Showcase Kitchens Consider dark espresso to black cabinetry surrounds, thus adding a little drama yet keeping an old-world feel. Or, you can do mixed closed cabinetry with open shelves.

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio - There are a few things that bother me about this wall, and the shelves are pretty far down the list.

1. Most gas fireplaces do not require a non-combustible hearth extension, but lacking one immediately says "FAKE". I'd suggest a hearth the width of the stone or the width of the entire arrangement to tie it together and at least 16" deep, as that is typical for a 36" woodburning fireplace.
2. Floating the fireplace off the floor looks odd unless it is high enough hold its own, like a piece of artwork. You may want to consider raising a hearth to the bottom edge of the fireplace.
3. I agree with the other folks that said the brass needs to go. You can get black fireplace paint at your local fireplace shop, which will offer a better satin finish than typical flat high heat BBQ grill paint from the hardware store. There are also fireplace "re-face" options to get rid of the louvers and create a more traditional look, like below.
4. I agree with the others about getting rid of the TV recess. @carolins used some pretty good examples. I'd suggest using some tongue & groove paneling on the upper wall to keep it cottage-y and keep you from having to deal with drywall dust.

If you took care of the other issues, you might not feel a need to change the mantel shelf or the side cabinets.

Rachel Romaniuk Check out the Regency Horizon See Through http://www.regency-fire.com/Products/Gas/Contemporary-Gas-Fireplaces/HZ42STE.aspx

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio @Sandy, all three Marquis "Infinite"models are available in see-through versions. There are other linear see-though fireplaces available as well, like this Majestic Echelon we installed:
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COASTROAD Hearth & Patio - When you get your property and are starting to work on your plans, find a local fireplace nerd to help you to achieve your vision. I agree with HERE, what you described doesn't sound like it would be legal or safe to put in a modern home, but maybe we can help you to achieve some of the concept.

The fireplace below is built on the basic Rumford principles, with approximately a 54" wide x 44" tall opening.

There are also manufactured fireplaces that have some similar proportions, with a number of technological advantages.
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Dave and Deborah Hicks homeplans.com House Plan # HOMEPW 13814

carolins Hi Dave and Deborah, tried to find it, but lots of plans came up. 1800 sq ft, 3 bed, 2 bath?

Hope you find a really great plot to build your home. Will be good to see the progress. There are lots of architects and designers here on Houzz who love to help. I'm one of the DE's (Design Enthusiasts). So not a pro.

Lifestyle Basements|Kitchens Coastroad - you are correct! It is the Majestic 400DVLB.

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio - If I remember, it's about 66" off the floor, which looks a little awkward with a traditional mantel, but the bronze sculpture helps to ground it a little.

Typical mantel height is about 54" off the floor, but there are some exceptions . . . .

maggiecolton Thanks!

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio - check out Woodstone: http://woodstonehome.com/

They are one of the few companies that make a real pizza oven designed for residential installation. They have gas, wood and dual fuel options, but I have a strong wood oven bias.

Best wishes on your project!

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio - not to de-rail here, but I used a wood-fired grill to do pizza every week:

Kevin Patrick O'Brien Architect, Inc. @sofe, there are a lot of interior and kitchen designers on houzz. I think you will start getting feedback as this thread matures. You might also contact houzz professionals and ask questions via direct message if you are in a hurry.

sofe Thanks -will try that

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio -This vertical stone reminds me of Cultured Stone's Aspen Country Ledgestone, but it might also be a knockoff by a local guy. We did not install the stone on this project. I believe the hearthstones are the man-made coordinating trim pieces, in the Marsh color.

Here's a link to the hearth stones: http://www.boralna.com/productcatalogue/product.aspx?country=US&product=2679

Here's a link to the ledgestone: http://www.boralna.com/productcatalogue/product.aspx?country=us&product=2662

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio - We recently picked up a project where the client had a difficult time visualizing what the home designer had drawn on the plans. He had done exactly what they asked, but they hadn't imagined it the same way.

