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Every item that goes into a kitchen seems to be pretty expensive these days and the prettier the item, the more expensive it gets. (bhg.com) This basket weave apron, for example, is quite pretty although I think it might require a little extra effort to keep it spotless. (countryliving.com) This hammered sink really appeals to me.  Love the texture it provides without breaking up the sleek lines of this sink front. (oldhouseonline.com) This one truly does have that farmhouse look, but takes it a little further than I want for my kitchen. (uploadedbyuser) Like the rounded corners and the texture of this one.  I have a white sink now and, although it is a bit of extra work to keep it looking like new, I'm tempted to go this route again. (bhg.com) Pretty sure this one is not in the budget.  So let's move on to something that might be within reach. (Traditional Home October 2002) Soapstone is probably also out of the question.  This o...

Even though I have changed the countertops in my kitchen three times in 38 years, my thrifty nature kept my choices in laminates. My first choice was this poppy color covering the cabinets and the copper on the island. When I switched to white cabinets, I chose this teal laminate.  (I know, lousy quality on the picture) Then came the mottled green.  I am actually pretty fond of this color to this day and of laminate in general.  But, it's now time to give solid surfaces a try. I have considered a few but this one is the forerunner right now. It is called Rococo. I am also considering pairing it with one of the concrete looking pieces on the left.  I will probably do the counter tops with the marble looking piece and use the concrete look on the island. (The top piece is my choice for the back splash.) Gee, it sounds so simple in this post.  How do I convey the agonizing deliberation I have put myself through?  No matter, you have ...

Next on the agenda is to make choices regarding all the new finishes.  To get started on that process there needs to be a theme.  And the components of that theme do have to flow with the rest of the house. (flicker.com) So even though I like a lot of different looks, I can't choose something that is a total departure from the rest of the rooms on the first floor.  In the picture above, the floor really makes the kitchen. However, I have a hardwood floor that is staying. Much as I love the look of tile, my legs prefer standing on wood. (casasugar.com) The idea for my new kitchen is in my head, but it's rather like a dream....a little elusive.  Because the kitchen is small, I imagine it being an apartment kitchen in a very old building above the streets of Paris.  (Love the pink walls and black cabinets...not so much the pink trim on the cabinet doors) (sarahklassen.com)  My dream kitchen has a past combined with ...

Many thanks to my brother, John, for these drawings.  These are my guide to what is "really" possible in this space and what will forever be just a dream. South wall elevation showing the back door on the left and the window over the sink on the right. West wall with stove in the center. The proposed counter to ceiling cabinets will each be 23" wide.  They will be divided into three sections. In the bird's eye view you get a better feel for the break between the sink area and the stove area.  There is a plan to provide a connected work space between these areas.  When there is no need to access the dishwasher, a drop in counter will bridge this gap.  This will most likely be a stainless steel top with a short lip on each side to rest on the quartz counter tops. This is just a short post for clarity.  Keep in mind, the drawing board is still available to tweak these drawings as needed.  Details to follow in the next post.

The last post was the "as is" kitchen.  Because the room measures approximately 11.5x13.5 feet, with five doorways and two windows plus a radiator, there is scant room for variation on the layout.  Over the years I have tried to design it differently, but short of breaking through the back wall and building an addition, I could not make it happen.  Recently I began thinking again about updating the kitchen and this time I had an idea that seemed like it just might work.  So instead of just replacing the counter tops and repainting the walls, I am making some changes. Change #1 is to remove the overhead cabinets. Change #2 is to remove this section of base cabinet. Step #3 is to extend the flue wall to about where you see the vertical dotted line.  It's a little hard to see but the flue wall extends out about 4".  By widening the flue wall 8" I will then have a protruding wall that extends from the dotted line to the window. (approximately 5...

 A NEW PROJECT has been brewing for awhile now.  I didn't want to reveal it until I was completely sure it was going to happen.  That now seems to be on the horizon. I thought it might be best to take you full circle around my kitchen in a BEFORE post.  That way when things start happening here, both of us will have a reference for where it all started.  If that sounds like I am finally ready to commit to a kitchen transformation, it was meant to. I will start with the back door of the house and swing to the right. The opening on the left takes you to a small pantry and from there branches off to the powder room and to the dining room.  (the story on that part of the house is fully detailed in the archives) You get a glimpse of the enclosed back porch through the door glass and the window. The porch extends across the south wall the length of the kitchen and the pantry. (that story is also archived)  I want to include a direct view of the ...