I've owned this house for about 8 years, and when I moved in made some minor changes in the first year: hardware pulls, flooring, lighting, some cabinet organization including roll out shelves, and new appliances. Exactly as many here recommend, I waited to make major changes and lived with the oak cabinets and the white laminate counters. Maybe a little too long, but life got in the way of a renovation. I hired a project manager/kitchen designer (NKBA) and am pleased with the results. This was planned and ordered long before the COVID 19 situation; and where I live work could continue. We were a couple of weeks delayed starting due to the cabinets being produced in Washington state, but finished in about 6 weeks. A couple of adjustments had to be made: for instance, I couldn't go see the counter layout process, it had to be done via FaceTime.

I've read the forum for years trying to figure out what I wanted; thank you for all of your help and previous discussions. A remodel isn't perfect, and I wanted to keep this within a reasonable budget (less than $60K) and did so.

Goals:

• Microwave off the counter
• Room for a bigger refrigerator (the old cubby only fit a teeny Samsung refrigerator- it was only 70 inches tall and 34 wide)
• Stone countertops
• Undermount sink
• Same flooring throughout the kitchen and attached family room
• Cabinets that weren't falling apart and more functional: The old ones were particle board, had terrible drawer glides attached with plastic hangers and staples at the back of the cabinets, and the drawers were starting to break after 24 years.
• Do something with the blind corners

The footprint mostly remains the same; the pantry/fridge wall was reconfigured. There is a crawlspace access behind there that couldn't be moved without great inconvenience and expense, and we didn't want to move any walls. The previous pantry was a narrow walk-in black hole and was always messy, despite my efforts. The work areas were pretty functional as is, so the layout didn't change much either. the bottom of the "U" in the peninsula was expanded out and the sliding door was changed to a single door.

I did as many lower cabinet drawers as practical, and actually closed off the blind corner to the right of the sink. The other blind corner is now only accessible from the back side of the peninsula with roll out shelves.

Products:

• Cabinets: Bellmont 1600 Series, Cherry with Toffee stain, upgrade to plywood boxes. I don't live in a "white cabinet" house, and probably not a painted kitchen cabinet house either.
• Hardware: Jeffrey Alexander "Cairo"
• Counters: Alaska White granite (from this forum, I know it's pegmatite!)
• Backsplash: Cepac Midtown in Snowflake
• Flooring: Mannington Adura Rigid Acacia African Sunset (vinyl plank)
• Sink: Elkay Quartz Luxe 33 inch in Charcoal
• Faucet: Delta Deluca. The shield spray is kinda cool.
• Pendants: Bicycle Glass Swell in Gray
• Appliances: Mostly Bosch.
• Bosch 800 series dishwasher with Crystal Dry (it actually works to dry plastics!)
• Bosch 800 series French door refrigerator, makes great pyramid shaped ice cubes.
• Bosch 500 series 400 CFM vent (the max I could put in without make up air)
• Bosch 800 Series drawer microwave
• Electrolux Slide-In induction range. I've had it for awhile and it still pleases me so I kept it.
• Counter stools: French Barrelback from RH. Kept from old kitchen, they are incredibly comfortable.
• Mat in front of sink: vinyl mat from Food52 Shop/Bejia Floor. Kept from prior kitchen. I love it.

Before photos: