SYH: 2001
I know this isn't very representative of your (solid) garage entry door, but I am shifting the reddish-orange I had on the back hall walls to the back (garage) door itself, given that we won't be doing wallpaper in the powder. The hall will be white like the kitchen, with the powder room the turquoise of the front room, and the mudroom the blue of the kitchen cabinets. It's bold and fun and not too much. I'm graying the color out a bit more than this image for you, so it's not such a contrast to the more subdued but eclectic/colorful effect of your furniture and accessories in the front room.
SY: Gat Creek makes some of the highest quality furniture we've found at market, made in the USA and at reasonable prices. Comes in a variety of wood/painted finishes. Thinking of 4 of these for your island, or similar Windsor inspired pieces. Not sure yet of finish. (Note that the price shown on website is retail; we get these at trade prices.) BSL: very nice
SY: So, to get two cozy chairs on the north window end, we may have to lose the magnificent larder. Right now your sink looks north, your stove and refrigerator and larder are all on the long east wall, with doors to the patio on the west wall. I could fit a single cozy chair in the north end near the larder (see next image). But if I rearrange to get a seating area in the north end, I'm afraid you lose the square footage needed for anything more than basic kitchen storage. Which is your priority: nice big larder, or seating area with two chairs by the south windows? BLS: were you thinking larder on the north wall?
SY: following up on your comments below about cozy chair(s) in the kitchen - talk to me more about that. Like this sort of thing? I can put one chair like this in the south end near the larder - imagine the larder is that bookshelf in this image (your refrigerator right next to it, also like this image). This chair would shorten the island quite a bit / steal from functional space - but if you're ok with only a couple chairs at the island and one comfy chair like this, it would work! BLS: One chair is lonely, and would colonized by teens and visitors. Are you still thinking about opening up the 'mud room space'? there would be room in there for a larder or pantry. SY: Yes! Definitely additional storage in there.
SY: I usually try to avoid putting appliances in islands, but in this case, there is this possible solution: if we put either sink or stove in the island, we may be able to salvage both 2-chair-seating-nook and also larder! (Note that stove in island can mean you drop a hood as shown here in the middle of the room - or creatively deal in other ways with ventilation; while sink in island means dishes are right in the middle of things, and you don't get a window view. Neither is ideal, in my opinion.) BLS: I agree that the sink doesn't work well in the middle of things in the island, but I do like the idea of the hood dropping over the stove if it's located in the island. I feel that the hood takes up too much wall space in my current kitchen, and I could use that space for shelves. I think this is in line with your suggestion here. Dishwasher and sink should not be in the island. SY: will try the range in the island!
SY: I'm designing two of these counter level cabinets for you, flanking the sink on the south wall. Do you like the glass for plates/glasswear? BLS: Yes, it gives an open feel and will display the colorful Fiestaware that we use everyday. the drawer pulls-- are they real drawers or do they just pop up? Real deep drawers would be difficult to access if there were item on the counterptop. SY: true but we should be giving you enough space to access things that you should need items in front of these units.
SY: this is very like what I have designed for you - one of these counter units on either side of the sink and windows looking east. Here, it houses coffee and toaster on a pull out tray. You could do one side like this and other side with dishes... I'd probably want both to be solid (instead of glass) in that case.
SY: You could use some or all of the 5' of space for something like this (We love this image and call it the "Magnificent Larder"). If you did something like this for 36-42" of the width, you'd still have 18-24" for a pull out pantry like the next images... BLS: I love this larder too. I do a lot of fermentation and need a place to put the jars that is ventilated but also out of the way. What's great about this image is the bifold door setup so everything can be out but still hidden if you close the doors.
SY: this is more like 36-42" wide pantry with pull out drawers. So this would take away from the space for a Magnificent Larder, though there would still be some. BLS: leave the space for the larder. I have pullout drawers so I like them but would only want them below the counter because those shelves are hard to reach without the pull-outs. I would have to get on my knees to get something in the back. I don't want pullouts where I have to look or reach up to get something. How about the larder on top and the pullouts below? SY: Will do!