3D visualizations are invaluable for these situations. The first picture is the client's inspiration, the second is how I sketched up what the designer drew so that the client could see how different it looked. After seeing the 3D version, the client decided against the rustic trusses, since that is the only way they could run in that room.

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio - P.S. there is a brilliant plug-in - SU Podium - to render your SketchUp drawings in photorealism, plus, there are a few tricks with edges and shadows that can make your regular free SketchUp work more realistic.

The first sketch is mine with most of the edges removed, the second is a SketchUp project rendered with SU Podium.

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio @astraea, I agree that using computer programs takes a different approach to the design process, but I find SketchUp to be the most intuitive of the programs I've used. I've been using AutoCAD for more than twenty-five years, and I always found it cumbersome, but I love SketchUp.

Like most real drawing programs, SketchUp allows you to build your 3D to the precise size you want by entering dimension of your spaces. The dragging and stretching is handy, but being able to enter precise values is usually the best.

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio P.P.S. I teach two quick overview classes on how to use SketchUp . . . but they also have great tutorials online, which is how I learned.

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio - I'm mobile! The last classes I taught were in Orlando and the next one will be in Georgia.

2e Architects I agree. And thanks.

Natalie Great article! 3D renderings really are becoming the new standard for the residential market. Personally I'm a fan of a program called Envisioneer. It's incredibly easy to learn but also very powerful when it comes to customization. It also has great documentation (simple Quick Start Guide) and great customer service for questions. As a custom furniture designer (built ins and one of a kind pieces) it really is an asset being able to show our clients exactly how their piece will look in their room in their home. Really looking forward to the new rendering engine they are releasing soon. I believe their website is www.cadsoft.com

Granite Grannies Super White is a quarzite, not a marble or granite, so you should have no problems with it outside. I would just recommend a waterproof cover for off seasons and sealing it every year, although it would probably be fine without.

debora carl landscape design The bar height table is a 36" h counter extension of the outdoor kitchen structure. The counter top is light weight concrete with a water fall end, all supported with a metal frame. The bar stools are from Harbour Outdoor.

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio - It is a green soapstone, which is one of the best surfaces for an outdoor kitchen. The client chose it to match his indoor countertops, since he can see his outdoor kitchen through his kitchen window.

Michael Murphy We have a lot of snow, so we cover in winter months - and when not in use all other times, to avoid falls.

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio -I believe it's just an applique (we didn't build the mantel), but I'll be at the house later today and I'll take a closer look. I'll also try to get in touch with the folks who custom-built the mantels in the house.

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio - As promised, I did take a closer look and it is an applique. Would you like to now where it came from?

Kikuchi & Associates No, They are 4 x 10's, doubled up. Before using an assumed beam size on a structure this large, make sure that you have a local structural engineer review all spans, connection and member size for conformance to local building codes.

ninjasunnyd Thanks for letting me know! I also have a follow-up question regarding the ventilation of the grill. How many vent panels did you use?

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio @ninjasunnyd - if you are talking about the horizontal surface on top of the backsplash behind the grill, then NO, it isn't big enough for a dinner plate, but it's not meant to be. You don't want anyone sitting behind a hot smoky grill, and you really need an overhang to be able to tuck your knees under the surface, just as the designer has shown in the island with the umbrella.

A standard dinner plate is about 11" across, so I like a 16" deep surface to fit a plate and a drink, with a minimum 10" overhang.

FYI, standard counter height is 36", so a 24" high counter stool fits best. Bar height is 42", so a 30" high seat works better there.

Beautiful job, Kikuchi & Associates!

