Just looked at Hoodsly. Interesting. I found this bit on their blog to be interesting/puzzling. It almost sounds as if English isn’t the first language of their writer.

Think they should just remove that sentence🤔

Allison, love that drawer! Could you tell me the dimensions?

And I plan to run a slab behind the range, just like that. Still don’t have a rangehood picked out & need to finalize that ASAP.

Any ideas?

I seem to be drawn to sconces........another pic

Have you chosen your range?

IMHO you can either have a focal point on the range or the hood but not both. Personally, i like hoods to disappear. I had a very showy steel and brass one in the first kitchen that I did (paired with a brass and steel range); here I went with a plaster one because I wanted the LaCanche to star, and in Maine I have a hood that is tiled in the same tile as the b/s, allowing the Cornue to star.

I'm not a huge fan of the lanterns because I think it may be a tad too fussy for a Kitchen, but if it were me, I would not let cleaning dissuade me. Especially if someone else cleans it. : )

The exterior width is 29"

The interior width is 27.5"

Each section that hold a pan(s) are 18.5" deep (front to back) and 3.75" wide. The dividers slip out for easy cleaning or rearranging.

The front panel of the drawer is 12" tall.

The drawer side/box is 11" tall.

Hope that makes sense. :D

Mtn, if I had your range.........definitely the star!, I will have 36” blue star range top, just stainless. I do like the stainless w straps & rivets- but think I’d rather it not be the star. Just everything blending besides maybe the marble slab. And always better when someone else responsible for cleaning ;)

I still want to ask marble fabricator if a slab is possible , like this.....

Allison, thank you! Yes, perfect description. Love that drawer, instead of stacking the pans.

I also like something like this, maybe without the corbels, to simplify? The rangehood will be “sandwiched” between tall dish pantry & refrigerator. 7.6 ft for range area. So 28” drawer, 36” range top, & 28” drawer.

You're welcome.

I like the hood in your last photo.

So happy to see this. About 30 minutes ago I was wondering how Peppa’s kitchen is coming along!

I like the last one as well. It would have the crown wrapped around the top & trimmed out on the bottom. Thinking I might go w 48” because I want to hang it higher than 30”. I’m 5’10 & DH is 6’. Our last one was right there at our heads.

Bb, I’m patiently awaiting for my cabinet guy to finish spraying the other cabs before we start on kitchen. This is NOT the time to take on renovations- everyone is so busy, I’m learning. But we are making progress, slowly.

I like the hood in the last photo too! And can you get a little shelf or rim, in case you want to display something. The marble, for me, would be too visually heavy

Mtn, I like the idea of a ledge also.

Do you know the distance between your range hood & range? It looks taller & I like that. Did you get a bigger/more powerful vent to compensate for the added height?

It might just look taller because we have a 1900's era ceiling (under 8ft). I can measure but I think it's standard.

I’m going to ask electrician if he can run wires behind Sheetrock for sconces. Maybe not the lanterns, but something in my pocket for later- if I change my mind.

I’m not doing pendants, just recessed cans. Feel like I might want a little something:)

Also, sinks/faucets....... i Ended up w a load of Franke products.

Pescara 33”

Pescara faucet- chrome

Or crystal faucet- chrome

Think these are too modern for this kitchen?

All I ever see are bridge faucets & DH will not go for 2 handles. Plus these are essentially free!

Also I have a pescara deck mount pot filler, not sure on that.....

I like that first faucet best. 😋

#1 faucet. You can always hang art over the outlet box covers, and they are there if you decide to add sconces. I do not have pendants either (never have), and don't miss them at all. One suggestion is to put most of your lighting on dimmer switches. Have you decided what color and kind of switches/outlets?

I may have missed it, but are you sure you want chrome?

I also have this one in brushed nickel

I have quite a few Frankie faucets (DH got 6 sinks, 10 faucets for a steal). I’ve got 2 laundry rooms & pool house to outfit also.

Im not opposed to buying something for the kitchen.

The knobs are old Baldwin, that I’m reusing (brass).

Allison, I’m not sure on electrical!! Probably the Leviton Renu (all dimmers & no screws on face plate). Ivory.

Except backsplash...../visits to stone yards took a turn.....:::where I thought I’d do a marble- Calcutta or something. Of course every sales person urged against marble. DH mainly cooks & we entertain often (red wine 🍷). DH fell for soapstone.

They also had this marble (wouldn’t show stains as much)

Will post pics next......

DH is not a clean as you go cook, so there’s that!!

Marble

And good ole granite.....I think it looks like a chalky soapstone.

