Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Kitchen Planning for the Cozy Cottage

So amidst all the chaos of demo/rebuilding, I have to finalize the kitchen design so we can get cabinets ordered, manufactured and delivered in time.  It would be so much easier to wait until we had real walls to visualize everything, but the timing just doesn't work.

So, first step - since we have an open floor plan, we need to think about the whole space, not just the kitchen.  I've been carrying this clipping from last spring's Pottery Barn catalog around with me for weeks now.  I LOVE the white board-and-batten treatment on the peaked wall.  It will be perfect in our new space, to highlight the ceiling height and give the walls some visual interest.  And it also helps transform our bland ranch into a house with some character.

But with that much white, I don't want to install white kitchen cabinets.  We need something to add a little more drama and interest.  I considered black, but thought that would be too stark a contrast.  Thomasville has a Blue Slate color that is gorgeous, but when I tried it in the space, it seemed too dark as well.  And then I discovered a brand new color called Oat.  It's a warm beige color that will look great against the white walls and the Carrera marble-like quartz countertops that I like.  The only downside?  Because it's a brand new paint color, it's a lot more expensive.  Gulp.  This is why I have trouble sticking to a budget!
Thomasville's newest kitchen cabinet colors - Blue Slate & Oat
With that decision made, I went looking for fabric for window treatments, because it's important to think through our whole color palette.  Since this is one large room, I want fabric that will work in the entire space.  Luckily, I found this fantastic fabric at one of my favorite local stores.  It has the Oat color and cute little Blood Orange flowers for a pop of color.  I'll mix this with some navy pieces, to tie it all together.



For the backsplash, I wanted something simple.....but with more interest than just a plain subway.  I found this Horus tile called SoHo.  It mixes a narrow plain subway with patterned subway.  A clean, slightly contemporary approach to a classic backsplash!



Next step - the layout.  I really, really wanted a big giant island.  But when my kitchen designer Julie and I sat down and worked through it, we realized it was impractical.  By putting all the appliances on one wall, there really wasn't enough space for cabinets- particularly uppers that are so handy for dishes and glassware.  And when the stools are occupied (or your kids/husband don't push them back in), it's hard to pass by with the busy traffic pattern from the back door.










So...... we came up with a different option.  It means we need to move some of the heating around, but it really makes great use of the space.  And this kitchen will be a dream to cook in.  Plenty of prep space.  An efficient work triangle.  And nice features like a wastebasket that's hidden in a cabinet.


I love the peninsula.  Can't you imagine having a party and everyone can gather around, to chat with the cook (or cooks!)?  I bought some fantastic stools last year and have been dying to use them in the right house - this will be the one!
And thanks to this new layout, there are lots of cabinets to hold everything!  

We will extend the white oak flooring that's in the rest of the house into the kitchen.  Having the same flooring in the space will make it look and feel bigger.  Finally, I laid the whole thing out with blue painters tape and am pretty happy with how it looks.  
Now we just need plumbing, electrical, drywall, flooring and the list goes on!!  Geezzz.... still lots to do!  So what do you think, is this a kitchen you'd enjoy cooking in?







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15 comments:

  1. All your choices are gorgeous! I especially love the backsplash. Are you planning to add a corner cabinet like the one in the PB inspiration photo somewhere, in the living room perhaps?

    I owned a ranch about 15 years ago and I wanted to do exactly what you are doing but we ended up having to move for work. Fun to live vicariously with this project.

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    1. So funny you mention the corner cabinet. I have one that would be great in that corner - BUT, we have big baseboard heating units and it would look awkward siting in front of them. So sadly, no, we won't be using it.

      I hope our project comes out the way you envisioned your own!!! The joys of vicarious living :-)

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  2. I love it! I think my favorite is the fabric/subway tile/ cabinets. It is going to look beautiful! I just love following your blog and what you have accomplished in a week. It is fun on my side to see how you pull it all together.

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    1. Thanks!!! I'm pretty excited to see how it all comes together....thanks for following along!!

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  3. What is the second door? It looks like one goes outside, and at first I thought the second one was a pantry, but see it is visible from the shot of the hallway. With two doors and a window it sure makes it a challenge but it looks like you figured it out. Are the upper cabs over the peninsula reachable? I'm sure my questions are "duhs" but just looking at it, I was perplexed.

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  4. The other door goes to the basement! So yes, it was a bit of a challenge with so many openings. And don't forget about heat from the baseboards :-) We need our heat in Maine!

    Hmmm.... the cabinets over the peninsula seem reachable to me.....but I'm tall! So maybe it wouldn't work for everyone? Interestingly, there are as many cabinets in this kitchen as some of the much larger kitchens we've done. So there should still be plenty of storage space!

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    1. I had a similar peninsula with cabs over it in a previous house and ended up removing the bar, partially for this reason. The top shelf was display only because of the reach issue, and even reaching for the knobs above the center of that peninsula was awkward. Wondering if there's some way of creating access from the bar side for that edge, like those corner radius units?

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    2. Hey Laurel...I've had similar layout too, and although the cabinets are not super reachable, I'd rather have them! There are so many items that are used infrequently....much more convenient than going to the basement!

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  5. Love it! This kitchen will be perfect. I can see the upper cabinets over the peninsula might be hard to reach but we all have items we don't use on a consistent basis that can be stored in them. I'm so excited to see how this house turns out. I know it will be beautiful. We live in a small ranch and I'm hoping to get ideas from you. Your work is beautiful & inspiring.

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    1. Oh thanks so much! I love when I can help people find ideas for their own homes!!

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  6. What about a bookcase cabinet that runs down to the counter instead of that far right cabinet over the peninsula. Access to that cabinet will be difficult for many. The open shelving can be for storage or display

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    1. The cabinets have already been ordered at this point - so we will be installing them. If the new owners aren't tall enough to reach them, they can certainly change them for something else. But it's nice storage - even if you use it for stuff that you don't access on a daily basis!

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  7. I love the design. I too, have ripped a page out of the Pottery Barn catalog. We are we redoing a ranch house here in San Diego, and love that look. I even have the corner cabinets that were out of the 1903 house I grew up in !! I love the backsplash tile and wood and wanted to know if you would mind giving me your source for it? Once again I love following along your blog!

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    1. I tried doing an online search of the tile and am having trouble finding it! It's from a company called Horus and the pattern is called SoHo Deco (I'm guessing for decorative?). The color is latte. Hopefully you can find it locally!

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  8. Just a thought. You have an oven and hob in the main trafficway...

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