Master redo – brainstorming and need feedback
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7 years ago
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tinam61
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7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoRelated Discussions
Creative minds needed to help me brainstorm for mini-remodel!
Comments (22)I looked at the paints you posted and if you want to paint green above the sink and stove, you will need to have it directly relate something else in the Kitchen scheme. This would mean you would need to find a glass tile that has the green in it or go with a totally neutral backsplash like the 4x4 tiles you are showing with the glass tile. A viewers eye will look for a relationship between the paint color and the backsplash or other features in the room and not find it. Even if those colors exist in an adjacent room, the relationship needs to be clearly there in the Kitchen. In this case, I don't think matching accessories will get you there either. Now for a little design editorial. I think the basic design concept that you should bring colors from one room to another throughout the house is a good one, but has been overused. The theory is that having each room relate makes the house flow. Whether that works or not really depends on a lot more factors. The premise is that each room should not be a completely different color, yet in some cultures it is the norm to paint each room a completely different color and looks quite wonderful in context. Okay, enough of that. In effect, you do have a color relationship between your rooms already and it is your basic neutral Khaki. There are some advantages to keeping the backsplash completely neutral if you want to use accent paint colors. You can change your color scheme very easily without having to change tiles. Basing your scheme on the neutral allows you to paint accent walls while the overall effect remains pulled together. Either choice is a good one. It's what works best for you. If you decide to keep the glass tile as you originally selected it, and still love the green, try to find somewhere else to use it. I used my green in the Laundry room....See MoreKitchen Plans to view and brainstorm-drawings!
Comments (22)All this input is so helpful--as you've all realized this project is a series of trade offs... One of the reasons we're using the architect is to make sure that we can mitigate some of the trade offs with thoughtfulness and details that might have gotten by us otherwise. We are thrilled with his team so far. It's not a design build firm, but rather an architect/builder --a highly regarded architect who has partnered with his preferred builder. The benefit so far, is that the preliminary cost estimates are run by the builder from the get-go. We're early in this, but I'm optimistic that this will work in our favor and we can feel much improved for our budget. So the numbers are this--we've got 200K to spend--which seems like a lot but considering we are not only doing what you all have been working on here, but also a master suite on the other end of the house...well...let's just say we're already getting very creative with our choices. And we're in the DC metro area so that doesn't help in terms of expense. The good news is that we don't have extravagent desires (other than soapstone of course!) but really want a thoughtful renovation...especially of the kitchen/dining area because life centers around that for us. Some more info-- you all are very right about the tight squeeze in the living room. I'm used to it to the extend that our current "couch" is actually a love seat that is only 5' long and I have two living room chairs opposite with a coffee table in the middle. This is the only configuration that works in the current living room and will likely be the only configuration that works in the new one. But I rarely wish for more and bigger living room furn. --I mainly wish for better flow in and around the furn. When I get a chance to scan the whole house plan in for you I will do so--in addition to the front door and door to the dining area, in the current living room there is also the opening to the stairway leading upstairs and another door to the first floor bedrooms--specifically, I have a doorway in each of the four corners of the room. My neighbor has the mirror image house and for 10 years she and I have noshed over our various attempts at living room arrangements--in the end we've both squeezed all our furniture in the middle so everyone can get around without zig zagging and tripping! My guidance to the architect is that I don't want the kitchen to be a throughway but I do want "some" connection to the living and dining areas. I'm mainly tired of bumping around everyone in the kitchen while I work and we socialize--or alternatively being alone in there while everyone has fun out in the dining/living rooms. Most of our guests end up around the dining table, even after dinner--probably because we have such dinky living room furniture, LOL! My husband and I are both wondering though whether to swap out living and dining room and your continued thoughts on this issue are much appreciated. We've gone so far as......See Morenightstands: brainstorming help?
Comments (10)Parma, Babs, Justgotabme, Les: thank you so much for responding. DH seems entirely unfazed by this issue, and I have felt vaguely nuts -- like I'm the only kook who's bothered by our lack of aesthetic unity. It's such a relief to talk about it with someone, and to get such good suggestions. So. To answer some questions: yes, we need storage. A place to close away our stuff, out of sight, is always good. The look I'd like for the room: clean. I'd like to surround the bed, which I see as on the traditional side, with more streamlined/modern accessories and other furnishings. For inspiration, I have a bedside lamp I really like, from the Thomas O'Brien line for Target, which isn't on their website anymore. It's sort of close to this, with a wider, rectangular base: http://www.target.com/Simplistic-Table-Lamp-Brushed-Steel/dp/B0012WAIWK/qid=1216010454/ref=br_1_9/602-3914569-6983001?ie=UTF8&node=255032011&frombrowse=1&pricerange=&index=tgt-mf-mv&field-browse=255032011&rank=pmrank&rh=&page=4 A bit like this, but with a white shade and a swing arm: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10123581 Thanks for taking the time to post links to other nightstands: really appreciated. I can see what you mean about the fabulous deco pieces fighting with the bed, rather than complementing it. And, although I'm not usually matchy-matchy, I'd like to find a dresser that works with both the bed and nightstands, and the Deco nightstands would probably make that impossible, no? I like the Julia PB nightstand and the Walmart knockoff, but they're not contemporary in line, I don't think -- unless I'm missing something? Les, I love your suggestion: you're completely right about the bars and the glass. But it doesn't have storage, and I don't think it's quite the look I'm going for. Inspired by justgotabme, I trolled around the furniture section of the Walmart website (for far too long. Parma, I'm with you -- and I'm on dialup, so it takes forever!) and found some pieces: the Meza storage cube (not so sure it'd work as a nightstand but I'm thinking of ordering two of them for my LR!): http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5715485 Canopy nightstand. Not modern, but hardwood and won't fight with the bed's style: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7732481 I really like the looks of this one, but it doesn't come in the right color and it's not real wood: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7755723 Similarly, love the looks of the dresser, but clearly it's MDF with wood-look wallpaper over it. I'd love to find an actual wooden version: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7755722 All right, this is becoming a novel! And by the way, apologies for all the cutting and pasting... Les, could you explain how to embed links, so I can save you all some work? Thanks, again, for thinking this through with me....See MoreFollowup to overwhelmed post & feedback needed on 1st floor plan
Comments (5)Oh Robin, I just read your original post and your recent post. First I am sending a hug. You might need to send one right back to me as we just bought a fixer-upper ourselves out in Scotts Valley. As I read your original post I kept thinking, yep, that's us. Yep, that too. (Except your listing photos are gorgeous and ours, well, they are not.) I do think you make a great point that people need to think about how they will use a house. We will likely lose one bedroom with moving some walls around (not load bearing, thank goodness) and I have people telling me how horrible that is for resale but this is our forever home and we need to do what is right for us. I don't have much to offer in the way of ideas but will send a barrel of emotional support up the peninsula to you. Good luck!...See MoreOutsidePlaying
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