Me too! I am freaking out about my counter choice because I can’t do the backsplash I originally wanted, even though I found one I really like that goes better. Also freaking out about venting and make up air issues for my 6 burner gas rangetop, so now I am starting to research induction because it doesn’t require the make up air or as much suction. I just want to get everything ordered so I can stop overthinking everything!

Too funny!

Pink_peony. I love that you like your choice better when the builder didn't like it. when others talk me out of my vision and I second guess because of someone else's comments I always regret backing down and thinking that my first choice would have been better. i also like to change decor with the seasons because I have more Than one way I like things. I change colors and arrangements. If the large things are kept neutral like wall color, furniture and flooring it doesn't have to cost a lot to change accessories and accents And freshen the way I feel about a room.

It's funny Pink, I just watched a video from Jay Shetty on how other's comments can change our minds and influence decisions. I'm sorry I did not realize you still had things that needed fixing or doing.

I like that instead of the comment making you self doubt, it made you feel more strongly about how much you love the aqua, which I love that color BTW! I wanted plum for my island and have been planning that for many months but it was not to be. I liked green, teal and blue. I wanted something "different" but I found a blue color I really like and it seemed to go well with the other countertops and perimeter cabs. I do really like the island color however it is not different that's for sure!

These are (sort of) my choices below. The top left is soapstone. The soapstone looking granite for my perimeter (not pictured because I cannot get a sample so got the closest thing to it) called Silver Grey Granite will be on the bottom left cabinet (color Balboa Mist) and will be my perimeter cabinets.

The Super White sample you see on the top right ( mine will be leathered) will be on my island cabinet, the blue sample you see on the bottom right. The little sample of flooring they sit on will be my wood floor through except mudroom and bathrooms (hard to see because the floor sample is sitting on a wood floor). That grey tile will be in my mudroom (which abuts the kitchen) and laundry room and will have a solid grey tile border.

I really do love colors and enjoy trying to pick things out. I could honestly look at everyone else's kitchens and wish i had chosen their colors because there are so many I love and not because it is the latest fad.

I really want to incorporate more colors into my living room so will have to figure out how to go about doing so.

I also have my grandmother's dining room furniture and it does not go with my new home, the tone of wood. I would love to keep it but not sure what to do. Will have to put that out there on another thread. Seems like there are so many decisions to make. I will need new living room furniture, dining area table and chairs (I may have table built) and lots of fabrics and colors to choose. Yep, I dread it.

.

Here's a tip. Pro's don't second guess themselves. Part of this is IF we did the second guessing that takes place here, we'd never get a client to the finish line. Another part is this:

We limit the number of decisions. We don't use ten paint colors when three will do very well. We use one trim, one flooring whenever possible. We don't put six tiles in a bath, make a palette so wide, that it contains every darn color in the wheel. Even a garden looks better with limits. So too, do most homes. This is not to say we don't have our fun, that we don't search for the PERFECT thing. But. As with all search, and all design, you must know when to stop.

Half of the indecision, and seventy five percent of the mistakes ( especially the ones we see here on these pages ) come from over think, and over design. Cut it OUT You will live longer, and your home will live better.)

NEG...you will be over the finish line soon. Keep your chin up. trust your instincts. It won’t be long and you will be sleeping again.

I dont think I had a good nights sleep for over 2 yrs. But things are starting to get back to normal..they will for you too.

Thanks ILR. I know I will blink my eyes and it will be done-another couple months tops and that is because the tiler cannot come for 3-4 weeks. I love how your home turned out and now you have lots of love filling that home :) Any updates?

I like Jan Moyer's tips!

I simply do not understand how some people here go back and forth over 25 (and more!) different shades of white.

I get that maybe they can discern the difference between them all and I can't, but there is something to be said for limiting your choices.

Maybe that is why some designers recommend Farrow & Ball paint, it cuts down on their clients driving them crazy with a million different shades of white!

