Do what you enjoy.

A dated kitchen, in my eyes, is one that simply doesn't have enough electrical outlets for todays appliances.

Welcome to the wonderful world of commodity fetishism. People buy things to be "in with the in crowd," and reduce their social anxiety. Other people want to see themselves as slightly ahead of the game, and therefore a couple of notches higher on the social scale, so as soon as something becomes popular, it is disparaged as "so <insert time period>" and therefore so very... common.

At the same time, everyone is supposed to "express personal style" using standardized components that came off an assembly line. Just to narrow it down even further, one is supposed to choose components that are not "dated." Decoding what is "not dated" largely determines one's score in this game.

At a bare minimum, one simply has to have backsplash tile all the way up the wall, otherwise the world will end. Anything other than stone counters is practically illegal. A four inch coved formica stub risks the end of life as we know it. Ultimately, one is restricted to a tiny kit of parts, as Marcolo pointed out.

This has nothing to do with good design, originality, personal style, freedom, or happiness, of course. But it shows that the real purpose of much spending is conspicuous consumption-- shelling out a lot of money, and even going into debt, in order to appear to be wealthy. The impossible double bind of the middle class!

Beachem - me too! We recently finishined our renovation with grey cabinets and white farm sink. My inspiration pics were before I knew how trendy it was. However, no one we know has a grey kitchen. Family and friends have been asking how we chose such a unique color scheme. I believe if you go with what you love and what will make you smile when you come home you will not be dissappointed. If someone chooses finishes to be on trend and not loved the room will go stale quickly.

I lived in Seattle for 10 years in apartments with dreary beige kitchens. I would have chosen much more color if I still lived in the grey weather.

When we moved into this house in 1994 I put up wallpaper, with an off-white and light gray print, in the stairwell and upstairs hallway, and painted the trim gray. My DD and her husband just removed the wallpaper, painted the walls light gray, and painted the trim off-white. They used the same colors in the upstairs bathroom. They like it, and I hope it lasts another 20 years, whether or not it will still appeal to the masses.

ETA, the first gray kitchen I remember was Sally Wheat's kitchen--I think maybe she started the trend: google search--Sally Wheat's kitchen

At 62, I'm pretty 'dated' myself. And I should worry about my kitchen?!?

another PNW'er going with gray and white, likely subways, farm sink...

my house is a 79 modern ranch...with brick that has been white washed poorly inside and out. It also has a horizontal wood wall behind the oversized white washed brick fireplace surround that was white washed. (The whole house for resale was covered in white paint on the inside.) My husband likes the wood wall. I painted it chocolate brown. First bit of color I added when we moved in, like day 3. I would love to bring the bricks back to their original colors. My floor plan is open but has odd wall placements. I adore a country/farmhouse style kitchen, but sleek and modern would be okay too. I will attempt to make a very transitional home when it's all done. But it doesn't matter if its not liked by others....it's our forever home. So in or out doesn't matter.

This has nothing to do with good design, originality, personal style,
freedom, or happiness, of course. But it shows that the real purpose of
much spending is conspicuous consumption-- shelling out a lot of money,
and even going into debt, in order to appear to be wealthy. The
impossible double bind of the middle class!

I apologize for the length of this post. I didn't set out to write a novel. :-) I felt strongly about a comment that was made and thought I had something positive to contribute to the conversation. No offense taken if you don't want to read the whole thing!

LOL nightowl! ;-)

blfenton, thanks for the nice compliment! I hope it does just that. Perhaps I should specify that 4 years ago I moved from the greater Seattle area over the mountains to Spokane to go to Gonzaga. Right now we have over a foot of snow on the ground. But summers are hot and sunny! If I were still in Seattle, I might not go for so much gray, but then again...who knows?

Dan1888, you make a very good point! I have done a LOT of "research," i.e. looking at a lot of houses and remodels on the internet. I really have gotten the best ideas here on the gardenweb forums. It's really nice to communicate with real people who have actually gone through the process themselves because they understand the angst and know the pitfalls to avoid. I really appreciate all of you! I can't wait to do my IKEA kitchen design and show it all to you because I know you'll be honest and tell me if something won't work and why.

zorrowslw1, the great thing about paint is that it isn't that expensive to do over if a color ends up not being what you had hoped. It's also the biggest bang for your buck if you're on a budget...newly painted cabinets and walls can give a kitchen a real face lift for a couple of hundred bucks or less. Way to go!

And I agree with you and all my fellow commenters who basically said, do it the way you want it, not the way some magazine or forum told you to do it, especially as far as colors and design choices go. I definitely will want people to tell me if my kitchen design has functionality flaws! I've never had the opportunity to gut a kitchen and start from scratch, so it is a real learning process, and if you all can save me from some costly mistakes, I trust you'll let me know! :-)

My ex and I had these real estate agents (married couple) who hated every design idea I came up with for a new home we had purchased back in the mid-90's. Everything I mentioned was going to "affect resale value." Their house? It had the same "neutral" paint, carpets, floors, etc. that it came with. I asked the wife once if she liked her house that way. She said, "I hate it." Why don't you change it? "Because you have to keep everything neutral and bland" for the resale. Even if that's true, and I'm not certain it is, I still wouldn't live in an environment I hated just because some day I might move and potential buyers won't like my wall colors!

However, in this case, this will be my last home. Of course, never say never, but as far as I can tell at this point, I won't be moving again, for a number of solid reasons. And my house is a fixer-upper, so pretty much anything I do will be an improvement.

beachem, I understand your need for accessibility. I too have severe rheumatoid arthritis, and I'm trying to plan my remodel knowing that I use a walker now, but may very well have to transition to a wheelchair in the future.

artemis_ma, LOL! Yep, one problem with older homes is definitely a shortage of outlets. mushcreek, haha! But you're right, as are the other commenters, in that there is no way to avoid the dreaded "dated" label, unless you can afford to remodel every few years.

scone911, I kindly and respectfully disagree with your conclusion. I never felt any vibe from beachem, nor from our fellow commenters, that she is trying to deal with some sort of anxiety by trying to appear more wealthy than she actually is. Nor did she say she is "shelling out a lot of money," or "going into debt" to remodel her kitchen. Yes, I mentioned that we are all very lucky here in the U.S. to have homes to remodel, and I apologize if that came off sounding judgmental, because that was not my intention! I only meant that it's good to put things in perspective once in a while. It was definitely not intended to be a wag of the finger to anyone who's taking their time to find colors that will be soothing and happy for them.

I mentioned that I've spent a lot of time looking at photos of other homes and reading this forum to help me make choices. As I've said, this is my first time remodeling a whole home, and it will be my last. I have a limited budget, and I can't do it twice, so I have to live with my choices for what I hope will be a very long rest of my life. It has nothing whatsoever to do with "trying to appear wealthy." LOL The house I just bought is a 14x56 1979 single wide mobile home! I dare anyone to come over and tell me I'm trying to appear wealthier than I actually am, lol.

