It's been a journey that continues to unfold as we finally settle into our new home. As many of you know or have experienced yourselves, the building process, can at times, be quite stressful. I can honestly say that this build (our 7th) has presented the most challenges. But with only one room left to be completed on our 60 day warranty list, the end is near.
Stop over for a tour of our dreamy new kitchen......
In the past I've touched on the issues that arise from "open concept" living.
Here are a few of the challenges that I have experienced:
1. It is important to keep in mind that your color scheme must flow from room to room.
2. With minimal wall space, hanging items on walls is difficult.
3. Keep the clutter to a minimum because it can be seen from every room. (In my case dining, kitchen and living room.)
In the photo below the sofa from the living room acts as a divider on the kitchen side.
I tossed around the idea of using my sofa table behind the sofa, but chose not to clutter the area or space, giving the walkway through the kitchen a much more open feel.
The photo below is a view from the opposite end of the kitchen facing the foyer straight ahead where the staircase lies. To the right is the living room. As you can see, by eliminating the sofa table the walkway is quite spacious, creating a gathering area around the island with bar stools for those that wish to be seated.
We needed dedicated cabinet space for storage, and as such, I chose to use glass panels for display items on only one side of two upper cabinets that surround the stove top hood.
They are illuminated by a single puck light. This is where I display my Jill Rosenwald pottery piece, gifted to me from my daughter's, and a platter that hubby and I purchased on our trip to Portugal. They are displayed in their rightful place, full of great memories and sentiments.
For additional storage, the pantry which was the typical builder's grade shelving was not sufficient. We commissioned The Container Store to draw up plans to utilize every bit of space from the floor to the ceiling. The amount of increased storage is unbelieveable. I will be sharing in a future blog.
The kitchen appliances are all Kitchenaid with the exception of our refrigerator. We chose a Black stainless Samsung counter depth 4-door flex frig. This allows us to flex one of the freezer areas to a veggie area, which is perfect for our style of living.
The kitchen cabinet style and colors were something I did not waiver on. While working with an "open concept" feel, I felt that I should stay with timeless cabinet selections, White Cap, and Bistro Black. And countertop and island tops, Carrara quartz and Black granite.
The bar stools are from Frontgate.
http://www.frontgate.com/manchester-swivel-backless-bar-and-counter-stools/370657
Sometimes you just can't beat the longevity that traditional choices allow.
Below is the best photo I could manage to give you an idea of the movement in the quartz slab on the island. The size of the island is perfect for both entertaining and food prep.
The satin stainless hardware was a splurge....but it was so worth it!
Lighting is so important. We installed recessed lighting around the perimeter of the island, two island pendants centered over the work area on the island, and a French Country chandelier over the breakfast table.
Task lighting that illuminates the granite countertops was installed underneath the cabinets. The Kitchenaid gas cooktop is illuminated by LED lighting within the fan unit. The fan unit, also Kitchenaid, is the first time I have used it in our homes, and I love the bright crisp light that it provides in the cooktop.
With this view (below) from the kitchen you are able to catch a glimpse into the family room, dining room, staircase and front door....separated only by structural posts.
The island cabinetry is Bistro Black and the cabinet layout is perfect for access to trash/recycling, utensils for food prep, and loading the dishwasher.
I chose Moen polished chrome fixtures throughout the house with a stainless steel large kitchen sink with disposal.
Notice the abundance of cabinet space below? The countertop area complete with designated coffee bar is something that I love. We will also use this same space as a bar area for indoor parties. The cabinetry on the left side housing alcohol, wine on wine racks and cocktail and wine glasses.
The nice thing about Texas entertaining is that our kitchen door leads to an extended covered patio with outdoor kitchen including a grilling area and refrigerator. It creates a great flow from kitchen to patio and pool area.
The breakfast nook, complete with great visuals of the backyard pool, is a beautiful place to enjoy our meals.
Here's another quick shot of the coffee bar area.......
Remember the coffee cup and Keurig capsule drawer?
Thanks for joining me today for a tour of our new kitchen. The planning and executing of this project were a labor of love that I hope you all enjoyed!
Remember friends....
The future belongs to those who believe
in the future of their dreams!
Eleanor Roosevelt
Kathleen
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