Welcome to week 4 of the One Room Challenge. At this point in the kitchen renovation I’m pretty tweaked out. Honestly it’s not this project specifically. A complete kitchen renovation in 6 weeks isn’t a big deal to us- we do it all the time. It’s just intense juggling this project with the rest of them: the bathroom we demolished last week, ordering materials for the next kitchen we will begin in 3 weeks, designing and planning two major renovations to be built in early 2015, seven interior decorating projects at various phases, the unanswered emails from new prospective clients (sorry!), oh and my own house. Add documenting AND blogging onto that I’m spread so thin that I’m like dry, burnt toast.
I cried on my boyfriend’s shoulder yesterday. I stopped home after an extremely frustrating tile layout (see below) and fell apart in his arms for exactly three minutes before pulling it together and heading out to my next design meeting. I’m just trying to keep up my mantra: I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful. It’s just work. No one is dying.
I don’t have control of this kitchen project anymore and that’s gonna to have to be OK. The design has been set, the materials have been ordered, All I can do is sit back and watch it come to life like the rest of you. It’s Dad’s turn to make magic happen.
Need to catch up?
Week 1- Before Photos, Inspiration, Demolition
Week 2- Floor Plan Deliberation, Wall Removal, Drywall
Week 3- Wood Floors, Cabinet Details, Appliances
(CONTINUE READING HERE)
Week 4 is always an exciting time in a kitchen renovation because the cabinets get installed. An empty room becomes a kitchen again.
I’m pretty excited about the island. We did an ultra-matte finish on the walnut. No high-gloss or shine for us… that felt a little too modern. (Plus honestly, I think it looks cheaper.) I love how it contrasts with the polished brass hardware.
We chose to use the same hardware (Lewis Dolan 7″ pull) for both the walnut island and the white perimeter. Hey lookie-loo at our Viking range.
One of my favorite details about these cabinets is that the interiors are walnut. Usually cabinet interiors are a natural maple box, or lesser brands are white melamine. I think its such a nice detail to have the island be walnut on the exterior and interior. The perimeter is white on the outside with a nice walnut surprise on the inside. Like a luxury reverse oreo.
It’s still a big mess right now, but the room is really coming together….
THE BACKSPLASH
With base cabinets installed, we are able to template for countertops.
But before I discuss countertops, I’d like to talk about backsplash.
People always ask me- What do you choose first, countertops or backsplash?? The answer is… It Depends.
Where do you want your pop?
You can’t have big bossy countertops and a statement tile for your backsplash.
It would be way too busy and both would lose their desired impact.
(Forgive me if this is super duh, obvious stuff.)
In my clients case, we decided early on that we wanted clean, light counters and a statement tile backsplash.
With the only guidance being- “keep it light”, and “we like the color blue,” I presented my clients with the following options:
1. A Geometric, 2. an organic feather with a geometric feel, 3. a linear gradient.
All brought depth, pattern and a dash of color to my clients kitchen walls.
We are taking the tile up to the ceiling so we had a chance to make a big impact while also not needing crazy amount of square footage. (The bonus of a petite space!)
If you tuned in last week, you know we selected the gradient, or “Mist” by New Ravenna.
With the help of Angela from Devon Tile, we developed a design to have the tile start darker at the bottom (blues and greens) and gradually get lighter and lighter towards the ceiling. In my mind this is the perfect tile- a little color, a little pattern while still being soft and not overwhelming. I CANNOT wait to see it installed.
Remember my tile drama from last week?
It has shipped and we unpacked it yesterday!
They made it exactly to size and then cut it up into 32 numbered pieces. Only there was no map to the numbers and they weren’t in logical left to right order. EFFing awesome. So Dad and I were left scratching our heads for almost 2 hours putting the puzzle pieces together.
{One incorrect iteration above}
It was extremely frustrating, but I’m happy to report we figured it out.
Now let’s hope it translates well on the wall!
***
With tile finalized, it was time to tag my countertop slabs.
COUNTERTOPS
We knew we wanted something white-ish and simple for the countertops. Man-made products (Quartz etc) were off the table because they felt too cold, sterile and manufactured to my clients. So what are your other options for white countertops? Laminate? Cheap. Corian? Dated. Tile? Grout line nightmare. Marble? Vetoed by Dad.
DAD IS
MEAN, CRUEL
, PRACTICAL AND WILL NOT LET ME USE WHITE MARBLE IN KITCHENS. EVVVER.
In his defense, marble is highly impractical in the functional workspace that is a kitchen. It stains (olive oil, wine,) it scratches and it just isn’t conducive to a family that isn’t super vigilant or into “patina.” It sucks because marble is so very beautiful; the soft veins, light color, and organic feel that manages to be rustic yet clean.
So what then, Granite? Let’s be honest, speckled granite looks like an ugly, cheap cousin to marble. Sorry-not-sorry but nothing says “high end” about speckled, builder grade granite. Because can anything really be “builder-grade” and “high-end” at the same time? Isn’t that an oxymoron?
I digress.
My solution is QUARTZITE.
What is quartzite?
It’s like marble and granite had a baby and gave it their respective best characteristics. It’s a natural stone that is harder and less porous than marble but isn’t speckled and busy like granite. It has the soft movement and veining more similar to marble and comes in a variety of light colors that are intriguing and beautiful without being busy.
I chose “Aquias Blue” Quartzite which is mostly white but has blue and soft green veins running throughout.
I went down to AAA Marble in West Chester and they helped me layout exactly where the island would go on the slab. We are “waterfalling” the sides of the island so it was important to me that the pattern carry through from sides to top. I went for more color on the side and less color on the top- so that it’s a pretty subtle touch but doesn’t compete with that tile.
Tune in next week to see them installed!!!!
!!!!
***
Wow, that was another monster post. Sorry guys. My hope is that this is helpful to those who are planning or will someday do a kitchen renovation. To the rest of you- I promise lots of pretty pictures and less words for the big reveal in two weeks.
NEXT WEEK
Countertops will be installed, Tile will be set (nervous!) and I’ll talk about those final details- sinks, faucets, lighting, counter stools, wall color.
THE CHALLENGE-MATES
Check out week 4 for the rest of ORC Crew below!
Abby M. Interiors
Because It’s Awesome
Bijou & Boheme
Chinoiserie Chic
The Decorista
Design Chic
The Design Daredevil
Design Darling
Design Indulgence
Design Manifest
House of Turquoise
Jana Bek Design
Jill Sorensen
Maddie G. Designs
Mimosa Lane
A Piece of Toast
The Pink Pagoda
Stone Textile
Waiting on Martha
The Zhush
Trademarked by Calling it Home
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Don’t forget to stop by tomorrow for week 4 of my Bedroom Renovation.
Here’s a hint… Dusty, Standstill Desperation and too much shopping.