Here is the link to my photos on HGTV rate my space. Not sure how to post photos on this forum.

Here is a link that might be useful: Eclectic kitchen.........Opinions Please???

Welcome Mpeg!

Check out the "Read Me" thread. It has a lot of helpful information for using this Forum, including a link to how to post pictures.

There's also a Finished Kitchens Blog (link is also in the "Read Me" thread) where you can see hundreds of GWers kitchens...including pictures & product lists. The pictures will help give you ideas on styles, finishes, & colors as well as layouts.

Here is a link that might be useful: Read Me If You're New To GW Kitchens!

I think it's gorgeous! Go for it.

Laurie

I'm confused. Do I see both a range & a cooktop in your plan?

I notice there's no vent hood over the range, are you planning one? I hope the answer is "yes"!

Have you considered putting the sink under the window and having your peninsula all one level? Bi-level peninsulas/islands limit the functionality of those surfaces. You lose the large work areas and I think, especially in a small kitchen, it looks choppier to have multiple levels. There has been quite a bit of discussion on this topic recently.

As to the finish, do I think it will go out of style? In general, no. I think there will always be a place for the rustic look...at least that's how I see it w/the knotty alder and natural looking finishes + paint. BTW...I love the look as well. I saw a similar St. James kitchen that I fell in love with when I first started looking...but St. James was out of my budget! I tried, initially, to imitate it in Omega, but ultimately I went with what I have now...and, for me, I think what I have is probably better.

Good luck!

Buehl,

All excellent points. I so want that range hood but I am so limited with my space. I need to find a way to incorporate a built in microwve somewhere,maybe the pantry & do a slide in oven on the penninsula or where it show the cooktop, whihc by the way is a mistake. Then I might possibly be able to do the beautiful hood. But doing this I would lose my pantry. All good points. Since this is going to be open concept, open to the living room, we raised the penninsula. I do agree with you completely though that all one level is more functional.
Thanks for the input. Any and all ideas and suggestions welcome!

I think it is a neat look, but I do think it will date itself. That being said, most things do date themselves. I wonder if you could get a similar look by using some of the elements--two different cabinet colors (maybe perimeter and island), tumbled backsplash and tile floor. What really are the elements that you love?

It is hard to say if you should just go for what you love or do what you think will last. Will this be your forever house or will you sell soon?

The cabinets remind me of berryberry's beautiful kitchen

Here is a link that might be useful: berryberry's finished kitchen

I have 2 questions...Do you plan on selling any time soon? and... What's the style of the rest of your house?

If the answer to the 1st question is 'yes,' I'd do the finishes, but tone down the embellishments. If you're not selling in the foreseeable future, and you truly love the look and always have, then have what you'll love.

I would be careful with going with such a strong style if it doesn't suit the rest of your house. Again, if the house doesn't support it, I think you could do a lighter version of the same style. Berryberry's is a good example of the different finishes with cleaner lines. You could, perhaps, land somewhere in between the two.

Best wishes. It is a vision with great potential.

Hi, mpeg,
I do like the two tone kitchen very much. The knotty alder looks beautiful, and if the color on my computer monitor is correct, the painted finish is lovely as well. That, with the beadboard, gives the room a rustic European farmhouse look to my eyes. As others have said, I would tone down the embellishments, but only because they are not to my taste. In particular, the detail on the cooktop hood and the corbels(is that the right word?) I love the backsplash design above the cooktop, but would probably eliminate the design running along the top of the counter. Other than that, I don't think you can go wrong with this. Good luck.

I think the picture and finishes are beautiful but I agree that if you tone down all the embellishments you can still get the same beautiful look that would stand the test of time more.
Look at tuscan villas and farmhouses online for inspiration. If you notice they have alot of your elements but with simpler lines.

I looked at your layout and based on the pic and what you said I know you don't have a huge kitchen. I wonder if using all of the elements from your inspiration pic may be too heavy or elborate in a smaller space. I think if you consider taking the concept of a two tone kitchen and choose cabs with one more of the elements you love it could work beautifully. I think the heavy glazing, beadboard, thick legs, corbels, and embellishments all used in a narrower space then your inspiration pic may be too overpowering. The knotty alder wood is earthy and wonderful and goes beautifully with the cream cabs. I think you have a great start for a unique kitchen that you'll love.

In answer to your questions. No, we don't plan on selling anytime soon. This will be our house for many years to come to the best of my knowledge. My style of house is evolving, it could go anyway. It was built in 1992, story and a half with a fairly open floor plan. I just removed the wallpaper in my living room and painted it BM Providence Olive which we love. I am leaning towards a tuscan look. All my furniture is being replaced. So I will have absolutely noithing left of my dated styles. I appreciatre all of your thoughts I will definitely check out berryberry's kitchen. Thanks for the suggestions. All are appreciated.

