Yee Haw!!! It's Finally Done!!

13 years ago

Finally my kitchen is finished.. Happy Dance here!!!

It has taken me over 6 months and yes I know some of you did major remodeling and tore out walls and had to deal with a lot worse mess then I did! I can't imagine living with that as just tearing out old cabinets and putting in new appliances and countertops were enough stress for me.

Here is some basic information about my kitchen and please feel free to ask me more questions and thank you for taking a peek at my finished kitchen.

The cabinets were locally made and are natural cherry so the color is getting darker and richer as time goes by. I absolutely love them.

The countertop is a leathered costa esmeralda granite and although more expensive then I had planned for is extremely easy to take care of and again I love it!! I will never have to seal it ... YAY

Under mount sink is by swanstone and again very easy to take care of. That was one of the first things I picked out in planning my new kitchen and I have not been disappointed.

Handles are amerock divinity series which I got online.

I had to have my garden window replaced and this new one is much nicer and gives me more a view of the wooded area I live in and lets in a lot of natural light.

My oak floors which I had installed when the house was built over 17 years ago were recently refinished with a nutmeg stain with a so called *stressed* look.. love that as scratches now don't show up it just looks like part of the floor.

I love this site which has given me so much needed advice and options to consider... So a big THANK YOU to everyone who posts and asks questions and those who take their time to answer.

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Comments (34)

dianalo
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
That looks so nice! Love the CE and esp with your sink setup. Your counters have such a serene color yet dramatic veining to make it endlessly interesting. Your cabs and hardware look "friendly" and warm to me.
That knife pullout is an interesting concept. Can you please post more pix and details about it?
segbrown
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Very, very pretty.
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Shades, I sincerely hope I am up to it. I'll be in the way of every subcontractor on the job. I picked up enough of the American Olean 2x4" subway tile squares yesterday for the backsplash at Lowes. I already have the tiles for the exterior wall behind the shower outdoors. I used those tiles in larger format for the master closet floor, and in the mosaic 2x2 sq ft format on mesh for the master bathroom. I like them. They are Italian porcelain not glazed, just total same color all the way through the tile. The hardness on those are rated 5, the very hardest, for public spaces indoors and outdoors, and they don't crack with the cold. Not that I have to worry about that here, I'd be more critical of that rating if I lived in Alaska or some place really cold. I think the most critical parts of the whole remodel will be the roof, the quality of the floor installation, the upgraded electrical system, the quality of the cabinets as well as their installation, and the quality of the windows. Suitability I guess. And I know what I want the windows to do--echo the style and design of the sturdy Lexan window walls of the sun porch. The windows will be something I am super careful about. They must have that open sunny feeling. In my head I have a vision of keeping my cottage style, with a cross between industrial and homey casual. All cleared away, everything with a place to go but relaxed, not all of it visible at one time. That's why I have a galley kitchen with a "L" shape to it. The original kitchen is the galley, left and right. Then the new end with be sort of right angles to it, and thus kept hidden. Sort of fool the eye. The original kitchen footprint is 8deep x 12 wide, with 6' opening when the dining room wall is mostly removed. It T's up to the new portion of the kitchen which is 9deep x 16-17 wide behind that. Part of the long view down the outside wall will be broken, so you don't get the full picture of the washer/dryer (stacked) and the cabs either side of the counter depth fridge. Likewise, you don't see my baking side, and the toaster oven and pegboard where I'll hang stuff a la Julia Child's kitchen. Sigh, I do so adore Julia's kitchen! That hidden part which faces the back deck, sort of has its free end (like a finger) pointed at the fridge, My "work triangle" is according to my own way of preparing and cooking meals. Still a triangle, but it has a twist to it. Eight feet between sink and range, directly across from one another. I guess it is about 8 to the fridge from the range, and then about 6 to the sink from the fridge. The end of the baking peninsula can serve as a countertop to set stuff going into and out of the fridge, which is about 4 feet across to that appliance from the peninsula. Works for me. The cabinet man, James, will be building the window seat as a low cab, heavy duty vertical file drawers two of them beneath. I'll have the right thickness of a cushion/mattress/whatever to complete the dining height bench seating. Just deep enough for sleeping so-so comfortable but not TOO TOO comfy. I haven't ordered the barn door hardware to mount the old heavy cypress louvered door to the master sitting area yet, but it won't be long. I had an estimate 2 years ago, when my plans were just beginning, and as soon as the new/current price is known, I'll order them to be shipped. The real issue right now, is the two exterior back doors I want will take 3-4 weeks for delivery. I want fiberglas, full double pane LoeE high impact with blinds in the middle. I have that now for the front door, and enjoy the amount of light coming into the house. The all-window wall across the back needs to have the two exterior doors onto the deck look the same, so I won't be reusing the old back door. Presently, I am cancelling the part of the remodel which will give me a front entry. It is a matter of slicing off that to stay within budget, or omitting some parts of the job that will give us a really nice kitchen that satisfies my desire to break out of this BOX. If I had gone with IKEA cabs as I originally planned, I could have the new front entry. However, my DH wants good cabs and to keep him happy, that is the option. Oh well, I am big enough to handle great cabs by a good cabinetmaker! The base cabs will be on legs, shaker style doors/drawer fronts. Painted white. Did you ever have any doubt that I'd want a WHITE KITCHEN? With YELLOW OCHRE LIGHT walls? Wish I had the old sign used to be along Highway 90 in Louisiana for THE WHITE KITCHEN.....near Slidell, and where my brother lived until he died in 2013. And beside Honey Island Swamp, where he and I ran swamp tours for a couple of years after I quit working in the oil field offshore. Personal and very nostalgic for me. Perhaps I should paint such a picture myself and hang it near the kitchen. Hmmmm. Why not. More to come. Stay tuned. :^)
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katsmah
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Very nice! I love your granite, it appears to have very rich colors, where most photos I see of Costa Esmarelda appear muted. Is that a result of having it leathered? Could you post more photos of it?
rhome410
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Can't beat natural cherry..So beautiful! And your counters are fantastic, too. I love the leathered finish that gives the granite a whole different look and feel. Enjoy!
plllog
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Congratulations! The counter looks great. I love the knife block in the pullout. Very clever.
rjr220
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Very pretty -- classy backsplash. I like the simple detail over the range -- isn't it amazing what you can do with subways? Knife block is really cool!.

