Home Kitchen Design: Beginners Questions

[janinegirly]

i agree NEL, I love love love marble countertops. But I dont'' think I can justify it since it is not stain friendly and have a little one and not exactly a good cook, so pretty messy. The honed option sounds pricey. How does quartz look? I like the honed granite for the island but not necessarily all counters. My SIL has that and it looked a bit dark and dull to have so much of it (in the dark dark brown-black shade).

 

[pennquaker09]

I think people that go after marble know that it''s going to stain and what not over time. Some people like the imperfections that it will eventually have. Even though I love for things to be neat and clean, I love marble and I don''t think I''d mind if it got stained. On the other hand, we don''t prepare a lot of things that have the possibility of spilling and making a stain, so marble could work for us. Also, I like the bake and I plan on incorporating a baking station/area into the design of our future kitchen.

Janine, honestly, quartz is the overall BEST option, but if cost is a huge concern, it might not be the best way to go. But, it doesn''t stain, you don''t have to seal it, there are NO visible SEAMS. It''s the perfect countertop choice.

It wouldn''t be completely true if I said that I hate granite . . . I think it''s more or less that I don''t like the colors that are so generic and found in EVERY other home. There are a few that are just so overused and I really don''t want to see them again (New Venetian Gold and Black Galaxy being the main two).

Janine, have you ever seen Imperial White granite? I think it''s beautiful.

 

[janinegirly]

So we are getting a bit more serious on kitchen design at last. I think we will most definitely go with a white kitchen (or next shade down, light cream,etc). Shaker cabinets (2 with glass doors), SS appliances with hood matching the cabinets, brushed nickel hardware, no excessive moldings etc (thanks Penn!)...

Talking to our architect it looks like the configeration will include a very large island (about 8ft!!) with sink and dishwasher within the island. I was a little unsure about such a large island but he convinced me that it was proportionate to the space (open plan) and allows for good counter room and seating. It will also be curved on one side for seating.

Now comes the countertop decision. Still quite a bit of time before we need this determined, but I'm trying to start my research. I do love Haven's 2nd photo and Morgie44's 1st & 3rd photos above (any ideas what type of granite is in these photos?). Right now leaning towards white cabinets with a brownish/goldish warm granite countertops, but a darker island top of different surface type. Problem is our island is so large so I'm unsure if a v. dark counter will overwhelm the room. I am loving butcher blocks as well. Re: marble, this would be in my dream fantasy kitchen, but doesn't work with our lifestyle (maintenance, price etc)--but I absolutely love the look!

Anyway, thoughts from anyone on an island's possible countertop in this set up (assuming granite in rest of space with white cabinets)? An alternative would be to do granite on all surfaces and have contrast be in the wood /cabinets below the island (instead of white have it be darker wood --but not same as floors which are oak). In this case the granite would need to work with white as well as with the wood selected. There will be ample natural light in the room and open space leads to family room which will have same paint color but furniture be more in the brown/tan family (typical family room).

Oh and anyone have magazine suggestions for inspiration? Thanks!!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

If my kitchen wasn''t such a mess I would take a picture of mine. We have a huge island which I LOVE. Our island holds 3 cabs w/ drawers on each side so it is wider. Have you seen Kashmire (think that is the name) granite? I love it. It is white with gray and red veins. Looks like marble to me w/o the upkeep. I am like Penn and don''t care for generic granite. I like more unusual patterns and colors.

 

[janinegirly]

Date: 1/19/2010 2:26:47 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
If my kitchen wasn''t such a mess I would take a picture of mine. We have a huge island which I LOVE. Our island holds 3 cabs w/ drawers on each side so it is wider. Have you seen Kashmire (think that is the name) granite? I love it. It is white with gray and red veins. Looks like marble to me w/o the upkeep. I am like Penn and don''t care for generic granite. I like more unusual patterns and colors.

I think I''ve seen portions of your kitchen in the FB videos (which I''ve memorized since C makes me watch it over and over hehe) and it does look great! I can''t see the island, but it''s good to know its size is a plus!

I''ve seen Kashmir Gold but thinking maybe youre talking about the White version? I''ll have to take a look at it...thanks!

 

[crystalheart1]

Kashmir White is a pretty Granite

So is Bianco Romano - if it has a soft pattern

 

[Tacori E-ring]

janine, OMG! SO funny (about C's obsession with the videos on FB). I really like the clean look of the white. We have stainless steel handles and appliances. White marble and glass tile backsplash. Gray speckled corian and hardwood floors. Our walls are painted taupe stone (which I love). Our island doesn't have any appliances in it. Just solid surface.

This was a white granite that really reminded me of carrera (sp?) marble without as much upkeep.

ETA: you can see it in the PTing is far off video plus the entertainment unit in our family room is built using the same cabs, countertop, pulls.

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

Janine, have you looked at polished concrete counter tops? I know it doesn''t sound lovely, but they can be really beautiful. DH is an architect, he says they''re starting to be the coveted must-have. (Maybe not where you are, but in the UK anyway.)

I hated the idea until I saw one in real life, it was absolutely stunning. The best looking ones are poured and polished in-situ, rather than pre-cast.

Jen

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I thought of you today. We are doing a rehab and the kitchen has white cabs (already white but we will repaint them to freshen them up). We picked out San Francisco Real granite. Similar to Kashmir white (which I still LOVE) with less grain and we scored an awesome price. The SF was $40 a sq ft installed and the KW was $55. We are planning on doing a slate backsplash for some contrast. Stainless sink and appliances.

 

[princesss]

Date: 1/20/2010 12:55:39 PM
Author: Mrs Mitchell
Janine, have you looked at polished concrete counter tops? I know it doesn''t sound lovely, but they can be really beautiful. DH is an architect, he says they''re starting to be the coveted must-have. (Maybe not where you are, but in the UK anyway.)

I hated the idea until I saw one in real life, it was absolutely stunning. The best looking ones are poured and polished in-situ, rather than pre-cast.

Jen

I know a guy that owns a company that does those counters. Holy cow are they beautiful! He showed me his house and it''s incredible.