For Allison
I'm assuming that for our budget and space limitations, there will be no eat in space, and I'm ok with that. However, I'm throwing this in, just in case the whole "let's move the doorways and walls to the mudroom and pantry" side of the remodel means we end up with space in some way that I'm not thinking of.
I do kind of like the arch over the sink here. Eventually, as you know, I want to put woodwork in the archway of my dining room, but right now, it's a plaster arch similar to this...and I'm thinking when I re-do the upper bath (which does not have a full standing shower space) that I might but an arch in over the tub (think 1930s bath) so it might be cool do do a little something like this in the kitchen too.
I hate little office-looking built-ins...but that's not to say that we couldn't include something like a small flatscreen TV or place to setup an Ipad so I could watch TV while cooking, pull up recipes online, etc., and put in a place that makes sense for viewing without getting messy on the counter.
Ok, I don't like the tile choices, the hood is way too big and ornate, and that the stove is a color (think avacado green and burnt orange appliances) - but in a more stripped down version, this is kind of what I was thinking for having a focal point in the design behind the stove. Also, currently, we have no venting, and I'm assuming, since my stove will be on an interior wall that it will be cost prohibitive to do venting...so I'm thinking a hood is unnecessary. But will it look funny with *nothing* there? I'm thinking cabinetry or shelves.
I always picture my stove in it's current place in my kitchen - which means cabinetry on the right, and nothing on the left as it abuts the doorway into the dining room. I like the idea of it hugging a wall like this though - maybe we could move it to where the fridge is, but I don't know if that would screw up the "triangle" that I know one generally wants in terms of workspace/flow in a kitchen.
I kind of like how the carry the wood over the backsplash area on the right wall - instead of it looking like normal cabinets, it looks more like a) my dining room buffet and/or b) old school cabinets that had a wooden backing in the kitchens. Also! I think we might want to think about - if we end up with an area like that, having a pull out counterspace - like the old hoosier cabinets have.
I don't dislike color/cream cabinetry. I've not focused on it in my pins because I think the natural wood is probably a more valuable retaining remodel and more in period - but a cream - not stark white - is actually quite nice. I'd be afraid of getting sick of any other actual "color" for cabinetry.
Originally I wanted the double-oven built into the wall concept, but I think that will add several thousand $$$. So I'm thinking a traditional range, but I might want to splurge on one that is a little wider than normal and has an extra warming side area like this one - I'm assuming it's a "compromise" - if it's just as expensive as a double in wall unit, then I'm probably looking at a regular range to stay in budget.
This is a great color that would blend well with the rest of my house, and I'd love to have the hardware styles they use here - like the old school cabinets used to have. I like the ones that have a square space on top that is separate from the rest of the cabinet, because odds are I'm not reaching that high very often anyway.
I think possibly in the kitchen or pantry (but probably not both) we might want to consider some open shelf areas instead of 100% cabinet space...I'm assuming it will reduce cost slightly. I have many cookbooks, I collect arts and crafts era pottery, etc., so having some "display" area isn't a bad thing.
I like the color of the cabinetry, that the cabinetry matches what I already have in the dining room (the exact layout of the wood trim at the top I mean), and allows me to showcase a little bit of fancy pottery/dishes but is mostly concealed. I like geometric tile blacksplash a muted neutral color - although I think tans with specs of color are better than a full color - that way, the decor is neutral and decorative accents can make more of an impact.
I like the idea of built in shelving for cookbooks, and I also like that they'd be out of the way in the pantry. In the kitchen itself, it's more like "clutter".
Q