a peek inside the fishbowl

1 | Natalie

February 17th, 2011 at 10:25 am

We totally have similar tastes. We recently moved from a big house in the ‘burbs to a small house in the city and although the kitchen is small it’s super functional. We have white cupboards, colonial style (super easy to keep clean, even with our three kids and dog – just a wipe and your done), black granite counter and backsplash. I love granite because it is super resistant and well because it just looks sooo good. Like you I also loved the idea of the idea of butcher block so we ended up adding a peninsula with a butcher block top. It makes a great surface to work on especially for baking, easy to clean and maintain. The bottom consists of three drawers – 2 for pots and pans, and the other for spices. We bought three high back counter stools so it also makes a great breakfast nook and area for kids to do crafts while I make dinner etc. Can send a pic if you like :)

2 | andrea

February 17th, 2011 at 10:59 am

Natalie: I would love to see a photo! :)

Your comment reminded me that I’d love a superwide island. It’d be ideal for baking, food prep and crafts! (Although maybe not all at the same time.) I’d love to have the counters raised too…

3 | Stefania (Ingredients for Life)

February 17th, 2011 at 1:32 pm

A breakfast counter is a great idea. We love ours.

Hate hardwood floor in the kitchen. Wish we had ceramic but I didn’t design this current kitchen. Hardwood floors in the kitchen are like carpet in the bathroom. Also, pick cabinetry that is smooth without all sorts of knooks and cranies where dust and dirt can collect and are impossible to remove.

4 | Connie

February 17th, 2011 at 2:24 pm

A small detail about my kitchen that I love: a skinny cupboard next to my stove that slides open to reveal a spice rack! Fits my cooking oils and spices – LOVE IT.

I also wanted deep drawers for pots and pans, but could not fit that into our reno :-(

5 | binki

February 17th, 2011 at 3:47 pm

That stump table is a cool. I saw it in Cottage Life magazine. The key to a good stump for this type of project is that the bottom and top be paralell for a level table top. Easier said than done when you’re using a chainsaw. I plan to make one this summer out of cedar which is much lighter than a big old chunk of hardwood (as shown in the example you provided). The lumber is drying now and will be perfect in the spring. If I get the hang of it, I’ll make a second stump and drop it off on your front porch. Funny story….when I was a teenager, the neighbour cut down an old poplar. I grabbed a section to make a table in my bedroom (just a stump – no metal legs). About 3 months after I put it in the room, I moved it. Mildew had grown under it (on the light linoleum). Eeewwww! Not too smart. I had to scrub the floor with Ajax which left a big ugly light spot. Let your stump dry outdoors in the sun, elevated from the ground.

Cedar stumps by the way are perfect for backyard benches for kids. I have 6 small cedar stumps (approx 12″ wide and 12″ tall) that sit on our deck. They can be moved to the grass when/if required. Line them up and have kids walk on them, carry them around, etc. I painted the tops, to be more fun/colourful.

6 | binki

February 17th, 2011 at 3:54 pm

We have a stainless steel stove and to me, it’s much tougher to keep clean. It shows every fingerprint, every streak, light dust if it’s down near the floor. We won’t be getting more Stainless. We are also starting on the specs for a new kitchen. Ours is small, so our options are kinda limited i.e. no islands.

7 | Liisa

February 17th, 2011 at 4:35 pm

Before we built, someone suggested to me that we consider a sink wide enough to submerge a baking sheet. Best decision ever!

8 | Liisa

February 17th, 2011 at 4:39 pm

Oh, and I disagree with Stefania. We’ve had hardwood in our kitchen and now have ceramic. I would go with the hardwood. It will get really dinged up, but it will look more unified and be softer on your body and your dishes than ceramic.

9 | Stefania (Ingredients for Life)

February 17th, 2011 at 7:31 pm

The ceramic is due to my Italian heritage. I’ve had both (hardwood and ceramic) and prefer the ceramic by far. A pots and pan drawer is an essential item and so is a drawer for all my spices.

10 | Stefania (Ingredients for Life)

February 17th, 2011 at 7:54 pm

And stainless steel looks nice but a pain to keep clean and doesn’t look so great with fingerprints and other marks. Not sure I would pick stainless steel but the appliances came with the kitcehn.

11 | Carly

February 17th, 2011 at 8:38 pm

New home, new kitchen over here. :o)

This time around we don’t have an island, and I’m kinda liking it. What we do have that I absolutely love, is a glass tile backsplash in 1 x 2 subway tiles. I went neutral in the kitchen so the backsplash is taupes and browns, mattes and glossies.

But in our bathroom (and I do love the master ensuite but totally see the appeal of a family bathroom too), I had the entire soaker tub surround done in the same 1 x 2 glass subway tiles, in cool greens and blues. Love, love, love it!

I do wish the budget had afforded for more glass fronted upper cabinets with built in lighting and we did the two-tone cabinets, with lighter on top and darker on the bottom, which I also really love.

Have fun!

