Patricia Colwell Consulting Thank you! We did have LED pot lights installed under the cabinets, 7 in total. What do you think of the ORB handle I just added? We were thinking of using handles on all of the doors/drawers, and not using pulls at all. Thoughts?

fyi.. we were not in a position to add additional lighting etc. except for the addition of the pot lights, and pot lights in a glass cabinet not yet up, and of course the updating of both the kitchen and eating area light fixtures.

What do you think of the light fixture above? Is it big enough to give off enough light do you think?

I would choose a glass subway tile in the mocha color and then paint the walls a soft aqua or sky blue it would be a nice color to get away from all the beige and white

Thank you! Patricia Colwell Consulting We were intending to paint the entire main level Mocha Cream as the kitchen opens to the family room. We have blue leather furniture in our family room.. I wonder if the soft aqua or sky blue would look ok with it?

Also, would glass tile still look traditional/transitional? I guess I thought glass tile to be a bit more of a modern look? Do you think we could achieve the same with moving towards more of a mocha cream color in the Masia handmade tile if they have it.

That light will not be enough for overall lighting in the kitchen with that fixture . You can run a lot of LED lighting ffrom one circuit so I would still do a track of some sort I find the handles kind of blah something with a bit more texture or a very modern bar pull in the ORB

A track of lights on the ceiling instead of a fixture you mean?

Since you want a more transitional look I would say glass subway tile is a nice blend of the 2 styles in just 3 x 6 tille with white or a light cream grout. As for the walls I would do almost any color other than another beige or brown I actually find that color from BM a color that looks like you smoked cigars for 50 yrs and the walls are dirty it would never be a color i would choose .If you post a picture of the other areas i might come up with something different . You always have to be careful to not get locked into beige world it is hard to escape.

Yes I mean a track on the ceiling in fact if you get the right one you can even add heads to have some above your peninsula. Sorry most times i can send pics but this morning my computer does not want to do that.

Consider a backslash that will tie in your countertop and flooring. Go with ORB over satin nickel for your cabinet hardware. Champagne gold is trending and would work brilliantly with the backsplash below.

Patricia Colwell Consulting I will post pictures of the surrounding spaces later once I get back to the house. I would very much appreciate feedback on the color choice for the rooms (family room, kitchen) absolutely.

Jillian - Interior design student I do love the champagne gold.. I intend to do a color similar to that for the light fixture in our entry way. Have to head out now, but will be touching base later today to post some additional pics of the surrounding areas.

I honestly dislike the black handles for the cabinets,

if you are going with brushed chrome stay with that ,keep it simple ,no black shades either ,you will see the dust much more on them .

Seeing dust is not a bad thing I would rather know when something needs dusting

What about this handle?? I'll be honest I do like the look. We are also moving slowly towards stainless appliances - starting with the LG over the range microwave, so maybe a brushed nickel is the best route to go? Thoughts?

Great new kitchen! And now you can add the final personal touch with custom hardware. Knockout Knobs create cabinet knobs and pulls using your designs. Custom cabinet hardware is the jewelry for your home. We use 3D metal printing technology to create the perfect hardware for your cabinets and furniture. Your Passion Your Design Your Hardware

After visiting with the woman at the tile store for 1/2 hour I believe that we have settled on the following tile http://www.centura.info/en/products/tiles/wall-ceramic/urban.

and this cabinet pull for all cabinets and drawers.

The lady at the tile store also suggested a paint color for the walls - this would likely be in both the kitchen area and the family room as they share a wall. Modern Gray by Shermin Williams - it's 2nd from the bottom of the swatch in the picture. Does anyone have experience with that color?

I almost forgot I need to take those pictures of the adjacent family room!

