I encourage you to replace all the appliances with fully integrated ones and apply a rough plaster finish to the ceilings and walls in a muddy ochre color. Consider pickled pine or a more rustic wood for your cabinets and appliance panels. Stone floors would also be appealing in the mountains...throughout or just in the kitchen....consider radiant heat underneath for the chilly evenings. Perhaps limestone or copper counters or stained concrete. I think a free standing range....check out Lacanche...with a copper or wood wrapped hood, which would be more in keeping than a cooktop and wall ovens. Definitely a more rustic chandelier. Here are some photos I hope will inspire you

and one more for good measure....

Hi kmedl, if you haven't done it already, I strongly suggest measure out the current kitchen space in order to figure out the best option for the new layout. Looks like there is enough room for an island in the centre. Not sure how the half wall works, but you can have 2 ovens that are located below counter height.

I would choose with a dark contemporary styled cabinet color with light countertop / backsplash if you decide to keep the ceiling beams as is.

Do add some more shots with the measurements and which wall you plan to knock down ?

I'm sorry if I wasn't specific enough. Here are some additional pictures of the kitchen space and the wall we want to remove that is blocking the kitchen from the great room. I hope they will make it more clear. The one picture shows what the wall looks like from the great room. It is a 10 ft. wall and on the kitchen side it currently is where the double ovens are located. What we don't like about the angled wall is the way it blocks the kitchen off and makes the kitchen space so much smaller. In addition, it makes arranging furniture in the great room really tight.

The wall with the refrigerator, dishwasher and sink measures 172". The shorter wall with the cooktop measures 93". The long wall on the left of the kitchen measures 134" from a bedroom door to the door leading to the laundry room/garage. There is currently some shelving there, but it will be removed. I'm thinking that what we'll end up with is an L-shaped kitchen. If we need to add more wall to the shorter side (that currently measures 93") we could do that.

I'd love to have an island. I'm really concerned about what color cabinets we should put in. Will stained cabinets be too much wood with the beams and hardwood floors? Should we use painted cabinets? I'm puzzled on counter material, backsplash and what type of sink. I don't want it to be too rustic and look like a cabin. It will be our primary residence once all the renovations are completed.

One more thing to make it more clear...the wall we want to remove also includes the cabinets and counter to the left of the double ovens.

Looks like it would be nice to move the fridge and double ovens to the long left wall. Maybe there is also room for a pull-out pantry on that wall as well. I would consider removing the entire right side (angled wall and straight part with cooktop). Then adding a large island to house the cooktop. The only issue with that is the tall ceilings with an island hood. If you are okay with a pop-up vent that could work. Although the photo above looks great with the hood and tall ceiling. Or, keep the cooktop on the side but extend that counter out straight and center the cooktop. Hard to say without being in the space, but i would consider extending that wall to the ceiling and adding a vent hood. With that plan I would still add an island and I would also still move the fridge and ovens to the opposite wall (left wall). That would give you more counter space for the sink wall. I'm also always an advocate for increasing the size of the windows above the sink. Also, when you can separate the cooking and cleaning areas, all the better. I would definitely use the photos provided by Mint Design above as inspiration- they are great. Don't worry about mixing the woods. Looks like it needs the warmth of stained wood cabinets. Could use a painted island. Good luck!

Spend the money for a couple hours with either a kitchen designer or even an architect, and get some drawings. This site is a great resource for finishes, but you need a plan first. Looks like a great space, hope it works out.

Big project. You might hate it but even if you just get a designer to help design the layout, you'll probably appreciate it.
I loved my big kitchen island. It was also open to the great room. It was the regular height on the kitchen side, lots of storage and counter space and dropped down into a half of octogon breakfast table, same countertop materials. Easily sat 2 adults and 2 kids - even sat 6 tightly. So the kids sat there and did homework, ate snacks, played games and talked to us while we cooked, baked and did dishes.
With the loss of the wall, you need to rethink where all that was there is now going to be. Could consider the double oven where the fridge is presently and add the fridge drawers they now have in the island. I have an island countertop and really high ceilings now. The vent hood is fine.
Get rid of that wall. Great idea. It diminishes both rooms. Does it go to the ceiling?

And you might as well as make the flooring the same now for both rooms and enjoy it . Better than doing it just to sell the house (it made a tremendous difference in the cohesive feel of the rooms).

btw, the great thing about the breakfast table was that it was a cohesively designed, integrated eating place, while being visually open.
And extending either the cabinets or molding around them to the ceiling heightens and gives weight to the whole kitchen. To me, it feels less like cabinets stuck against a wall (like it does now) than an integrated wall of cabinets. Hmm, never put words to the feeling it gave me until now. Sorry for using the same one twice.