I got this house practically given to me. Because I try to live below my means and save up money, and because of a certain academic grant that I have, I will have a budget to remodel it. Not a big budget. My remodel for my eat-in kitchen (no dining room) is $20,000. That's for everything except the floors, because all new floors throughout is a separate budget item. But it includes all new cabinetry, new sink, new counters (I can't afford stone, so they will be laminate), a stand-alone pantry, a kitchen table and 4 chairs, an area rug under the table and a matching 2x3 for in front of the sink, backsplash, double paned windows, paint, and all new appliances...refrig, stand up freezer, dishwasher, range, hood/microwave combo.

And I'm doing it all for cash, no loans or credit cards. And I'm not embarrassed in the least that I will be living in a manufactured home, or that my kitchen will be IKEA with Sears appliances and a dash of Home Depot and Lowe's thrown in. Plus, thrift shops and the Habitat Store. I'm actually pretty proud that I can completely gut a kitchen and eat-in space for $20,000! I happen to be really good at shopping, sourcing, and decorating on a shoestring budget. I'm paying less for all my appliances in total than my brother paid for his refrigerator! And I'm good with that.

I made certain choices in life and I am very happy with those choices. I do research in Africa, mostly Zambia, and I also help support various things/people there. Research and teaching isn't all the glamour it's cracked up to be, haha! I do what I do because I love it, and I'm perfectly happy with my lower than average income. I would be mortified if someone said I'm trying to appear to be something I'm not.

I have not been over at the design forum. But I will say that on this kitchen forum I've mentioned several times that the house I'm refurbishing is an old manufactured home. And you know what? Not one single snide, sarcastic, or rude remark. People here seem really happy to help me with my kitchen plans! That leads me to conclude that the folks here are really nice people, and confirms my life and worldview that people are basically good.

So just like beachem and our fellow commenters here, I'm not picking my design, color, materials, or appliances thinking, "ooh I hope I impress my internet friends and they won't know I live in a mobile home!" LOL. I have agonized over my colors. But that's because I will have to live with them for the rest of my life, if I'm lucky. My kitchen needs to be functional, universally accessible, and yes...beautiful. 85% of my work, when I'm in the States, is done from my home, so I want to surround myself with beautiful things. And I don't consider that to be "conspicuous consumption." Nor do I judge anyone else's choices. I answer the questions that are asked on this forum, if I think I have something to contribute to the conversation. And I always tell people, if it's beautiful to YOU, then it's beautiful! And I mean that.

beachem didn't actually have a question. She was just sharing her viewpoint, which was very positively supported here by the community, that you can't go wrong with picking something timeless and classic that YOU like, because everything becomes dated sooner or later...sooner, from the sounds of it, lol! I too didn't know gray was "in" when I started thinking about it. I also didn't know that farmhouse sinks were all the rage...although I just read somewhere that they're "on the way out" too, haha! I picked out a farmhouse sink (IKEA) because I sit on a stool to wash dishes and it's very likely at some point I'll be doing them from a wheelchair. Undermounted farmhouse sinks are the easiest sinks to work with for someone with a mobility disability because you can get right up to them without leaning over 3" of counter. I'm not trying to be pretentious or trying to fool someone with money I don't have...I'm trying to do my dishes with less back pain. And I'm OK with that choice. And I'd be OK with it if a million people told me farmhouse sinks are "out." :-)

Are Americans too consumerist? Probably. Do Americans think too much about what the neighbors think? Possibly. Am I guilty of that? Sure, at times. Does that mean beachem and the rest of us who have chosen to comment are so caught up in discussing the pros and cons of a gray kitchen scheme that we are a cautionary tale for everything that's wrong with the middle class? Absolutely not. We're all just trying to be the best stewards of our money for something that is very expensive...a kitchen remodel. And I really like that there are people on this forum who are willing to take time out of their busy schedules to support each other.

Anyway, that's my perspective. Others may see it differently. And that's OK. :-)

"your "dated" kitchen"

well, your kitchen is doing better than I am!

Debbie B - "I'm trying to plan my remodel knowing that I use a walker now, but may very well have to transition to a wheelchair in the future"

this is very important to do now while you're remodeling - even if some things won't really be needed yet. I'm doing that as I replace door 'knobs' to lever handles, faucets from 2 to 1 handle etc. My flooring - vinyl planks for ease of cleaning with a dog and my allergies and ease of falling on, ease of pulling up if a water leak ... and budget. carpet was out, tile was out (that's usually out for a mfg home unless extra reinforcement is put in).

living in a big beautiful home doesn't make one happy - I've been that route. You also have to consider what you can keep up with now and in your future. Those are things I have to deal with also. I also spent a good number of yrs in a few crappy rental houses to be in town close to where I worked. With a rental you can't even really do anything to fix them up - and most LLs won't either.

you're fortunate to have a fairly decent budget for your kitchen. maybe not by a lot of standards, but I'm with you on not going for broke to remodel. I guess there's just a lot of things like that that don't seem as important to me anymore.

not that I don't love to 'see' others putting together their gorgeous places, I just don't have the strength or drive to do it myself.

I hope you keep us updated on what you do - and yes, you'll get help on your layout here so you don't make any unknown blunders you'll have to live with. we love doing that. Some of the best redos on here have been maybe 10,000 or less - amazing what can be done with little amounts of money, creativity and bargain shopping. (not that 10,000 is little to me). I'm all about spending as little as possible - love a bargain and 2nd hand stores.

"scone911, I kindly and respectfully disagree with your conclusion. I never felt any vibe from beachem, nor from our fellow commenters, that she is trying to deal with some sort of anxiety by trying to appear more wealthy than she actually is."

That's about 180 degrees from what I meant. I never said or implied that any particular commenter had any particular motivation. That includes the OP. Obviously OP is not going to remodel the kitchen because gray is suddenly uncool, but she/he hears the messages, nevertheless, and felt compelled to start a thread about it. That's the essence of social pressure. What I'm saying is, if you want to follow your own gleam, you are going to have to resist that pressure, and it might cost you something-- financially or socially.

The market itself is subject to the same pressure to be "in style," and often creates changes simply to force new sales, with knockoffs at various price points. Witness the takeover of stainless steel from the very high end "professional" stoves to the low end stuff at Home Depot. (But just try asking for something deviant like a pink refrigerator-- the salespeople there will look at you like you've got two heads!) And if you don't think there's social pressure to overspend, go over to the Appliance forum. Boy, howdy.

Just to be clear, I think people should do whatever they want. I also think obsession with material goods is crazy-making. And while we all have to live with our choices for some period of time, we should not feel trapped by our choices, such that everything has to be "perfect." At worst we become so obsessed with "resale value" that we don't own our choices at all. That's just another form of social pressure. It's as if we have all become house flippers. I know I have.

