Farmhouse Kitchen-- Advice on Flooring?
jenp4
16 years ago
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Comments (31)
plllog
16 years agoRelated Discussions
Seeking layout advice, please for old farmhouse kitchen
Comments (6)First of all, THANK YOU for taking the time to read this, look at my plan, and assist me. In response to some of the questions/comments... The right side that desertsteph mentioned not being able to see/read on the drawing - right now there is a large old butcher block table there, with 3 wall cabs and some shelves above. We do not use the table - it basically collects junk. I think that area could be used much more efficiently. Yes, this is mostly "steamlining and prettying up"! I'm not opposed to changing things *if* it really makes sense to do it but am not looking to change things just for the sake of change. I think I have a good base and there is no need to tear it all out and start from scratch. I just want to be sure that I am making the most efficient and effective decisions. I was thinking of putting another oven beside the refrigerator; it seems like the easiest place for a new appliance. I do have a floor-to-ceiling pantry that holds a ton of stuff. If I don't put in a second oven, the space beside the refrigerator would probably be a combo of deep drawers and a good sized pantry cabinet, and/or some kind of built-in microwave as right now we have a countertop MW that just sits on an old dresser! The floor is pine planks - very pretty, warm color - all the first floor floors are the same material, and it will remain. The hall door sees the least traffic, so it seems like the cook center is already in the best place given that I need to keep 5 doors into this space. The space between the island and the kitchen table is basically a corridor to the living room, so that needs to stay clear. I briefly considered a new countertop with an overhang on that side but the overhang would make my existing top drawers unusable, so I ruled that out. We do not have an entry room or mudroom at this entrance to the house; there is a brick patio outside this door. Our laundry room is as long as the kitchen but about 6 ft wide; part of this is a half bath, some is laundry, and the rest is storage and "mud room" functions. There is a lot packed into that little space but it works pretty well. I have aspirations of building a covered stoop at the back since we do use this entrance all the time, but that will be a few years away. I don't think our site setbacks would allow a full mudroom or entry here. I like the shelf above the cabinets too, although I'm not much of a collector, so I don't know what to put up there. I'm short so it is too high for me to access for storage, and works as display only. I'm having outlets installed above the shelf as part of this project so I can install lighting up there to light the ceiling. My finish plan is: *keep the floors *cover the ceiling with an anaglyptic wallcovering that looks like tin tiles which will be painted white *install crown mold all around, painted white *paint the cabinets white, add a "light rail" piece of trim to the bottoms, switch out the hinges with something less obtrusive, change the pulls on the drawers to bin pulls, and change the door pulls to new ORB/white porcelain pulls *paint the wainscot and trim (now blue) dark brown, picking up on the darkest brown tones of the floor and the dark brown fleck in the laminate countertop *paint the walls a very light cream/yellow (BM Pearly Gates, I think) *I'd hoped to replace the countertop to the left of the range with Corian to match what's on the right. It's probably 20 years old and it looks great, but this CT is so old that I am having trouble matching it. I am still looking at options here - would like to use something white/light colored but have also considered the Ikea butcher block for economy reasons, although I am not sure I am up to that DIY project *I bought subway tile for the backsplash at the range, but I have to replace the CTs first because they are not currently at the same height (only a fraction of an inch off, but against the lines of the tile it will be really evident) I guess my biggest question is - is it worth it to consider moving the sink? Would I gain the same benefit by undermounting a new sink at the existing location on the island and having a butcher block piece made to cover half of it to expand the prep area? That would certainly be less expensive, but would it be as effective as the combination of a main sink and a prep sink? I appreciate your time and your thoughts. Thanks for your help!...See MoreFarmhouse kitchen not so charming (help and advice)