I didn’t take a pic of soapstone, but green/black w white veins- pretty!

When I re-did the kitchen in our vacation house, I wanted marble so badly. I got a good size sample piece from the stone yard. They sealed it for me. I put various things that would be likely spilled on it - tomato sauce, bourbon, lemons, limes, Worcestershire, olive oil, etc. I cleaned some things within an hour of putting them on the stone. Other things I let set overnight. Everything etched, some things stained. I’m not good with “patina.” I installed granite instead. YMMV

Bbstx, I could probably deal w the etching, but not the stains from red wine & spaghetti sauce. And I don’t want to have to worry over what DH is doing, so I think marble is out. At least a white marble.

Im a little intrigued w the bardiglio (dark marble ^^^)

Think a dark stone - soapstone, marble or Virginia mist- would make kitchen too dark?

The first time I saw soapstone in a kitchen, 10 yrs ago, it had stains on it (like oil?). I saw it once again in a house tour kitchen, same thing. Not sure if there is an answer to that but I made a mental note not to use it.

I've had marble for 10years, a slab on the island, on my breakfast rooms counters, and next to my stove. I have a ring on the island but you have to be in the right light to see it. It is honed. I love it.

If you wanted white marble why not quartzite?Dark marble will still etch if that is a concern.

My bathroom had white cararra & not one etch or stain after 5 yeare.

We had fantasy brown In kitchen & no staining, some etching. But didn’t bother me, at all.

There seems to be NO perfect countertop. Soapstone can show oil spots& chip if a softer variety.

Quartzite- I prefer the veins of marble to the lines of quartzite & cant “unsee” the difference now.

And then there’s the “I don’t want to do what everyone else is doing” mindset also. It may have plywood countertops for awhile!! Lol

“I don’t want to do what everyone else is doing” mindset also.

LOL ... I hear you!

That's how i ended up with dark cherry counters and pewter counters in my primary home, and tile in my beach house pantry.

I have a tip on the plywood countertops...cover them with heavy duty aluminum foil before installation. 😂 Duct tape makes for easy repairs!

I was curious about soapstone so I googled a bit. Because honestly if you saw what I saw, you'd never consider it.

Then I came across this blog .... and I think the ones I saw were not sealed properly. I love it in this kitchen! https://fortheloveofahouse.blogspot.com/2014/03/soapstone.html

FWIW...

I've lived with soapstone for almost 3yrs now. I love it, and use this product to seal/refresh. Discovered a GW/Houzz thread where someone tested a lot of products on samples and went with this one. The plus is if you want to put on without gloves, your hands will be softer. LOL I bought on Amazon.

Older Photo....

It's very classic, every bit as much as white marble, In fact it may be an even prettier foil for things.

Mtn, when we did the barn- I searched for someone to do pewter tops & fell down a rabbit hole of how to DIY. Thanks for the link to For the Love of a House, love that blog, wish she was still updating it.

Bb, lol- I may have to use that tip!!!

Allison, beautiful! So, your happy with it? Which was does your kitchen face(n,s,e,w)? My hesitation on this kitchen is...... it faces north, 2 French doors w porch looking out to the pool. The sunroom faces East & has great windows & butlers pantry faces East w one window.

Maybe, soapstone counters & the Calcutta backsplash tiles?

Here’s an old daytime photo w no lights on. Do you think dark counters would make it darker?

This shows the sunroom & butlers pantry windows/light. Natural light/ no overheads

Our kitchen faces 120 degrees S. I only have the three windows over the sink and a pair of French doors going out to deck. I am very happy with the soapstone.

What are you doing with your cabinet finish(es)? I don't recall reading.

Here is a pretty example of soapstone counters with Calcutta backsplash... white cabs, of course.

Fall, 2019, I went to a home show where the kitchen in every house was done in Silestone/Cosetino/Dekton. One had the look of white marble. All of the houses were $1.5 million+ in an city where that buys a lot of house. Here is information from one house.

Allison, your kitchen is so beautiful! I do like the soapstone/Calcutta combination.

Thank you, BB......... I know in my heart, that I have to have real stone- even with maintenance & etching.

I totally forgot about considering the other hard surfaces surrounding the kitchen- that I’m not changing. All I see at stoneyards is gray & white, don’t think that will work. Really not sure the soapstone will work either.

Im getting decision fatigue & could've made a bad $$ mistake 🤬

FP in den that opens up to kitchen.

Tile in pantry- off of butlers pantry. Which hydrangea drape colorway do y’all like? Cabs in pantry & butlers pantry are this grey/blue color.