Victoriajane

I do agree completely with you on the backsplash. Colors are lovely but there are to many details. It doesn't need that with everything else going on. I agree with all of you on the embellisments and as remodelfla says and I agree completely, I really don't have the space for it. Something has got to go. Marybeth1, I think what you said is what worries me most is will it stand the test of time. If it's toned down it will be more likely. My layout has to change a bit also to get the elements I want. I do love berrybery's kitchen, That is really the idea to have something just a little different. I think I will go for it but it will have to be modified for my space. I do like the finishes. Thanks so much everyone. I just needed some feedback on this.

If you love the Tuscan look, I say go with it. berryberry's kitchen is similar with the two tones and less embelishments and turned out great. Let this be your inspiration pic and then make the changes that fit your space and turn it into your kitchen. Some of the people on GW have far surpassed their original inspiration pics. Welcome and this looks like it's going to be a fun kitchen :)

I'm curious...is this sample in a 10" ceiling room? And your drawings...they appear to show an 8' ceiling to me.

I think this look would be overwhelming if you don't have a lot of space outside of this area. And even more so if you have average ceilings (which I do as well). Leaving off the glass cabs because of a low ceiling would really make this heavy look even heavier.

I don't see it as eclectic at all, just some sort of tuscan antique thing. It's interesting...I don't care for it, especially in a small space, but that does not mean it can't be made lovely in the right home...but I personally would think that the "right" home for this style is a HUGE kitchen.

I would go for it. The look could be changed later if you get tired of it just by painting out the lighter colored cabs and hood to a darker color to give them less pop. You could even phopaint them in a darker wood grain.Paint the trim on the other cabs the darker color to match and you would have a new look to the kitchen.

Yes, my ceilings are 8 feet. I would have to leave off the glass part at the top. We are opeing up the wall which is where the penninsula will be, then a few feet out from the penninsula my ceilings raise to 16 feet in the living room with 2 skylights in the celing and lots of natural light. I really thought this would prevent the darks wood from becoming to heavy, also combining it with the lighter elemtns it helps brighten things up. I do want to put in handscraped hickory hardwood floors. This would be throughout the kitchen, dining room, and living room. I like the tile but I want the flow of having the floors all the same. I knew there would be people who don't like this kitchen. It's definitely not for eveyone, and I respect that. It makes a very strong statement. You can correct me on the eclectic if you like. I call that mixing the different elements, details, finishes, and embellishments. I do agree it's tuscan, antique looking. I am worried about using it in "my smaller space" That is why I posted here to get ideas. I appreciate all suggestions and all thoughts negative or positive. I do think not having enough space is a huge concern. One reason I thought this style would work is because we are opening this space up and removing a wall. Our living room is large. There are only two of us living here. Empty nesters. I can't see the expense of expanding. Not in this econmic climate and the area I live in. I was hoping by opening up the space it would give us a nice entertaining area. It is a load bearing wall so a support column is needed at the end of the penninsula. For this reason I really can't have an island. I am limited, I do have to be realistic. That's not always easy!

I think it sounds lovely I would love more natural light . My small kitchen is in the middle of the house no windows only skylights. I would love to open it up to the dining room but like you have load bearing wall issues. It is just the three of us and DS is 17 soon to be going off to college so the expense scares me too. You sound like you are off to a great start remember it is your kitchen go with what you like and are drawn to.

Hi- I've done something similar to that with my kitchen, mixed finishes, corbels, turned legs, etc. I'm very happy with the way it turned out. It may date itself, but if you love it, that is what matters. My perimeter cabinets are knotty cherry, instead of the knotty alder. My island does have a glaze on it, although the picture doesn't show it well.

Susan205,

That is an absolutely drop dead gorgeous kitchen. I love it, and I think it is timeless. Beautiful granite! What is it called? Are your cabinets custom> The way you've done your kitchen is really how I would like mine done but since we are removing a load bearing wall there wold be one odd support column. Plus I think you have more space. I don't see how you could ever get tired of that. One of the prettiest kitchens I've seen!

Thanks so much. The granite is called Sienna Bordeaux, and it is fabulous! Yes, the cabs are custom. He did a great job working with some really weird angles. I'm very pleased with it. I have a finished kitchen thread on here somewhere with a bunch of pics if you want to search for my name it should come up. Let me know if you have more questions.
Susan

I hate to toss cold water on things but have to say that you need to evaluate just how much you really, really like to clean before you plunge into cabinetry with some much intricate detail & open nooks & crannies. :)

ci_lantro's

That is a good point. I really don't like to clean that much. I hate to say it but I see something that looks good to me and sometimes I don't think about the practical side.

How about changing the wood to just alder instead of knotty alder. That would be one less competing element. Looking at berryberry's kitchen, I don't see why that wouldn't work. It would take away from the rustic element. But would it be a bit more timeless and less difficult to decorate with? Would it be a bit more on the elegant side? I really don't know I am just asking? I'm not always good about staying on track with a style. That is why I don't alwasy trust my own judgement. I have no decorating experience. I just tend to know what I liike when I see it.