Hi Patricia Colwell Consulting - I've taken a few photo's of the adjacent family room, but honestly it's more than a bit of a mess right now with everything moved into it from our eating area.

pic from the eating area

pic from end of peninsula

When we went to the paint store they suggested something like Shermin Williams Modern Gray. I have heard that gray can tone down the yellow in our oak floors and oak table so I thought it might be a color we could use throughout the main level and up the stairwell into the upper hallway? Right now we have BM Shaker Beige which I love, but I do find it dark in areas with little light i.e. our staircase and upper hallways. Plus honestly with our oak railings going up the stairs it really is a bit too beige.

Food for thought...

Top Knob has a nice selection of hardware, I have used them for my clients. This one is a rust, which will give a little warmer pop of color and also a uniqueness (something a little different) from the usual answers.

I like the new handles, I think that tile would work and the gray color could be the answer for the space but now you need some real color , Not sure what you like for color but

something where you pick up the 3 colors you have now will work for an area rug and then a fabric with those colors plus one more would be nice for roman shades on the windows and then use that color for throw pillows and other accents.

What are your plans for supporting that stone? It needs some corbels or something before it cracks off and breaks someone's foot.

Maybe it has the nice invisible ones

The overhang on the peninsula is 10" on the end and 9-1/2" on the length. Our granite company indicated that we did not need supports if 10" or under. Do you feel this is incorrect?

MIA standards are 9" unsupported for 3cm, and 6" for 2cm stone. Also you need 15" of overhang, minimum, for comfortable seating at 36" counter height.

Patricia Colwell Consulting - thank you!! I love the pulls. We just found out the knobs I selected have been discontinued so off to the builder supply stores and Lee Valley tomorrow. The pull doesn't have a matching knob so I get to choose what I like though I'll be going round. Seeing a square knob even slightly out of line drives me crazy.

Were you thinking of the Roman shades in the family room with the wood blinds or on the patio doors? Btw. I love that rug! Where is it from? Now if I can find a rug like that on Lowes.ca or at a store here in Ottawa that would be perfect! Our Cdn dollar is so low right now I can not justify buying anything over the border right now. Do you have any ideas for covering the patio doors? I'll have to post a picture tomorrow with the table in place. We also have the 3 sided fireplace separating the two spaces that always has to be taken into consideration. A lot to consider but it really feels like it's coming together now.

Sophie wheeler - I looked at the MIA site and it states that it is 10" not 9". Can you point me to where it states 9"?

I thought I should add updated photos. :-)

Can you do some sort of accent line or maybe do the backsplash tile in a herringbone pattern??? Seems like a large expanse of white!! I like the herringbone idea though, especially since they are on the longer side. Beautiful cabinets.

Then again, after looking at your recent pics, you don't have a lot of backsplash! Why such large tiles 2X10"?? Would have loved this white and gold chevron w/your granite and that champagne gold hardware!! Oh man.

I might have gone with a smaller subway or even an arabesque style. I like what you have as well, but it seems like the wall is too small for such a large tile.

Beth - do you feel the large tile will make the space look smaller? Make it feel more closed in?

how are you going to lay it? offset brick? I just think you won't get the true benefit of a larger tile. I don't think it will make it feel closed it. That tile you have chosen is a more modern look rather than a traditional look, which is what you have. that's why I mentioned running it in a herringbone to give it some life.

I believe w/all that neutrality you have, you could have afforded to jazz it up a bit by choosing smaller/patterned type of tile. I think the plain old white will just blend in and get lost. Plus, it's a small area. That tile you have is for a large space where you can appreciate the long, linear look of that format. Does that make sense?? Here it is laid in a stacked pattern. More contemporary look.

Beth - the color of the tile is actually the coffee color not the white. We went through quite a few beiges - ivories- before coming to a color that appeared warm with the granite and the cabinets. Unfortunately it's the only size they had. Do you feel the tile is too modern for the cabinetry? I'll be honest I wanted to achieve a classic look. I really appreciate you giving such thoughtful advice btw! This has been quite the experience being my first renovation.