Countrtop that I love, but has been elusive in my searches so far.......since it has some gold/peach in it.

There’s always tan mahal, but i ont

Tan mahal & I like it. But, not sure I love it.

I haven’t really picked a cabinet color for kitchen - waiting to finalize countertop. But ~was~ going to do the island in the same blue/gray as the butlers pantry cabinets.

Mama tired!!

Peppa here is that marble above:

Peppa, that marble sink is probably a Calacatta Gold marble. Hard to find and expensive. The stuff they mine these days looks nothing like the Calacatta Gold you used to find.

I thought I recognized the sink from TritonStoneGroup. Very pretty. I looked at Vagli slabs at their stoneyard near us. Bought DD1's bathroom slab from them, but not the rest of our remodel slabs. Her one bathroom slab yielded her vanity, pony wall top next to commode, LR FP surround plus mantel and a round table top. Also a cheese slab (sink cut out) the fabricator made, she uses next to sink for her products.

Chips a, I’m gbe true- it’s all gray/white. Which I don’t want/work in this house.

Im going to look at some Danby marble today 🤞. From what I’m hearing/researching.......Calcutta is the bad boy~ gorgeous, but maintenance. Anyone have any of the Danby marbles?

Allison, you got a lot out of that slab!

Thanks, Jinx! It’s is gorgeous- but where do they pour out their red wine? I’ve always wondered abt marble sinks......

Danby is the one that I did the tests on, IIRC. The sample was polished. Lots of etching and staining. That was 10 or so years ago. Maybe there are more effective sealers now.

There wasn't much left. Worked out perfectly with a good fabricator. I had to look back, but hers is Calacatta Vagli. She actually picked out a slab I had considered for the MB. This was all that was needed for her bathroom vanity. If it had not worked out to use the rest, I would not have bought. Mama ended up with more than she did. LOL

We used Miracle Sealants Porous Plus Sealer 511 on the travertine floor and counters in our last home. All of the bathroom had honed travertine counters. No etching or staining. There is a sealer that does not have an enhancer, if you do not want shiny surfaces.

That is a beautiful, beautiful slab, Allison!! I need those honey tones in mine! I have some reservations abt marble, but like you- I haven’t had any issues w natural stones in use.

oh, BB..........this is honed. DH is going w me tomorrow to look again. I’ll see if I can get a sample & experiment.

Here is the Danny Imperial- I would probably prefer more veining, but there’s an understated classic look about this that I like for this house. The house is So.Much.

Butlers pantry cabinets in process..... how do you think the Danny would look n this color?

Have you seen any Alabama White Marble in person? Its color is similar (at least in photos) to the Danby, but more veining, depending on the slab. The slabs coming out of the quarry have five different names, depending on colors. AM3 Surfaces now owns the quarry. (scroll down for Alabama marble colors)

ETA: This page is better source for the variations.

Allison, you may have just saved me from being ok w a stone to being in love w a stone!!❤️❤️

These stones, the creme extra & Alabama Rose, esp are gorgeous!! I’ve been in contact with the company- working on pricing & shipping.

((((((wish I could hug you)))))))

Im trying to set my fabricator up w the rep to purchase slabs from them for his inventory (win/win for everyone involved) & borrow his truck/trailer for a road trip to B’ham to save on shipping costs.

If I can work that out......:🤞🙏

Ill share pics once I’m at a computer- GORGEOUS, at least - to me.

Alabama Rose

Creme Extra

I love the crème extra. Are you going to see it in person before buying.

Yes, the creme extra! Beautiful! To me, the first pic is a bit too busy.

Gosh, so glad you found something you love and that I was able to help! Our MB slab was not named, but it looks like the Creme Extra to me. Who knows though. LOL

ETA: I just went back to their website to see the names/variations, and noticed they have the SAME SLAB for all 5 of them. Too funny.

Allison, I had noticed the same thing and was going to comment on it but decided not to. The other thing that caught my eye was the marble is quarried in Talledega County, where I was born!

Yes, in Sylacauga. Our main level marble floors were bought directly from the previous owners of the quarry. DH drove to pick up for my parents. When we remodeled, I purchased new slabs from there, but used tile purchased by our fabricator from the quarry when it closed (before AM3 purchased).

I foundthis page on their website that shows the correct name/variations. I will go back and add it to my original post.

Too funny. I had forgotten the media person had asked for a few photos when I left a comment on their IG account awhile back. She used foyer and living room in the Creme Extra page.

And the MB photos on the Alabama Scuro page (brass sink photo is not mine, but others are).