Whoops, didn't mean to plan THIS much for kitchen reno

11 years ago

We're just under a year and a half out from a half-house remodel (a serious one that involved ripping off the top half of the house and putting it back on higher) so we're still dealing with the emotional and financial trauma from that. Sprucing up the working area of the kitchen (eating area was done 3 years ago) has been in the plans since we bought the house 10 years ago and we're finally recovered enough to start thinking that direction. It's not a gut, but a spruce up (new upper cabinets, refacing lowers, new counters and backsplash). We told ourselves, though, that we would save the money for this project in a special account and pay for everything in cash (well maybe not cash, but not charge anything we can't immediately pay off and not borrow any money). So we're saving, but I've been working on estimating the costs so I've been pricing out finishes, etc.

Until yesterday this was all very theoretical. And then the backsplash tile came. See, we both fell in love with the tile and feel of this kitchen that was featured in Coastal Living last year.

But I've been worried that when the time came I wouldn't be able to find tile like that. So I called up the tile company in Key West (mentioned in the article sources) that did the tile and had them send me a sheet of this mother of pearl tile so I'd know exactly what it was. It arrived yesterday and I about melted when I unpacked it. My husband saw it hanging on the wall and loved it.

I realize that it's probably a bad idea to START your kitchen design with the backsplash, but I'm pretty sure that's what we just did. Just have to find the quartz counters that work with it and the other existing elements in the room.

All of which is great (one thing I learned from our renovation is that it's best to have EVERY decision made before you even start), but it makes me want to say "Screw saving (we're about halfway to what I'm guessing the cost will be). We're doing this NOW."

In the interest of not keeping myself up at night I'm hereby not looking at any other backsplashes, no matter how pretty they may be! Must. Stay. On. Task.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (18)

breezygirl
11 years ago
No reason not to start with the tile. As you've seen, many of us, including moi, leave it until the agonizing end. If you love an element enough to build a room around it, that's great! You won't endlessly wander tile stores with glazed eyes and spend months up until 3a.m. looking at tile on the Internet. You're actually ahead of the game! Take the time now while you finish saving up to consider counter choices, get pull samples, foot lighting stores, etc.

