Crabcakes: Looks like a lot of work and that you're doing a great job. Congrats!

As for a beach theme without doing all white...don't see why not. Of course, I guess it depends on what you think a beach theme kitchen looks like. To me, it's actually not an all-white kitchen, but the kind of place that looks comfortable and easy and fun. Maybe a bit "back-in-time". How about white walls with big spots of color...a red refrigerator or blue counters or the like? I know you'll get lots of great ideas here.

Final note...how times have changed. You say because you're a "single dude" your budget is tight. When you're house was originally built...a single dude would have rolling in money, while the one with a family would be stretched. Now, I guess we all need a second income.

First, congratulations on buying your first home and taking on this remodel by youself. You've made great progress and are well on your to having a beautiful kitchen and living area.
White cabs can be given a "beach" feel by using a beautiful blue, aqua, green, or turquoise backsplash with a few matching/complimentary accessories to carry the beach feel. I've seen several examples of this. Give me a little while and I'll try to post examples for you.
I'm sure there are many others here who can give you lots of great advice. I'm rather new so my advice is somewhat limited.

If you don't need a lot of cabinets how about St Charles powder-coated metal cabinets? Totally MCM appropriate, come in some blues and other nice colors and since they're powder coated should be durable for a beach house. ( I would verify this. ) They are custom so they are probably pricey but maybe you could do a fairly minimal look with a separate built in pantry.

I like that travertine. And no a beach theme doesn't mean all white. A dark chocolate color cabinets with light coutertops, sky blue or ocean blue walls. Accessorizing will be your big step towards the beach theme. Then you can change those if you ever get tired of it. But who gets tired of the beach ?
Good Luck!

You should check out Travertine Mart website. I'm thinking of doing a very similar floor and I found them to have the best pricing around.

Also forgot to mention these are the doors I am getting for the entire interior..
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Masonite Saddlebrook Plank doors

You should check out Travertine Mart website. I'm thinking of doing a very similar floor and I found them to have the best pricing around.

You are doing a great job! Congrats on your home.

When I think of beach, I do not think of all white kitchens. I think you should think about sea glass colors, perhaps for your backsplash. I also think about gray wicker. Not sure how that would work, or where you could work that in, but maybe some stools at the counter in gray wicker? Or gray wicker chairs at a table?

Also, that counter that goes through the window...I think it is very important to try and keep that idea. I love the window that opens up wide and has the same counter inside as well as outside--it just gives the feeling of more living space and a great outdoor lifestyle (which goes with beach life).

I would avoid all of the typical beach things...shells, starfish, sailboats, etc....it just seems like when one does that it's because you couldn't get the beach idea from your style so you need to put up a billboard advertising "This is a Beach Theme".

Think about the movie Something's Gotta Give--beach house, white cabinets soapstone counters, warm tones. Lots of windows.

Best of luck to you, don't be a stranger, we love to see progress pictures.

Congrats on your first house! And double congrats on scoring one that's two blocks from the beach!
Great floor choice! I'll keep my eyes open for any pictures with similar floors and not-white cabinets. In the mean time, have you considered going without or with only a few upper cabs and doing open shelving instead?
That would save loads of money on cabinetry and it could lend to an open, casual, beachy feel at the same time. Also, you could always add uppers later. I'll post some inspiration pics if I find them!

I would get something easier to clean and that didn't react to acids. There are any number of good travertine fakes that are actually ceramic. There are very many manys of more interesting and relaxed floors for a mcm house including stained concrete, large format tile, cork, vinyl and linoleum.

Look around at bleached woods, woods that are naturally light and at cabinets stained with aniline dyes or lacquered in any color.

When I think beach - i think green-blues, foamy white, sand and wicker. But then I also think of bright colors - like surfboards, beach umbrellas etc.. I think your floor color is fantastic. There is some very nice patio furniture out there that could be very cool in your kitchen! And maybe some of the Ikea cabinets would be great - they have some really fun colors! Fantastic quality at an amazing price point and they would go great with your doors!

I know you didn't ask this, but I am wondering about the window over the sink. It reminds me a lot of my old kitchen. We opted for a three-panel slider that stacked in either direction. What you have ordered is basically going to stack right in front of your face while you're doing dishes. I loved having nothing but air in my face at the sink. If it's not too late...

I echo the others who said that you are doing a great job so far! You are taking lemons and making a wonderful lemonade!
Depending on where the beach is, (I live in the Northeast) you can reference rocks and driftwood. They aren't white. You can do your cabinets in the grey mentioned by a previous poster. I love your door style and you could do the cabs in a similar style. I see the cabs and doors pickled in a driftwood grey, with beach glass colors on the backsplash and accessories.
You've gotten the bones of your remodel done beautifully. Good luck on the next steps!