Comments (19)The wood cabinets look pretty substantial in the photos --- I am guessing either custom made locally or from a pretty high end cabinetry shop, based on the depth of the raised panels. Lucky for you! I love wood cabinets that have a little bit of a rustic look, and think that works really well with a blue and white kitchen color scheme. There is a certain shade of blue I call cobalt that has been a traditional kitchen color forever, and it's easy to find all kinds of accessories in that color family. See also this story about thrift shop finds.... [https://www.houzz.com/discussions/thrift-store-find-blue-and-white-dishes-my-first-dsvw-vd~2266363[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/thrift-store-find-blue-and-white-dishes-my-first-dsvw-vd~2266363) While you are living with this kitchen until you own it and can make changes with less risk, remember that you can hang things on the walls in colors you like to cover up some of the big expanses of green -- the blue and white plates are just an example. Could be posters that make you happy! If I lived there and realized that the border is the thing that bothered me THE MOST, in the short term I would probably just cover it up! I'd paint some big sheets of construction paper with the color that's on the walls (you can use the cheap kids' tempera paints for this, just mix til you get close to the shade) and then cut the sheets to the right size so I could tape them over the offending border. What a relief! Then you can live without that "distraction" while you work on plans for your ultimate changes once you own, since as others have said, removing layers of wall paper is a major pain. I honestly think that with enough blue and white you might be OK with the green, if you lie blue that is. And agree that better lighting can really brighten things up in an old kitchen. FINALLY the subject of green in a kitchen reminded me that the cabinets in Julia Child's kitchen (now in the Smithsonian!) were green. Her husband made them for her -- they are a lighter shade than your walls. But I did find this intriguing photo of a kitchen she used in Southern France, with dark wood cabinetry and yet another strategy for covering kitchen walls -- pegboard to keep tools handy!...See MoreKitchen Sink Advice: Stainless farmhouse or stainless undermount?
Comments (65)After getting the sink installed I'm regretting not purchasing a self-trimming apron front sink instead. When the contractors cut the cabinet, it left a small gap around the sink edges (and a few chips too). The contractor says they'll cover it with scribe molding so you won't see it, and hopefully that will resolve the issue. Wonder if other folks here with this sink or similar ones have had the same issue? Video showing the gaps around the sink here: https://1drv.ms/v/s!AmD8KjGtqRzxjohVhtoxF_BKmAksdQ?e=N315sO...See MoreModern Farmhouse loft alternative? Floor plan advice please!
Comments (10)When you have to start changing an internet poorly designed plan, then maybe it's time to instead sit down with an architect to create a house that will in fact work for you and your family. What do you like about this poorly designed plan? Here is my list again. Anything in bold needs to be rethought even before rethinking the two story loft that is just wasted space. The best houses orient the public rooms towards the south for the best passive solar heating and cooling The best houses are L, U, T, H, or I shaped. The best houses are only one to two rooms deep. And covered lanai, porches, garages, etc count as rooms in this case. The best houses make sure kitchens have natural light, meaning windows so one doesn't have to have lighting 24/7 to use the kitchen. (And no, dining areas with windows 10' or more from the kitchen will not allow for natural light.) The best houses make sure all public rooms and bedrooms have windows on at least two walls. The best houses do not if possible put mechanical rooms, pantries or closets on outside walls The best houses do not have diagonal interior walls making for odd spaces. The best houses keep public and private spaces separate. The best houses do not have you walk through the work zone of the kitchen to bring laundry to the laundry room. The best houses do not have the mudroom go through any of the work zones of the kitchen. The best houses do not use the kitchen as a hallway to any other rooms. The best houses do not put toilets or toilet rooms up against bedroom walls or dining areas. The best houses do not have walk in closets too small to stand inside. The best houses do not have roofs that are overly large, and dominate the exterior of the house. The best houses do not have stick on exterior materials only on the front façade. The best houses have an organizing “spine” so it’s easy to determine how to get from room to room in the house and what makes sense. Meaning they don’t have meandering circulation paths. And added from Architectrunnerguy: -The best houses enrich their owners souls. -The best houses are timeless. -The best houses incorporate the intangibles of good design. -The best houses have strong organizational concepts. -The best houses have owners who understand what good design is….and isn’t. -The best houses are shaped in response to the Sun. -The best houses have all its parts in good proportion to each other and to the whole. -The best houses enhance the street. -The best houses balance function, aesthetics and construction. -The best houses recognize there are always design tradeoffs. -The best houses break some “rules”. -The best houses are a joy to live in....See Moreajpl
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