When you visualize the finished product in your head, the small stages don't seem right on their own. Just wait to judge until it all comes together. You'll see... By the way, the "too blue" walls are an easy swap and can probably solve the "too white" problem too if it is really still a problem in a few weeks. We were all behind you on the prep sink decision- you'll be thankful, don't worry (and DH will be too!)

I'm mid-remodel too, and freaking out. Not about colour choices and such... though I will admit I'm tired of making decisions. I'm freaking out because I feel stalled. The cabinets have been ordered, I have everything picked out. I'm just waiting and waiting. My DH is going to do a lot this weekend, he says, but I feel like he's waiting for the cabinets to arrive, too (which won't be for a month!). Meanwhile we have a list (yes a list I printed and put on the wall) of things that could be done before the cabinets get here. And I find myself tapping my fingers trying not to freak out.

ok well that felt like a good vent. newbieremodeler, you are not alone.

I'm getting near the end of my remodel (only 5 intense weeks of construction after months of planning) and this second guessing has been my experience as well. Every time some big item is added, I find it different than my expectations and I question whether I goofed.

First the cabinets were too creamy, then the brown island was too much contrast, the pendants were too large and too much metal, the backsplash was too dark, and on and on.

What I've come to accept is that I need to live with it a bit. So far each issue has faded into the background as the next new thing comes in. I've decided to take that as an indication that newness is the real issue.

It's difficult to make the vision in our heads exactly match the reality, especially when all we have is the unfinished reality to compare to the finished vision.

yes - totally normal!!! It is the newness and the fact that it looks different from what you had before. Live with the newness for a few weeks before passing judgement (easier typed than done!!!) I learned this the hard way when my tile floors were laid and the variation was much greater than I expected. I made them drill out and re-lay a bunch of tiles, only to realize a few weeks later that now, I love the floor, and have no idea why I was freaking out in the first place. Don't worry - your reactions are totally normal!

Beth

Well...I'm freaking out and I haven't even gotten to finalizing a blueprint and deciding on a cabinet company yet... does that make you feel better?

I wish I could blame it on newness, though perhaps on second thought I'm having some of that, also. The backsplash window is in. And while it is great, it is activating a whole lot of second-guessing. (see thread re: same)

Thanks for your post, it's so timely for me! And reassuring, in a sad kind of way. lol

Your choices sound great and I think posting mid-project pictures will help a ton. Can't wait to see them!

I'm going through the same thing....waiting and waiting as The Hubs works at what seems like a snails pace. And the cabs should be in w/i in weeks. Yikes!!!

But my daughter (love her to death) put it all in perspective for me. One night while on the phone with her I was complaining and she blurts out...Oh Mom, cry me a river!!!!! You're getting a WHOLE new kitchen!!!!

Still I wait..........but quietly now.

brianadarnell- I think you hit the nail on the head. I know the walls can be repainted easily enough, I was just hoping to get this project done and not have to change a thing. It is not that I hate the wall color, I am just not sure I am loving it. Another thing is that I have thought of this kitchen for 3 years so it is weird seeing it come together. Also I have never spent this much money before-- I mean except for the purchase of the home-- so that is scary too!

Oh gawd, the money! Yep, totally relate.

But it is very reassuring that the rest of you feel the same way. :)

I am remembering a line from Animal House where Blutto puts his arm around Flounder while viewing Flounder's nearly totalled Chrysler, "I advise you to start drinking heavily."

Weedmeister, awesome quote! I think I'll be keeping that in mind when we start demo in a few weeks... Maybe we need a thread on Medicine of Choice for Remodels?

Well, that is always good advice. Regardless of the situation.

I pointed this out before--this is standard operating procedure for to-the-trade goods: If you ever buy a pricey trendy thing from an interior designer, he or she will show up at the house for the delivery. As soon as it is unveiled, you will hear bubbly exclamations about how fabulous it is, how perfectly it works in the room, how lovely the fabric looks, how the color is so perfect you might just lose it and pee right there on the floor.

Why do they take this time out of their day to do this?

Because experience has shown that their clients usually hate everything when it finally arrives. Later, they get used to it. But the almost universal first reaction is to barf.

totally relate -have had several mini-meltdowns and current worry will sound familiar: "are my cabs too white???"

:)

I know this will happen to me. I've already started second guessing my choices, and no work has even started yet. I think your kitchen sounds beautiful, and you will love your prep sink. I wish I had room for a prep sink.

Normal? Expected and met with empathy!

I've yet to pass a single milestone without my husband or I leaning our heads to one side and letting something between a "meh, I'll get used to it," or a "I hate it I hate it I hate it and I'm going to cry day and night until we do something about it."

At each step, take a deep breath. I found the paint color I had them mute 3 times mellowed over a few weeks. And the paint finish my husband HATED in the playroom has since grown on him. Who knows, maybe my walls are just coated in dust :)

So much energy, time, emotion and money goes into every detail! I honestly think this board should be named the kitchen pilgrim's support group.

Weedmeister, great quote! I read it aloud to my husband and we had a laugh.

I am remembering a line from Animal House where Blutto puts his arm around Flounder while viewing Flounder's nearly totalled Chrysler, "I advise you to start drinking heavily."

"You'd better listen to him, he's pre-med." (one of the best movies of all time...) :)

It is totally the newness of it...I have felt like that about many home things before.

