Kitchen Details and Resources

Thank you for the kind comments about the kitchen.  I honestly do really find myself cooking more often and wanting to cook more often since I actually enjoy the space I am cooking in!  The new kitchen is also 10x cleaner on any given day because the finished product of my cleaning makes me happy.  The old kitchen, not so much.  I would clean and clean it and still feel like I was surrounded by grime.  Awesome picture right? ;)

Here is a list of the materials/products we used in this renovation, and a little review of them when applicable.  It's been a great learning experience to design for myself after years of designing and specifying for other people.  I found it wasn't as hard as I thought and, thankfully, discovered the materials I have been recommending for clients truly were worth the switch/change/risk!

Paint:

walls - BM White Dove, eggshell

trim - BM White Dove, satin

ceiling - BM ice cap at 25%, flat {or so…we mixed this around at the house until it looked right.  The house has eight foot ceilings and I did not realize just how much even the slightest tint would visually impact the already low height of it.  I am used to tinting ceilings but they are always 9-10 feet ++!}

island - Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze, satin

window wall cabinets and range wall base cabinets - Valspar Vail, satin

range wall upper cabinets - BM White Dove, satin

back entry and den/dining room - BM Vapor Trails at 50%, eggshell

Materials:

countertops - Alabama White Marble honed and sealed - PEOPLE …. marble is the BEST! I could and maybe should write an entire blog post on simply this topic.  But for now, let me "concisely" say this: we have yet to find something that stains it…coffee, spaghetti sauce, milk, unidentified kid grime, wine, cooking splatter, etc….left over night even.  

Found this under some old mail by our coffee maker yesterday and who knows how long it had been there.  Came up by me wetting my finger and rubbing it.  Don't believe what you hear about this stuff staining!

It DOES etch…and this is what that means:  Lemon/lime juice and sorta-kinda strong tomato acids cause the finish of the island to change in surface reflection.  You can feel the change in finish when you wipe the counter with a rag, or see it when you lean down and look at the counter at an angle…like this:

OK I had to really try hard to even capture this on a camera.  If you look right underneath the window reflection there are two white-ish smudges.  I went to take the picture because I knew they were there but couldn't find them for the longest time! Haha…it takes the right light at the right angle at the //all this equals I don't even care that it's there!//

And if you are super messy with washing dishes and pile soaking wet dishes on the bare counter and let it sit for awhile, with nothing to absorb all that extra water, or place a wet glass with water trapped under it, the marble will eventually soak the water up itself.  Some of these are removable by pressing with a dishrag, but honestly I don't even pay attention to it and I thought we had a water spot at one time but it has since dried up and disappeared.

Jacob bangs his spoon on the counter sometimes:

If you look SUPER closely you can see some bright white specs.  That is where his spoon hit the counter.  Again, doesn't bother me in the least but I'm covering everything I can think of here! :)

All that being said, my super normally-cares-about-that-kind-of-stuff husband said he would do marble again in a second.  It's just such a beautiful, living, authentic, REAL material.  I feel like I have a living sculpture in my kitchen.  It's awesome and, if I ever have the chance, I would put it everywhere! DO IT! 

backsplash - American O'lean 3x6 glossy white subway tile

grout - oyster gray

shelves - unstained oak with simple sealant {I don't know any more information that that.  A good friend built these for me at Seven Eleven Fabrication here in Mobile - contact me for information}

shelf brackets - Signature Hardware

hardware - myknobs.com KNOBS PULLS

sink - Whitehaus 30" fireclay single bowl sink - I went from double bowl to single bowl and again, I will never go back.  As I see it the only reason you would need a double bowl sink would be if you run a sink full of water and wash all your dirty dishes in that water and rinse in the other bowl of the sink.  That just ain't my thang :)

faucet - Kingston Brass 8" widespread bridge faucet

range - Smeg 36" dual fuel range from plessersappliance.com.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this range.  At the time we purchased it I was considering the GE 30" cafe range.  It was the best looking, best priced range offered that I could find.  However, I came across the Smeg and, while it was a risk ordering a manufacturer not offered in my area and that I had never heard of…I was able to get a larger range with a more commercial "look" to it, and it was shipped fast and free.  I would do this range again in a second, and will if I am ever in the situation to do so.  I don't know if I will ever be able to shell out super dough for a Wolf or a Viking or similar.  I love my Smeg!!

