'Wait till it all comes together'

16 years ago

We have all read or heard how before panicking about kitchen choices we should wait till it all comes together since every detail adds something and changes how things look.

Well, I had the opportunity to experience that this weekend, and I wanted to share for anyone else out there who may be a little worried. It was especially timely for me as I was in full blown panic mode to the extent that I am almost physically sick and positively sleepless. Honestly, I've never gone through anything more stressful and it doesn't help that I am going out on a limb and bucking the norm with all my choices.

I have a friend who re-did her kitchen, a total gut, addition, and redo several months ago. I was there when the paint went on the walls. She panicked and nearly repainted it. It was a pink/orange/beige color. I was concerned about the color too at that point.

I was there when the cabinets, hood, and 1/2 the doors went up. She had a guy build them in his garage. He's not a professional cabinet maker but he fit her limited budget. He used maple and stained them dark and they blotched. My friend was very, very upset but resigned to hoping to love them. I felt bad for her but hoped for the best. She basically took the approach that it wasn't her forever house and anything was better than her last one.

Then my own renovation got carried away and I only talked to her 2 or 3 times since then and finally saw her house this weekend. The renovation is fully complete and I was jaw-droppingly astounded at how beautiful the kitchen was. My goodness. Oh my goodness. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. I don't even like dark kitchens for myself, and hers is fabulous to the T. Every single detail is perfect and works together perfectly. It's rich and elegant, warm and inviting like cozy and wonderful coffee shop. Even the uniform blotchiness on the cabinets looks like it's a technique that was totally planned that way. It fits well. The paint is a perfect match to the colors in the Marron Bois granite.

So I saw first hand how instead of panicking early on like I am doing, just have faith in original visions, and wait till it comes together. The little details really do make such a difference. The dishes up on the display shelves, the pendant light over the sink, and the artwork behind the sink totally transformed the sink area and added beauty.

Her words of advice to me were to move forward and know that even if you hate it when it's done, you will learn to love it in time. She said that was the process for her and now she loves it.

So if anyone out there is as paralyzed as me, hopefully this story will offer a bit of reassurance.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

weidiii
16 years ago
This should be one of those posts kept on the first page. Well said and very encouraging.
rosiew
16 years ago
I also want to say thanks for the encouragement. My courage flags quite regularly. I'll remember your wise and timely words!

Rosie, Sugar Hill, GA
Related Professionals
Natchitoches Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Zanesville Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Plattsburgh Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Watertown Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Salt Lake City Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Kahului Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · New Braunfels Kitchen Remodelers · Muskegon Kitchen Remodelers · Keene Kitchen Remodelers · Pittsburgh Kitchen Remodelers · Las Cruces Kitchen Remodelers · Philadelphia Custom Countertops · Nashua Custom Countertops · Syracuse Custom Countertops · Sioux Falls Custom Countertops
firstmmo
16 years ago
Yes, bump this up....words of wisdom for us all. Many days pass where the only thing I can think of are negative worries and second-guessing. This whole mindset is foreign to me since I am usually the most decisive, organized, "checklist" person around. Over the past year of my whole house remodel I have morphed into a doubter. We are two days away from installing cabinets and I am still obsessing over my choices.

In some ways I am glad that my budget has prevented me from having endless choices--it certainly has limited my range of what to choose from. That which I cannot afford has been thrown to the wayside! Now I just obsess over the cheap choices :)

Thanks for this encouraging story!
doraville
16 years ago
This is very good advice. I've been subject to too many negative worries and second-guessing. My vinyl was installed today. When I first saw it, I was near tears, but then the more I looked at it, the more I liked it. Now if I could just get over my backsplash!
rjr220
16 years ago
Thank you for this well written piece of advice. I have a few weeks of idle time, as I've (ahem, we, but mainly me) have picked just about everything out but the faucet, and are now waiting for the party to really start. I feel good about the major choices -- the cabinets style, wood, stain, and am so anxious to get Florida Joshua up to put in the soapstone.

In this spare time, I wonder WILG (will it look good)? Or have I chosen individual items that I like? What if they look good as individual parts, but not so good together? I have to remind myself that my inspirations have been the lovely kitchens that others here have put together, either by themselves or with guidance from other GW'er's -- that certainly, it WLG. So once again, thank you for taking the time to write this little note.

But now you've teased us -- can't you get your friend to post some photos of her kitchen????
jrueter
16 years ago
Thanks for the positive words. I have been obsessing over every little thing that isn't exactly as I had hoped, but this will help me keep in mind that they are very minor issues.