New Kitchens / Remodels

[TMB]

The kitchen is now pretty much done. Finishing details are in my lap and they are taking longer than I would like.

The baseboards are the big thing right now. When we built the house we had custom cut oak baseboards throughout. The "designer" and contractor suggested we could "get rid of those" and put in flat white paint grade baseboards.

MrsTMB restrained me from throwing them out of the house.

She is away for another 6 weeks or so and I am working my way through the baseboards, sanding, stripping, staining and clear coating so they can go back down.

It is work I enjoy doing, but is is time consuming and sadly work gets in the way from time to time.

My two favourite things in the kitchen are the really deep sink, and the refrigerator drawer that keeps beverages handy and cold.

[Tom_Bishop]

Maybe I can help? Wolf dual fuel has been hassle free for me save for a slight hot spot in the back of the oven. Love the small burner, simmer control and ease of cleaning. Wearing well over past 4 years. We'll take it to the next place if we move.
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[davids]

Goddammit, architects are expensive.
I guess we'll do this another way.

[roseyscot]

Goddammit, architects are expensive.
I guess we'll do this another way.

Depending on how drastic your renovation will be, they may not be necessary. We knew what we wanted for our kitchen and were able to design it ourselves, with the help of some pinterest boards, for our fairly talented contractor. We missed a few things that an architect probably would have caught, like I would have liked an extra foot of counter length and the cabinet nobs can bang into opposing doors if we don't keep a bumper in place. But we've managed to work around those things.

For our garage addition, we need the architect because we are looking for a variance from the town and his formal drawings and incorporation of the land survey measurements will mean the difference between a one car and a two car. It would probably be more if the design was more complex, but he's only charging us $2500 for the work including filing the variance and being present with us for the hearing.

[wgp]

Just want to say this was an awesome read (and look with the photos) - congrats to all of you with new kitchens. Loved following TooTall's process and see it progress over the months. I just bought a house with a fabulous kitchen already done, which was my preferred way to go! But being able to make all those decisions to customize it to a T has such obvious appeal to all the custom bike build gang - I get that! Very very nice!!

[wgp]

So some shots of the kitchen in the new house - I've never had an idalnd before, but I'm thinking it's going to be really handy for prepping space when there are more than one of us cooking.

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[Too Tall]

Love the light in your kitchen.

[wgp]

A big chunk of the light comes from two skylights that are on either side of the visible chimney wall, which extends up past the second floor to the roof. That, and the bay window in front of the sink and french doors, all combine to shower the room in sunlight! It is one of my favorite features of the house!

[davids]

We're starting to think things.

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[wgp]

I'm following this development davids; post up pics as it begins to be installed!

[roseyscot]

Don't put the sink in a 90 degree corner.

[BSUdude]

We're starting to think things.

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Don't put the sink in a 90 degree corner.

You could put the dishwasher next to the oven, then slide your sink plan north to give a 12" maneuvering buffer between the edge of sink and peninsula. You could also narrow up the peninsula to 16" or 18" deep to give better maneuvering at the sink. Moving the DW would be my first choice to avoid losing countertop space.

[Too Tall]

David, do you have any other place you can setup a dinner table when it is called for? We have a real nice folding hardwood dinner table that folds to 8" deep and extends to 12' long. We store it against a wall.

What I'm thinking is reflect the counter (the one with the sink) to the same wall and extend it. Make it two levels with the end part being where three people could sit and eat.

[davids]

You could put the dishwasher next to the oven, then slide your sink plan north to give a 12" maneuvering buffer between the edge of sink and peninsula. You could also narrow up the peninsula to 16" or 18" deep to give better maneuvering at the sink. Moving the DW would be my first choice to avoid losing countertop space.

Don't put the sink in a 90 degree corner.

DW moved to the peninsula, sink will come in a bit in from the corner.

David, do you have any other place you can setup a dinner table when it is called for? We have a real nice folding hardwood dinner table that folds to 8" deep and extends to 12' long. We store it against a wall.

What I'm thinking is reflect the counter (the one with the sink) to the same wall and extend it. Make it two levels with the end part being where three people could sit and eat.

We talked about a banquette, and are moving towards having a table & chairs over there. We like the flexibility of squeezing in (literally) up to 5-6 people for hanging out/cocktails/waffles on lazy mornings or while the hostess is working her magic at the stove. We'd lose that with a permanent counter/tabletop.

Here's the latest drawing from our designer. Still a ways to go (shelving next to fridge is way too deep; window is all wrong; need good access to the under-counter storage at the window end of the penisula; etc.), but it's aiming in the right direction:

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It's getting that cockpit-like workspace feeling.

[davids]

Almost sussed:

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We're even on budget!

[xjoex]

We had a new rock facade put in, our contractor brings his amazing dog for assistance.
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New counters and moved some switches off the wall, the thermostat was right next to the oven, absolutely dumb placement. All moved. Some paint and we'll be done.
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-Joe

[davids]

We have a design; we've picked our cabinets, countertops, backsplash, paint and appliances.

Work is due to commence after Labor Day.

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[SlowPokePete]

Backsplash project.





















Still have to caulk between the bottom row of tile and the countertop.

SPP

[winmonster]

Nice work, and you have excellent taste in drip coffee makers.

[rwsaunders]

Pete...quick tip. Take some very slightly damp burlap and buff out your tile. Let dry, and then buff out again with a dry piece of burlap. Whether the tile is glazed or not, the burlap will help to erase the final haze left by the grout application.