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Halfway through Kitchen rejuvenation and would like some feedback

ladyshadowwalker

12 years ago

I'm about halfway through and more then half through my 7K budget. all DIY except the granite

New window, cabinet doors, UCL, moldings and trim are left.

I was thinking of natural maple but paint grade could save me a lot of money since I've learned its "in". I'm open to color ideas. Please please don't say white!

I'm thinking of selling in a couple of years so I want to take resale into consideration but I want to get to enjoy it for a while first!

The tiled area is 10 x 12 the tile is actually lighter then the picture and doesn't contrast so much with the grout.

I'd love ( I think) to hear your opinions on my choices so far and ideas for the rest

Thank you!

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Getting a Facelift

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Comments (16)

northcarolina
12 years ago
I got a warning from my firewall when I clicked that link, and it appears to go to a commercial site. If you have pictures, would you post them in the thread instead?
Happyladi
12 years ago
If you are planning on selling in a couple of years I would do the natural maple or white/cream.
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It can take a lot of time to learn about the choices available, and then make the choice. Then order, wait for delivery, sometimes wait for the installation. Right there is one reason for knowing what you want before the build begins -- if you want an item x in mocha, it's better to know in advance that it might take 3 months before it can be delivered. Unfortunately, even in the best of plans, there can be totally unforeseen delays from late delivery, unexpected weather, unavailable work crews, or even theft [which can take time to replace the stolen material]. But with pre-planning, at least the crew won't be sitting around waiting for you say which faucet you want. You will have last minute decisions in approving the color/size/cut of stone or brick should you be using those items, for the reason that samples are always approximations and you won't know what you get until you get it. However, stone/brick is just about the only category that has a last-minute decision built into it. The next reason for getting specific in advance is that it can be difficult at best and overwhelming at worst to make a lot of important decisions in a very short period of time. Unless one is already a professional designer /builder /carpenter /tiler /plumber /electrician / decorator /et cetera, one is going to have make choices and decisions about things we just have never even thought about! It's an exhausting process, and that's a major reason for stress for the builder. Another reason for making as many decisions as possible in advance is actually the simplest: budget. And there is no way to have a budget without knowing what numbers are in it, and what those numbers represent. Unless you have an endless supply of money, there will be a limit as to how much can be spent. A pre-computed budget lets you know that if you spent $30,000 on kitchen counters then you won't have $20,000 for lighting. It gives you a chance to determine which is most important to you -- waiting to the last minute decision might find the counters installed but leave only $1000 for lights when in real life you don't cook much and it is the lighting that's important. Keep in mind that every time the owner changes his/her mind *during* the build, it is money wasted. Cosmetic changes [such as finding the "blue" paint is really brown when on the wall] can usually be fixed at once and during the build. However, changing the placement of a window or door is in the same category as changing a ceiling height or where the staircase is located -- the structural integrity of the whole house can be affected, and changes from blueprint shouldn't be done without approval of a structural engineer (ahem: $ and time), and the change may require re-inspection to be sure codes are still being met (ahem: lost time -- and $ while the crews wait). And another page of the budget is simply that there is difference between what the average GC thinks you'll be satisfied with and what you actually are satisfied with, in terms of quality, uniqueness, and customizing. Sometimes the difference is even more -- I've seen kitchens put together from the local discount-mass produced store and I've seen kitchens where every detail from crown molding to toe-step was handmade by a craftsman. Not going to say that one is better than the other, but IMO the wallet-holder should know -in advance- that there really can be tens of thousands of dollars difference in