12 | Carly

February 17th, 2011 at 8:45 pm

Just wanted to add, after reading some of the comments, that I have stainless appliances too and still love them. They certainly do show fingerprints, but I don’t find them too hard to clean – just a quick swipe with the dishcloth or a handy tea towel and mine are good to go.

If you go that route, try them out in store – some companies are making stainless appliances with a coating or something on them that doesn’t show hand prints.

13 | Lindsay

February 18th, 2011 at 7:20 am

your wishlist sounds almost exactly like my parents new kitchen – white white white, wood floors, minimal uppers – it turned out beautifully. They ended up going with granite countertops, mainly white/cream background with really dramatic black, brown and mica patterns. It’s not for everyone, but I think it looks cool and adds lots of visual interest to the kitchen. One cool thing my dad planned, and it work really well, is a breakfast prep station. It’s a solid column of cabinets floor to ceiling (one of the only places with uppers) – the bottom is deep drawers for their plates and bowls and cutlery. THen a big counter deep cabinet above with doors that open up and then slide back to the sides out of the way. The microwave is inside, as well as a pull out shelf that holds the coffee maker, grinder and the toaster. He has storage for the cereal and bread up above. Everything you need for breaky is right there! it’s cool. They also gave a lot of thought to where the dishwasher was in relation to the storage for cups, plates, utensils etc. You literally stand in one spot and put everything away. It’s actually fun.

I’m liking forward to seeing what you end up with!

14 | Mary @ Parenthood

February 18th, 2011 at 8:37 am

We have completely different style likes but when we redid our kitchen (7 years ago already eep?!!) we put in two sinks which I love. One is a massive double sink which people joke is reminiscent of a bathtub but it is sure nice to use. I’d second the recommendation to be able to put a cookie sheet flat into the sink!

We’re fans of American Standard faucets (solid metal construction) but regardless of what you end up with spend more for a lifetime warranty. If it starts dripping it’s much more convenient to get express shipped the parts than to have to track them down or replace the whole thing!

Other things we did that I love: frying pan shelf – a skinny shelf the height of my frying pans. We use tfal and it really protects the coating to avoid stacking them.

I think hardwood in a kitchen is a bad idea (seen too much rotten wood under sinks where spills have seeped). I liked ceramic until I dropped a glass jar a couple inches onto it (out of my bottom cupboard) and nearly severed my thumb. The tendon was reattached but it has never been the same since. We have laminate counters for the same reason – safety trumps fashion!

The last thing I have that I love is a kitchen computer. The monitor is in a frame over my stove which is awesome for recipes.

If I could make changes I’d add slightly more counter space (not possible in this house though!) and I’d put in a pantry organizer like the one they have at Lee Valley.

15 | Mary @ Parenthood

February 18th, 2011 at 8:51 am

The Lee Valley hardware I’m getting someday: http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware/page.aspx?p=48709&cat=3,43722,43723

My kitchen computer http://techhome.phibian.com/?ID=6

Also really like my flat top stove, but my husband cleans it! Not sure if I’d like it as much if that were my job. Stays a lot cleaner than our old one. My parents had one too that they ruined when they boiled over maple syrup on it though, so cooking with sugar is always a bit nervewracking.

16 | andrea

February 18th, 2011 at 9:10 am

Thanks for your thoughts and ideas. I am loving this thread.

I’ve been reading all of your comments about stainless appliances thinking: but I didn’t write anything about stainless steel appliances. Other than my dreams for a super stove, I haven’t given the appliances much thought. (But isn’t there a variety of brushed steel finish that doesn’t pick up fingerprints?)

I was actually referring to steel countertops!

Love the idea of a computer workstation in the kitchen too.

Keep the ideas coming!!

17 | James

February 18th, 2011 at 11:30 am

Having spent a lot of money on my kitchen, which I have generally loved for the past 12 years since the investment, I would have one word of advice: splurge on the big gas stove. The extra couple of thousand dollars for the six-burner Wolf will pay dividends for years. I don’t want to rip up the counters to put in a bigger stove, but I am considering a second gas grill for the extra cooking space.

18 | andrea

February 18th, 2011 at 12:07 pm

James: I hope Mark made careful note of your comment. I LOVE this Wolf range (six burners with a grill down the middle). SWOON.

19 | Stefania (Ingredients for Life)

February 18th, 2011 at 12:27 pm

We recently spoke to an interior designer at a design centre and she doesn’t recommend the stainless steel backsplash unless you plan on being in your home for a while. It’s trendy and a very personal taste and a concern for resale.

I also heard that you can buy stainless steel with some kind of coating so you can still post artwork and pics on the fridge.

It’s a choice between an island and a breakfast counter then I would pick the counter. Love how the kids can eat and talk to me while I prepare food.

20 | Stefania (Ingredients for Life)

February 18th, 2011 at 12:29 pm

I agree, spend $$ on the gas stove. Avoid those side-by-side fridge doors. Love the freezer at the bottom. Kenmore Elite is a great brand.

21 | another andrea

February 18th, 2011 at 1:00 pm

I have a very small 1950s kitchen that is in dire need of renovating, so I’ve been thinking about what I would do, too.