SY: trash and recycling, with drawer and paper towel inside? BLS: this is a good idea. My little dog has recent taught herself how to raid the garbage. SY: lol, oh dear
SY: I'm thinking something like this for your (10' long!) island - functional at one end, seating at the other, like this image, across from each other. It makes for a much better eating situation than stools lined up on one side, or one stool wrapping around the corner. It feels cozier, more conducive to togetherness, and more like a real table than a bar. Ok? (Not sure if you want real chairs with backs like this or stools - I kind like the chairs for comfort! And is 4 chairs overkill?) BLS: I kinda think that if they are stools without backs, I won't sit in them much. I'm hoping too that you will leave some space at the north side by the window for some comfy chairs and space for plants. SY: backs it is, with a bench in the north end!
SY: again, island design. I'm hoping for storage on one end, seating on the other. I'd put 2 chairs on either side across from one another rather than wrapped like this. Do you like this style island leg?
SY: possible island leg inspiration? very similar to the last white island leg.
SY: again, terrific possible island leg inspiration here...
SY: I love a good island leg. This is nice inspiration. Thoughts? BLS: these would go well with my antiques. SY: agreed! Let's try this. :)
SY: Just using this image to initiate a conversation about appliances and record it here. I know we have talked some about appliances. Please confirm for me your thoughts on: gas/electric, single/double oven, number of burners, range top (separate from oven(s)) or single slide in unit (which can in fact have two ovens in it if you wish), any refrigerator and dishwasher thoughts...BLS: electric only, double oven, 4 burners, range top is ok, depends on how you make it all fit. See my note elsewhere about avoiding an oven that requires lots of bending down. I had thought to keep my current range top but it was very cheap and my dad even installed it for me so better to just replace now. Dishwasher and oven are starting to let me down, so they are past their best-by dates. The fridge probably is as well, since it is at least 12 years old.
SY: wall oven / microwave combo - could be a second oven for a slide-in oven/range, or could be your only oven, with drawers under a stand-alone range top. BLS: I'm not pictuing what you mean here. I do have a request from my daughter that I not get a big oven that goes under the stove where you have to bend down to put in pans etc. Our little wall oven is undersized but I have learned to lived with it. Only one time I had ordered a lasagne to cook up on the day of the party, only to find that the pan didn't fit inside the oven. A wall oven with one compartment that is at the level of the one we have now, and another that is a little lower would work. SY: going with two standard sized wall ovens, with a shelf microwave in a pantry/larder area with other small appliances.
SY: Most double oven slide in ranges are 36" wide, but this one is GE Cafe and is standard 30" wide, with two ovens. Cost on this online is about $2000.
SY: I can stay away from white appliances, but I'm not sure I can pull off black. Would stainless (the fingerprint free kind) work for you? Also - see wine and cookbook storage here. Is this a good amount of room temp wine storage? Do you have cookbooks? BLS: stainless would be ok. I have been thinking about how to save some money by ot replacing all of the appliances, but the current dishwasher has to be replaced. and the oven. and possibly also the fridge, SY: got it
SY: maaaybe on the black appliances. BLS:that is not the shade of black that I had pictured. I am more interested, i guess, in a color that won't go out of style too quickly. SY: got it. stainless is probably the best answer.
SY: this blue with black appliances is lovely! I could try this direction. (I'd give you a stainless sink, though. :) BLS: yes, that kitchen needs some orange/yellow somewhere to bring out the blue. SY: agree!
SY: What about extra bells and whistles like wine fridge or second (prep) sink or built in espresso maker or pot filler behind the stove...? BLS:no to the wine fridge, prep sink and espresso maker. I do like the idea of a pot filler, though. SY: ok, but we will not have a pot filler with range in the island.