Congrats!
roseofblue
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Congratulations, love your custom Cherry Cabinets and pull-outs, Gorgeous Granite, Rich Floors, great Back-splash Tile - where did you find this Tile? Please tell me about your Gas Range, we still need one? WHAT BRAND IS YOUR NEW GARDEN WINDOW, Have always wanted one of these over my sink! Does the Garden Window, open at all and which way does it face and do you get any snow there? What will you Grow in your new Greenhouse Window! Thank you for sharing, with all of us, roseofblue
tinker_2006
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Feels great to be done I bet - but worth the wait! Looks great, enjoy!!
onedogedie
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Tried to click through to photobucket to admire your kitchen more but it's not happening. Would love to see more pixels especially of the granite.
semi
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
More pictures of that gorgeous window please!!!!!

Great job. Your cabinets are like little works of furniture, I love cherry and yours is especially lovely.

Enjoy and congratulations!
bmorepanic
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Lovely gorgeous costa and your window is beautiful.

Wishing you many years of enjoyment.
wallycat
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Love everything!!
I have been dreaming of a white kitchen for 9 years (yeah, DH drags his feet..forever) but seeing the natural cherry has me swaying. Also thought I hated granite till I see it leathered. Beautiful!

Yes, please more info on the knife thingie!!
tinker_2006
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Feels great to be done I bet - but worth the wait! Looks great, enjoy!!
Gena Hooper
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Very pretty! I love your cherry cabinets. They simply glow. And what a fantastic window. Wonderful!
chris45ny
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Congratulations!! I am a fan of wood and your cabinets are especially nice as is everything else. Knife holder-very clever idea. Would love to have a window like yours over my sink. I'd put pots of herbs there. Also like the mix of black and stainless in the appliances.
dianalo
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi again,
I went to my kitchen layout and was working on it until almost 2:30 a.m. in order to get a pullout on my sink wall that can hold a knife block (all your fault I missed my beauty sleep, lol)! I am doing IKEA so had to work around the sizes they offer. I will have a larger sink cab and 12 inch pullout next to it. I am hoping yours is not wider than 12"! I am guessing/hoping the knife insert is something that can be bought... otherwise, I have to go back to the original plan with 24 inch drawers next to a smaller sink cab, unless I put the pullout on my island instead... oh no.... please don't make me fiddle around any more, lol.
renayy
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thank you everyone for the compliments .. that made my day :)

I'll have to wait until my daughter gets home to put in more photos of the granite, window and knife holder as she is the computer guru of the family.
I saw the knife holder somewhere and asked the guy who built the cabinets if he could do one so he is the one who designed it and he just looked at all my knives and made it as deep as the longest knife I had. But I will try and take more pictures of it.
The garden window is Ply Gem and I am pleased with it. The side windows open part way and hopefully some different photo's will show that. I may plant some herbs in it during winter but I have a nice big planter outside for herbs during the summer. And no we don't get that much snow but do get some and I live near Seattle :) So yes we get lots and lots of rain .. I do think they sell these windows everywhere though so I am not not if snow is a concern or not.. good question though. Garden windows don't seem to be as popular these days but they do such a great job of opening up a kitchen and I've never regretted having one.