You'll be so proud of yourselves if you wait to save and spruce up your kitchen without borrowing!
badgergal
11 years ago
I see no reason why backsplash tile can't be the driving force in your kitchen spruce up. I had pretty much decided what my granite and cabinet wood would be but had not picked out a slab or anything else for that matter when I went looking for backsplash tile. I found the perfect tile for me and bought it before anything else. The kitchen hadn't even been started but I knew I wanted that tile and was afraid it might not be available when I actually needed it. It sounds like you really love that tile you found so I say go for it! Buy it and if you need to wait on the sprucing up just keep it in a safe place until you are ready for it.
Related Discussions
Help wanted, please: Preliminary kitchen reno plan (Long!)
Q
Comments (11)
Oh, golly, golly, I'm so thrilled that you all have taken the trouble to read my tome and offer comments! Thank you, dianalo, rhome and bmorepanic! I really appreciate the suggestions and will give all of them some thought because that is exactly what I was hoping to get: fresh eyes that haven't been over and over the same old thinking, as I have by now. A few quick thoughts: rhome: It's a good point about the small size of the counter to left of the sink (between DW and sink). I gave it that space just as elbow room in case I do have the DW elevated above the counter. Without that space, I thought it would make it feel like you were doing dishes with the sink nearly touching a wall because of the vertical side of the raised DW cab. I am definitely not wedded to it, nor to the little 6" space on the other side of the DW. That's probably going to evaporate, anyway, (except for an inch or to of framing to keep the DW door from being slap against the wall) because the room is about 2.5 inches out of square in that corner. Odds are on that I either a) won't have any DW or b) will have it at normal counter height merely to use as an expensive dish drying rack. I plan to set up the finalized "test" kitchen, and work it, live with all appliances and water installed, before we go too much further along. It'll be ugly as Hell, but I've lived with inconvenient and ugly for years. So getting it down to just one annoyance in the name of making sure I've got it right seems like a good trade-off. Since both rhome and bmorepanic have identified issues about the corner pantry area, that obviously needs more thought. The 30" door is fairly fixed in position; it can't move south (it may be possible to move it north) because this is a timber-framed building and its southern edge is right against an unmoveable framing member. That's what the small box with an X in it signifies. (Note the similar one on the opposite side behind the range; that one controls the placement of the stove vent hood.) I thought the diagonal step-in gave me more storage space than truncating it by running it straight across. The little closet is just a niche to store the fire extinguisher and emergency supplies. My current fridge probably won't last too many more years and then I thought a FD model would give me more useable space in front, which is why I'm planning for a larger appliance in that space from the start. bmorepanic's mention of the grocery-to-house pathway brings me to an admission about one of the driving forces of my plan. The grocery arrival path is actually through the sitting room door at the top of the drawing. One of my biggest issues with this house is the traffic flow from the outside to inside. It's a direct collision of three things: a)I live in a region of the country where no matter how formal the house, nobody except dead people in coffins ever uses the front door of farmhouses; b) even if I could manage to change this deeply-ingrained cultural pattern, the classical "front" Greek Revival facade of my house - complete with double door flanked by side and transom lights and appropriately dressed with columns and pilasters - is inaccessible to anyone who arrives by car; and c) it makes me ab-so-lute-ly nuts not to have a distinct, graduated, intimacy progression from outside to inside. This is the one thing (perhaps even more than the non-functional kitchen) which is at the root of this upheaval. I figure since I can't change either the people or the surroundings, the one thing I can change is the pathway they follow. So I've decided to alter the room functions to match my sensibilities; when people approach the house (by the inevitable backdoor entrance) they will find themselves, whether they like it or not, in my public reception rooms, leading to my formal rooms (sitting room, office, etc.). Buried deeper within the house are the rooms I consider more private, like the kitchen. It goes against the modern grain, I know, but to me kitchens are personal workspaces, truly the "heart of my private home", which is not something that I like to share with visitors. And definitely not where I want to entertain casual visitors from the census taker to local politicians stumping for votes to the man who comes to see me about the fencing. Right now the kitchen is the first space inside the house. Meh! It's not like I want to show off to my visitors or them feel uncomfortable - even my "formal" sitting room is very low key and approachable, and relaxed. But I so much want - and need - that step-wise gradation of intimacy, that I'll do anything to get it. I have gone and back and forth and back again weighing this. But in the end I have decided that if I can arrange my rooms to satisfy how I like and still leave the structure largely changed (because it is so old and I don't want to make structural changes), I'm willing to make some sacrifices: such as I'll have to bring the groceries in through the sitting room (actually the current kitchen) to get to my new kitchen. The additional the distance is only about about 6 feet longer (immaterial at a farm where the cars are stored in barns at least fifty feet away, not in attached garages), and it's unlikely it will be embarassing to us to haul the groceries through the sitting room, since we'll be the only ones present while hauling! I will put some more thought into the corner step-in area and see how it can be improved. Your observations are very useful to my planning. I truly appreciate the time and trouble you have taken. I'll post some updated sketches in this thread rather start a new one. May I also say thank you for your kind words about my amateur drawings. I have struggled to the point of tears trying to use computer room planning software. And because so many people who ask for advice have mastered this, until now, I have been too abashed by my lack of skill to post without a computer drawing. Back soon, with another version(s) of the corner pantry area. Anybody else want to put in their two cents? Nancy
...See More
Did we ever see a kitchen remodel that we didn't like on here?
Q
Comments (131)
One of the things I love about this kitchen forum is that I can see so many different styles. Sometime it reminds me of watching salsa dancing where you could watch 5 couples dancing and everyone is doing something a little different to make it their own. When I was working on my kitchen, I could look at pictures and see what things people did that called to me. One of the things I decided on based on the finished kitchen was going with taller crown molding. I didn't even know I liked it or wanted it (chuckle - this forum is great for finding things you didn't even know you wanted ) until I tried to figure out what it was about certain kitchens that appealed to me. Looking at the kitchen magazines aren't much help because they are showing the kitchen that is double my budget, double the space I have, and with whatever is the in trend that season. I like that we keep the finished kitchen thread nice. It is a celebration. You want to encourage people to post because it is helpful to the newcomers in figuring out your taste and style and really contributes to the sense of community. If I post that I really like X about someone's kitchen - then I really like X about their kitchen or I won't say anything. It's interesting because some of my favorite kitchens have been ones that I could never pull off but they had that something about them that was visionary.
...See More
Row Kitchen Reno, Round 3: Hidden Vent or Exposed; How Much Wall Tile?
Q
Comments (36)