SY: I know you'd prefer microwave on shelf or built in (either way, off the counter), and I know you prefer NOT a white sink. Are there any small appliances you use every day that need homes? BLS: I use my Instantpots, a toaster, and a Kitchenaid enough to keep them handy in the kitchen. And an electric hotpot for making pourover coffee. just got a coffeemaker for my daughter. SY: got ti
SY: pot filler BLS:looks like an eye stabber, but it must swivel, right? SY: yep
SY: inspiration for hood between windows. thoughts? (also , this looks like a standard 30" slide in range.)
SY: this! this is lovely. Simple hood between windows. WIth a ledge behind the stove for easy access oils and such. BLS: yes. too much white in this image, but the layout is very nice. The copper hood in the previous image seems higher above the stove. Can you maximize the height. SY: yes. It's usually 30-36" above the range. I'll go with 36.
SY: simple white hood between windows.
SY: might also be able to do a simple black hood between the windows... like in the teal kitchen above with black appliances. 1600 n willis dr lot 41
SY: just architecture here: you need a beam where the old exterior wall of the house is. We plan to vault the kitchen beyond that.
SY: your vault and transition will be sort of like this - looking back from the addition toward the original kitchen area. But yours does need a beam across that hangs down into the space, unfortunately. BLS: Better this than an unsound addition. The beam could be part of the transition from kitchen workspace to eating and socializing space. SY: yep, we try to use the architecture logically that way
SY: thoughts on this space? dark lower cabinets and open shelves, lots of light and lots of personality. B: i'm ready to move in!! SY: excellent! That's what I want to hear! I agree that this looks like you! You dislike the open shelves by the sink in one of the images above. What about here? If you open this image up, you'll see glass cabinets and more open shelves too - perhaps too many for you based on your other comments. That's ok, though - we can achieve this effect while minimizing the open/glass cabinets. SY: follow up - using this as primary inspiration for feel / palette in your space, ok? BLS: yes-- good idea
SY: this looks like you to me, in terms of overall effect and color/feel. A lot like the image to the left that you loved so much. Yes? Any comments on particular elements here? Farm sink, plethora of indoor plants, etc, etc? BLS: the color is wonderful. I would like to stay with black appliances if possible; no white sink ever again, but I do like the farmhouse style; and yes, I need more space for plants.
SY: this looks like you to me, in terms of overall effect and feel. I'm not sure I'll go so bright blue, and know we probably won't have brick, but otherwise, do you agree? Any comments on particular elements here? BLS: the blue IS bright. I like the I-shape. Everything is within a few steps for cooking projects.
SY: I love an arched doorway, and these happy colors seem like you. Thoughts on either? Insofar as we are connecting to your front room, would you be interested in repainting it? BLS: I am planning to repaint the front room. We haven't really discussed, and I have thought that I could get it done after the addition. But yes, it's on my mind.
SY: Thinking about windows vs. uppers in your kitchen. You'll have the glass doors to the patio, and windows looking north to the back yard. The question is whether we add windows looking east as shown here (maybe with open shelves like this, or not) or if we put uppers on the east side instead of windows. (Assume you have a large pantry cabinet in addition to the storage you see here in island and lower cabinet. BLS: Yes please, as many windows as possible. An east window would let in the sunrise. The shelves in front of the window like this don't interest me. They are dark and heavy and subtract from the light coming in. Window coverings are a concern. We want them for privacy, but the cats destroy blinds and curtains. I've just stopped buying anything nice and replace every few years. I don't know if it is still possible to get the blinds that are 'inside' the window panes. It would pay off.
SY: playing with windows or uppers looking east.
SY: love this layout for you: sink on north wall between two flanking cabinets that extend to the countertop. Windows also on east wall around cooktop as shown here - windows could go above the cooktop as shown here (you can do that with various types of hoods), or could break for a hood. BLS: Yes I like this too. I can picture shelves above the sink.