NewEnglandgal: your thread couldn’t have expressed my feelings any better!! I am relieved to know that I am not alone with driving self nuts with second guessing! I guess it’s normal since we are not experts in design (even if we enjoy it) and therefore feel less confident about the choices we make. I have to say that what you’ve selected so far is beautiful! I love the colors and the pattern you’re incorporating in your space!!

As others have said, you are not alone. Hiring a designer was smart. I didn't until I hired a consultant here for paint because by the time I got around to deciding grays I was just worn out. Not sure whether you are building or renovating but either way there are lots of decisions.

I've told myself over and over to be grateful but there are just some days where I second-and-third guess everything down to the shower floor drain covers. Yeah, actually had to pick out shower floor drain covers.

Talk to the designer if you are worried about anything specific but I bet your decisions are going to work out great.

I'm building my first home and constantly second guess my choices. I hate making decisions sometimes!

My hubby loves to shop. He was so excited when we started building because he would get to help pick out everything for the house. Well due to my indecision on picking out floor tile he finally said to me " I'm done! You can pick out whichever one You want just make it soon".

This thread is singing the song of my people right now. We’ve never done a major renovation before, let alone a renovation in an old house, so there has been endless second guessing happening.

Actually, we landed on cabinets and appliances that I felt 100% about. I was so excited about the kitchen and felt good anytime I thought about it. Then somehow we got sidetracked by Cafe’s matte white appliances and the next thing I knew, we’d ordered a full kitchen of them. The stark white of the appliances suddenly looked very out of place in our mellow kitchen, so that led to changing the cabinet color and drawer pulls. And then the panic and dread set in. I second guessed everything.

My husband just had to go overseas for work and literally as I was dropping him off at the airport I told him that I did not want any of the Cafe matte white appliances and that I wanted the kitchen back to the first design’s colors. He was like, “you’ve got to love it, so go with what feels right.” And so now we’re back to the kitchen that I loved all along. I just have to go back to the appliance store and tell them there’s been a change in plans (thankfully they have not ordered the appliances yet, as our cabinets won’t be ready for months).

WHEE!

Here's another tip about not second guessing yourself-

Once you have purchased something-

Please don't look at its price elsewhere.

Abby we are building a new home, our last forever home and that is probably not helping knowing this. We are mid 50 and low 60's so it is our last home.

Ashley and Linda I feel you sisters!

Jemimabean they say always go with your first instinct! Im sure you had some s sleepness lights thinking about it but glad you made that decision and had not ordered the appliances yet! I bet it is going to be beautiful. Can you share your choices? Would love to see them!

loobab absolutely, don't even go there! Why look for trouble? LOL

Sometimes price comparing after the fact pays off! If you pay using a credit card, many companies will reimburse you the price difference :)

What a HOOT!!! I love this conversation! It's great to be able to smile and chuckle through the anxiety of self-doubt!!! My 2 cents, remember design trends; not too long ago satin-finished nickel replaced oil-rubbed bronze, which FINALLY put an end to brass, but lo and behold what is the design world pushing now but SATIN-FINISHED BRASS!!! Right now designers are pushing blue lower kitchen cabinets and islands, but in the perspective of time (maybe even as soon as your project is finished) next season their goal is to push another color or style! So the question for us all to decide is what do WE love? As the saying goes, the home is where the heart is. Good Luck and please remember to stop back to show us the B & A photos! Thanks for the Sangria recipe, Pink Peony! The peony is my fave flower, too, and my fave shade of pink is the Sarah Bernhardt! : )

Every.Single.Decision. You are not alone! And chocolate is always a good decision. ;)

NEG you will get through it all and when you walk into your new home with your excellent choices, you'll be having a drink to celebrate not to numb you. LOL.

Every time I walk into my house, I can now smile even when so many things had me flustered at the time. It's sort of like having a baby. Once that baby is out, you forget the pain.