Good one, Weedmeister :)

Just thank your lucky stars that you are having doubts and not disasters and problems! Not one single stage has gone through smoothly or without some added dilemma or surprise expense for our project. We have a mile long to do list and our gc has dumped us months after it should have all been completed. Not being sure about choices would be a luxury... I think we skipped the doubting part which makes it hard for me to relate, lol. I did panic a little after ordering each material because I'd sweat each detail no end. Once we got to installing, I was just so ready to be done.

Just keep the faith and it will come together. It sounds lovely ;)

OMG - I'm sooo glad I'm not the only one - your post was super timely for me too. Foreman had never installed a farm sink before, templater guys left cuz it wasn't ready, that delays counters a 10 days or so. I tell the GC about foreman's goof and bad communication style, then feel bad and give poor guy a hug and thank him for all his hard work. The kitchen is coming along beautifully, cabinets and blue stained island and floor look great and another 2 weeks or so and I have my dream kitchen. DH and I off to do some of that aforementioned drinking tonight!

Just have to say thank you to Marcolo for posting that -- it is so true -- nothing seems right at first. Marcolo you have saved me so much angst -- now I know to just turn of the lights and leave the scene for a little while and then come back and look again.

It's also true that there are so many good choices that no matter what you select, you are always going to be wondering whether you picked the "best" one.

I freaked out too, FWIW, several times along the way. Sometimes for cause, sometimes not. It all eventually ends.

newbieremodeler,
Oh boy, can I relate to what you're going through. My demo date was May 9 and my kitchen is at about the same place as yours. Doesn't each significant milestone (floors done, cabs in, etc) seem so anti-climatic? I'm trying to keep my eye on the prize. And even though the 'reveal' won't be as exciting as one of TV, I'm trying to stay positive...but it's tough. Hang in there. You're not alone!

I came here fairly late in the game, so haven't heard your prep sink story, but I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your dream in a few short weeks!

We gutted the dark, cramped galley kitchen, knocked out the wall between DR and kitchen, had new windows installed and then sheetrocked and painted. We reveled in the light,open space (7'x19'). Then the cabinet maker brought in the island and I cried. I asked how much it would cost to rebuild the island and cried some more. My lovely light-filled space is slowly returning to a galley kitchen. It's not quite as cramped, the layout has improved considerably. I'm getting used to the space being filled with cabinets again and now am REALLY looking forward to the first meal that gets cooked there. Don't know when it will happen, but we're going to have a really nice, functional space. The cabinetmaker is working this weekend to get cabinets installed. I know I hurt his feelings when I sobbed over the island, so I baked him some cookies as a peace offering.
Glad to know I'm not alone -- thanks for sharing!

Yep it seems pretty normal to me...I'm pretty much in a constant state of freakout! This sounds weird, but it is so nice to hear that there are others out there that are experiencing some of the same doubts, feelings and problems. We spent months planning and researching our kitchen remodel...ended up going in a different direction than I would have thought and was so excited. We could not do a significant change in floor plan, but we made some great adds and things looked great on paper. The kitchen was taken out in May, and thats when the wheels fell off. Cabinet color issues, floor issues, some strange design choices made by my KD that quite honestly I didn't get until just before install, lighting problems, cracked sink (2)...I sometimes think the stars were just not quite aligned. But we too are seemingly in the home stretch...waiting for a few doors, sink and granite, and I am hoping that the finished product will be worth all the sleepless nights and stress. I try to remember that it is only a kitchen...right?!?

Newbieremodeler, is it too early to ask how you like your layout with the prep sink by the range? (Or cooktop? I can't remember which you have.) The more I think about how much I am willing to spend on my kitchen, the lighter the touch I want/need to use... and my current layout is very similar to yours minus the prep sink and peninsula. Do you have enough prep space around the sink? Is it too far to conveniently carry veggies from the fridge? (How far is it, in your room?) I am a little spoiled by having my fridge very close to my main sink, so I can essentially pivot in place to grab, wash, and cut. Very nice if I'm just doing salads or fruits, the no-cook stuff. The trouble is the range across the room with a traffic path in between. And the fact that that sink-range corner is the only convenient prep space, so we get a bottleneck.

Wow! Glad to know I am not alone. I have had delays but no disasters and for that I am grateful. The kitchen is looking wonderful! The addition of the appliances really changed everything and then last Friday, they installed the soapstone and now it is really beginning to look like how I imagined. I would take photos but the guys had to cover the stone so as not to scratch it and I was not able to take any photos prior to that. I am hoping that the kitchen is done in the next 10 days.

Popmom2- Yes, it is only a kitchen-- but it is also my baby. I have never spent this much time or money planning anything (I mean next in line was my wedding!).

Northcarolina- Still too early-- since my kitchen is not yet up and running. The fridge is super close to my prep sink and close my main sink so that is not the problem. I did not have much prep space before-- so I am not sure if the new set up will be too tight. I like to prep near the sink and a U-shape kitchen was not possible--so my layout was the next best thing. I am looking forward to being out of the way of the main sink/dw when I am prepping/cooking. I will post more once I am able to try out the space.

Swimmmer- At least you knew what you wanted. I would probably have stuck it out until it was too late too change it.

Luv2laf- I hear ya! Everyone has been telling me to take progress photos and I kept thinking-- photos of what?! Walls? Floors? New copper pipes? I mean all are very nice and much needed but do not exactly make for the most exciting of photos.