Look. It's just a house. Doesn't matter if it's a single wide or a McMansion. Everything in the material world wears out, or we get sick of it eventually and crave change. The best cabinets will get knicks, granites will chip, laminates peel, wallpaper stains, pipes leak, tile is installed badly. We can't buy "perfect"-- nothing will stop the wear and tear process. So why fight it? Who needs all that anxiety?

Personally I'm over the trophy kitchen phenomenon. My current kitchen has vinyl floors, Home Depot cabinets, butcher block counters, "downmarket" white appliances, an IKEA sink. I threw it together in a couple of weeks, with the help of a handyman and my DH. Very imperfect installation, and a layout that defies many standard GW rules. And yet, it's one of the best kitchens I've ever had.

However, if I posted a picture of this kitchen (except perhaps in the Smaller Homes forum), I have no doubt some folks would think it's not "upscale" enough, with plenty of suggestions on how to "improve" it. That's social pressure.

Sadly, when I do sell this house in a year or so, I will be pressured to knuckle under to market dictates, if I want to get my best price. So the butcher block counters may be replaced with granite. It's crazy, but that's the real estate treadmill for you. Conform to the norm or get a financial smackdown.

The message I'm trying to convey is, resistance is not futile. Try to figure out what you really want, separate that from what other people are trying to talk you into, then install and get on with your life, knowing that nothing is perfect.

And if you find a pink refrigerator, I'm in. :)

Lots of these "2016 trends" floating around. Thought I would post this one. Seems more down to earth then some of the others I have read.

http://www.mariakillam.com/trends2016/?inf_contact_key=b36aa6881e4e0010a547bf93943136aece3bb9cdc3aa09d4f3fa37ab2caa12ca

I clipped this image from a BHG Kitchen mag about 10 yrs ago because I loved the blue-gray stained armoire.

Transitional Craftsman Kitchen · More Info

Transition Craftsman Kitchen · More Info

Fast forward to 2015 when we chose a blue-gray stain for our cherry island and hutch.

Ah, well, we love it and intend to stay put until we can't manage the stairs anymore so we don't really care if it's going to shout "2015" when we sell because it's going to be dated by then anyway.

PS Nice to "meet" more fellow PNWers. As long as gray is mixed with lots of color, I'm okay with it. But I'm also less bugged by our gray days than DH who's a native (I've only been here 28 yrs, ha).

As a confirmed old house lover I'm never happier than when I find decoration that's "dated" appropriate to the house. An un-remuddled victorian, Craftsman bungalow, or even MCM house flying it's original colors is vastly preferable and has far more integrity than a place that's been tarted up with the latest from Pottery Barn, Ikea, or whatever's actually in style now. Good design, well executed in good materials will always look great, even if it is clearly "dated". The only thing that is an almost guaranteed fail is a design done for some future, unknown buyer-- it will surely be mediocre and boring, enjoyed neither by the person who spent the money on it nor that unknown future buyer who will rip it out to install something to their (or better, the houses') taste.

Do you really think the kitchen/bath industry can push this" renovate every nanosecond mindset" for too much longer. Renovations might continue in terms of number, but the dollar spent will be much less. That means cabinets will stay, maybe professional stoves are not being purchased.... but counters, hardware, lighting ,flooring can get a makeover ..... the folks here doing extensive changes are just fortunate to get help here and many have good budget to work with. But the people that can't do a renovation or can only swap counters or paint or get a new fridge won't surface here.....and they are the majority.

Wel said, rwiegand.

To The Other PNW Folks - just a teasingly said last comment about the gray skies and whether or not someone wants gray in their home....I live on the coast less than 40 miles from the Olympic Rainforest and, believe me, we laugh when Portlanders and Seattleites complain about rain and gray skies. You both average about 40" a year in rainfall. We have double that. We also have much cooler summer temperatures. Heck, it is literally front page newspaper news when the thermometer hits 80. Seriously, I'm not joking. Usually accompanied by photos of kids jumping through sprinklers or swimming at a local river. And even in the summer, it's not unusual to have fog until about Noon-2pm. Some days, even if it's warm, the fog never burns off. I suspect if you lived in my specific micro-climate, you would avoid gray as well. It really isn't popular here. And I suspect if I lived in your warmier, sunnier, and drier micro-climates, I wouldn't be as opposed to it.

Scones911, many of us here do budget remodels. I suspect my own, if it's ever finished, to total somewhere between $7-9k. Some choices we haven't finalized and purchased are the reason for the variance. I have never seen anyone razzed here for a budget remodel. In fact, quite the opposite. Most people are applauded for doing so much on so little.

To be honest, if my original kitchen wasn't totally dysfunctional, I probably would have just slapped a coat of paint on the cabinets, replaced the hideously ugly knobs and pulls, and called it done.

In fact, since most kitchen remodels done here at GW do extensive changing of the layout to increase function and improve storage, I don't recall any being done purely for aesthetic, impress-the-neighbors reasons.

"In fact, since most kitchen remodels done here at GW do extensive changing of the layout to increase function and improve storage, I don't recall any being done purely for aesthetic, impress-the-neighbors reasons."

So true for me! I share photos here on GW without hesitation. But, some of my neighbors (I'm new to the neighborhood) are stopping me when I'm outside and ask when they can see the renovation, or when I'll have an open house for them to tour!

I don't want to "show off" the house, or give neighbors that impression. I realize they're curious as this is a street of homes built in the 1930s and 40s, but It's an uncomfortable idea to me. When I visualize using my new kitchen, it's the enjoyment of cooking for my friends and family and not about how it looks.

Scone911, I owe you an apology. I obviously misread your post and thought you were implying that beachem and those of us who responded to her post are all a bunch of "keeping up with the Jones's" types who live for material possessions. I'm sorry I replied without first clarifying with you what you were trying to get across.

But hey...at least we sparked a continuing interesting discussion! ;-) I will just say, however, that I think perhaps you underestimate the goodwill of our fellow gw-ers here. If you posted your pics on here, yes, people would suggest ways you could improve on your kitchen, bathroom, or whatever you were posting. But I would submit to you that it would not be out of any snobbism or "they" not thinking "you" were good enough. Rather, that's kinda the deal here on these forums, that we are here to offer advice and ways to do things that the poster may not have thought of. It's out of a desire to help, not to criticize. At least that's been my experience. People who post pics of kitchens that cost upwards of a quarter million dollars get just as many suggestions as those who did it on a few thousand dollars, or less.