My tile is by Elements and is called white sand in a matt finish.. I would imagine you could order from anyone who sells tile. They are hand made so I had to wait two months to get them.. Even though I love them I went way over budget for them.. that is so easy to do during remodeling.. you save some here and there and then splurge big time on a couple of things so I probably should have planned a bit better. But again no regrets after I saw the finished results :)

My gas range is by Frigidair professional series.. I've had that for almost two years and it works great (has a convection oven in it as well and a warming drawer which I never use except to store pots and pans LOL)

I had looked at quite a few slabs of costa esmeralda.. most of them tended to look more grey green and one even had pink in it.. when I found this leathered granite I was almost sold.. I think one of the best things you can do when looking at granite is to take a cabinet door that is very close to what you will be using.. set it against the granite slab and take a few pictures. When I got home after doing that and downloaded the pictures it became very clear that the cabinet worked best with the leathered costa esmeralda. It gets overwhelming when looking at all thses slabs of granites so by taking the pictures and looking at home really really helps.. plus I swear by Tom Cordova the rock guy who saved me big money by helping me pick the right granite :) This particular granite had a big hole in it so I got a discount and since I needed two slabs they were able to work around the patched hole. I have two nice size pieces left if anyone lives near seattle and is interested I am planning to sell them as they are hard to find. Wish I could use them but I can't :(

Sorry didn't mean to write a book but I do hope I answered your questions.. and I will try to do some better pictures. Thank you again kind people :)
gsciencechick
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Ooh, that is so gorgeous with the CE and the cherry cabinets! Love your hanging light fixture, too.

Congrats!
renayy
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Dianalo I tried answering your question and I don't think it went through so I apologize if everyone is seeing this twice.. still trying to figure all of this out.
My knife block itself is about 6 3/4" wide and with the drawer front it is 8 1/2".. I did have it custom made so it would fit in that small space.. I love that it has a spot in back for oils and beneath it for extra things.. I am finding it very handy and I hope you don't anymore sleep over this.. I've done that myself many times during this project.. I think I've aged a couple of years LOL Okay fingers crossed this will work..
dianalo
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thank you so much for your answers. It sounds like I need to ask my contractor if he can make one for me and will try not to worry that he can't. I can cross that bridge if I get there, lol. The more I think about it, it is a block of wood with some holes put in it. It can't be that hard to make (ha-ha-ha, as I naively hope it won't cost an arm and a leg, lol).
I guess the fact that the town is torturing us with delays on our paperwork can actually give me time to work out details like this. In any case, it will be a tremendous asset if I can figure out how to make it happen. I will think of you when I take out a knife forevermore. Hmmm... that did not come out right... ;)
remodelfla
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I am really looking forward to seeing close up pics of your leathered CE. It looks beautiful and I agree that I usually don't see slabs with so much color variation and "rivers" running through it. Looks PERFECT!
eastbaymom
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Such beautiful wood grain and finish. Love how it shows up on the side panel for the fridge and the big cabinet doors.

Unusual and elegant pulls on your cabinets -- and likewise, unusual sink, but great combination of style and function!

Congratulations.
susanlynn2012
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I love the natural cherry cabinets and hardware. your granite counters look so nice with your cabinets. I love the nutmeg stain on your wood floors. I also love your backsplash above your stove.
formerlyflorantha
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I'm impressed and inspired. love the wood look
renayy
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Here are more photos of the granite, knife block, and garden window. Enjoy!
rookie_2010
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Wow! I LOVE the granite! It's gorgeous. I have those same pull-out shelf things where your knife block is. I really, really wish I had thought to make mine useful like you did! I'm brainstorming about retrofitting something like yours now.

Your kitchen is so functional and pretty at the same time. Great job, enjoy and thanks so much for sharing!
dianalo
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Your close ups are even better than before! I love the CE and totally see why you did the garden window. ;)
bostonpam
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Wow - love the cherry cabinets and the fabulous granite with the dramatic green veins! I wished I saw your knife and oil storage before - I definitely would have used it.
pinch_me
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
"Everyone knows" green didn't make it into MY top 10 color choices but that granite was made for your cabinet color! It must be breathtaking in person.

Where did you find that window shelf?
flwrs_n_co
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Congratulations on a beautiful kitchen!! Your granite is beyond gorgeous with your warm cherry cabs. May I ask what kind of faucet you used? The knife block is inspired along with the oil storage. Definitely going to have to see if I can find room for that in my remodel. Thanks so much for sharing! Please be sure to put your kitchen in the FKB for others to draw some inspiration.

PS Love the view from your great garden window!
renayy
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
pinch me..The window shelf came with the garden window (most of them have a shelf) and it is removable and the height can be adjusted a bit..

flowrs my faucet was bought from costco and is made by hansgrohe and probably a discontinued model but there are some quite similar..

Thank you again to everyone who responded with so many compliments.. even though I do love my kitchen it is just so nice to get such great feedback from others :)
katsmah
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
That is gorgeous granite! I'm hoping to put CE in my kitchen, I haven't seen any with veins like that though.
sabjimata
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Your cabinets are gorgeous and that jade-y granite looks great. Love the rug, btw...reminds me of a sari I used to have.
vampiressrn
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Fabulous and that knife block is way cool!!!

Yee Haw!!! It's Finally Done!!

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