Keep on truckin'. You've done a great job so far. The doors you've chosen seem a bit country so maybe your kitchen needs to be a bit country. However, a more modern look in kitchen would look great.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1920414}}

Hi Crabcakes,

I think you can do a wonderful beach style kitchen
without having to resort to White. Have you ever visited
Coastal living magazine or website? There are some
neat ideas that might inspire you. The images all have
tile floor and maybe a bit of white but not all white.
Maybe they can help you with ideas on your space.

These images are in no way trying to scare you. Remember
each one of these spaces had to start some place and you
are on the right track. No worries. Just keep at it.

~boxer

Coastal Living Magazine

Beach Style kitchens google

Mikkelson

Mara Serena

I like this one: https://www.houzz.com/photos/cabinet-tile-window-detail-transitional-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~53414

If you haven't seen the site I linked below take a look for inspiration -alot of great mcm homes.

Here is a link that might be useful: [Modern Kitchens[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105)

I love the idea of a blue gray....
I found one and I think it would look great with the floors you have picked out.
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Think young, fresh, hip...blacks and browns of tortoise shell, clam shell grey, faded crab legs, seaweed and, yes, driftwood.
Flooring choice is great, I also think any natural stone would work. Wood or concrete countertops. I also think the white cabinets are safe, but not in a bad way.
I adore that chrystal chandelier I saw in one of your pics, too.
A few houses ago, my husband and I added a shower to a 1/2 bath. On one of our trips up the coast of NE, we collected a box of rocks. Each one was more beautiful than the last (seriously). We collected them to use on the shower floor, instead of tile. It was awesome. A spa-like experience. We even placed shiny pennies in the morter (they had significant years on them). That just popped into my head thinking about your beach house. Embrace your surroundings!
Keep up the good work and post pics as you progress!

Wow thanks for the replies! You all have given me a lot to think about :)

@amyrsq: Thanks for the advice, I actually haven't ordered the window so I am going to try and call the manufacturer tomorrow to see if I can do that. I was told previously I couldn't (wasn't to code) but I'm not pulling a permit anymore ;)

@paintergirl94: Send me your address and the chandelier is yours

@ rookie2010: I actually only have room for 2 x 21" upper cabinets above one section of counter and then 2 x 9" uppers above the range. The only problem is that I need the uppers above the fridge to accommodate the fridge board and to frame the stainless hood I picked up. You do have me thinking though :)

Also @boxerpups: Interesting you mention that since I've already been looking at a Coastal Living Total Beach House and there is looooots of white in here. Although I am starting to notice more of the natural wood style themes which would work nicely.

Holy cow...I got tired just looking at your pictures...you have sure done a lot of work. Congratulations on your first home...it sounds like you have some definite plans and visions. If your home is mid-century modern, there are tons of resources available to help guide you. One of the best books is Atomic Ranch. Depending on where you live, some cities sponsor MCM home tours usually with a few classy Eichler's thrown in. It's worth going on these tours if you can as they are pretty inspirational and folks will share information on how they have updated yet stayed in era. Hope you don't mind, will throw a few pictures out here.

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Have fun with your project and keep posting your pictures. :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Atomic Ranch

I think I'm going to second rookie2010's suggestion of blue/gray for the cabinets.

OMG, that's an incredible offer. I would never take anything for free, but I would like to take you up on some sort of barter (I am a professional artist). My e-mail is robinsartwork@gmail.com.

Welcome to the forum, Crabcakes. I love your house in the before pictures and even more in the after. Wow!

Our last beach house had maple beadboard cabinets and looked plenty beachy even though they were stained wood, not painted. I agree with Bmore that you should look into travertine look porcelain tiles for the floor. We have a stone floor in our new beach house and it's noticeably etched already. If I had built it myself, there would be NO stone anywhere, just tile. More style choices, less maintenance, easier to clean (smaller grout lines), easier to install and maybe less expensive.

Hi crabcakes....glad my suggestion about the window did not offend. I seem to recall we had some kind of code issue as well. Can't remember how we got around it. I am pretty sure our window was made by a commercial supplier. It wasn't cheap, especially since we enlarged the opening by 1/3 and had to beef up the header. It was one of the more expensive structural things we did and it was easily my favorite part of the kitchen.

Good luck and keep posting pics! Love what you're doing.

