Kitchen design confusion
humira25
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
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Kitchen design confusion....what would a TKO do?
Comments (25)Oh, I'm so pleasantly surprised that I have responses on Easter. You are all true TKOs!! And I thank each of your for your contribution. I was going to respond to each of you individually but realized that would be a VERY long post. So I'll just try to touch touch on the main points. Even if I decide not to use a certain piece of advice, it's always worth it to read it and ponder it. Some of you have given me ideas in the past that I originally rejected but after further consideration, realized it was right. So what I'm writing here is my kneejerk response but we're going out of town on Wednesday for 12 days which will give me more time to ponder your suggestions. So it's possible I'll change my mind. It's been known to happen a few times, lol. If my kitchen isn't the ugliest, it's in the Top 10. Jillius's kitchen is bad but I'm kinda digging that hidden bar allowing you to surprise guests on special occasions with its groovy wonder. Moving the window isn't an option due to glassblocks, now covered by backsplash, that will eventually be revealed. I'm not inclined to move the sink cabinet to the right to center it as it will shrink the prep[ counter (between sink and range) and I really value every inch. Also, I never realized the cabinet was not centered on the sink during the last 44 years since the 1971 remodel my parents did on this kitchen. (Yes, I have my mom to thank for the ugliness. What was she thinking?) So the cabinet being centered really isn't an issue for me. I do agree that centering the sink in the cabinet is important so we'll be doing that. Thanks for helping me sort that issue out. I like the idea of 2 pendants. We've decided not to put pendants on the peninsula because they would detract from the new hood for the range so over this sink is really my only available option for pretty lighting. I never thought of two off-centered there so I appreciate that idea so I appreciate that idea. I also love the DIY LED light mudhouse shared. I'll play with both those ideas when the time comes and if it doesn't look right, I'll just go with flush lights there. The main thing I thank you for is talking me about of not centering the sink in the base. It was a silly idea but I'm braindead with planning and it was the best I was coming up with. I'm so glad you saved me from it. Happy Easter!...See MoreNeed help, confused and unsure about landscape design.
Comments (6)While as with all trees results are going to vary with site conditions Betula nigra is genetically a full sized tree - I think it is too large growing for the planting sites you are showing here. For example Seattle has one with an average crown spread of more than 62' (measured ~2005), with the largest known examples (elsewhere) being on the order of 120' tall with trunks about 5' thick. You do want something of some size to match the scale of the house but the magnolia will get big enough to do that if it does well. If it is not a superior named cultivar with a tall habit, fully evergreen foliage presentation (more than one example of these has been on the general market in recent years) I would replace it with one, as they are much more attractive than the shrubby, nearly deciduous version that drops all but one or a few leaves here and there. Another thing I would like to point out is that your house has a geometrically symmetric facade which means that this is one instance where a formal planting with matching pairs and shearing etc. is actually what is called for. A pattern mirroring the design of the front of the house on the ground in front of it and consisting of plants and other natural materials like stonework is what will best serve to integrate your house with the large lawn, which introduces a pastoral feeling. It would also be better to have the plantings extend out from the house more - and perhaps concentrate around the building less - even if the facade was not geometric....See MorePLEASE HELP!! Landscape Design in South Florida CONFUSED!
Comments (20)I would suggest a foundation planting bed in front of the house and a separate island around the palm. You can see in the sketch that I opted to leave only the single palm near the center front. It seems disturbing to me to have a collection of odds and ends palms in a group because they don't make a nice group. If they can't be like type palms, I'd rather see a single specimen. The architecture already carries a horizontal visual element as the base of the house. Rather than duplicate or cover that up with a hedge, use plants to temper it, and the easiest way is a mound shaped shrub below each window. It doesn't end up looking like you're trying to smother the house with shrubs. Where the windows are low to the ground, such as left of front door, instead of shrubs (that you will need to trim regularly in order to keep them low) use an 18" height groundcover -- such as Liriope -- that won't need to be height trimmed at all. It should be a FAT (double or triple) row -- not a skinny string. Consider variegated Liriope for a brighter look. Given your location, for the shrubs below windows I'd consider Thai crown of thorns. (Not the regular small-flowered one.) It would cheer up the front of your house considerably for much of the year. At the base of Robellini, consider an island of firecracker plant. Eventually, if it gets too tall, you can cut it to the ground and make it low again for a good length of time. For the moderately low groundcover used to link the separate elements together, consider tri-color oyster plant. It is at the same time soothing and cheerful and it's easy to start from pieces. You can split a gallon of it into about 15' pieces that will plant that many square feet. In one year's time it will appear grown together. (Of course, you would need to wait until February to plant it.) Near right of front door and at garage are two places you could use seasonal color. The groundcover around the single palm could be same as the foundation bed groundcover, or different. It could also be a little taller if you wanted, since it is a limited space. I can understand your wanting to get rid of the two lamp pedestals. But for sure, I would think about how you could retain the use of the electrical supply wire that they contain. Either could gain a new use: path lights ... uplights on trees ... post lamps ... downlighting from trees, etc. I would determine how you will reuse them before you demolish them. (BTW, you can make an underground splice if you use heat shrink tubing with sealant built in. I can't say that it will be in compliance with your local code since I don't know it ... just that it works and can be done.) Again, I remind that you need to work out all the proposed changes in plan view before you do any work....See MoreConfused about IKEA kitchen installation
Comments (21)Since mine was a gut job, my contractor's subs were still there so basically they just moved to work in another room while Traemand was doing their thing. You can get an estimate from Traemand without any obligation, even before you buy your cabinets - Ikea sends them your kitchen drawings and in a few days they tell you how much to install. They don't calculate by linear feet - they look at how many base and uppers you have and the thing that drives up the installation price are the drawers. They cost more to assemble and install than cabinets. They put on any Ikea hardware for free and charge $7 a knob/pull if it's not Ikea (needless to say I went with Ikea!) I had an island (an L really) and got charged an extra $100 to secure it to the floor. My electrician had to run the wires for under cabinet lighting before Traemand came in and then he has to come back to finish connecting the wiring, otherwise your under cabinet wires show. If you buy a stock/laminate countertop from Ikea, Traemand will install it, otherwise Ikea contracts out with a stone yard to do that (I actually used Home Depot and just arranged for them to come template the day after Traemand). Contractor installs appliances last and plumber does dishwasher and line to fridge for icemaker/water filter. Yes, Traemand will do all toekicks and filler, although my contractor needed to remove the toekicks for the floors to be refinished, but I have hardwood. Hope this helps - I just had everything done a month ago and still am in the process of finishing so it's all fresh in my head....See Morehumira25
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