dishwasher - Whirlpool Gold W10431035A - I actually spent more time than necessary researching dishwashers.  Our old one was Terrible with a capitol T.  With price being a huge factor, we went with a plastic tub, heated dry and it is amazing!  Rinse Aid is a necessity but I do not feel like I needed to have a stainless interior for hundreds more dollars.  Unlike a Bosch I never have to clean old food out of a filter.  The racks are all completely adjustable which is great because Stephen's and my favorite dishes are our huge bowl/plates from Denby. So many of the dishwashers we looked at couldn't even fit those dishes due to height restrictions!

microwave - Frigidare from Lowes - again, didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars so ours is pretty much worth what we spent.  As is not much.  All we use it for is quick reheats and such so it gets the job done.  We don't nuke potatoes or bacon or anything and the only time we randomly tried to it overheated and turned itself off.  

range hood - Broan PM390 - does the job

pendant lights - Wisteria

refrigerator - our old one.  Thought about a new one but had our cabinet maker make that cabinet deep enough for a standard sized refrigerator since the cabinet was up against a wall and had no reason to be "counter depth."  With our large family we are glad we made this decision.  

counterstools - ok this is a tough one.  I have had the most requests for the source of these stools.  I spent a lot of time on this too and, for our budget, found that there was hardly anything we liked out there, especially since we needed at least FOUR stools.  We knew we needed a back of some sort so we could attach a booster seat {or two :)}.  These are from a trade only wholesaler and we are in the process of having them replaced.  They are falling apart before our eyes…the woven reeds are breaking and leaving large holes in the chairs, just from normal use.  We still love the look of them and if the second batch has the same problems I guess we will be forced to find something different.  So I cannot in good conscience recommend them at this point!

cabinets - local custom shop I have worked with before on past clients' jobs.  Not a wonderful experience and I knew this going into it but again, sometimes the budget is the driving force and it definitely was in this case!  They are full overlay and self closing.  I love love love self closing hardware.

floors - white oak to match rest of house, stained custom mix of Minwax dark walnut and ebony.  If you are local and need a great floor guy, email me and I will get you in touch with Mike.  He and his wife Pam are the best of the best!

Mr. Everything aka our demo/framer/sheetrocker/electrician/plumber/painter/millwork-er/tile-layer/insulation-er/appliance-installer extraordinaire - Robert Shotlander.  He is now pretty much part of the family and I would be MORE than happy to share his name with anyone local who needs a good, honest, hardworking guy for any type of work around your house.  

roman shade fabric - GP&J Baker available through Lee Jofa

curtain fabric - Kravet Pennock in Lizard

curtain rod - Natalie Roe Interior Design - contact me

Fixin' My Kitchen : The After

{see details and sources here}

This might be a little anti-climactic since, yes, it IS almost a year since we started this renovation but this is honestly the first chance I have had to take pictures and post about them.  I actually took pictures a month or so ago, but I am no "stager" and ended up cleaning the kitchen a little too well and the pictures just looked so stark - and sad - and unlived in - and not real.

I'm not going to take pictures with dirty dishes in the sink or anything but I much prefer real life pictures.  So here is a brief synopsis of the kitchen, followed by pictures, refrigerator art and all {my favorite}.

If you have been following my kitchen renovation, here, here, here, here and here, you might have seen that the renovation not only changed the layout of the kitchen, but of the back entry/laundry room as well.  Where the back entry used to be through the laundry room, now we have a back foyer space.  This is where 99% of people enter our house so this was a very big deal to us.

There was a large area of wasted space in our Master Bedroom that we reconfigured and created a combined pantry/laundry room.  I love that the entry to the Master {who is still in great need of completed-decoration} is in the same hallway space as this room - so practical for laundry purposes.

{pantry/laundry is door on the left, kitchen is directly behind the picture}

Overall, in the clearly materialistic sense of life, this kitchen has been one of the most wonderful things we have done for ourselves.  Our evenings are so much more of a joy, sharing the space between the kitchen {where I usually am} and the den {where Stephen usually is}.  Everything has a specific space and use and function.  I have more than three drawers total {in fact, almost my entire kitchen consists of drawers now!}.  There are still areas left to tweak - rug/runner between sink and range, back door to be painted, bench cushion to be made for back entry, art to be hung - but we are loving every minute in this new space and how it has transformed everything from food preparation to cleaning to storage to entertaining.  And yes, we both LOVE the open shelves.  I don't think I will ever go back. :)  I hope to follow up this post with reviews on different items/finishes/products we used for this renovation.  No promises as to when that will be, so for now, here are the pics!

