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op_mama

Finished kitchen reveal - classic white, black, brass & marble

9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago

Hello! I scoured these boards for information when we were working on our
kitchen reno, so I'm happy to finally share the finished product. Not the best photos ever, but hopefully you get the idea. :) Our home is a 1929 brick colonial in the Chicago suburbs and I tried hard to create a classic look in the original spirit of the house. Please let me know
if you have any questions.

A few quick tips:

1- Do NOT get this KitchenAid fridge; it's already broken
twice!

2- Also, if you're saying to yourself, "I'm careful! I can handle marble countertops!" just go ahead and smack yourself in the face right now. Ha! I'm sorry to say ours are pretty much trashed after just eight months of use. It's not noticeable when the lights are on, but in low daylight the island top looks awful. :(

3- Spend more time thinking through the undercabinet lighting than I did! We used some cheap fixtures that our contractor bought at Menard's and I think it cheapens the overall look.



Comments (59)

  • 9 years ago

    It is perfect! I think it's understated and classy. Did you use a kitchen designer? Sorry to hear about your KA fridge and the marble & thanks for the warning.

    op_mama thanked C Pen
  • 9 years ago

    op mama, it's the same fridge as ours, but the logo plate on ours is upper right. We've had no problems, knock on wood.

    It is a good looking fridge tho.

    How do you like your range?

    We decided on a Wolf gas cooktop vs. a range oven, and went for double wall ovens.

    I do love the look of the range. It has gravitas.

    op_mama thanked User
  • 9 years ago

    C Pen No, I was trying hard to save money and thought I could figure it all out myself, but in retrospect I could have used professional help with some of the decisions. Live and learn. :)

  • 9 years ago

    I think it looks great and yes, it has the feel of a 20s house. And that's what you want. I have a marble island and have had it for more than 20 years. It was a used piece (it came out of an 1898 institution -- it was their pastry marble) to begin with so came with some warts. It didn't have a finish on it and I've not been kind to it and I absolutely love it! I don't notice anything on it but perhaps I don't look hard enough -- LOL! It's gray though instead of white -- perhaps that makes a difference.

    op_mama thanked User
  • 9 years ago

    mimipadv LOVE the range. I agree that it has gravitas -- that's a good word for it! I looked at almost every other 36" model and if I'm being honest ... ultimately I chose the Wolf for those red knobs. :)

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Martha Scott maybe over time it will be more uniformly destroyed and it will look better. Ha! Right now there are very obvious spots and rings when the light hits it just right.

  • 9 years ago

    op_mama

    Martha Scott maybe over time it will all be more uniformly destroyed and it will look better

    ******

    Just call it well-earned patina ;-)

    op_mama thanked User
  • 9 years ago

    You did a great job, designer or no designer! I love the era your house is from, and the kitchen looks right at home. Is the fridge still under warranty? If so, what about them replacing it? There seem to be numerous complaints about their fridges online. What undercabinet lights did they put in? Since the wiring is done, it probably wouldn't be difficult to replace those.

    op_mama thanked iroll
  • 9 years ago

    iroll Yes it's under warranty and they've been good about fixing it. It's the same dumb piece that has broken twice now. Just annoying, you know?

    The undercabinet lighting is the kind that didn't require special transformers (???). My electrician who was a bit lazy talked me into it. Oh well. The next best option from Kichler was WAY more expensive.

  • 9 years ago

    I love your kitchen, everything about it. It's my favorite look for a kitchen. I love the schoolhouse light over your sink and the arched opening into your breakfast room. You are so lucky to have a house with those features.

    I've had a KA side-by-side for 5 years and it's been trouble-free. At least yours is prettier than mine.