Every.Single.Decision. You are not alone! And chocolate is always a good decision. ;)

Um maybe that's why I put on a few pounds during the build?

msmliss I think that was why when the plum color I wanted wasn't meshing with my counter choices and the blue looked great I was hesitant. I wanted something different, that no one was doing and I ended up with a trend.... but I do love blue and 5 years ago wanted a blue island but I was redoing my kitchen at the time for resale so did a cherry island with cream perimeter.

CP you of all people probably take the award for worst nightmare of a build. Your colors though are so gorgeous that it is just stunningly beautiful and hopefully now worth it all.

I think because I buck the system and chose two different cabinet base colors and different counters I was worried the island would look like it was out in left field (so to speak) but I have done it before and I have seen many pictures of others doing so and really like it. Am hoping when it all comes together I wont just like it but be in love with it. I think picking out my backsplash will be tough. It needs to be somewhat plain due to the island but I also want it to tie everything in.

My cabinets come tomorrow but my tile guy cannot start for 3-4 weeks so it will hold up fabricating too. :(

Cyndy my daughter bought me a pound of chocolates from our favorite candy store here who make the best chocolates anywhere. I am trying to keep to one or two at the very most a day. CP I went on keto to lose my stress weight and hoping to keep it off!

NEG - it is hard to balance what you like, what is timeless, and what is on 'trend'...especially when what you have always liked happens to be what is currently on trend! I LOVE color, but because of the openness of my plan I wasn't willing to incorporate too much in the big things (walls/cabinets). Now it is a challenge to try to inject color to make me happy and pull the whole look together! While I haven't got a money tree, we might get some reimbursement money from the storm...so I am waiting to see if that will come through before I start spending $$ on the 'fun' stuff.

I think your island will look amazing. My husband jokes that I should just paint it turquoise when I waffle on the finish or color of anything. In our garage apt which we gutted and refinished quickly after the flood so we would have somewhere to live, I painted all the new shelves turquoise. Partly because the color makes me happy and partly because I was too cheap to buy multiple colors of paint. It was easy to make decisions quickly because it meant moving from a travel trailer to 425 sqft. - a luxurious improvement!

Please keep us updated on your progress! I look forward to seeing them.

Cyndy I love all the aqua's, turquoise and teal colors. I considered teal as well for my island cabinet color, just wanted something different but the blue I chose was the winner with my countertop. I also figured if I ever get tired of it down the road its just an island so much easier to paint than an entire kitchen of cabinets. I also was trying to find a turquoise color tile for my master but nothing matched what I had in my mind and a picture online I really liked.

There is nothing wrong with white or cream, in fact my perimeter cabinets are BM Balboa Mist, I just like lots of colors! I was ready to put a green color cabinet in on my perimeter (when I was going to do plum for my island) but it did not look good with my countertops nor my island counter. see how much ideas can change because reality isn't always what we picture or hope for in our heads. I am happy with my choices, it is funny though how choosing my countertops first changed everything.

I am looking forward to seeing your choices and end results as well!

What a difference a day makes, NewEnglandGal! You sound so much more confident now! Even I feel sure that you will LOVE your blue island! : ) Please share the After photos! I'm sure we'll all be raising our glasses to you!

Not sure its confidence so much as I decided I will like it no matter what and if I am not in love with it, I will find backsplash and other elements that will help me love it. :) I am also chalking it up to a very bad day. lol

I second the third and fourth and fifth guess.

NEG...glad you are feeling better about things. Your house is going to be smashing but remember not to be too hard on yourself if it’s not perfect. There is bound to be a flub or two. Just hope they are small. My master bath vanity tops look very so so with the floors. And I had a pro help me with the choices..oh well. Big picture, right?

thanks for the kind words. Still not done with house even though we have been in since November but stone guys are here today laying my screen porch stone...I’m pretty excited. Backsplash finally done, but my kitchen is notoriously all white so hesitant to post a pic!