@amyrsq: well got the quote and you must have paid a bundle for that window! :) Looks like I'm stuck with the XOX as the XXX is way outside my budget :(

@vampiressrn: I was thinking something like this might work for MCM

IKEA solar beech kitchen

That would work out great...I was going to suggest IKEA as they really have that MCM modular look going on in many of their products. Keypoint is to keep the lines clean. I love that little bump-up shelf on the peninsula. SS appliances would look great if you can afford them.

FYI...Target has some modern bar stools for good prices.

Here is a link that might be useful: bullet trashcans

Yep, heading to IKEA tomorrow. My friend works there and she told me there is some new cabinet face they got in which looks like whitewashed wood (supposedly beachy according to her). It's not online yet but I'll snap some pics. I managed to purchase all new SS stuff over the past few months and get in on those energy tax rebates at the same time. Picked up a 36" Arietta Venito hood @ HD on closeout for $200 :)

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Got the whole Whirlpool Gold line, it's not Wolf and Miele but hey like I said we all can't afford them.

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Grand total for all of that came to: $2425 after the rebates and my haggling. MSRP on the fridge alone is $1700. So I'm cool with Whirlpool :)

Hi Crabcakes, check with your Ikea friend if the Solar Beech is going to be discontinued this August. It appears that this will happen here in Europe, not sure about the US though. Usually the discontinuation of a doorstyle results in a very nice discount ;-)
By the way, over at the Ikeafans forum there are photos of the new doorstyle you describe, first comments are not favourable. Best see the door in person.

HTH, Petra

Here is a link that might be useful: New Ikea doorstyles

With those appliances and your start on a lovely remodel you may not be single for long! Great bargain shopping too. Nice job - keep us posted. My opinion is that cabinets won't matter much so long as you keep to a simple style. The counters and wall color and back splash may help you get where you are going more than the cab's.

Wow...great buys on your SS... those will look awesome.

I know this is probably too pricey, but just love this countertop and color.
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I may have missed it but is that a Terrazzo floor in the kitchen...kind of looks that way in the pix or maybe it is tiles. I know you have some tiles picked out but wasn't sure what the existing floor is.

Here is a link that might be useful: countertop

oo man that Vetrazzo is expensive! There's terazzo in the rest of the house, all except for the kitchen actually. It hasn't been taken care of and it's green and white (like Publix if any FL ppl are reading) so its out of the question haha.

I'm sort of leaning towards Hickory cabinets in a natural finish (Shaker style or beadboard). Kraftmaid has a really great shaker with a hickory that I want. It could almost pass for Cypress I think which is a big native wood here. Too country?

With flash:

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without flash:

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Shenandoah with beadboard (no flash):

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I'm thinking the beadboard might be too country (but it's cheaper haha).

Also took a few more pics to show a better comparison on the progress.

Pocket before:
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After removing it and building it back 14" wider:

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Suffocatingly small ceiling!

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Ceiling after I raised it up and made the new pantry

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The progress is looking good!

Some people have described our house as "beachy," probably because the color palette has a lot of sands, muted blues, creams, etc.

Our kitchen is all-white, and while we have wood floors (which yours won't have), we have a backsplash that reminds me of seashells. Here are some photos:

Crabcake:
I love your beachhouse and you have done a wonderful job!
The beachhouses that I have seen did have many in white, but I have seen many that were done with wood cabinets and they looked fabulous. I can imagine the wood cabs in a light driftwood color, more taupe with gray undertones, and a gorgeous Oceanside Tile inspired backsplash in a greenish blue. VERY beachy :)

I will try and find the pictures of the one house that was shown in Western Interiors. It definitely had a MCM feel and it blended wood with colors. IMO the main thing is not to go too "country" and stay on the more sleek side of contemporary.

BTW I have a Whirlpool Gold dishwasher and we love it. The capacity is huge because of the silverware tray in the door. We had a much more "bells and whistles" DW before that had removeable and moveable tines, etc. They were constantly broken and the whole set up was too much. We find the simplicity of this DW much easier and more flexible because of the uniform tines. We bought one for my mom too and she loves it...traded in her Bosch for this one.

P.S. My rancher had a chandelier like yours in the LR and we moved it to the BR. Funny how they all had one of those :)

Voting for the hickory shaker as I do think the beadboard screams country. I am a fan of Whirlpool...I always bought all Whirlpool appliances in the past. My new home came with GE, so I am working with that. My very generous Mom gave me Frigidaire fridge and w&d but they all match in white...so guess it is all good. You got good prices on your appliances and your ceiling is great.

halocrime...your kitchen is beautiful. Great colors and I really like how you took the tile to the ceiling on the TV wall...that looks marvelous.