    I hope your marble patinas such that you will embrace it. I only have marble in my bathroom and nothing compares.

    op_mama thanked Bunny
  • 9 years ago

    I totally agree with mimipadv - the pops of red rock! You did a great job suiting your kitchen to the style house. I'd love to hear about your decision to not have upper cabinets on the wall with the range. I am just starting out on my kitchen remodel journey and am considering doing the same thing because I get frustrated with the uppers getting in my way there while I am trying to pour things into big pots. And I am only 5'1" - so I can't even reach the top half of the uppers anyway.

    op_mama thanked Katie
  • 9 years ago

    Katie, I have a Vent-A-Hood with cabinets over and those cabinets are a PITA to reach, and not very useful. I'd forgo them and get a hood like the one above. Love the look.

    op_mama thanked User
  • 9 years ago

    Ooh! Just noticed the detail under the kitchen sink cabinets. Very nice!

    You certainly have designer sense!

    op_mama thanked User
  • 9 years ago

    Really pretty. Thanks for sharing.

    op_mama thanked Wendy
  • 9 years ago

    Pretty, pretty, and if I can say it, classic. This kitchen will look good for a long time. Nice job on doing it yourself:)

    Can you tell me what the dimensions of your kitchen are? I'm considering a reno with the same layout.

    op_mama thanked nancyjwb
  • PRO
    9 years ago

    You did a great job with this "sympathetic" kitchen remodeling (term the English use and I think it quite descriptive). It looks great. And your marble will develop patina and you won't care anymore. Lovely room.

    op_mama thanked Anglophilia
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Very nice. I could cook in there AND have breakfast in your breakfast room. I want a breakfast room. :(

    op_mama thanked schoolhouse_gw
  • 9 years ago

    Katie Thanks! I didn't put uppers on that wall because A) I think corner cabinets are always kind of awkward, B) I wanted the big stand-alone vent hood, and C) it saved money and I already felt I had enough cabinet space. I really like how it turned out -- it gives the room a feeling of extra spaciousness.

  • 9 years ago

    Lovely kitchen!

    op_mama thanked User
  • 9 years ago

    It looks like everyone's dream of mom's kitchen. Including the marble. Congratulations, it's beautiful.

    op_mama thanked barncatz
  • 9 years ago

    Love it! Can you share details on your island light fixtures? Thanks

    op_mama thanked Amy J
  • 9 years ago

    It's beautiful.

    You'll get used to marble:)

    Love your walls too..such a nice color.

    op_mama thanked aprilneverends
  • 9 years ago

    Really nice. What are the approximate dimensions?

    op_mama thanked ski4life
  • 9 years ago

    Gorgeous! I love everything about it. Nicely done!!!

    op_mama thanked smm5525
  • 9 years ago
  • 9 years ago

    Beautiful kitchen and fits very well with the style of your home. Love the pendants and the red accents.

    op_mama thanked Karenseb
  • 9 years ago

    Very nice! You created a beautiful, classic kitchen that perfectly suits your house.

    op_mama thanked kimihh
  • 9 years ago

    It's gorgeous! It looks like it belongs perfectly. Well done.

    op_mama thanked mgmum
  • 9 years ago

    Beautiful kitchen - perfect 20s feel! Maybe I missed it, but where did you get the cabinets from? I'm in Chicago too and just starting my renovation.

    op_mama thanked Oakparker
  • 9 years ago

    Lovely, clean lines and soothing colors. I really, really like it and especially love the arched doorway to the dining area - what a great flow and space.

    op_mama thanked oldbat2be
  • 9 years ago

    It's beautiful. Those long stretches of counter are heaven to work with. Does having the island between you and the sink change anything about the way you cook? I find that I now assemble everything in my prep location first (like I should have been doing all along, but previously there was no space in the old kitchen to both gather ingredients and prep).

    The issue with the light on the marble looking awful at certain times of the day/year can happen with many types of countertops so don't beat yourself up on that. If you decide you really can't stand it bring samples (large scraps) of any proposed new countertop home and see how they are in the same light. Granite does the same on one side of my kitchen, on the other side I put Corian which does not have this issue (but cannot take heat).

    op_mama thanked practigal
  • 9 years ago

    Like everybody says, it's a beautiful kitchen. I just completely like the overall vibe and actually would shamelessly copy a lot from it for my kitchen renovation (very similar layout): Would you mind telling me how wide/long your kitchen is? Your ceilings are higher than 8', right?

