Thanks for the welcoming messages! I think I'm in the right place. Angelclub, I recognized your name and remember your kitchen, too - one of my favorites. MeMo, a neighbor told me we were in Zone 4 - zoned a little cooler than the map would indicate because of strong lake winds, she said. Now that I've determined I'm in the right forum, I'll get pictures this weekend of the yard area I want to work on to post. There is a link to my current Photobucket pics that show the house and its setting in the Finished Kitchens Blog under "amck kitchen" if anyone cares to take a look. I'm so happy to be done with building, and am looking forward to trying my hand at gardening. I've been yearning to do this for years!

Wow! These are great ideas!!! Are there any counter types I shouldn't consider because the cottage will be shut down in winter? Temps will be below freezing... Even though there are three windows in the kitchen and has a cathedral ceiling, it's northeast facing. It can look dark with all that wood. I'm not really a shiny granite gal, but the bright quartz is appealing. As it's not a full time space I think can make a "riskier" choice than a safe neutral. A local store's ruby red blue star range had called to me but I couldn't justify for the little use the showpiece would have. Maybe Concrete, stainless, zinc are all more muted but I like the textures of each of these. I need to photoshop some counters into the kitchen.....

I splurged and went with the brass. The wait won't be that big of a deal since everything else is so behind schedule anyway! Next round of questions: Should I do a small backsplash in butcher block? Our countertops will be exclusively butcher block and the backsplash white shiplap. I quite like the look of the wood back splashes in the DeVol and Plain English kitchens shown here. Yay or nay? If you like them, how tall and how thick should they be? Also in this one photo attached the backsplash is installed behind the counter rather than on top which is how I'd imagine doing it. Any idea which is preferable? I was going to do IKEA solid oak counters but have accepted that it really can't be a DIY job since I chose an undermount sink with curved corners and don't have the skill to confidently make that cut. We'll spend a bit more on having them and and finished, ready to install. I'm leaning toward Eastern Maple because it's hard and quite pale. That's a better choice than very old reclaimed fir I'd imagine, even if it has a cool backstory.

Hi Ciboney, This is such a great kitchen and dining room. Where are you based out of? If you would like to call and talk, we can come up with some solutions. I'd love to get to know you and your family, budget a little bit more to come up with solutions that works. I saw your kitchen ideabook and the inspiration is very light and bright on there. I would definitely like to make the kitchen lighter and brighter. You have such great natural light coming in. and we should use that to our advantage. If you really like something so crisp, think about painting the top cabinets... and this where budget and timelines come into play. Also, if you are open to it, I would paint the crown moulding white so the chair rail really pops and becomes a design feature. where is the fridge? Do you want the stove in the island? I would move it back to the opposite wall and center it there. It looks like an electric cooktop, so moving it should be so tough. To start - Lets remove the wallpaper Sink - I would do an undermount sink in stainless or white ceramic and the gooseneck pullout faucet in stainless steel or brushed nickel (champagne) I would change the shape of the island countertop to a rectangle with adequate seating around the island based on family members. I would also remove the big light box on top. Instead do pendants over the island to make it updated. Oil rubbed Bronze or brass or champagne (brushed nickle) can all work for the finish. I would remove all cabinets and valance on the window wall (sink area and take the backsplash all the way to the soffit. Then do floating shelves in painted white or the wood if it can be matched. This will create a certain lightness and you can put your pretty stuff or just lemons :) Countertop - Pure White or organic white from Caesearstone and you can use that as backsplash or the classic subway tile in white as you suggested. Paint - I would use the same color above and below the chair rail to make it pop even more. Flooring - Depends on what you have in the rest of the house. Porcelain tile that looks like wood (light grays) can lighten the room. Go light and play with the layout of the tile - Wood floor look alike porcelain tile in a herringone pattern will update the kitchen but keep it classic. Feel free to reach out if you want to talk. I am based out of New York, but we can talk / facetime and I'd be happy to help. Good luck for your project, Ruchi, DesignbyRUCHI