After much tweaking to get every inch possible out of this kitchen, I finally had a design I was happy with. It's all about the details! Anyone can throw standard sized cabinets in a kitchen and make them work with fillers. However, maximizing space and making all of the organizers fit and details work requires a careful attention to detail.
Ok. Some details on the CAD designs were left out. This is because the "looks" portion was for my benefit and I didn't need to waste time on them. The 2D with all the specs is what the cabinet maker needs to build the cabinets. No, this isn't our view here in Southern California! In fact, the door opposite the peninsula opens to the dining room! Also, the window is actually a bay window. Another glaring difference is the back of the island will have false doors. This is something I just call out on 2D. Anyway, I was pretty happy with this design.
On the upper cabinets, I went a bit higher and added some glass with "x" detailing. This was a little bit of a splurge, but makes a big difference in the feel of the room. The glass opens it up and helps balance out the peninsula.
Above I the stovetop, I removed the microwave and added a vent hood that pops out. The microwave is being moved to a non-focal wall and I will get a countertop one, which oddly I prefer. I chose a ready panel vent hood so I could have my contractor put a piece of walnut there to warm things up. This is not necessary but a personal taste. I liked that it was small and simple. It reflects the wood on the table on the other side of the peninsula. Below is a link to the vent hood if you are interested.
The goal was simply to use up as little cabinet space as possible and look good. It also needed it to be vented and they come in both venting and recirculating models.
Another detail high on my list of "wants" was inset doors and drawers. I think they look so classy and timeless. Unfortunately, those are often a significant upgrade so I was unsure I would be able to have them. However, I've wanted them since before I even started planning the kitchen! Interestingly, since I've decided on these, I've noticed them everywhere from commercials to posts. I wonder if they will become mainstream again. They require much more precision for the cabinetmaker which is why they cost more. There's just not a lot of margin of error.
Notice I'm using color. I personally prefer painted cabinets, but think wood is nice too. The blue/green was just fun and made me happy and I'm a little tired of all white. No other reason for this choice. However, putting it on all of the cabinets was a bit much. The nice thing about painting cabinets is they can always be repainted if you get tired of them, so do what you like!
Notice I chose a farmhouse sink. Mainly because I wanted something different, but it also goes with the old fashioned style I like. Call it classic, pre-war, old-school or whatever else you want. I also don't know what type of countertop I want so I don't have to worry about the front piece getting messed up from a lot of use if it's a delicate material. Another thing I haven't picked out is the backsplash. The penny round was just a place filler. I prefer something else since penny round has a lot of grout. Those are items I need input on! I have thoughts, but I'll share them in another post. I just need to get everyone caught up first!
Sourcing the cabinets
Key features I want for my cabinets directed my search for the right cabinetmaker in a major way. I was determined to find inset cabinets that I could afford. That was the biggest factor. They also had to be solid wood. (No partical board/melamine/mdf boxes/etc.) For my California and Texas readers, I have designed cabinets in both states. There are different standards and trends in each. In Texas, they like everything real - "real" wood, "real" countertops, "real" hardwood floors, etc. In CA, they will compromise the "real" if it gets them the look they want. Personally, I'm OK with "fake" countertops (Quartz) and SPC floors. However, for a kitchen, I don't want mdf, etc. This is because kitchens tend to get wet. Liquid and mdf/partical board/etc. just don't mix. It makes the wood swell. I have one exception. The center panel on the 5 piece doors/drawers. They are protected by the frames and painted so there's not a good chance of them being water damaged. The benefit is they create a really smooth paint job without the woodgrain. So, for this application, I actually prefer mdf.
Another factor in choosing the cabinetmaker is the paint and quality of the paint. I really didn't want to spray the cabinets onsite, so I preferred someone who would supply them and finish them as well in their shop in a protected area. It saves a lot of mess, fumes, and you can often get a better paint job.
I have a great custom cabinet maker here, but he charges a lot more for inset and he wasn't a great fit. So, once again, I'm trying something new on myself - a new supplier! My choice? Conestoga Wood Specialties. They are located in.. wait for it.. Pennsylvania! They have been making quality solid wood cabinets for 80 years! Something that interested me for this project and future projects is they will build cabinets to my specs (custom - I don't have to work around their standard sizes) and they will paint cabinets using Sherwin Williams colors. Unfortunately, even with my business, I cannot order directly from them. They only supply cabinets through select shops. I found a very experienced guy that I worked very well with on the East Coast. We've done everything by email and phone and he is shipping the cabinets directly to me. Assembly is not too complicated. I could probably handle it myself with an assistant if I had time, but will just turn it over to my contractor who is also doing the installation. Check them out if you're interested!
While they will paint in any color from Sherwin Williams, it turned out (after a week of designing with their rep) that the special color is a significant upcharge and was out of my budget. So like most people, I had to compromise. I chose to go with one of their standard colors, which were pretty limited, but a better selection than most companies. My thought was, if I get tired of it, I can eventually repaint it to the color I want. The inset doors and drawers were more important because that can't be changed down the road. So the place to cut cost was with the color. I chose a creamy white on top and on the refrigerator wall and a black on the lowers. You may think "Oh no! She's going modern!" Nope. With the right hardware, style of cabinets, and countertops, I think I can keep a classic look! For the same price as white, I might as well have fun with it!
Up Next - Delivery and Inspection
Comments