OVERWHELMED

It's what I am right now.  Overwhelmed with EVERYTHING!  We moved back into our house Sunday night, still without a kitchen, but we are so happy to be home.  My house and brain look a little like this

I've had a few moments where I just sit on the sofa and spend way too long looking around {or eyes glazed over} just overwhelmed with all there is to do...organize, clean, unpack, put away....

The realistic part of me says "I know it's Easter and Easter is not about eggs and bunnies and crafts and cooking.  It's about His love for us and His son who saved us and our salvation.  Your kids will live if they don't go sit in the Easter Bunny's lap.  The kids will be not be worse off if they don't dye any eggs or bake Easter treats in your {non-existent} kitchen."

However, the ME part of me says "What about rice krispie M&M treats in the shape of bunnies? Outdoor Easter Egggggstravaganza??? Why can you not walk into your bedroom?  Doesn't all of this stuff need to be put away right. now.??? Your desk and your "office" aka current pantry/kitchen is a disaster....do something about it! And let's not get started on your car..."

Also, if you have been following the blog for the past few years, you will know how much I've dreamed of one day owning a few of these

{barred rocks and silkies to be specific...along with several other breeds}

Several of my friends have them in their backyard and I've realized through them that my "dream" is something I really don't have to wait for.  Our city allows hens within the city limit and after Stephen saw a friend's chicken coop and set up a couple months ago he actually jumped in on the excitement of having some. {not to mention that when my family of five eats eggs, we eat almost a dozen.  And they're not even in their teens...or pre teens...or tweens....}

So, what better time to get some baby chicks than EASTER???  I mean I can hardly contain myself over the thought of the kids waking up Sunday morning to eight little chicks.

So perfect.

And SO not going to happen.  All the things I should have been doing to get ready for said chickens over the past couple weeks I have not been doing, to say the least.  So, in my ever-evolving resolution to learn how to say NO, this morning I told myself and Stephen the chicks-for-Easter thing is just not going to happen. As with so many other things right now, it will be put off until the kitchen is done.  And I am 100% ok with that!  It actually feels really good just to say "no" and the "ME" part of me is getting really comfortable with the laid back, under-achieving side of having three small children and a job and a house under construction.  Don't get me wrong...I really miss cooking and crafting {and heaven knows the last time I actually SEWED anything!}...but for this Easter season we are just going to sit back, smile, and pull out the paper plates and Honey Baked Ham.

And give all thanks to the Father who doesn't require anything else out of us!  He takes us, dust and all.

{and I've got plenty of that!!!}

FIXIN' MY KITCHEN : THE MATERIALS

To say I have had fun with this kitchen is quite the understatement.  It was such a joy to design our most lived in living space in every aspect...from the wall placement {interior} to the type of cabinet knob.

When I design for other people, I fully respect their aesthetic {unless they don't have one and just need me to tell them what to do...I get those too!}, just guide them in the direction and whole picture aspect where their taste can be displayed but in a "taste"-ful way. ;)  So when it comes to designing for myself, I really feel like I could go in a million directions.  I love so many different styles...rustic glam, mid century modern mixed with high traditional, the commonly loved "white and blue and light gray" coastal look, classic preppy patterns and styles, the simplicity of the "new" traditionalists....all these things.  I have found my style doesn't really fit exactly in one of those molds, grabbing a little inspiration from each of these categories, so my challenge is making sure it all blends together, stays within budget, and doesn't look too busy or hap-hazard.

So, while I tried my best not to make this room a huge pot of over-designed stew, I did make sure a few of my favorite "things" were included :) things like this:

marble + mixed metals + warmth + open shelving + crisp white + soothing grays

{not shown: plenty of natural light and living things...plants, fresh flowers, KIDS!}

And after a nerve racking visit to my marble source last week, I found our slabs

The problem came in picking out a slab that would work for my island...as it requires almost an entire slab.  There were many decent looking slabs but each had some sort of massive dark marking on one corner or irregularities that would have completely unbalanced the island.  There were ten available slabs on the list and we could only find nine.  Several of them would have worked for the perimeter counter tops, but by the time we ruled out the ninth and final slab, the pit in my stomach was visioning plywood counter tops in my kitchen for months and months on end, until another shipment of marble was placed and arrived.  Thankfully the "missing" tenth available slab was found right as we were leaving {and right before I broke down} and it was PERFECT.  The marble I love and have used on every job where marble was desired is Alabama White.  