“Do you have any exposed brick?” All of the brick is covered in plaster, but I would seriously consider exposing a brick wall. “Are your stair treads and risers wood?” No; carpet. But a future project will almost certainly be removing the dark laminate floors and replacing them with a lighter hardwood. When that happens, I suspect we’ll also remove the carpet from the stairs and install hardwood rises and treads. “Do you like the mood of your current dining room? It reads dark, without much ambient lighting.” Yes and no. I like the colors in the dining room – green paint, some original red-brown wood on the door and stair rail, white trim, and black cabinet (painted white inside). We have similar colors in the living room – the same green paint, white trim, reclaimed wood shelves supported by cast iron brackets, and a new (modern-ish) stained glass transom window over the door. There is a casual slipcover couch, that is white. The former fireplace, that is now a built-in bookcase, is also white. Red-brown piano. What we don’t like: the dining room is still a little dark, although new track lighting and brigher lights in center of the room have helped a lot. In some places the space in and between the rooms flows oddly. So I guess my overall inclination is to try to embrace some of the things that seem warm or quirky about the house - but open up the space, improve lighting, etc. “Have you decided what you are doing with the opening to the DR?” The plan right now is employ Rebunky’s idea. To cut away some of the left hand entry – the deep side – and infill the right wall only as deep and high as is necessary to cover the sides of the new cabinets. That keeps the space open for light to pass through, and it prevents any new visual barriers from hampering conversations between people in the kitchen and dining area. We have also tentatively decided on the skylight, and additional lights in the kitchen. There is a single overhead light in the kitchen now, so while the ceiling is out we’ll put in a series of new lights. “If you go with timeless neutrals you'll be able to decorate with color rather than rip out a backsplash when your taste changes.” This is very good point. And it sounds like everyone agrees that in trying to match the warmth and colors of the current house, we're getting too dark. I'm going to step back from the backsplash idea and try to think about what might keep the look a little more light or open. My original idea - gray and white - would certainly have been airier. We could, of course, still chose this. Then again, my husband likes the red-brown cabinets, and they do fit the setting. So maybe what I should think about is how to complement and balance the choice, rather than trying to layer on elements that dark or rich.
...See More
Seeking feedback on proposed plans for kitchen reno
Q
Comments (9)
I know remodeling a kitchen is exciting, but there are, unfortunately, many issues here. You've taken a good first step by posting your layout here for critique. Please keep in mind that we're trying to help, so do not take anything we tell you personally. At the end, I'll post links to the Kitchen Design FAQ threads that will help you understand what we are saying. . The aisles are a major issue here - unless you are the only person living in this home and you don't have visitors who help in the kitchen. Until I hear otherwise, I'm going to assume there are at least two of you in your home. . Aisles... You show an island with seating (at least I think that's what you have) with aisles that are too narrow even as single-person work aisles all around. Note: Aisles are measured counter edge-to-counter edge or to/from appliance door/handles, etc. - i.e., they're measured b/w the items that stick out into the aisle the farthest. It appears your aisles are measured cabinet-to-cabinet - so your aisles are 3" narrower than the labels indicate. Counter overhangs are around 1.5", so counting on both sides of the aisle, you have 3" less. Where there's an appliance on an aisle, you need to measure the aisle width from the handle, which, again, is not done on your layout. E.g., the 39" aisle b/w the island and sink wall is only 36" when it's counters, but it's even less in b/w the refrigerator and island unless the refrigerator is a true built-in and not a counter-depth. (Counter-depth refrigerators are actually 31" deep when you include the doors & handles.) The minimum recommended aisles: No seating on the aisle and no traffic: 42" for a one-person, and always a one-person, kitchen. 48" for two or more people working in the aisle No seating on the aisle with traffic 48" for a one-person, and always a one-person, kitchen 54" for two or more people working in the aisle Seating on the aisle and No cabinets, appliances, counters, or traffic (i.e., a dead-end with nothing behind the seats but a wall): 44" Cabinets, appliances, or counters; and no traffic: 54" No cabinets, appliances, counters; and traffic: 54" Cabinets, appliances, counters, and traffic: 60" . Zone locations... Your Prep Zone (if on the island) and Cleanup Zone are on top of each other with a possibly open DW door completely blocking the aisle and a safety hazard. That DW is also a barrier to the Cooking Zone - from both the Prep Zone to the range and from the refrigerator and the range. There's quite a bit of zone-crossing going on here. . Eat-in Kitchen... There isn't enough room in that space on the right for a traditional table and chairs. What might fit, if you remove whatever is on the far right, is a banquette. You will need at least 54" b/w the table and the island - assuming no seats on that end of the island. (If there were seats at both, no less than 60", with 72" much better.) . Now, the elephant in the room - the island... First, the sole reason the aisles are so tight is the island - a peninsula would work better in this kitchen. I know, islands are the current "fad" in kitchens - but when they don't fit in a space, they can create a nightmare - barrier islands, not enough aisle space, too shallow an overhang for comfort, etc. So, which do you have? All of the above. Your island is a barrier to the ovens and, I suspect, the MW. All the aisles around the island are too narrow. To make the island work in your case, you could remove the back wall of cabinets/counters/appliances. Removing them will give more space for sufficient aisles. Is the MW on that back wall? I.e., is the island a barrier to the MW - while not as bad as a barrier for the refrigerator or ovens, it's still an issue. Realistically, unless you use the MW a lot, it probably isn't a major issue, but it's something to think about. Your seating overhang is labeled as 9"...but, if you have a decorative door or finished end panel on the backs of the cabinets, then your overhang is really only 8". Here are the minimum recommendations. Note, they're recommendations for a reason and are crucial items in having seating that really works - regardless of what some may try to convince you otherwise. Counter-height seating (36" off the finished floor): Minimum of 15" of clear knee/leg space Bar-height seating (42" off the finished floor): Minimum of 12" (but more is needed on the surface if you plan to eat snacks or meals at the island - it needs to be deep enough to minimize knocking plates & glasses off the surface and onto the lower surface behind it - a pony wall usually helps here - or additional cabinets) Table-height seating (30" off the finished floor): Minimum of 18" to 19" Skimping on the overhang won't help. Human beings can cram their bodies into small places only to a certain point and only in certain circumstances - and sitting at a counter is not one of those circumstances. What will happen is that people will take the same amount of space in the aisle, but they will be very uncomfortable b/c they will have to lean far forward to reach the counter or they will have to sit sideways and twist - neither of which is comfortable for more than a few short minutes. Note that if the latter is chosen, you will also need more than 24" linear space per seat - you will need more like 30" to 36". Some people will "straddle" the cabinet backs - but again, that's not comfortable for any length of time and also requires additional linear space per seat. So, you will have slouching bodies sticking out into the aisle the same distance as if you had provided sufficient overhang. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Kitchen Design FAQ Threads... Kitchen work zones, what are they? http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638270/faq-kitchen-work-zones-what-are-they Aisle widths, walkways, seating overhangs, work and landing space, and others http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638304/faq-aisle-widths-walkways-seating-overhangs-work-landing-space-etc How do I plan for storage? Types of Storage? What to Store Where? http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638376/faq-how-do-i-plan-for-storage Ice. Water. Stone. Fire (Looking for layout help? Memorize this first) http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2699918/looking-for-layout-help-memorize-this-first In case you want us to help you redesign the space, here is the Layout Help FAQ: Layout Help: How do I ask for Layout Help and what information should I include? http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2767033/how-do-i-ask-for-layout-help-and-what-information-should-i-include
...See More
function_first
11 years ago
If you've found something that makes you swoon, that's a pretty logical thing to start with and build around -- having the inspiration kitchen picture to guild you will be a big help, too. You have to know where you're going to have hope of ever arriving, right? Excellent place to start. You'll surely have something you love when it's finished.
Sherrie Moore
11 years ago
All I can say is the tile looks beautiful!!! Go with what you love. And of course you have your inspiration picture to work with.
2LittleFishies
11 years ago
You have to start somewhere and I don't agree with the fact that many say the backsplash is at the end so don't look until then. Even some tile places told me to get everything else in place first... I think that's a little odd.
Most kitchens have one or two things that really drive the rest of the project and in your case it CAN be the backsplash tile! : ) I think it's beautiful!
lascatx
11 years ago
The only problem I see is in knowing how much you will need or having your plans or ideas change and wishing you had more. You could try to keep an eye on it and order or possibly order more if it looks like they are going to discontinue the tile.
angie_diy
11 years ago
Just think: one fewer "PLEASE help with BS quik!" thread down the line! ;-)
blfenton
11 years ago
The kitchen in your inspiration pic is the backdrop for the tile and the lights. Can you do the same thing without existing elements also fighting for attention? If so, there is no reason why you can't start with tile.