I don’t understand the popularity of granite countertops. Think of the feel and sound of setting a wine glass on the counter. It’s a cold, hard feeling.

Spices and oils can be damaged from being kept near a heat source like the stove, handy though that might be.

I like the idea of marmoleum for a kitchen floor. You can get it at The Healthiest Home on Holland Ave. If you wanted visual flow, you could do it colours similar to the wood flooring nearby. You could lay it in a pattern, or even diagonally. What fun, deciding.

Apron sinks (sometimes called Irish sinks) are lovely.

An advantage of a smallish kitchen is that things are within reach. You don’t have to walk too far to get anything! (This is coming from someone with a very small 1950s kitchen so perhaps I am rationalizing a bit, but not entirely. I find the big showy huge kitchens of North America too ostentatious.)

Someone once told me to “dream a little” when renovating. I liked that.

22 | andrea

February 18th, 2011 at 3:39 pm

another andrea: there is something to be said for small, that’s true. I’m not designing a huge kitchen here, but I do want something where four people can move around and help with dinner prep.

I personally think granite is gorgeous, but am not sure if it’s in our budget. There are a lot of other options out there that might do the trick. I saw someone with a stainless steel top on their island, which I thought was interesting. It added an industrial element to a traditional design … not to mention that it’s totally heatproof.

And I love apron sinks! Although I refer to them as farm house sinks. Look at these ones. I like the white ones (like this one by Rohl), but the steel ones are nice too. (And I definitely want an undermounted sink. omg)

23 | anna

February 19th, 2011 at 9:57 am

Didn’t read all the comments so far, so this might already be covered….but the Wolf stove is worth every penny. We cook A LOT in our family, but in the past 12 years with this stove I don’t think once that I felt the need for more than 4 burners. The six burners need quite a bit more space, so think about how often you would need them. (I know they look so gorgeous in the magazines).

If you decide on the Wolf, I would go for the newer models that have the electric oven. Wasn’t available 10 years ago and I still have a love/hate relationship with the gas oven.

If you go with a kick-ass stove like that you will also need bigger gas lines all the way to the stove and a much larger vent than is standard.

Have fun, can’t wait to see the final result!

24 | anna

February 19th, 2011 at 10:00 am

Another stove option that is not as popular here yet (very very popular in new kitchens in northern Europe, everyone in my family has one) is induction. You get the flat top, SUPER fast heat, and the low temperatures like you do with gas. The look is different, but easy to clean and very seamless. And then you can combine with an oven of your liking and a spot of your choice.

25 | andrea

February 19th, 2011 at 4:39 pm

Induction is tempting. I hear what you’re saying about the six burners. Maybe four is more realistic. I wonder how much the 36″Viking Custom Sealed Burner Dual Fuel Electronic Control Range in Cotton White costs? Because I’m IN LOVE WITH IT.

26 | Erica

February 19th, 2011 at 11:19 pm

My favorite thing – a bookshelf for cookbooks.

Have a spice cupboard that is my other love – it’s about 3 inches wide with 4 spice shelves – never have to dig around for anything. Really love it.

Hardwood in the kitchen was a must for us becuase we needed continuity from front of house. And pot drawers – excellent! Super wide island also great though don’t let it become a dumping ground – my kids seem to think it’s a place for crafts, homework, anything paper…..

27 | andrea

February 20th, 2011 at 11:41 am

Yeeees! A bookshelf for cookbooks is important to me too. And a proper place for spices! They’re best kept away from the heat methinks…

28 | Amy

February 20th, 2011 at 7:01 pm

We’re in the process of renoing our kitchen right now. I’m following a tip from my parents and designed the cabinets so that underneath the counters there will only be drawers instead of cupboard doors. That way I won’t have to get down on my (bad) knees to dig for things, everything pulls out. I also designed in two pull-out pantry sections that have multiple shelves within, which is where I plan to put spices.

My in-laws designed their new kitchen with a 1′ wide drawer beside the sink that has a cutlery-size drawer on top and racks for garbage and recycling bins underneath.

My mom has a drawer with an insert of vertical separators that she uses to store her baking pans, sounds similar to the frying pan cupboard someone mentioned above.

We had hardwood in the kitchen growing up, and it was fine, never had any problems.

Glass tile gives a very light and clean look, there’s a lot to choose from now for colours, but it’s so expensive (compared to white subway tile). Another option is to use mostly subway tiles with small insets of 1×2 glass tiles for colour.

29 | James

February 23rd, 2011 at 8:37 pm

>>I hear what you’re saying about the six burners. Maybe four is more realistic.<<

Let me repeat: I would kill for an extra two burners. Trust me on this.

30 | LO

March 1st, 2011 at 7:29 am

I love my custom built 10x 10 concrete island. We do everything there! Bake, homework, eat etc. We never run out of space! Also, my black blanco sink! And we are in the process of getting silestone counters so check those out! I also love the pull out drawers, especially for pots and pans AND my fave thing is the built in ‘hutch’ in the wall complete with glass doors!