    Is there anything you would do differently in terms of layout? What do you like best, least? Thanks so much!


    op_mama thanked nosoccermom
  • 9 years ago

    It's beautiful! I love everything about it and it's a perfect match for your old house.

    op_mama thanked Laura
  • 9 years ago

    First off, wow, you did such a great job pulling all the details together. The lights are perfect for the space. I love so much about your kitchen, but the range wall with that range, range hood and backsplash is really spectacular!

    op_mama thanked Cheryl Hewitt
  • 9 years ago

    Love it! 1929 was a great year! ;)

    op_mama thanked 1929Spanish-GW
  • 9 years ago

    Very nice! It fits your home perfectly. Congrats and enjoy!

    op_mama thanked Pipdog
  • 9 years ago

    it looks beautiful!


    op_mama thanked Megan
  • 9 years ago

    It's just lovely! I love the black and white look. How do you like the black countertops? Are they hard to keep clean? (I.e. Show streaks) or hard to see things on? I ended up doing all white Quartz but sometimes I wish I'd done the perimeter black like you did. Great job!

    op_mama thanked katieleabrown86
  • 9 years ago

    Beautifully done update. I particularly like the red accents. And I do hope you learn to live with and love the patina on your marble.

    op_mama thanked townlakecakes
  • 9 years ago

    Thanks for the kind words and kitchen love, everyone!

    oakparker22 We used Amish Custom Kitchens. Very happy with them!

    nosoccermom I'm sorry but I'm not at home this week, so I can't answer any dimension questions at the moment. But in terms of layout, I wouldn't change a thing. Thought maybe it would be annoying to have the fridge a little farther away from the work area, but it's not an issue at all.

    katieleabrown86 The black is not hard to keep clean. Sometimes crumbs do show a little more, but that's easy enough to fix. Because of the leathered finish, streaks don't show at all.







  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Op, you did a beautiful job!

    Regarding the marble etching, you're reacting to the difference between a shiny surface and an etched one. You can always do what the Greeks do to their marble counters. Etch the whole thing with cut lemons to return homogeneity (and be sure to seal it so it doesn't stain).

    Enjoy your lovely kitchen in the best of health!

    op_mama thanked eam44
  • 9 years ago

    eam44 Does that really work? I do know I made the marks worse by following the advice (that I found here) to buff them out with a scouring pad. Whoops!

  • 8 years ago

    Beautiful!!! Same taste as mine! I’m doing my kitchen now with cream cabinets and black countertops.

    I’ve been searching for a nice black granite and I’ll be doing the leathered finish as well. I would like to know the name of your black granite. I love soapstone, but was afraid of the scratches and upkeep. Leathered black granite could work nicely!

    Thank you very much!!!

    op_mama thanked mhosler6
  • 8 years ago

    Thanks so much for the compliment! The granite is leathered Negresco. I would choose it again in a heartbeat--it's indestructible! I'm really glad we didn't do soapstone.

  • 8 years ago
    Wow, love your kitchen! I wonder how the marble is holding up after these months?
    op_mama thanked Marta
  • 8 years ago

    The marble has a LOT of etch marks. I love how it looks most of the time, but in certain lights, you can see how beat up it is. My kids regularly eat oranges at the island, spill lemonade, etc.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    It’s patina. If they eat citrus all over the counter, you won’t notice spots because the whole thing will be etched... I mean patinaed. Yes, they really do do this in Greece. There’s an urban legend about Meg Ryan using tomatoes to etch her marble (the Italian method). There’s even a [thread[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/marble-etching-on-purpose-just-to-get-it-over-with-dsvw-vd~2486168) on purposeful etching here. You are not alone in this. I hope the links are helpful!

  • 8 years ago

    I love this kitchen with all the neat touches.

  • 8 years ago

    This is a beautiful, classic kitchen. You did an amazing job.