Oh bummer....sorry to hear the XXX window was pricey. I'd get a few more quotes and maybe even ask at the BAH board for a way to do this on the cheap.

I agree that the beadboard is too country. Have you thought of staying with mid-cen and getting slab doors?

crabcakes, I love what you are doing! Have you considered a more tropical take on the beach theme? Tropical seems to go more with the MCM lines and would be less likely to read country to me. The wood cabinets like the solar beech from IKEA and some bright orange, red, turquoise and/or green accessories would look great I think.

I'm looking forward to more progress pics to see which way you go!

If you are sold on hickory I would go with the shaker style because the beadboard might be too busy. You need to make sure you are okay with lots of variation in the wood color. It is one thing to see a little bit of variation on the cabinet display door and another thing when you see an entire kitchen in hickory. Do a google search on the images page for kitchen hickory cabinets and you will see several photos of kitchens with all hickory.

crabcakes - amazing work so far! What a difference raising the ceiling made! I can't wait to see the end result. Re: shaker vs. bead board - definitely the hickery shaker, bead board is too country. I think that a bit of turquoise tile in the backsplash mixed with the right lighting would give you the 'beachy' MCM look you are looking for. Good luck!

@halocrime: Your kitchen looks so cool! Love the backsplash and wall color you chose!

@amyrsq: I actually ordered the window because I couldn't wait :P I ended up adding about 700SF to my travertine order so I had to save $$ somewhere :)

@jrueter: Well I went to IKEA this weekend and 2 things struck me: Solar is being discontinued and overall their cabinets are too flimsy for the price. I was quote at $3K for IKEA and essentially $4200 for Shenandoah/American Woodmark. The difference to me in quality is worth 2-3X the cost. I just don't think I can stomach IKEA cabinets in my kitchen (not trying to offend anyone!). I think I'm going to put my color either into the countertops or the backsplash, or both.

@monkeymo: You're probably right actually. I'm willing to bet Schuler really handpicked the wood for their display doors since they want the most consistency. I'll probably stay away from the all natural look.

@sochi: Exactly, I was thinking something along the lines of iridescent blue/green accent tiles in the backsplash. Not all glass but trav/glass mix possibly.

I came across this thread as I was searching on "Oceanside tile" and thought I would show you my last backsplash, Crabcakes. This was in my last house (which I still own ---grrrr). Tumbled marble, Oceanside tiles in Midori (green), Bohemian (blue) and Sandstone (all the other colors)

I have always seen hickory cabs as a "country" style with all the color variations in the wood. Any busy cabinet style is lost because the huge color variations stand out more than the door style does.

I think any light cab could be "beachy". The beadboard could look beachy if done in a light wood or whitewashed wood. My new kitchen is going to have 23 year-old Quakermaid cabs that we are refurbishing. The cabs come from a house in a part of Connecticut close to the ocean. Here is a pic, my cabs are oak, stained a creamy off-white..

I found it, I found it! The article that I was looking for on wood interiors and beach homes.....Google Denise Kuriger and look at the residential remodel called "Malibu, Carbon Beach". Insanely beautiful and all done with blonde colored wood. So peaceful and gorgeous!!!! Love this!

Here is a link that might be useful: Denise Kuriger

@nancy - looks like your backsplash didn't load...those cabinets look really cool, do you have a pic of them stained already?

@firsthouse - thats awesome, this pdf is a little messed up but it's the mag scan of that house I think..

here

I'm still shopping around and have the tile coming up from Miami soon. Heading off to the Keys for a while so I'll check back in a few weeks.

Also picked up my new sliders last night, much beefier than the old doors (these are insulated/low-e tinted/argon filled). Not fun carrying these off your truck inside your kitchen by yourself :). They're 96x80 so I had to special order them, bit oversize compared to the sizes nowadays.

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Definitely a labor of love. Great to see the progress!!!

Hi Crabcakes,
Let me try that again

These are the cabs as I got them, 23 years old, straight from their old home. They have been washed, but not sanded or re-stained. We got Sherwin Williams to make a matching stain.. It is essentially their whitewash stain, with a little extra pigment to give it a french vanilla hue.

I wish I could stay awake to see where those sliders go, but I cannot. I keep typing in my sleep!

Me again...thought this thread was lost forever but the power of google has brought it back! Bumping this back up with a few small updates..

blooooooooo! Love it? hate it?

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Next week I should have the windows/doors in, tile done, etc!!

I've still managed to do some cooking without a kitchen for the past yr :)

How we do it in FL...

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