two tier counter
myspencer
5 years ago
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kim k
5 years agoartemis_ma
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Flat island vs. 2 level... crazy thinking 2 might be better?
Comments (31)Like Holly says, it is a function of how you live. My stuff collects on the desk/tiny office which is not in the kitchen but slightly outside of the main kitchen. If the stuff lands on the island, we just move the stuff to the desk.... We don't ask anyone to claim it, we just move it... Dropped junk does not bother me since I don't need the surface to cook. I clear it daily but it does not impede the 'kitchen function'. So it works for us. Many people are taking the kitchen desks out of their kitchens. I actually like having a designated drop zone/kitchen office area because it keeps the junk out of the kitchen. If your habits do not change, the stuff will get dropped on the upper zone of the island just like they do in many homes I walk into. When I see that in people's homes, it just seems like a huge waste of real estate where the upper level is a huge planned drop zone and nothing else. I like my way where there is a 'planned' drop zone slightly outside of the kitchen. Most people need a safety net. To me a well planned drop zone is a safety net for those of us that cannot be so disciplined about everything. I pick up my stuff at the end of the day, but it allows me the latitude to leave it there couple days without driving me nuts or getting in the way of cooking. Most homes that manage to keep the kitchen counter clear have a near by office/desk/drop zone where there is a pile of junk/paper. I know very few families that can live pile-free. Fourkids4us: one of my first remodels was to cut up my gigantic pantry into a smaller pantry and a kitchen desk/office/command center. This was the best thing I did. I made sure that I kept that functionality when I did the big remodel. I can't imagine not having a command center near the kitchen in a family home!...See Moretwo-tiered island--show me the pics!!
Comments (5)mommyto4boys- We entertain often, love how my new kitchen flows..I used to have one VERY large island.. and it didn't work in my old kitchen.. here most people sit/stand behind the 2nd island, or in the nearby seating area.. which gives me room to cook/clean/set up, without others in my way, but close enough to chat. For buffets, we usually use area in butlers pantry for setup. Kids grown, so didn't need/want large seating area at island. Don't want to hijack op tread- here is a link to my finished kitchen blog. Dishwashers are next to main sink on perimeter. Here is a link that might be useful: my finished kitchen blog...See MoreLooking for help for a 'mini-redo' of my kitchen (lots of pics)
Comments (33)so as not to be influenced by the others, I am not reading all the above posts first. But, honestly your cabinets are very worn, especially around the sink. I would NOT leave them alone and just embrace the oak. I had dark oak cabinets. I now have a white kitchen. It is a painful process to get them to look good. If you are determined to make them look good, you will be able to do it. I had such a fear that they would look and feel like crap that we took a very long time to do ours, and do it right. I have been in some kitchens that were painted by a professional, they feel icky, and I'm seeing chipping! Yikes. You don't want that. I won't go into all the details, but in a nutshell, there is the taking the doors off step, removing hardware, washing with a tsp solution, rinsing, sanding. (maybe reverse that order....) Then I used Pore-o-pac brushable wood filler. Spread it on, squeegee it off, dry, sand, and repeat until you believe the grain is filled. Then, move on to the primer. Then the finish coats. I used oil based paint. So, add in the drying time between each coat. (including the steps between pore-o-pac coats) and each door's side had to be done at different times. Spraying while hanging really didn't work for us. Also, remember that oil based whites will yellow down. Not badly. Just plan accordingly. I love how creamy my turned out. I would add chunky crown molding to build it up before painting. I think you can get rid of that higher counter if you want. And I would certainly add some hardware to jazz it up a bit. As far as the guts of the cabinets. We added really heavy duty wire roll outs from Lowe's. They really offer so much extra storage in those base cabinets. They can be pricey, but they are really worth it. I think ours were around $80 or so for a set of 2. I keep all my heavy bowls, some appliances, and other stuff on them. And that ceiling fixutre really is something! You will be amazed at how much more updated the room will feel if you rip that down and add a light or a fan. bee...See MoreVent installed in raised bar behind induction stove?
Comments (10)We are planning a gut remodel of the kitchen in our 1920s house, which will include removal of the wall between our kitchen and dining room and installation of a peninsula in its place Please do not open the kitchen in a 1920's home. Those who love a 1920's home will not pay for an HGTV open style layout and in reality, it will devalue the home. Once you "update" it to what is the current trend (i.e.: opening it up) you lose the beauty of what has stood the test of time. I know of what I talk about. I looked for a 1920's house for 2 years in my current neighborhood and wound up building because every single home that was built in the 1920's looked great on the exterior, but had been stripped of any and everything that gave it character. So if the house had been remuddled in the 1970's it still looked like a 1970's remuddle. If it had been remuddled in the 1990's it still looked like a 1990's remuddle. And interestingly enough those houses sat and sat on the market. The one or two we saw that still had the original character were snatched up immediately. Even before we could write up a bid. Might I suggest you head over to Facebook and join the American Bungalow forum and the Arts and Crafts Movement forum? Can you post your original layout and pictures of your current kitchen and living area? Maybe we can come up with something better....See Morestumpydarby
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