Desertsteph, thanks so much for the kind words! I know from the MH forum that you struggle with health issues too, and I appreciate the advice very much! I'm trying very hard to think "universal design" with everything I'm doing out at the new homestead. I totally agree that now is the time to do this stuff, while I have the ability to do so. I'm trying to do a lot of little things that will make my life easier, physically speaking. Base drawers instead of cabinets, for example. Nothing I can't get to without a step stool. But I still want it to be as attractive as possible. I know that's what beachem is also trying to do. And you're 100% right...I am sooooo very lucky to have the budget I have! Believe me, I thank the good Lord every day for this amazing opportunity that just fell into my lap. And I think part of the angst and struggle for me is that I know how lucky I am and I want to be the best possible steward of my money. Thanks for cheering me on, and I hope I can be the same for you!

Lily spider, thanks for posting the link to Maria Killam's trend forecast, lol. She spends a lot of time telling us how she predicted all these trends at least a year ago, if not several. I have a yellow sofa I was going to change out...it's actually a futon and I can get various covers for it for under $100. Figures I'd be changing out of the yellow just when she says yellow furniture is a trend. Believe you me, if I've ever been trendy or cool, it's purely been by mistake, haha!

Lisa_a, those pics are great! Thanks for posting! I love that pretty blue. :-)

herbflavor, I think you hit the proverbial nail right on the head. I think customers will not tolerate "flavor of the month" decorating in the long run, probably not even in the short run. Most of the people on these gw home forums know that what they are doing, remodeling big or small, is a once in a lifetime thing. They aren't going to be happy to read in six months that they're yesterday's news. I've had the opportunity to walk around quite a few multimillion dollar homes, and I guarantee you, not one of those homeowners is rushing out in a panic to redecorate because gray may or may not be on its way out! It's not just the money--most people who have lived through a remodel once say "never again!" It's a stress-inducing nightmare at times, and no one wants to do it twice.

For me, this is my one shot. But of course my IKEA cabinets and Sears appliances and Lowes lighting fixtures won't last forever. But I won't run out and get new counters; I'll use Rustoleum Counter Transformations. When the cabs get nicked, they'll get a fresh coat of paint, not a trip to the dump. When the light fixtures have seen better days, I'll go down to Lowes and get some new ones, not gut my entire kitchen. As funkycamper said, most, if not all, of the folks on the gw forums started a remodel because of function, not for purely aesthetic reasons. I take good care of my things and they will last a long, long time. But when they finally go, if I don't first, heh heh, they'll be nursed along as long as possible, then replaced one at a time.

rwiegand, I'm with you! If I could buy a Craftsman or a Victorian, I'd do so in a heartbeat and then be faithful to its bones and its heritage in my decor choices. Alas, 1979 is what I have, lol. NOT putting up a disco ball in the living room to go with the orange shag carpet...the 70's is still too close to me to think in terms of "vintage." I used to watch "This Old House" every week...it was my favorite TV show for years!

funky camper, you are funny! Yeah, if I were over near the rain forest, gray probably wouldn't be quite as appealing to me! I was watching the Seahawks TROUNCE Arizona yesterday (sorry, desertsteph) in the company of my daughter and her friend, who is actually almost my age. We both hale from Seattle, so we were joking about how we'd be busting out the shorts and flip flops when the temperature hit 60! And how we know who the tourists are...they're the ones actually carrying an umbrella! LOL Well, eastern Washington is definitely different. Much colder winters, much hotter summers, generally speaking. We've got around 14" of snow on the ground right now. yikes!

dhygarden, from the little I know about you, I'd guess that you're mortified that anyone would entertain the idea that you are out to impress the new neighbors! Hahaha, I giggle thinking about the "tour" you'll be guiding. ;-) You know what might be kind of cool though? Invite the neighbors over, but not for a tour--and cook something "down home-y" like chili or spaghetti or whatever your specialty dish is, the one that never misses (I make an eggplant Parmesan that could get any neighborhood grouch to smile and hug me!). While they're enjoying the best meal of their lives, you could talk about your kitchen reno, but in terms of its functionality and how it has allowed you to cook this delicious meal for your new friends. You know, NOT "well after a five month debate on a house remodel forum, we decided to go with the eggshell, because cream is so last season, and ivory is just far too impertinent." But try, "When we moved the dishwasher next to the sink it made cleaning up so much easier! And getting the big farmhouse sink allows me to put so many more dishes in there at once to rinse off, plus I can keep an eye on Tammy Sue and Billy Joe while they're doing those dishes since we got those bar stools I can sit on while I look at the mail and pay the bills." (I'm sorry, it's past my bedtime. But you get my drift.) That way they get their curiosity resolved, they feel special to be invited over, and you can, as graciously as humanly possible, tell them about the remodel they're dying to know about without having to give a "tour" that would mortify you for years to come. Plus, the great thing is, you can make some new friends in your new neighborhood!

Hey scone911, if I run across a pink Electrolux in my bargain hunting, I promise you'll be the first person I call! :-)

"dated" is simply a marketing term to get you to unload the old and buy new.

Think of all the folk that threw out their old "dated" cast iron cookware in exchange for modern day crap... Thankfully, I'm now using and enjoying that 100 year old cookware daily!

BTW, I have knotty pine cabinets, talk about dated...;)

Umbrellas, Debbie? It rains about 75-80" year here and I don't even own one! Lake Quinault, about a 40 minute drive but closer as the crow flies, averages about 130" year and none of my friends who live there use one either. We also laugh about how that's how you identify tourists, lol. As we always say "We don't tan, we rust!"

Yes, both sides of the state are so different. It's crazy how different....and not just the weather!

When I traveled in the PNW, it was rainy, but it never rained hard. Here in the south, it rains HARD! We had a thunderstorm that dumped 10" of rain in two hours, according to the National Weather Service. You don't need an umbrella; you need SCUBA gear!

^ Debbie, no apology necessary at all, but that was very gracious. I probably sound "louder" than I am IRL, but I'm quite passionate about the sad, wasteful, spiritually destructive effects of mindless mass over-consumption. Can you tell?

Still, one needs some stuff. FWIW I would highly recommend a commercial vinyl floor, it's so much more comfortable to stand on than anything else I've tried. People get turned off to vinyl because of the cheesy patterns, but the commercial is worth a look. I checked out Marmoleum, but it didn't have the "give" I was looking for. Sadly, commercial vinyl is not cheap, and not fashionable.

But wowie zowie, a pink Electrolux anything would be so kewl! ;)

Have you guys ever heard the phrase, "She was a slave to fashion?"

HOLY moly. I just wrote on someone's thread, that I thought she'd achieved timelessness in that the incredible functionality of her kitchen will never, ever go out of style. Unless, of course, houses start coming with chefs, bakers, maids, butlers and of course, a pool boy. Then we're all yesterday's news.

Perhaps getting past all the cosmetics, that should be the 1st consideration in timeless construction. After all, if it doesn't work, it's lipstick on a pig, right?

