I've been wanting to redo my kitchen since we moved in over 10 years ago. Oak cabinets have never been my thing, even when they were the thing. And the dusty blue gray laminate counter tops from the 80's are in bad, bad shape. It was one of those situations where you don't want to do something, because you'd have to redo it to get what you really want. So, I've been holding out. Patiently waiting, pinning pretty kitchens, saving and paying off the student loans. Finally, it is starting to look like the time has come. 2014 will be the year of my new kitchen! I am set on trying to do this right and there are so many details, questions and decisions that go into a new kitchen. I decided to write it all out here to organize my thoughts:
Living without a kitchen:
Move dining and living room furniture into family room and cover with plastic.
Move family room furniture and tv into living room.
Move fridge, old island and kitchen table into dining room for a temporary kitchen.
We could then close
off the pocket doors to keep all dust in the kitchen area.
Paper plates. Foreman grill, table top microwave
(the new one to be added to the kitchen later), electric pressure cooker, crock pot,
toaster, blender, waffle iron.
A lot of crockpot heat up freezer
meals made in advance in the basement freezer.
Boxes to box up the kitchen. Where would
I store all of those?
I need to time this to all happen while the kids
are still in school.
Who does the work: Kitchen design firm, Big box hardware store, contract it myself, or trusted local contractor? I'm hoping for the trusted local contractor, but he's crazy busy. I feel like I need to get things planned and in order soon, so that if
my favorite contractor becomes available I can be ready to go.
Does the big box store do things like electrical, soffit removal and ceiling planking?
Can I get a plan with the kitchen design firm, but not use them?
Is a big box designer just as good, but cheaper?
Tear Out:
Gone: cabinets, including desk area, counters, microwave/hood, bifold pantry doors and soffit.
Donate the cabinets to Restore, except what we could use in the garage and my island while a temp kitchen.
What is behind the soffits? Possibly need to deal with drywall repair or drainage pipes from bathrooms above. Install prehung double doors, no lights, in pantry opening.
Electrical:
Single island pendant becomes two.
Recessed lights become a ceiling mount.
Undercabinet lighting
Electrical outlet in island on kitchen side.
Electrical outlet installed in upper cabinet area next to fridge for microwave.
Charging outlet built into desk drawer?
Have electrical outlets built in for charging in cubby area?
Ceiling: I want the ceiling planked and crown molded and painted a very light blue, like old porches. It might be a good idea to paint it blue before putting it up there. At least the sides of the boards.
Lighting: I already have schoolhouse pendants for the island and for over the table. I need a short one for over the sink.
What kind of under cabinet lighting?
Cabinets: Semi-custom or custom?
Is there a good place for custom here?
What is the price difference?
Shaker style. Inset first choice, full overlay second.
Kraftmaid
How do you determine a quality cabinet?
Maple, painted white.
Cherry island or is two types of cabinetry faddish?
Do different cabinets need different counters?
Counters:
Quartz marble look alike.
12 possiblities: marble look alikes that The possibilities: LG Hausys Viatera Cortina, Silestone Lyra, Silestone Lagoon, Silestone Helix, Dupont Coarse Carrara, Cambria Torquay, Hanstone Ruscello Aspen, Hanstone Tranquility, Allen+Roth Sugarbrush, Caesarstone Misty Carrera, Caesarstone Frosty Carrina, Caesarstone London Gray.
I want something that reads white that makes someone have to really look at it to make sure it isn't marble. No pixelated effect. And probably gray and beige tones. I need to try to see in person to rule out, then bring home/order
samples to compare with the floor tile, current trim color and cabinet
color.
Cherry wood counter in desk area?
Sink, faucet and hardware:
Stainless undermount double bowl stainless steel. Possibly different sized bowls, with one just as deep as I can get it. I already purchased my faucet. A brushed nickel single hole, with a separate handsprayer. I ordered it on sale from Home Depot and they shipped it to me for free in two days. Its a little taller than I expected and I'm concerned that it may not fit with the windowsill sticking out as it does, but DH assures me that it will. I want brushed nickel hardware, with simple round knobs on the cupboards and cup pulls on the drawers.
Appliances:
Table top microwave, 1000watt, just big enough for a 9 by 13.
Simple hood for range.
Everything else has already been upgraded.
Backsplash: American Olean 3 x 6 gloss self spacing white marble subway tile with light gray grout with unsanded grout, sealed.
Do we try to DIY?
And do we extend it onto the wall in the eat in area? Around door to dining room?
To the ceiling or just to the underside of the uppers or somewhere in between?
Ice White or Starting Line?
Flooring: Is already a checkerboard beige and brown porcelain tile that I love. We have extra tiles from doing it ourselves, so we could use them as needed if there is any discrepancy in cabinet foot print.
Cabinet design:
New solid wood pantry doors.
Enclose the fridge on the open side and have a cabinet that comes all the way to the front on top.
On the outside of the fridge I want to mount a framed piece of sheet metal painted with black blackboard paint.
Upper cabinet that can hold the microwave next to the fridge. It may need to be deeper than regular uppers.
Working cabinets and a mantel like shelf area hiding the hood above the range. We may need to do this custom. I need to order extra cabinet paint for this purpose, but also for ding touch ups that may be needed.
All upper cabinets will go up to the ceiling, with a crown molding on top.
Seeded antique looking glass doors, in the cabinets flanking the range.
A divided cabinet next to the range on the bottom to use for storing cookie sheets, etc.
In the island I want a double base with three drawers right across from the range. The bottom two to hold pots and pans, with moveable dividers. The top to hold plates and bowls.
The other island double base I want a drawer on top and a cupboard with two roll outs below.
The end of the island I want a tall empty cabinet for the garbage can. No roll out.
In the corner I want lazy susans on upper and lower like I have now.
I may want a cabinet or shelf spanning the top of the sink, but I'm not sure how that'll work with the light.
I want the sink base to have a tilt out drawer on the top and organizers inside. Possibly the plastic base insert that Kraftmaid offers.
The final base cabinet under the microwave I want 3 drawers like it is now, with the top having silverware dividers. I wish I had a place to put it closer to the table, but I can't figure out where.
I would love simple feet to the cabinets, but nothing with a dust
collecting ledge or edge.
Decorative panels on the back of the island.
Spice rack on door of cabinet where the baking spices will go by the microwave.
I also want a drop down holder under one of the cabinets for my ipad to sit so it doesn't get all sticky while I cook.
Corbels under ends of upper cabinets?
Dividers in the drawers in my desk area.
Open shelf for cookbooks in desk area.
Whew! It feels good to get that all out of my head! Have I forgotten anything? Oh yeah, the budget. I need to plan an itemization that includes first choice and second choices, so I can keep this whole thing under control financially.
