Thank you for the photos and insight!!! I am going to check out Colour Me Happy!!! Yes, the goal is to have something timeless so I don’t look dated in 5 or 10 years or more.
1 Like
FYI, Color Me Happy lady also has an Instagram account - I find I can digest small bits and photos better than remembering to go regularly to a blog. Plus she will remind you of posts on her blog!
1 Like
I like that this one has a butcher block table in the center, to warm up all that white.
I always say go for what you love, not what’s in style this year. I might go a little more country in the country (bead board for example), but only if you like it. My kitchen is very eclectic - white cabinets (because I can’t stand wood), butcher block on some surfaces (because actually I love wood), some Vermont soapstone (my favorite countertop) and a splash of color. I’ve posted it before, but just as an idea of what you can do.
I couldn’t resist putting this one in for fun. This sort of kitchen was all the rage when I first started practicing architecture. I love all that copper!
I also highly recommend drawers not lower cabinets and consider installing other universal design features (wider doors, no curb showers etc.) Finally, consider how you cook. Do you like to bake? Do you do a million different things at the same time on the stove? Do you need two ovens? Do you actually mostly use the microwave? Do you expect your husband to be cooking with you? (Get two full size sinks!)
5 Likes
No question…my next kitchen will have lower drawers and NOT cabinets. But that’s for the next owner to do in this house🙄.
I think you need to do what you like…after all, you are living there.
@mathmom I’m glad to see I’m not the only one with a white side by side fridge.
3 Likes
I hate that fridge! But I can’t justify tossing it out.
By lower drawers, do you mean drawers inside the lower cabinets? We have that now and would absolutely get again. H and I definitely cook together. He enjoys cooking more than I do. We have a double oven now and he wants a Professional hooded stove. So anyone with tips on that would be appreciated. I’m fine with him making the decision on that. I don’t have a preference.
I mean drawers instead of cabinets. Just drawers. See some of the above pictures. So much more efficient.
@mathmom we have all white appliances. We are not fans of stainless or black…which are all the rage now.
2 Likes
Ah, the drawers…we have a mix of both in our kitchen.
All of our appliances were white, with white cabinets and it actually made the space feel bigger. But then we needed a new range, and couldn’t get a double-oven range in white. So, we had to get stainless steel. We were able to get a white dishwasher in the first summer of the pandemic when our old one needed to be replaced, but when our fridge needed replacing, stainless was all we could get. So, I’m definitely a fan of white appliances; product shortages, however, means that sometimes we just get what’s available.
2 Likes
I’d also like to hear any suggestions people have for cutting costs on interior. We will have decide which areas to splurge but some areas would be more negotiable. My husband really wants a professional stove and sauna in the basement. I want a walk through shower in the master and a lot of hardwood floors on the main level. I’d like to hear some ways to create nice look in guest bathrooms that maybe uses less expensive materials but doesn’t look cheap.
Anyone have opinions on tv above the fireplace? We have never had that…currently tv is on built in entertainment center next to the fireplace. I like that arrangement but H is considering above fireplace. I think I’m concerned that there will be issues with above fireplace and also wondering if it will seem too high compared to what we are used to.
Professional stoves are pricey… but if your husband does a lot of cooking, maybe it is worth it (?). If funds get tight, maybe he could back stove vs sauna.
Not familiar with walkthru thru shower … and a bit confused trying to google on that. If it would work better as aging, that might be a good place to splurge.
I think the TV above fireplace workers best if the couch is far away, so you don’t have to angle-up much to look at it. We like ours on a TV cabinet on an adjacent wall. That setup allowed us to play around with various heights temporarily before buying the cabinet.
3 Likes
Avoid complicated trim work. That saves a ton of money. Also, discuss ceiling heights. Keeping all ceiling heights the same will save money. Boxes are easy to construct. Avoid too many turns.
Buy your own cabinets. That’s a big one too.
An induction cooktop of good quality easily outperforms most entry level professional stoves, plus they are safer and more cost effective.
7 Likes
FWIW, I think it’s good to know what are non negotiable splurges :). The stove was one of mine too, but I didn’t break the bank on the other appliances and was able to bundle the dishwasher and fridge.
There are wonderful inexpensive floor tiles that look great for secondary bathrooms. If you have a Floor and Decor nearby, take a field trip and look around. Subway tiles can look classy in a shower without breaking the bank. When you pick your kitchen counters, you can see if they have remnants that can be used in the bathrooms.
I am not a fan of the TV over the fireplace as it hurts my neck unless it’s on one of those brackets that can be lowered/tilted down for viewing. Note that if you are going to have a wood burning fireplace, there are considerations for how high the TV should be.
6 Likes
It is apparently the worst place for a piece stuffed with electronics. Heat will eventually kill the TV.
8 Likes
I agree 100%. I hate TV’s over fireplaces. It’s almost never ideal for TV viewing.
BTW, I believe wood burning fireplaces are illegal now in CA. Just the sealed gas units are allowed, unless there’s some waiver I’m not aware of.
I’d dump the fireplace, I’ve seen new subdivision homes built without them, probably because they rarely get used, and just make the wall a TV-only wall. Save money on the fireplace and chimneys aren’t really that great looking anyway.
4 Likes
I hate TVs over fireplaces as well. I can’t imagine ever having that setup, although obviously many people seem to like it.
However, for a lake house I would definitely want a fireplace. A sealed gas unit would be fine; there is just something so cozy about a fire in a mountain or lake house on a cold night. I would probably also have an outdoor wood burning firepit or fireplace if the lot had nice views and room for an outdoor entertaining area.
4 Likes
I believe wood burning fireplaces are no longer allowed in new construction in my neck of the woods either. As I recall, we had to have gas fireplace inserts in our House1 built in 1999. The city did not let the builder put a wood burning one in, and he was p’d off (we were quite OK with gas!).
So check to make sure you can have one!
I would simply put a gas insert FP or even an electric one. They have come a long way and look quite realistic.
1 Like
I will mention the advice about induction cooktop to my H. I told him he can do whatever he wants. A basic stove top is all I need, so he can research and choose.
3 Likes
Thank you for the tips. I do like subway tile for the bathroom shower idea. One of the bathrooms will double as a powder room so I feel like it should be a little nicer. We do want a wood burning fireplace so that could help make the decision to just stick with a built in entertainment center.