And really. If you're that concerned about kitchen style, choose pieces that can be changed out without that timeless functionality: Cabinet and drawer fronts. Counters. Flooring. Window treatments.

So 2015. Oh, please. Having lived through the 60s, 70s, and 80s, I can tell you people should be lucky to have something so updated! Butt ugly decor from those decades is DEEEEEEEEEEpressing.

Hey. I just thought of something.
I've stripped and refinished beaded inset cabinets from the 1990s. Weathered oak, which has turned out BEAUTIFULLY. Even that. I love the cabinets, but will certainly tire of the finish someday.

Ready?
{wait for it}

THAT'S WHY GOD MADE PAINT.
{done.}

@scone911 I'm with you in the over consumption in the US. It's very sad to me as I work in the finance industry and see it first hand.

When I remodeled the kitchen in my first house, we just repainted and changed out dying appliances with discounted ones. It cost me $5000.

This force remodel from the flood has been an eye opener for me. I had no idea til now of how incredibly expensive it can be.

Most of my clients have been conditioned by me to be frugal so all of them have lived in original kitchens/ house for decades.

The only client that spent $200k on her kitchen by taking out a mortgage was inherited by me when her father died. I thought at the time that she choose to waste that much since she used her entire inheritance for a boob job and cosmetic works. We parted ways after I found out.

I would still happily suffer with my old dysfunctional layout rather than spend all this money but I didn't have a choice after my kitchen was ripped out down to studs so they can dry out.

Oh, I totally agree that over-consumption is a problem in this country (and a few others, too, not just here). And I agree that people are often compelled to spend outside their budget for a lot of different reasons that don't make sense to me. I think it's hard to quantify the value of a functional kitchen that is pleasant to be in. At least in my case, maybe we don't all respond this way. Now that I have space to work in and no longer feel as if I've been sent to the time-out room when I'm in the kitchen, I spend more time in it. Not only do I enjoy being in my kitchen now, I enjoy cooking more. This means I spend more time cooking, trying new recipes, and putting more variety in our diet. Also, I'm cooking meals that are a lot healthier. Since several meals a week are either vegan or vegetarian, I'm also saving money by using a lot of beans for protein instead of meats. Heck, maybe the small investment in my kitchen is going to pay us back with decreased health issues and their subsequent medical costs and lower grocery bills. :)

CEFreeman, funny!!! :-) IIRC, the phrase "slave to fashion" originated with the poem, "Maud Muller," a classic. I think the line goes "She a slave to fashion as he to power," but it's been probably a decade since I've last read that poem, so it might not be quite right. Oak is definitely timeless, at least in my book.

Funkycamper, you crack me up! Yep, only tourists use umbrellas in Seattle. I have an umbrella...somewhere...I think...haha! You are so right about Washington. The Cascade mountain range really divides the state in so many ways. It's a red state over here, so you can imagine how I fit in...haha! At least I'm on a university campus, so that's OK. I need to stay over here because of my 30 year old daughter who has a mental illness. Spokane County has the best mental health system I have ever seen. They prioritize it and fund it. But I'm happy with my little "cabin in the woods." The mobile home is out in Cheney, about 20 minutes from downtown Spokane. It's very rural-- the park is surrounded by farms. It's peaceful and quiet. And lot rent is $280 a month, so I can live with that! :-)

CEFreeman, scone911, beachem and funkycamper, I agree with all of you. To me, the problem is when people spend by going into debt. Americans are particularly prone to this, because credit is so easy to obtain here. My parents both lived through the depression and they taught us kids that debt is bad, and it is! It's slavery, really. You have to keep working to service all your debt. I'm so grateful I was able to buy this old fixer upper of a mobile home for cash and that because of a generous academic grant that I'll be getting over the next three years, I'll be able to do all the remodeling for cash as I go. I've never had a car loan. I buy what I can afford for cash, drive it til it drops, then buy another car for cash. And credit cards? Don't get me started! Hahaha!

There are legitimate reasons to take out a loan at times. I'm not saying no one should take out a loan ever. But people are too quick to borrow too much without counting the cost. And now I'm going to sound exactly like the old curmudgeon I swore I'd never become, lol: The problem with kids these days is that they want everything their parents have, but their not willing to work for it for thirty years to get it, like we did. They want it all and they want it right now! And unfortunately, they can get the credit to do it. OK, stepping down from my soapbox. :-)

Funkycamper, I agree about the functionality of a kitchen making it more pleasant to be in. There's pretty much only one way to lay out my kitchen, but I am definitely making it more functional! Going with a portable dishwasher to gain a cabinet is one thing. Moving the location of the range will be another, when I re-do my cabs and counter top and get new appliances.

I still don't know how this happened, but I'm pretty sure alcohol was involved, lol! Some DIY genius, before my friends owned this mobile home, put in a new range. However, he put it smack on the corner, and when you open the door, it opens about halfway before hitting the cabinet under the sink and can go no further!

Please note I have not moved in yet and this is not my crappola all over the place! :-)

So, the new range will have a new location! And just having functional drawers will help a lot. The current set of base drawers are all broken and it takes the strength of Thor to open and close them. And I think the farmhouse sink I'm getting (IKEA) will make things easier. Since the kitchen, eat-in area, and living room will all be one great room, it will definitely be the hub of the house and I would like it to be a pleasant environment to work and socialize in.

I'm a vegetarian too and eat a lot of beans, tofu, etc. for protein. I bought some hamburger the other day for my daughter and I couldn't believe how expensive it is!!! I'll tell ya, being vegetarian, not smoking, not drinking...wow I save a ton of money on the grocery bill! :-)

beachem, you're doing a good work. Do you run an AFH? Not my business, just wondering; you're under no obligation to answer. True story: Back in the 90's, I was a preschool teacher. So I get these two new kids, a boy and girl twins. The girl was pretty, smart, articulate (for a 4 year old). The boy looked a little odd and was "slow." And acted out a lot. I thought at first he had fetal alcohol syndrome, but found out from the preschool director that he had been born with the umbilical cord around his neck and had been without oxygen for a couple of minutes, enough time to give him a brain injury. The parents sued and won a truck load of money, and they paid the preschool a year's worth of tuition in advance. The mom was stunning. And the parents both drove very expensive sports cars. I found out that they had used all the money that was supposed to be used to provide special care for the little boy on: mom got a complete "makeover"; new boobs, facial plastic surgery, liposuction, the works. They bought two sports cars, neither of which could fit all 4 family members at the same time, and a gorgeous house that had been in some famous architectural magazine. Nothing for the boy. When I told the preschool director he was not in the right preschool setting and I had to spend most of time just with him, she reminded me they had paid for a year in advance and told me to work it out.

@funky Since I've been cooking full meals out of my bathroom with a microwave and a Breville oven for the past year, my idea of what is necessary for a kitchen is substantially lower now.