Also, I know it's typical but i would love to be able to see how the tile would look under the under cabinet lighting. It really is hard to imagine everything together?

The color you chose is fine, I just think it well blend in to the point of hardly showing up. But that is all a personal preference. I don't think it is too modern, per se, it all depends on how it is applied. Are you opposed to a herringbone pattern? I think that the stacked pattern or even vertical pattern would make it modern. If you are going for the standard subway (running brick pattern) it should be fine. I just don't think it's going to make a 'splash'. To me, the backsplash and hardware is the jewelry of the kitchen.

Beth - we are laying the tile in a brick pattern for sure.. I do understand what you mean by it being the jewelery of the kitchen though.. I'll have to make up for that with something else :) Do you think that with the tile being so large at 4" x 10" that laying it in a herringbone pattern may look weird? That is something we could still do possibly..

You've got so many doors and drawers! Good storage. Think about just using a single knob. It will look neater and less obvious than knobs and pulls. You can go with orb or stainless. Either will be a good choice.

Hi leelee, the handles have already been installed.. I'll be heading out to the stores today to find a knob I love.. here's hoping we find it!

Jillian I love these items you picked. can you tell me where I can get this tile

kchap71- have your tile setter lay it out and see. He can do a practice set up on the counter nearby. It might work. 10" is a little long for that space, even for regular pattern you are doing.

I found this at Floor and Decor.

https://www.flooranddecor.com/marble-stone/soho-ellipse-light-mix-marble-mosaic-931100224.html#sz=12&start=389

Soho Ellipse Light Mix Marble Mosaic

SKU: 931100224

Size: 12in. x 12in.

$14.99 /piece

Jillian where can I get those tiles

Floor and Decor is where I found them. They have many locations across the country.

https://www.flooranddecor.com/view-all-stores

We are trying to find a round knob to go with the pulls we have installed. Neither of us like the matching knob which we did find at Lee Valley. What do you think if this one? So far it's the main contender.

I like it !

Ok.. So I am not happy with the tile work. The spaces are not even and the tiles appear to be laid in a way where one appears more inset than another.. Can I complain at this point?? If yes, what is needed to rectify this? Does he need to completely set/grout the tiles again? Will the tile break when removed?

UPDATE: we have had the backsplash fixed and now we are onto choosing a paint color for kitchen, family room, the lower level hallway, front entry, stairwell and 2nd floor hallway. Due to us choosing a matte finish previously for the common areas in the house they are now scuffed up enough to warrant a fresh paint job - poor choice I'll admit!

I've attached pictures of the kitchen as it stands today.

Ive gone a little crazy putting tester paint on my walls. Brings out the creative side of me. :-)

I tried Collingwood Grey, but it appears much too purple/blue in certain areas of the house.

I like, yet do not love the Edgecomb Grey as it is too pale in color adjacent to our white cupboards so I thought of going 25% darker and seeing how that would look.

What do you think about going 25% lighter with the Shaker Beige or even 50%? I wonder if that might solve the issue I'm having with it being too dark in the hallways where the light is minimal. If I did this should I keep the full strength Shaker Beige in the kitchen/family room and paint the 75%/50% strength in the darker areas plus the front entry?

The woman at the paint store suggested all one color for the entire main level as she felt it would visually make the space look more grand. You can see straight into the kitchen from the front door. If I did this I'm just not sure what shade to use? Decisions!!

I really do love beige but I need help on figuring out how to work with it and still create a room / house that is not just a sea of beige. I'm drawn to sunny light spaces, and sometimes I think that shaker beige isn't consistent with that. Help!

I'm going to post pictures of the family room as it is open to the kitchen and the hallway to the front of the house so you all get a better idea of what I'm working with.

It's great to have houzzer's to bounce ideas off of!! Thanks in advance.

Here is the family room off the kitchen. Not a large space and a bit hard to furnish with the fireplace in the way. :)

The front of the house...

View from the front of the house to the kitchen/family area.