Edea Krammer Great stuff! Two thumbs up! I'll keep these tips in mind. I have to say though I believe that most essential part is to make a unique atmosphere with lights. Everyone should be creative by stirring up the sizes and states of candles, spreading them all through your space. Also it would be a great idea to include lantern and strings of occasion lights.
www.luxapatio.com

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio - We don't handle this grill line, so this isn't a plug, but this is a helpful diagram for planning:

http://www.alfrescogrills.com/ergo.html

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio - If you bake often, an electric oven has superior temperature control. If you use your oven more often for roasting or broiling, an all-gas unit will deliver better performance. Electric cooktops are not for performance-oriented cooks.

joyful_lady Why borrow trouble before it arrives? You can always offer a concessoin. I love gas for stovetop, electric for oven. I've had both. Although I actually like gas better for broiler and electric for oven but have never looked into whether it was possible to do both.

If you want to sell, then put it on the market as is. Not many homes have dual.

Most people will not make whether the stovetop is electric or gas the major factor in a home purchase decision. If you have a motivated buyer who wants a concession for electric deal with it at that time.

joyful_lady opps, just realized I answered sharonanable - not original post.

RE: original post - are you staying or selling? Do you have the electric outlet available? What is your preference?

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio Hmmm . . .

I hate to be a spoilsport, but if you are in the USA, open flame devices are not allowed within ten feet of multi-family construction, so you're pretty much stuck with electric on a deck or balcony (International Fire Code section 307.5). No charcoal, no propane, no natural gas. I suppose some argument could be made for the Traeger wood pellet grill that Rockin' Finish Line mentioned, since the flame is fairly contained, but that still might be a stretch.

If you have a first level unit and can roll your grill out ten feet away from the building, there are no laws to prevent you from doing whatever you want, but you risk the wrath of the condo association and your neighbors (unless you feed everybody).

There are a bunch of companies that make decent electric grills, but if you're interested in a basic price point, I'd recommend the CharBroil Patio Caddie or Weber's Electric Q140 or Q240.

dawnfross I wonder if there's a portable propane grill that's light enough to heft 10 feet from the building. No way to roll out from my porch (without plummeting). Already tried an electric and the results were disappointing--several lousy meals before I gave the thing away.

I'll try the charcoal grill, which I'm told is allowed. My fallback position is to buy a propane grill w wheels, and roll it out of the garage and 10+ feet from the building when I want some dinner. It's less than ideal, but I could make it work.

Thanks for the helpful info!

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio I use a Weber Q for camping. It uses one pound disposable cylinders, so it's pretty easy to tote around. It performs like a full size grill.

AquaTerra Outdoor Environments There are a lot of factors that go into the cost of these including size, finishes, appliances and site/structural conditions. On average though, something like this with complete outdoor kitchen, lighting and new patio/decking can range between $20,000-$40,000. Hope this helps. Good luck with your project!

AquaTerra Team

austin outdoor design We like to do atypical installations of the BGE. This counter was custom made for the large BGE and this outdoor kitchen. The counter is 14' long and is made of stainless steel wrapping a mild steel frame. This portion of the counter cost about $3500. Thanks for asking!

lynnandrick Thank you! I was wondering if the rain may etch it over time. I just want it to look clean and contemporary.

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio - The one major downside of stainless steel is the reflection of the sun, which can be harsh. It can also get quite hot. I prefer a medium hue, honed granite or soapstone for durability. It helps if the stone has some variegation or pattern to hide dirt between uses.

HERE Design and Architecture I don't, but, find some whose work you like on Houzz, and ask them. I'm sure they will be happy to tell you.

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio - Some of your local outdoor professionals have their own in-house design staff (we do), but if you need a more comprehensive approach - and it sounds like you do - you can search the American Society of Landscape Architects for someone local: http://www.asla.org/ISGWeb.aspx?loadURL=firfin

The should be able to give you a feel for what is a reasonable fee in your area. The level of detail you need will affect the cost significantly. A preliminary overview may be a set fee, but detailed drawings and specifications will likely be more related to a percentage of the total budget.

budgetdecoratorjane Coastroad that is a really nice design, I should have also mentioned that I'm taking out most of the shrubs in that entrance garden and considering having a new walkway meet up with the one to the front door. The walkway would lead off the steps and be parallel with the driveway.... Or something similar.