Our old prep space in this house was also only about 6 square inch for 18 years so I'm not fussy.

Although after spending 4 days to make 1000 cake pops last Christmas and 14 hours to make a stupid American flag cake for my husband's friend for 4th of July, I will appreciate having an actual kitchen when we're done.

i look forward to spending less time cooking. A new kitchen to me is about cooking efficiently so I can spend more time out of the kitchen.

In my previous house, the kitchen was custom built to my specs so I was able to put out 3 course meals in 15 mins every night. When we moved back here, a simple vegetarian omelet would take an hour to make.

Everything in this new kitchen is for the benefit of my mom and dad as he spent 10 hours a day in the old kitchen.

I spend more time cooking now because I now actually cook, Beachem. I don't spend needless hours unless I'm in the mood for it. Sometimes it's fun to play and sometimes it's all about cooking something quick, nutritious and delicious. I am all about function and efficiency. Aren't they practically synonyms? But now I have a choice. I can get in/out quickly and enjoy the space I'm in. Or I can spend hours, have room for multiple projects, and enjoy the space I'm in. What's wrong with that?

Your kitchen is bigger, has more counter space, more high-end appliances and finishes than mine will, btw. My needs in a kitchen are actually fairly simple and humble: IWSF with sufficient and accessible mise-en-place storage.

And I've camped enough to know I can make do with less. I just don't enjoy it. (Oh, love camping, hate camp cooking. That's why we backpack more now so less cooking expectations. Just boil my meal-in-a-freezer-bag and chow down.)

Too funny! I love camp cooking. I even did an entire Thanksgiving meal in Dutch ovens one year. Maybe it's knowing that I can make do with out all the fancy stuff?

I spent five months of my time in Zambia in a hut out in the bush. First thing in the morning (like 5 AM) women and children go to gather firewood and water from the borehole. Then water is heated and breakfast was made: in the eating season, nshima porridge (corn meal) and tea. In the hungry season, just tea or just hot water. Same thing is repeated for dinner (it is very rare to eat 3 meals in a day). Between breakfast and dinner, the women work the fields with hand held hoes. It's an incredibly difficult life for women, so I'm grateful to have anything to cook on that I don't have to gather firewood for! It sounds like many of us have lived through less than perfect circumstances.

Errant, we dug a fire pit and cooked a turkey one year when the electricity was out. It ended up being really fun because all the kids and grandkids got really into it! funkycamper, I'm not a huge fan of camp out cooking either. beachem, sounds like you have really figured out how to do more with less while awaiting your new kitchen! How thoughtful of you to do this for your dad.

Funky, I'm with you on having the choice to cook or not to cook. My daughter and I really enjoy cooking together, so having a kitchen that makes that possible is important to me.

Debbie, you are tempting me to ask you what your area of research is! I'm a Fed now, but I used to be a graduate student who carried many stacks of papers hither and dither. This, in part, explains my limited budget a few years later. I still miss teaching.

What an interesting thread this is. On the original topic: we are doing gray cabinets too. I have always loved moody and thoughtful gray, so I am pretty sure I won't get tired of the choice. A few years ago, it was very exciting for me to begin looking up kitchen pictures - as I had just bought my first house, I'd never before had any reason to check them out - and discover that gray cabinets were even a thing. Eureka! I was head over heels.

It didn't take me long to realize that gray was trendy, hence why I so quickly discovered it via google and pinterest. This has once or twice given me pause. We have wondered if we should go with a more traditional wood color, or white, and considered medium brown cabinets. But... sniff, sniff ... I love the gray, so ... Ah, why not, it's my kitchen. I can always plug my ears in 5 years and sing "la la la!" - if I even get the memo that gray has been judged passe. I'm pretty out of touch, and watch mainly science fiction on TV, so maybe the memo won't make it to my address until I'm too set in my ways to care. And since gray is a neutral, and not neon green, it can always be accessorized. By the time poor, clueless historian has moved on to a new house, it'll be about time to replace the cabinets anyway, and the next person can enjoy picking out the color.

In the end, I'm not sure there is any reason to be terrified of being part of a trend, unless the trends are forcing one's hand. All or almost all choices in finishes or decor will be part of one trend or another. And, ultimately, trends gain traction because they strike a cord with people in a particular time and place. And, one hopes, fit the environment. Isn't it this situated-ness, being from a particular time and place, half of what gives things character?

One of the rants against "2015" trends I've seen recently took aim at "industrial kitchens." I was informed industrial looks "cheap" and that cheap is not cool. I guess it is very trendy. But, you know, this is an interesting example to me, because from where I sit, the trend makes a lot of sense. People are moving into old buildings in old cities and finding ways to celebrate the materials and grittyness; several new restaurants and coffee shops in my neighborhood are decorated in this vein, and it looks great in the environments where those houses and restaurants are situated. Sure, perhaps the moment will pass, and everyone will update the look and look back at it in horror. But if I had a loft with a chic industrial kitchen, should I be horrified that someone will later say that was "indicative of the 2010s" in my city? The particular, tiny corner of the world I live in is Baltimore, in an area where a lot of people are buying old homes and working with what they have - and those with the money to gut and build often expose the brick and have fun with metal. Why not - it's what the whole place is built from - and I love the fact that people are trying to embrace and celebrate it. Love it or hate it, fine - but the critique I read seemed like an exercise in missing the point. If someone can peg me easily as part of the attempt at urban renewal in my city at particular historical moment, that is OK with me. I'm from here right now; not some other place. And I expect other people to be from THEIR place. It's what makes having coffee with other people so interesting.

@beachem A flood is the major sux! Fingers crossed there's no mold, and best of luck with your remodel.

I think I've been traumatized by living on the West Coast. In the run up before the crash, I saw so many people living high on the hog-- naively, I thought they must be making vast sums of money.

Of course, they were not-- we now know they used multiple credit cards, and HELOCed their house as if it were an ATM. Many of them bought far more house than they could afford, requiring two incomes. When the crash came, and even one partner lost a job, the whole house of cards came down. Whole neighborhoods, towns, and regions just devastated. Jobs and businesses destroyed, families uprooted, divorces, bankruptcies. It will be years before the damage is undone.

And now, just a few years later, I'm beginning to see the "feeding frenzy" starting up all over again, not only in Silicon Valley, but in my area, Boston Metro. People with moderate incomes, who need decent housing, are getting shut out. Again!

I see things like "gray is so over," when it just came into style a couple of years ago. I see the feverish need to keep up with the Joneses beginning to rear it's ugly head-- again. Do people have such short memories?

