Very nice! Not only does it look good but the access to the table sounds like a major improvement.
Your chicken must like its spiffy new digs ;)

Fabulous!!! Love how you have taken the cabinets to the ceiling, they look great. You were smart to put an island in, they are so handy. CLUCK CLUCK :-)

Love your new layout- it's much more handier than the peninsula, don't you think? And your towel chicken is so proud of his towel!! I am looking at the same pendant lights by Murray Feiss. What diameter size did you get and what size is your island? Are you happy with them?

We needed this story. It's great to hear about such a successful installation. And such a satisfying classic design and carry-through. Have a ball!

Very cosy and inviting. Great space. Enjoy!!

Beautiful, and I love the new layout, though probably not as much as you do, blubird. Happy cooking with your new chicken in the new kitchen!

Becky

Maidielou - my island is 28.5 x 63 and the pendants are 8.5 inches in diameter. We're really happy with our pendants and really lucked out with them. We'd gone into a local lighting store here (Capitol Lighting) and they offered to sell us the floor sample and get us another one, both at a seriously discounted price, from another of their stores. My husband and I took about 5 seconds to think over the offer. So many people have commented on how different they are from the other pendants that are usually over an island. My cabinet maker was really impressed, too! We have regular 60 watt bulbs in them - they can take up to 100 watts.

On the lighting forum I mentioned that we also have LED undercab lights from Lowe's. They're produced under Lowe's brand name Utilitech, but they appear to be distributed by Kichler - however, at a much reduced price from Kichler's usual undercab light. I use these most of the time, as I love the light from them.

Thank you all for your responses - I truly love being in my new kitchen and wish all of you the same easy redo. It was so easy, I'm ready to redo something else!! :-).

Helene

Beautiful transformation! Love your granite with your cabinets and your choice of pendants!

I love your new kitchen! Cabinets and layout look similar to what I'm hoping to do next year! I'm also in Central Jersey (Hunterdon). Would you mind sharing more about Russ and give me a rough idea on the cost of custom??? I have been hesitant to approach any for fear of them laughing at my DYI budget!!

I really like the flow that the island creates vs the old peninsula. Everything looks so warm and pulled together. And being the proud owner of a towel elephant myself, all I can say is, welcome to the zoo!

Hi Blubird,
Your kitchen transformation made me smile!! It is lovely!!

What type of wood did you choose for the cabinets?

Becky

. . . and how great to have the cookies handy right after you dry your hands!!

Blubird, I love your new kitchen. I have a similar kitchen and am trying to figure out my new layout for new cabinets. Would you mind telling me your dimensions or just how big your kitchen is?

Wonderful job. Your cabinets are beautiful. My existing kitchen is almost exactly like your old one and my future kitchen plans are like your new one. I am so glad to hear you like the functionality. I cannot wait to be rid of my peninsula.

Very nice looking re-do, congratulations!

Out of curiosity, two quick questions: (1) What do you keep in the cabinets to the left of your fridge (as you're facing it)?; and, (2) do you have any regrets about having chosen a standard depth fridge that protrudes forward of your counters and (it appears) the cabinets on the left of it?

Thanks for sharing your nice pictures, enjoy the new layout!

Motorobi,

I'd posted my layout several months ago to get ideas - here's a sketch from that post. The window wall total measurement is 135.25".

I was saddened to hear that it's considered a 'small' kitchen, but I got over it ;-).

hpxmirage - The cabinets to the left of the fridge contain the 'pantry'. The lower section has 4 sliding shelves of various heights, specific to what I intended to store. I have large 25 pound containers of flour as I bake bread frequently. The upper section has one sliding shelf and 2 adjustable shelves. I keep cereals, drink mixes and large items such as large baking dishes stored on the upper shelves.

The fridge I've had for several years - it's a 33" wide fridge, but I left a bigger space for a 36" space. There would have to be a few other adjustments if I changed it out to a counter depth. But since the kitchen's been completed I realized a) it looks fine and b) it doesn't really get in the way since it's been in the same location for 5 years and we've gotten used to the handles protruding. I'm not quite as sure as to what I'd get to replace it.

Becky jo - the cabs are maple, stained a medium brown color Russ the cab maker called "allison" - the name on the stain sample he had.

It's funny that many people who had peninsulas can't wait to get rid of them. My husband took a great deal of convincing that the island was the way to go. I have to admit that I was almost ready to go with a peninsula again, but after one more dinner where I had to ask people to pass me the dishes from the table I didn't need any more convincing. If I'd had more room around the kitchen table where I could negotiate easily around it with the chairs occupied, perhaps the peninsula isn't a bad way to go, but not having all-around table access, I always felt I was bothering people having them pass the plates forward, or even passing the prepared food to the table. I could almost see the eye rolls, even though their backs were toward me. (LOL). So when Russ came to my house to discuss what we'd like to do with the kitchen, he wouldn't even let me discuss the peninsula - he said I'd be happier with the island and would have no problem fitting it in. He was even encouraging me to go with a bigger island, but I felt it might be a 'barrier' island as Buehl says. The size it is currently does not block the sink to stove to fridge run and makes food prep and cleanup a pleasure.

cherigw - don't give away my secrets!!! ;-)

kngwd - I'm in southern Monmouth County. Email me at my username@optonline.net for detailed info. I checked out pricing at Home Depot and Lowes. While their prices were a drop lower with all the add-ins they had, I actually got even more kitchen with sliding shelves, custom shelf placement, fancy trims on the island and bumped-out sink and even the fridge panels for very little more. There are other trims as well as a spectacular cabinet finish. Pictures can't convey the depth of color on the cabs.

Helen