Please help me with some kitchen updates!

15 years ago

Hi Everyone! I am brand new to this board and after googling a few things I quickly found out that this is the place to be for excellent kitchen help! A little background.... We are buying this house that is 8 yrs the kitchen cabinets are a creamish bisque color from Kraftmaid... there is crown molding from kraftmaid as well. We will be replacing the appliances with streamlined stainless steel and there are hardwood floors. We are wanting to replace the current backsplash.. just not my style. I need help picking out a new backsplash and I am wondering if anyone can superimpose one onto a picture for me? i have seen this done and i think it would be a big help! I am leaning towards some sort of subway tile.. i just don't know if i should do more of a tumbled marble color or the bright white ones! any advice would be great!!

Also... the walls are going to be painted BM Powell Buff and all of the woodwork in the house is being painted white. We are also thinking of installing crown molding in the kitchen. DO you think that this would help break up the space between the cabinets and the ceiling? we will also be getting new blinds, french country style barstools, new oil rubbed bronze hardware and doing a window treatment on the kitchen window. Any comments or suggestions about the kitchen would be greatly appreciated! thanks!

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen

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Comments (5)

iris16
15 years ago
Welcome. I think when you replace the backsplash it will make a world of difference to your kitchen. And painting the woodwork will update the look too. Have you been to the finished kitchen blog where you can look at many photos of finished backsplashes?
mamadadapaige
15 years ago
Hi,
welcome!! it depends on how much of a statement you want to make. i LOVE tile and had always thought this is where I would put my personal stamp when we re-did our kitchen. I'd have gone hog wild, but my husband preferred a more neutral scheme as he thought we'd get sick of something too busy or that made too much of a statement. I could see his point and wasn't up for an argument on it as I was frankly just happy that he had agreed to the renovation at all.

anyway, the first thing that popped into my head with your description of stainless sleek appliances and with the nice cabinetry and pretty wall color, is long thin strips of varying shades of slate.

here is a link to a post by petlady...
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0800062525600.html
i loved her inspiration pic and the combo of tiles used in it. also, i love rhome410's tile so search for some of her posts or check the Finished kitchen blog for pics of her kitchen (not sure if it is there yet).

we went with a crackle subway tile (sort of boring for someone who was after the WOW factor, but my husband is right in that it is a classic look and not something we'll grown tired of).

here is a pic:

and further away:

Here is a link that might be useful: petlady's inspiration tile
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You have a couple of options here...to go ahead and do a facelift now or save the $$ you have now and put it toward a full remodel in a few years (you mention 5 or 6 years). If you can change it enough with some paint, new window treatments, maybe an inexpensive backsplash, and a few decorative touches, could you wait? That way you won't be tearing out in a few short years what you're spending $$ on today. If not, then... How expensive are granite & quartz in your area? I'm asking b/c replacing all your counters w/granite or quartz can be quite expensive...it depends on the "color", the amount you need, the number of "special" cuts (like rounded edges or diagonal on the island and at the corner sink), and the # of cutouts (which wouldn't be many b/c you have a range & only one sink...at least right now). If you plan on replacing your cabinets in 5 or 6 years, do you want to spend several thousand dollars now on counters you will probably not be able re-use? Or if you re-use them, you'll be forcing yourself into the exact same kitchen setup you have now...and you sound like you plan to move things around. (Your plans sound pretty good, btw.) Normally, I would suggest going with a mid-range laminate in your situation...to tide you over until you're ready for a full-blown remodel. However, you want an undermount sink and I seem to recall reading that undermounting a sink w/laminate counters is not cheap...correct me if I'm wrong someone! Sink...I don't think the reason you're having a logjam at the sink is b/c of faucet location, it's b/c the sink is in the corner & it's tough (if not impossible) to have two people at a corner sink...especially if it's a 36" corner sink base instead of 42" or 48" (I can't tell from your pics b/c there's no clear pic of the sink cabinet front-on). I'm not even sure the basin idea will help...yes, it will give you a place for dirty dishes, but it won't help if two of you are trying to both use the sink for prepping/cleaning up/etc. at the same time. It also looks like you have a 2-bowl sink, which normally should help the logjam situation in a single-sink kitchen (there is the single faucet issue, of course). Again, it's the sink's location and lack of frontage for standing that's the issue. I can definitely see how a second sink would help you greatly. If there's any way you can do it, I would recommend trying to do it. However, keep in mind that it will require modifying an existing cabinet to not only accommodate a sink but to also be able to structurally support it + basin(s) full of water. (Your situation is similar to what ours was in our old kitchen. The separation of the Prep & Cooking Zones from the Cleanup Zone and adding a prep sink in the Prep Zone in our new kitchen made a huge difference in our kitchen functionally.) I would also try replacing some of the brown carpeting and painting the rooms around the kitchen...you might be surprised the difference it will make when you don't have so much brown around you! Good luck!
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amandatmosher
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks! I really like the subway crackle tile! it looks amazing!..... are your tiles more of a cream or a true white? and where did you find them? I think i do like a more traditional look.. so i think the subway tiles will be good for that! I think i will use some color elsewhere! What I don't like about the current backsplash is all the color blocks! of course the people that owned the house just put it in! wish they would have just let us pick something! haha! this is still the original owners furniture etc in the house.. we are planning on doing a dark walnut table and maybe dark walnut stools with fabric cushions to add some softness. I was also thinking of putting 2 large(nothing ornate) corbels underneath the island and having them painted to match the cabinets.. do u think that would look good?thx!
Fori
15 years ago
hehehe...as long as you're going to replace that backsplash, there's no need for my input. I don't like it either.

Corbels on the island would look nice--but be sure you won't miss the legroom.
mamadadapaige
15 years ago
hi,
I think the corbels are a good idea but only if you won't be whacking your knees on them... if the space allows comfortable seating for two with room to get on and off the seats, I would go for the corbels as I think it would be a really nice touch.

re: the existing backsplash, I have to agree with you completely... too busy - looks very chopped up - and, just my opinion, but I think the 4"x4" square is very dated looking.

my tiles are by Walker Zanger, Gramercy Park, bone china (off white), 2" x 6" subway. search under Redroze on this forum... she found some 2" x 8" subway tiles though Ann Sacks that were just a little bit more unique and really really nice.

Please help me with some kitchen updates!

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iris16

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Please help me with some kitchen updates!

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iris16

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