At the same time, we all deserve to live comfortably, and as you know, construction is a huge part of the economy. Jobs in construction are local, and tend to pay better than many other jobs that don't require college. Factory jobs have largely been shipped overseas. So there should be a balance. I would love to see a sustainable economy built on genuine needs, and not on artificially created, marketing driven boom and bust cycles. Someday. ;)

Errant, while I've never done a turkey dinner in Dutch ovens, I have certainly done my share of good meals in them. As I think about it more, it's not so much the camp cooking I dislike but having to be sure all the ingredients are packed appropriately, lugging it out to set it all up, and then the clean-up afterwards. Oy, the clean-up! I LOVE my DW. If the zombie apocalypse goes on so long we have to leave our house, I wouldn't want to have to lug a Dutch oven. I'll stick to my MSR Rocket and small, lightweight titanium cookware. :)

Well said, Historian. I don't really buy into the whole dated thing. I think if people choose what they love, ensure they have a functional layout, and choose styles/finishes that fit the architecture of their home, a kitchen will never really be dated. It's the people who choose something because it's trendy and not because they really love it that will always complain about things being dated, imho. But, as you also alluded to, the problem is that trends in stores can make it difficult to find what you love which, sometimes, forces your hand. Like if a person loves bright colors but the stores only carry muted. I love orange and since it has been a trend, I've stockpiled up on a few orange things so when what I have wears out, I have ready replacements. When the trend is over (and I think it already is since those items are so easy to find at places like HomeGoods and Ross), I will still love it and not care if someone says my colors are soooooo 2012. :)

Scone, I think some of what you describe is regional. I live on the West Coast but in an area that is very rural and that has been in an economic slump since the 1980's. None of the things you describe happened here in large numbers. Oh, a few, but here people keep their kitchens and furniture for 20-30 years or more with only minor redecorating. As a rule, kitchens aren't gutted unless there are real problems with them. Most homes I've been in have the original kitchens with just minor updates, if any. And appliances tend to be modest due to availability. I never even heard of a Miele, Bosch, Sub-Zero, Aga, and the other higher-priced brands until I started hanging around here. Homes tend to be humble. Even most newer ones. When people talk about 3000+ square foot homes, well, those are pretty rare here unless an older home built by a timber baron 100+ years ago. McMansions are few and usually greeted with eye rolls. County-wide, I think we average something iike 80-100 new builds a year. In my particular town, it's more like 2-3. About 10 years ago, we had a year where there was something like 9 new homes built and it was front-page news. IIRC, several were simple manufactured homes. I'm rambling.

My point is that I think there are places all across this country where people make do with what they have, don't practice the conspicuous consumption you describe, and re-use/re-purpose more often than they buy new. Maybe it's more common in urban areas? As I think I've mentioned to you, I'm re-using some of my old cabinets and the only new ones I've purchased have come from Habitat Re-Stores. I have to travel 1.5-2 hours into the metro areas of Tacoma/Seattle just to find used cabinets in decent shape because our local Re-Store doesn't usually get any worth re-using. By the time people tear out kitchens here, the cabinets are pretty well junk best suited for garages.

I'm beginning to see the "feeding frenzy" starting up all over again, not only in Silicon Valley, but in my area, Boston Metro. People with moderate incomes, who need decent housing, are getting shut out. Again!

Yep, S FL, too. A little run down cottage in a not so great neighborhood that was down below 50K at the bottom of the slump two years ago going for over 300K? And people are celebrating because their houses are "worth" so much, and thinking they can pour money into crazy improvements and get it back eventually.

^ To me, the problem isn't just people who overconsume per se, it's the way the whole economy gets sucked into the bubble and distorted. When I lived in California, Bay Area real estate got so red hot that "new people" where forced inland. Meaning longer commutes, demands on the water table, eating up agricultural land, etc. It got so bad people who worked in my DH's office were commuting to San Jose from the foothills of the Sierras.

My DH and I finally got sick of that, and moved to Oregon. But the craziness continued. Whole counties that were once totally agricultural were converted to growing shrubs and lawn grass to supply the building boom. Mills went overtime. Bend went totally crazy. People started buying up houses and "flipping" without doing a single thing to improve the property. Seemingly every person you met had a real estate license. No one believed you could lose money in real estate. There was always another sucker down the road willing to pay a higher price. A classic bubble.

When the crash hit, all of the industries that were tied to the boom, from garden centers to window and door makers, agricultural machinery, everything-- crashed to earth. The forest products industries nearly died. You couldn't give property away. Washington Mutual collapsed. Unemployed people crowded into Portland, straining the shelters and the food banks.

The bad mortgages engendered by the boom were bound together into securities sold by Wall Street as "safe bond like investments." When the bust came, the financial system collapsed, taking down some of the most powerful and richest companies in the world. The stock market also crashed, and devastated retirement savings of millions, forcing Boomers to work years longer than they would have done, provided they had a job at all. And you and I paid the price, bailing out Wall Street by the hundreds of billions to save "capitalism as we know it." The system is still so weak, years later, that shorter bonds are paying less than the rate of inflation.

All of these things have been well documented, by better writers than me. I'm sure you're right that only a few McMansions are built in your area, but honestly that's just a small part of the big picture. The point is, everything you consume, or don't consume, effects the global economy in myriad ways, you just can't get away from it, anywhere. If we consume too much, we create bubbles, distort production, and damage the environment. Consume too little, and you get a Depression. It's complicated.

And now back to your regularly scheduled programming. :)

Oh, I understand the global impacts, Scones. I'm just glad my little microcosm of the world isn't as heavily impacted. Sure, we share in the expense of the bail-outs and such but we seem to escape the other types of impacts you describe. But, then again, I live in an area that has been economically depressed since the 1980's so maybe we're all just used to it. We get the gloom but not the boom so I hear about that type of boom-thinking but I don't really see it around me. It all seems so surreal to me.

^ I would bet it probably has, but we all have other concerns. I should have seen the crash coming, I knew it was crazy, but I was doing other stuff, and never imagined the ripple effect would be so bad. And what has happened before can happen again, that's my worry.

As to being a slave to fashion, I'm not immune. I took out some perfectly good golden oak cabinets and gave them to Habitat Restore. I didn't want to do it, but I knew my eventual buyer would think it was dated. (I also had a whole set of kitchen cabinets that needed a home, long story, but still.)

So I'm sticking to my social pressure theory. i remember an old thread where somebody wrote, "butcher block is for people who can't afford granite." Seriuosly. Or go read Marcolo's anti-OTK rant, he says it better than I do.

Here's a thought experiment: somebody start a thread titled, "I love golden oak and want it in my new upscale kitchen." Then stand back! :/

I haven't been around this forum long, but I took the OP to be more tongue in cheek than anything else. Is there a problem with consumerism is the country? Sure. But, I'm not so sure you'll find an over abundance of it on this forum.

What I've found on this forum is a very diverse group of people, who come from all different places, income and otherwise. The one commonality is that they all love kitchens, all sorts of kitchen. I've seen new paint on old cabinets celebrated with the same zest and zeal as a $200,000 remodel. Anyways, I just wanted to add that this is one of the aspects of this community that I enjoy the most.