BLS: the only thing that appeals are the open windows lol. I keep thinking that they wasted all that wall space with just a few shallow open shelves. and what if there is an earthquake?? I am not Julia Child, but I do think like her. :-) You could put pegboard on the wall with lots of hooks for pots and pans, and I would be ok with that. :-)
SY: or just uppers around cooktop, and no windows looking east ? (assuming a wall of windows looking north, and French glass doors out to patio) - I think this will be your least favorite, as you said you thought you'd regret not doing windows this side. But of course, this would enable the ensuite bathroom. Maybe we could still get a window looking east if the bathroom weren't the whole length of the kitchen extension...
SY: this feels like your house to me :) B: I like this look too. Everything has to play together nicely. SY: absolutely. This has that bit of orange you mention below from the other side of the color wheel. :)
SY: lovely and different! B; The only thing I don't like about this view is the open shelving over the sink. SY: ok! But you like the open shelving by the sink in the image below where you say you're ready to move in?
SY: this is a nice overall effect.
SY: utilitarian and warm. I love this kitchen. B: the lighting makes me feel cool, for some reason. And I keep thinking that this kitchen wasn't designed for extensive use. Maybe it's the pots and pans hanging over the cook's head. :0 SY: understood! moving on. :)
SY: same kitchen as the next image. B; No beadboard...but I do like the colors, the marble countertops. The clear glass on the cupboards means that what's inside has to be on display, though.
SY: this is lovely - very farmhousy. thoughts? B: it IS lovely, and they didn't overdo the beadboard or the glass doors on the cupboards. SY: do you like this ornate cabinet door profile, or something simpler? BLS: something simpler, please
SY: I love this whole palette and effect. you? B: Yes, some salmon in the white goes nicely with the gray
SY: this is a white kitchen that is nicely grounded with black elements - if you are dreaming of a white kitchen, this would help me feel better about it, in terms of weighting it to balance your antiques in the front. B: I will end up with something that looks roughly like this because I have an eclectic collection of furniture and decor. I love how they mix up the chairs. SY: me too. But talk to me about the white cabinets here, especially vs. the blue in other images. Seems you would do well with some blue - maybe even all blue - cabinets rather than white?
SY: putty colored with subway tile... B: Nice, L-shaped, but where's the fridge? I need more space for cupboards and counter-tops, but I don't really want to have to walk more distance to get to the essentials in my kitchen. The extra space can mainly go for eating and entertaining space, with some room by the north end, by the windows, for some comfy chairs for sipping coffee in the morning and watching the garden grow. SY: Fridge is paneled to the left of the windows. If you open up this image you should see more images of the same kitchen shown in the upper right. Paneling a fridge is $$$ but very sleek. :) BLS: I don't need a paneled fridge. I bought a house about 20 years ago where we couldn't replace the fridge without ripping out the wall because the nook had been so tightly designed. Fridges exploded in size, and so nothing new was available to pop into the custom-built space. what a headache. The fridge needs to be in a space that is flexible.
SY: wood and dark and those lovely greenish gray tiles...
SY: beautiful smokey blue cabinets? B: I love anything blue. I could see a contrast with something yellow-orange on the color wheel, maybe in the curtains or in a flower pot. SY: ooh good to know. SY: I also like this fairly simple shaker cabinet door effect. You? BLS: yes, this is simplicity heavenly
SY: your wall color! wood floors, wood cabinets (interesting cut outs - I'm not sure if I'd do that for you!), gray counters, lots of windows. thoughts? B: I don't need to stick with the current color of the walls. They too are a hold-over--- I haven't wanted to disrupt things by painting. I do like the wood floors, but can pass on the rest. SY: got it!
SY: these dark cabinets with white drywall are lovely and crisp and bright. The dark would balance the weight of the antiques you have going on in the front room. Maybe partially vaulting the ceiling too. B: Yes, like the smokey blue-- I am usually happy with blue
Yes this is the general idea. My shelves should be wider than in this picture.
Q