the final bill. The same is true of almost every detail on a home: you can get mass-produced in all levels of quality as well as getting custom-made or handcrafted. But if you didn't get specific on the contract, the odds are pretty good that you will be getting the least expensive whatever. On this same page is simply that item A can be the same or very little difference from item B, except in the price tag. Many builders are going to use the less expensive because they have figured a set price which includes their [or the subs] labor -- and the cheaper item will give them a bit more profit. And the last thing is, if it isn't written in detail in the contact, you shouldn't expect to automatically get what *you* want. The builder must make a profit -- and that's fair. But there is flat-out no way to reasonably expect the builder to know what you want if you don't already know, and finding out during the build is the most expensive way to go -in terms of time and money and stress-building.
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In need of a pep talk - halfway through painting my KC :(
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I think you should fully paint a door, and see how you like it, then decide how to finish the rest, e.g. whether to sand the primer coat, apply more primer, use filler, etc. The paint coats will cover more of the grain, and so will the brushstrokes. What look are you going for? If you want a perfectly uniform and smooth, mass-produced look, that is hard (very) to get without a sprayer and maybe sanding between coats. I don't think that is a look I'd aspire to. I think the paintwork in the kitchen should match the paintwork of the rest of the house's woodwork, which was likely brush-painted. You can get a subtler brushstroke using a flowing additive, ask at the paint store. If you paint straight from the can, the brushstrokes will be most visible. If you do decide to sand some more, use a power sander if you haven't already. An orbital sander costs $30. Hand-sanding is the pits. When you DIY, you will be your own harshest critic, you'll see every little imperfection. Step back and look at your finished work like a normal person would - with normal eyes, not magnifying glasses. You'll probably be very happy.
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Halfway through cab painting---mistake?
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Comments (18)
I think the wall color and cabinets look fine together. Much nicer than the previous oak look. I also think adding the glass doors to those two cabinets was a very good decision. If it were my kitchen I would do the dark grey on the pantry and desk area and then instead of doing white subways, I would the darker grey into the kitchen area by using dark grey subway (the same or similar grey as the dark grey cabinets) for the backsplash. It looks like your granite has some wine colored specks in it. I would try to add some of that color in an accent piece or two. I think you are probably overwhelmed and frustrated with your reno. Painting the cabinets yourself was a huge undertaking. I think your should finish the cabinets, then take a break and after you have lived with it for a while then reassess the wall color.
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would love floorplan feedback on kitchen - its my 1st time :)
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Comments (4)
It keeps asking me to sigh in...I don't have a Yahoo Account (and don't want one). I think you will be better off posting the picture in the Message than a link. Besides, you usually get more responses if people don't have to go searching for your layout! If you don't know how to post a picture in your post, check the "Read Me" thread (linked below). Scroll down to the post with the subject "Posting Pictures". You're also probably not receiving emails of follow-up postings, even though you checked the box requesting them. This is b/c you don't have the email option turned on in your profile. See the "Read Me" thread for more information about this as well. See the post w/the subject "Getting Emails Sent To You...3-step Process". Here is a link that might be useful: Read Me If You're New To GW Kitchens!
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ladyshadowwalker
Original Author
12 years ago
Its safe - its my personal website I use to "park" pictures for my ebay auctions. I just did a check and scan to be sure there's only my pictures on there. There's a bunch of kitchen photos thats why I made a page and linked to it instead of making a really long post. Which i can do if your still concerned just LMK
beaglesdoitbetter1
12 years ago
What about a pretty gray? Neutral enough and not white:

We're doing blue and off-white, but might be a little too bold for resale.
ladyshadowwalker
Original Author
12 years ago
I am really SO furious with McAfee there is nothing on my website www.swampfoxantiques.com but pictures for auctions, family photos and a link to eBay. I sent them an email (btw Microsofts Smart Screen Filter found no problems.) Ive been a Mcafee customer for over 10 years... I should think they would have sent an email before accusing me of anything!
anyway back to my kitchen .. still need feedback - please

Basic Layout

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ladyshadowwalker
Original Author
12 years ago
Happi thanks cream could work as long as it wasn't too yellow. I do love light maple and think its a classic but cheaper and elegant is better!

Beagles I love grey! I think that would work also. Thank you
glad to read your good news that all is working out with the gc and tile people
mona2
12 years ago
Gray would only look good imho if the appliances are SS. If they are to remain white, I'd have to say what you told me not to say...(sorry in advance) white. :) Or if you had black applicances maybe. I know that's probably not what you wanted to hear.
dianalo
12 years ago
I'd either go natural or cream. The bs and granite would not work with gray unless it was a very warm tone and fairly dark, IMHO.
I know it costs more, but the natural or stained maple would work best with what you have done so far... The cream might be awkward with white appliances.
queensinfo
12 years ago
beagle- i love that backsplash, do you have a close up?
User
12 years ago
Grey isn't going to work with that granite. I think a nice warm yellow like Martha Stewart's Fortune Cookie that she uses in her cabinet line would work very well with that granite.

One of the biggest transformations that you could give your kitchen would be moldings with those new doors. Light rail moldings and crown moldings would be the finishing touches as well as hide the necessary under cabinet lighting.
ladyshadowwalker
Original Author
12 years ago
Diana and GreenDesigns Thank you. Yellow and grey might be too taste specific. I think Ive decided to go with my original plan of natural maple. I'm glad you mentioned the moldings thats what I was thinking. The space above the cabs is only 2-1/4" and they are frameless so I may not be able to use a traditional crown molding but i think anything in that space will be an improvement.
sue_b
12 years ago
You have done a great job! Yes enjoy it but it's smart to keep in mind the taste specificity thing for resale. My granite is a little similar and I have light maple cabinets. Mine are stained so you should take a granite and tile sample with you and pick out a stain tone for your maple doors to see for sure what shade looks best.
ladyshadowwalker
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you! (doing a happy dance!) a little postive reinforcement never hurts! I'm DIY ing the the cabinet door finishes so I can try different stains out on the back of the drawer fronts and get to see how they look in the kitchen. I love the color of yours what stain is it?
User
12 years ago
If you are DIYing the finish, then don't get maple. It's a challenging wood to work with even for pros. It can be very blotchy when stained, unless you undergo a laborious process to keep it from being so. For a DIYer, painted doors are the way to go. They are far easier to get a good final finish, and they are more forgiving visually for any minor errors in that finish.

Of cuourse, if you are an accomplished refinisher fully versed in how to get maple wood to it's full beauty, you can disregard this advice.

BTW, you are seeing grey, cream, yellow, green, and lots of other colors in painted cabinetry that isn't that "taste specific" simply because many people are tired of the sterility of poorly thought out redo's of white painted cabinets. White is great, it's just harder to do well than most people realize. Also, color is back! And in a big way! As long as the color isn't strong and in your face, (and that can work too, in the right setting with the right mix of finishes) any soft and not dark color will work as a "neutral" when used with more colorful fabrics and accents. For instance, the yellow I linked would work great with the white woodwork and subtle grey green walls that Martha shows, or it would look great with a very soft blue, or even tan wall color. Your banquette could be reupholstered with a subtle jacquard or stripe in the yellow and you could paint the wood either the same white as your woodwork or choose a slightly darker yellow to give it that tone on tone look emphasizing the fabric.

Don't be afraid of being creative just because of the bugaboo of "resale". As long as it's done well, you will not negatively affect your home's value. Time after time, it's the kitchens with a bit of personality that get the most favorable comments rather than the ones who slavishly copy the current "non offensive blank slate of white".
User
12 years ago
BTW, if you're keeping your appliances, it's a very simple matter to change the swing of your refrigerator door so that it opens the other way and isn't in your way when you are pulling stuff out of the fridge. That can help with the functionality without spending a dime!
ladyshadowwalker
Original Author
12 years ago
Green Designs thanks! I've had that on the to-do list LOL i installed it that way b/c my kidz were younger when i got it and i had visions of one yanking the door open and whacking another one right down the steps with the wildy swinging door... Now that they are teen agers i'm sure I won't have to worry about my son and his friends clowning around ...oh wait um nevermind, maybe it can stay that way a teensy bit longer. - grin

I've re-finished maple furniture (no stain) before with great results of course that was before i knew how hard it is to do lol. Thanks for the heads up on staining maple I thought that only applied to dark stain. A few coats of a clear oil based urethane may just be the trick! Which is what i originally thought. Maybe its time to stop second guessing myself?

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