Jftr....my cabinets are going to be a shade of griege. ;-)

Historian, well said. By the way, my general field of research is African history and culture, mostly central-eastern Africa. My very specific research in Zambia was the cultural history of the Chewa people in Zambia. My dissertation will cover what I'm calling the "parallel" leadership structure in Zambia, tribal and governmental. I was lucky enough to get a Fulbright to fund the trip. Fed, you say? I'd kill to go into the diplomatic corps and work in Africa.

Back on topic, Historian, I very much agree that we are who we are in this present space and time and so why should we struggle to never be dated? We are dated, we are products of our time and geography. If gray is "the neutral of the decade," then great...I bought my house in this decade and I'm remodeling it in this decade and here I am in eastern Washington in this decade...almost all homes in this country (not all, but most) have interior decor based around a neutral. There are only so many neutrals. I mean, yes, there are a bazillion different whites, at least 50 shades of grey ;-) and there's the tan/beige/griege group, but there it is.

And I agree in general that the form should follow the architectural and geographical function. I actually love gritty industrial. I gave it serious thought for about two days last October. I could do all kinds of faux brick and mix metals (just read that mixing metals is "out" the other day, LOL), and bright orange plastic chairs and make the inside of my home look like a NYC loft in an old closed down factory. But then I realized how ridiculous that would be. No one here would get it. I know, it's my house, and who cares if no one gets it, but still. The overriding factor for me was that I'll never be able to do a major remodel again, as far as I know. In 20 years will I still love my thinbrick walls with fake graffiti, my exposed plumbing, my cold cement floor? There's a good chance the answer is no. Luckily, I love more than one style, and what I'm doing now with clean lines, functional layout, comfortable furniture, based around gray and white neutrals is something I'm much more confident I will still love in 20 years. And it "fits" the local geography and the time, yet I think (hope) it will also be timeless elegance, as timeless as anything can be in our throw-away, youth obsessed society.

My philosophy around interior decor has always been what do you love and how does it make you feel? I've lived in quite a few apartments over the years, and I've had a few sets of furniture, changing art on the walls, etc. But one thing many guests have told me is that my home, wherever it is and however it's been decorated, feels peaceful and gives off a vibe of harmony, and that is the greatest compliment I could ever receive about my home. No one has ever said, "oh wow! You have a velvet tufted yellow sofa! (or whatever) That's the newest "in" thing!" But a lot of people have said, "Whenever I come into your house I feel so peaceful and calm." And that's what I'm going for. So what do I love? I love gray and I love (fake) wood floors with big area rugs and I love wood burning stoves and I love farmhouse sinks and I love retro black and white bathrooms. So that's what I'm going to have. How does it make me feel? It makes me feel clean and organized and peaceful and calm and happy. And that won't change whether any of the aforementioned things are "in" or "out." And when I'm happy and peaceful in my home, others will be too.

I wouldn't be renovating this home at all if it were functional in any sense of the word. But since I need to renovate it to make it a home I can write and retire in, I'm going to put in things and colors and textures that I love, within my budget, of course. And I have found the people on this forum to be kind and generous and friendly in their desire to help me do it the best way I can with what I have to work with.

Funkycamper- not sure if this is where you posted about finding tons of orange, but I am out today (just left home goods) and I can't find one orange anything??

i know I saw it before Christmas and now...it's gone. Oh no! Is it out for 2016?

Was it already out and I didn't get the memo?

Let me know if anyone knows where to find an orange bowl. Thanks!

Uff da, Lily Spider! I haven't been in any store since before Christmas, except groceries, so maybe I bought the last of all the orange on my last shopping expedition? Sorry. I have a great orange bowl but it's Viking glass my dad bought my mom when I was a kid and I'm not giving it up.

I think some kind of orange was the Pantone color of the year in 2012 or so, give or take a year or two. So, yeah, it's been out for awhile. That's why it's been at places like Home Goods recently.

Crap, wish I had stocked up more! I only go shopping once or twice a year as I really don't enjoy it but I may have to go on a last hunt. Orange always makes me happy.

Wow wee! I am really out of touch! I love orange too so that makes sad. I might buy something and spray it or maybe go with my kids to the paint your own pottery place (even better) and paint something myself. I could put flowers on it. I love flowers. Thanks for letting me know my new kitchen colors are so 2012 :)

ladies, ladies, dry your tears, they're premature. Plenty of beautiful orange stuff is still to be found online. A quick search produced these: orange kitchen utensils and orange kitchen ware.

ladies, ladies, dry your tears. There's plenty of beautiful orange stuff to be found. A quick search produced these: orange kitchen utensils and orange kitchen ware

Pippabean - Thanks! I am gonna have to "orange hoard". :)

I'm ahead of ya, Lily! :)

I'll join you orange hoarders! I love the color too. In 2004, the colors for our wedding were orange and brown. I can't have large swaths of orange in our house because we have Saltillo tiles. So we had to have teal couches instead. I was looking at orange towels with white polka dots for the kids' bathroom the other day.

Apologies for having skimmed just a bit of the first bit of this discussion. To the part where someone said something like "I've never seen anyone on GW renovate just to 'impress the neighbors'" or some-such.

Actually, I can think of at least one very visible and vocal person who was candidly all about impressing and only impressing; she did not cook and had the vastest kitchen ever. Vast and beautiful and FBOW completely in scale with the rest of her house which it turns out she was building as well. It was just amaze-balls.

As was she, and she was beloved and an active, helpful contributor and very eclectic, a real character. And definitely not my type, but the spread of experience, need, goals, abilities, style, aim, M.O. etc -- it's this broad range stitched together by an attitude of wanting to help others and share -- that's really a hallmark of this forum, IMO. Not even necessarily an obsession of function over form or even the other way around. Just a desire to help construct an aesthetically coherent whole with shifting starting conditions.

Funkycamper, youbechat67, and Lilyspider, hurray for orange!! Such a bright, happy tone!! Funky, I'm with you on shopping--not my fave thing. But I go a lot with my daughter because it's one of her fave things to do and it's free, lol!

aliris19, I like your description of the forum. We are here to help each other, regardless of our personal motivation for remodeling out kitchen. And most of us probably have at least one person we'd like to impress, even if we are doing our remodels because our kitchens are ancient and decrepit or we were wiped out by a flood or the kitchen is inadequate for our family's needs. Mine is my SIL, lol! She has always grudgingly acknowledged my beautiful interior decor in my apartments, but I'd love to make her turn green with envy when she sees my finished house! Nevertheless, I love this forum for the diversity of houses and people! The folks here are genuinely excited to help me remodel my tiny kitchen and that's so cool! And 99% of them aren't primarily remodeling to impress the neighbors.