On the counters in this kitchen and Master Bathroom I did back in 2010

On the backsplashes of this kitchen, my first "official" job on my own in 2007

And on the bathroom and kitchen counters in this fun cabana job I worked on this past fall:

Alabama White reminds me the most of Calacatta Gold marble...with a slightly off white background and longer, more gradual veining.  'Cept not with the same price tag ;)  I love it.  

I will do a more detailed post describing the different items we are using in our kitchen soon.  Time to take Bennett to school and pick up the ceramic tile for my laundry room floor - budget budget budget!!

Have a great Monday!

FIXIN' MY KITCHEN : INSPIRATION

I have been envisioning this kitchen for so long now that it really wasn't too hard to make decisions all the materials/finishes.  Ok ok so technically it has taken me several years to develop the vision and figure out the materials I wanted to use to accomplish this vision {and stay within budget!!}.

I feel like my design aesthetic is generally traditional, a little rustic, with a dash of eclectic and glam thrown in.  Understanding completely that those four characteristics don't usually all coexist...but I've learned that the rooms I am the most attracted to have a hint of all of these things in them.

I am not a fan of "cookie cutter" rooms...or rooms that could be overall characterized as one thing...a "glam" room, or a "rustic" room, or a "modern" room.  I always want to throw some warm wood or a BASKET in a room I feel is too "glam," or sneak in some shiny warm brass or polished finish in a "rustic" space, or hang a good pastoral piece of artwork in or just run around and "mussy up" an ultra-modern space.  Basically if a room looks like its out of a _____ catalog...it ain't for me.

I like living materials, or materials that age and change and evolve.  I like imperfections.  I like life in a home {seriously...if you have kids in your house, it's OK to see that kids live there}.  I feel very strongly about that!  That's why I might be a "little" picky concerning the types of toys we fill their toy chests with...but that's a story for another day}.  I like warmth and cozy-ness.  I personally tend to stay away from rooms that are too large or ceilings that are too high {I am NOT a fan of two-story spaces...ask my clients..!!} or palettes that are too monochromatic.  I like natural light and if not natural light then soft lamp light.  Lots of lamp light!  I will cook in my kitchen under fading sunlight until the last possible minute then reluctantly turn on the overhead recessed lighting.  You would probably say I am a "fall" person...color wise and warmth wise {I know I am using that "warmth" word a LOT but it means a lot to me! and disclaimer: warmth does not mean lots of saturated color.  Also another post for another day.}.  I've also realized that I am even more attracted to a space if it contains a living thing...maybe a dog but usually something GREEN {aka plants}.

For example {being fully aware these rooms could very well appeal greatly to someone else, so no offense, differing opinions make the world go round!}:
All the reflective surfaces in this room would give me a headache.  Too much mirror/silk/reflection is not good for anyone...or anyTHING.  I would do antique dark wood tables/chests to replace the mirrored nightstands, all white bedding with one large square-edge patterned pillow incorporating that spa blue color off the wallpaper, large white gourd lamps with linen, not silk, shades...ok heck I would basically scrap this room and start over.  WARMTH.  I need more WARMTH people:

In my opinion, this room below is "cool" and "stylish" and all but maybe only in a museum or in a magazine.  I would say it needs a cowhide rug layered over seagrass, some antique tapestry lumbar pillows, a floor to ceiling wall of books on the back wall, and a finish change on the floor lamp from chrome to antique or unlacquered brass...if I was to ever feel remotely comfortable in it {which ps. I LOVE that lamp}: 

So, ending that fun little game {;)}, here are some inspiration pictures of kitchens {and a couple non-kitchens} that seem to perfect the warm, layered, living feel I am drawn to and inspired by in my personal style/space:

a little "too" white for my house but I still love it {and it has a very similar layout as my new kitchen}:

one of my most favorite kitchens EVER...that Bennison fabric on the chairs is super traditional and uber amazing:

not sure my 50's ranch style house could accommodate these windows, but I would do it across the back of the house in a second if budget allowed:

I promise the next installment, if it's not an update on the demo/progress, will be about the actual materials I have chosen for our kitchen.

Have a great week!