I carried around a hardwood floor sample with me for 2 years while planning our kitchen/house reno and everything had to work with it. Drove our KD nuts - oh well - that's how much I loved the floor.
wi-sailorgirl
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you all for the encouragement and for not thinking I'm nutty. One thing I learned with the reno is how quickly the budget goes down the tubes and I didn't want to budget for one thing and then fall in love with something more expensive and bust yet another budget. It's hard to be honest with yourself about how much something will cost, but so much better to face it in the beginning than at the end when you're scrambling for money (like we did when our reno went WAY over budget).
User
11 years ago
I thought a budget was what you could afford, not what things cost. So will you scramble for money for every part of your remodel since you want more than you can afford? (This topic is really about money, isn't it?)
sas95
11 years ago
We started with our backsplash tile. It actually made the rest of the kitchen design much easier. It's easier to find a cabinet color and countertop that goes with a tile than vice versa.
wi-sailorgirl
Original Author
11 years ago
May flowers, I suppose a budget is about what a person wants it to be. What I can afford and what I want to spend are for me two different things, although that may not be the case for everyone. What I know about the way I personally operate is that if I find something I truly love that's within the realm of reason, I will extend my budget to get it if I know I will regret it later if I don't. By having a very good idea of specifically what we want before we even start this project, I can ensure that the amount of money we save for this will cover the project. The whole point of this exercise to avoid scrambling for money. Our house renovation went over budget because there were unforeseen issues that popped up in our 74-year-old house and our banker had advised us to only borrow 10% more than the bid, which we found, in the end, to be a bit "optimistic" from the beginning. Live and learn, I guess.

