too traditional in style but I like the contrast of dark fllor and countertop with light cabinets

I love the way that you removed the dust collector space at the top of the cabinetry but still allowed for the three dimensional design associated with a traditional style with the use of varied cabinet depths and beautiful crown moldings. Really stunning!

Stunningly beautiful. A perfect example of a classic kitchen... Although I hope the owner had a little money left over to invest in a latex caulking company because this beautiful header and possibly these wall cabinets are going to split open at the seams like a McDonald's patron wearing a size medium shirt! Always important to consider seasonal weather changes when designing cabinetry. This kitchen happens to be in Minneapolis. It will come apart. Something we know all too well here in Canada. Stick this kitchen in San Fransisco, or Glendale Arizona...and it will stand the test of time... But not in Minneapolis...

Hi Patrick Bowes, COuld you explain more? WHy do you think the header and possibly the cabinets would split open? Is it a potential risk associated with crownmoulding the cabinets? thanks!

I know its been discontinued, but is the backsplash glass subway tile or is it something else? Thanks! This kitchen is AMAZING

Hello dreamsailor. Sorry for the super late response, I only got the Houzz email notification today!

Here is the short on why the header might (and probably will) split open. The header in this particular case has a crown moulding that is placed directly against the ceiling. That is in fact the root of the problem. As the seasons change and relative humidity fluctuates, the walls/ceilings/etc will expand and retract, and perhaps rack as well (skew) as the materials are forced to work against each-other to find a place to expand to. When winter comes around and indoor heating is used the relative humidity in the house will drop and the wood will once again retract to its original size and usually even more (if the wood had a higher humidity content at installation time). The weakest part of any piece of cabinetry is the joints (especially imperfectly mitered joints) and so the first thing that will happen is that you will end up with unsightly and very frustrating gaps between pieces. In extreme cases (I do see them regularly though) the wood might actually split and crack. Since the upper cabinets are attached permanently to the header, they may be affected as well.

So that's the gist of it. There are ways to avoid this however...WITHOUT STUFFING A BUNCH OF AMATEURISH LATEX IN THERE!! (The first sign of sub-par cabinetry is the use of latex to bridge gaps between panels and walls or otherwise) Subtle construction/design changes that allow for movement between key pieces is the right way to do it. If you are in the process of designing a kitchen and would like to know how I go about avoiding this problem, it would be my pleasure to make a quick sketch of the method and send it to you by email.

All great designs that survive the test of time take into consideration the geographical location in which an installation will be placed. Think of the St-Peter's Basilica in Rome, which has pristine un-cracked marble floors more than 500 years after their installation. The designer/architect took into consideration the changes in temperature and humidity and the result is everlasting.

Hope my explanation made sense to you....and good luck with your project!!