ILR I bet your kitchen is beautiful. Just because some (myself included) do not want white in their kitchen does not mean they cannot appreciate a beautiful white kitchen! Please post here, not too many will see it so no backlash!

Is your backsplash all white?

Love your patio! You must be so excited to have this being done. Nothing like a nice porch and patio!

NEG...

The trex that you see is an open deck which makes it pretty worthless with all of the bugs. and the stone is a covered screen porch or will be. The mosquitoes here will carry you away so very excited for this porch to be done.

Yes..guilty as charged! backsplash is white but has subtle crackle finish that gives it a little edge, lol. All in all, I’m pretty boring and neutral. I have two interior areas to decorate and buy furniture for..just taking my time. Thinking I will go ”bold”, lol...and do some color in those areas! Thinking maybe navy blue In the gathering/ dining area off kitchen. For now my old furniture is in there and it’s downright embarrassing.

IRL I had a screened in porch for a bit and loved it so much! When do you think the porch will be done?

Your kitchen is gorgeous and your countertop-wow! Everything looks so nice together, the floor too. You have good taste!

I love blue as you know so I think the navy would look fantastic with the white.

My cabinets came i and I have to say I love the blue island. It does not look as bright as I feared. The cabinet on the right is the perimeter cabinet color, Balboa Mist. I like them together too.

What do you guys think?

The blue is perfect. A wonderfully versatile color. Great choice.

Cabinet colors are lovely. What is the blue color called?

That blue is gorgeous! I love it.

They look fantastic NEG! Oh that you can do with those colors! Let the real fun begin!

Love the blue and white combination!

NEG: WOW the cabinet colors look awesome!! Balboa Mist reads almost white and the blue you chose is so sophisticated!

IRL: your kitchen is to die for!

Thank you everyone. It looks white in the picture but in reality is almost a sand color. It can read either slightly grey or ivory. If you look at ilovered's beautiful white kitchen in the picture above my pictures, you can see the difference between her white cabinets and the Balboa Mist cabinet.

localeater, the blue is SW Sea Serpent.

Excellent combo.

Thank you CP! Hoping they look great with the countertops too!

Pink I cant wait to look at all the backsplash possibilities and drive myself crazy trying to choose. You can sympathize no?

Ooooh, that blue is utterly gorgeous. It’s perfect. I love blues but could never find exactly the right one for cabinets. You nailed it.

I am loving that blue and white combo!

Can I sympathize? You bet your bonnet I can!

Gorgeous

Right now I am second guessing putting an offer on a lot!

I have done additions and remodels, but those usually have some constraints due to the existing structure ... an empty bare lot .... endless options and so much second guessing to come!

The blue looks great and I’m not usually a lover of blue inside the house.

chispa, do you love the lot, where it is, what your views will be? Endless possibilities sound good to me.

I love my husband, so I tried researching online where to start a backsplash what items needed to try lesson the stress on him. He got all snappy at said "I will do it my way or I will stop working on it". I put my foot down when he wanted fight me over laminate blade for the jigsaw after his not so straight cut for the butcherblock countertop. Is this like normal man behavior he is normally never this irritating?

I was going to comment, but I decided not to.

Why resurrect an old and unrelated thread?

As for your husband, he just needs more tools.

Since it was resurrected I might as well give an update! We bought that lot I mentioned a few posts up and built a house during covid ... fun times and higher costs!! Have been in the house for just over a year and 99% happy with all the choices I made. No designer used and I prefer it that way.

Jan thought it was a positive that a designer would limit the choices to show a customer, but I consider that a huge negative. Why should I let a stranger select three colors I should pick from, when the colors I really would have loved might have been color 5 or 6. Some Designers also pick based on their personal likes/dislikes or they try new/odd things they would never do in their own homes!

I had the time to do the research and make my own selections. I also trust my taste and ability to match colors and patterns.