If you are taking out the wall - make sure you consider both spaces as one design. There are alot of split-face tiles out there that you could use as a backsplash and also around a fireplace. Choice of granite depends on cabinet finish. If you do really dark cabinets, do a lighter counter - although I think the whole espresso cabinet thing will look dated in a year or two. Definitely consult a kitchen designer. Kitchens are the most complicated space in your house, and probably the place you'll spend the most time. It not only has to look good, but it has to be functional. Nothing is worse than an inefficient kitchen layout - and you can't necessarily see that on paper.
It's totally worth it to work with a professional.

Yes, hire a designer. There is more than one option here, and the photo isn't enough to get what you want. A site visit and a conversation will yield the results you want. Where are you located?

You have a fabulous space to work with here. The best idea is to have a designer walk through the space with you so you can explain how you like to work in your kitchen and what you would like to achieve with the end result. You need to make sure the kitchen fits your lifestyle and your needs. There are many details to consider and a designer can reduce your stress by providing technical knowledge, design options, product expertise and keeping your remodel on track so that you don't have to.

Daydream Incorporated, We are in Brevard, NC not far from the Asheville area.

Thanks to all of you for your comments and taking the time to look at my project. You've convinced me to hire a kitchen specialist.

I know the farmhouse sinks are all the rage.....but personally, I've had one for 10 years--absolutely hate having only 1 sink/1 drain. Most of my dishes go in the dishwasher, but I have to use a rubbermaid dish to load dishwater in and then use sink for rinsing...I would recommend steering clear of the farmhouse sink....I think you will be unhappy with it. Not very serviceable....Looks great, but not quite functional for most families.

I did a big kitchen renovation 10 years ago,and was unhappy w/ the 1st two designers I consulted. My contractor directed me to a kitchen designer at Home Depot who was wonderful. She asked what our wish list was, and was able to accommodate most of our needs, be sure to give accurate measurements! Every kitchen does not need an island! You could replace that angled wall with a peninsula that could have a dining counter on the family room side. Since you're replacing the cooktop, why not a use a slide in stove with an oven. Do you really need two wall ovens? I also vote no on the farmhouse sink. I love my stainless Franke double sink: one side small and narrow and one very deep and large: can wash large roasting pans easily.

Consult a professional kitchen designer who can help maximize the function & beauty of your space!! You'll get good guidance on what's trendy vs. good style that will stand the test of time. For example, the farmhouse sink is trendy & is not easy to replace since it requires a specific cabinet. You will be given the best options of materials, finishes,& appliances. In general, I would not rely on a big box designer if you have other options. Of course it always depends on your comfort factor. In general,you'll have a much wider choice of materials & expertise. A good place to start is the NKBA website. A good Kitchen remodel is big investment that you will live with a long time. Good luck!

We removed upper cabinets and added a few open shelves instead. It opened up our kitchen. We love it. It might work well and simplify lines between ceiling beams and lower cabinets in your kitchen. You will need to plan for minimal clutter on the upper shelves though.

You have a great space once you remove the slanted wall. You do have enough space to put an island. I think an island parallel to the sink would work best with you space so that the island provides somewhat of a divider between your great room and kitchen.

If you take down the dividing wall / cabinetry, your sink wall becomes the focal point of your kitchen when looking from your great room (at least thats the way it seems from your photos). If the sink wall is the focal, consider getting a bigger window over the kitchen sink so that there is something more appropriate for the focal. Here are a few examples:









I don't think you need a kitchen designer yet. If you sketch out measurements of your space (entire layout of the floor with your kitchen: garage, mudroom, entrances, etc.) and post it on the Garden Web Kitchen Forum, you will get lots of help with your layout and different ideas to get you thinking about how you use your kitchen and how you want your space to work.

I agree that a rustic look would be great for you since it is a mountain house and you already have beams to kick start the look.

You know, you can consider mixing a wood with a painted cabinet. Multiple colors are popular now and look great. Maybe Cream Cabinets and make your island out of a cherry wood if you want wood, or even black. You have a nice size space. Get what you want now, you may never go back. I love a large sink, so your farmhouse sink is a nice idea and I think Islands not only add value I love the extra work space. When we redid our kitchen we worked with a designer and it worked out really well, I'm very happy with it.