So for me, a budget actually IS about what things cost, or rather, how much I want to spend on something.

And nope, I didn't think this post was at all about money until you brought it up.

SAS95 ... good point about the cabinet color being easy with a backsplash in mind. Thanks!
berardmr
11 years ago
So please don't keep us in suspense, what is the tile and who makes it?? -:)
wi-sailorgirl
Original Author
11 years ago
berardmr: There was no information with the sample they sent in the way of name or manufacturer of the tile (perhaps to keep me from sourcing it for less elsewhere?)

I got it from the company who did the tile for that Key West house, Island City Tile in Key West, but just surfing the web, it looks a LOT like this tile: http://www.marylandmosaics.com/natural-tiles-p-1313.html?osCsid=42fc7b90269027ad46ac550c1983ff93

What I like about it is that it's not as shiny as some MOP tiles I've seen in photos (although that could be the photo), and it doesn't read as irridescent, just bright.

The Island City Tile person told me the retail price was $25/sq. foot but that he could do better than that if I was buying "a good amount." My rough estimate is that I need about 20 square feet of backsplash (small kitchen).
Madeline616
11 years ago
I would've been thrilled to fall hard and fast early on for a b-splash. I fretted for weeks--okay, months-- until I found the right one.
caryscott
11 years ago
We have somewhat different budget approaches - I have learned to love what I can afford. Every budget should have room for a splurge somewhere though. It was my experience that choosing all the main elements before starting was helpful and helped move the project forward (no more shopping). Nothing wrong with planning and acquiring certain things while you save. I think the greater tendency is to put off home renovations too long - what are you going to get more use and enjoyment from than a home upgrade? I'm always a bit sad to see folks fixing up their homes to sell them.
User
11 years ago
"And nope, I didn't think this post was at all about money until you brought it up."

I guess I was confused by all the details about your budget, your financial trauma, and your savings and borrowing plans, along with the title. Since it was only about backsplash, maybe just a photo and a request for opinions would have been sufficient.
Jamie
11 years ago
One thing that strikes me about the beauty of that kitchen is the natural bamboo (or whatever) shades. They really set off the other elements and strike a nice note of not-white.

Whoops, didn't mean to plan THIS much for kitchen reno

Comments (18)

breezygirl

badgergal

Related Discussions

function_first

Sherrie Moore

2LittleFishies

lascatx

angie_diy

blfenton

wi-sailorgirl
Original Author

User

sas95

wi-sailorgirl
Original Author

berardmr

wi-sailorgirl
Original Author

Madeline616

caryscott

User

Jamie

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Whoops, didn't mean to plan THIS much for kitchen reno

Comments (18)

Related Discussions

wi-sailorgirlOriginal Author

wi-sailorgirlOriginal Author

wi-sailorgirlOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

wi-sailorgirl
Original Author

wi-sailorgirl
Original Author

wi-sailorgirl
Original Author