Kitchen remodel: week 52

*drool* Where are the granite countertops, Jenise? Were they in a separate area? Or are they those black countertops in the photo by some weird trick of the light?

Mark Lipton
(straining to dream up a reason to visit you and Bill S.)

Too frickin' cool!

What will those progressive designers think of next? Not often you see an ultra-modern open air bidet......

Looks like it is sizing up very nicely, Jenise.

[Jenise]

*drool* Where are the granite countertops, Jenise? Were they in a separate area? Or are they those black countertops in the photo by some weird trick of the light?

Mark Lipton
(straining to dream up a reason to visit you and Bill S.)

I used two different granites. The black countertops you see are a granite called Absolute Black that's been treated with an acid wash, much like you'd make exposed aggregate concrete, and then polished to a dull flat finish--it looks like black leather. In the photo of the prep station with the butcher block in it? The serving counter with the live (chiselled) edge is made of the other fancy granite I once posted a picture of, and so is the eating counter on the other side of the glass. We used the rest of that slab on the built-in buffet in the dining room.

[Jenise]

Too frickin' cool!

What will those progressive designers think of next? Not often you see an ultra-modern open air bidet......

Don't you know anything? That's not a bidet--it's a cat wash!

Don't you know anything? That's not a bidet--it's a cat wash!

Ahhh......

[Jenise]

Candidate for the cat wash:

DSC04883.JPG

And right in the middle of dinner no less.

Jenise,
This shot really shows the effeciency of the pot rack placement - terrific. In my old kitchen I hung collanders/strainers and copper pots on the sides of the cabinets that flanked the sink . It was extremely convenient and the most reached for spot in the kitchen. Fortunately the open, under cooktop space is large enough to accommodate all these things as well as all other cookware and lids but it simply is not as convenient.

[Jenise]

I have to admit, that my original lust for a pot rack (never having had one) had more to do with how cool it would look than how well it would work--having reached under cabinets all my life like everyone else, I didn't mind that. And I still have to do that for all but my four go-to All Clad pans, but I could go on for hours about how in just, what, about four weeks?, indispensable that rack already is to me. And the bookcase for mixing bowls that is the end-cap on the peninsula is right underneath it. The ease with which I can just sail from the fridge to the prep station and grab a bowl on the way, or pull a pan off the stove with my left hand and a strainer from the rack with my right and be at the prep sink in two steps--wow. No more digging that stuff out of drawers that weren't made to house such awkward objects in the first place. I can imagine how much you'd miss just reaching for stuff.

If we had kept our old kitchen layout, there was a wall that was going to become open racking for pans, etc.

Today the cabinet guy's here installing my laundry room cabinets. Also, the finishing top pieces for the kitchen cabinets are going up. I lowered the upper cabinets three inches, but the one over the fridge couldn't be lowered so we needed to add something to the rest to maintain the line around the room while still allowing the cabinets to float (didn't want moulding all the way to the ceiling). I had him make a kind of captain's rail--hopefully, it will look so good you wouldn't guess we didn't plan it that way from the beginning.

That should look great - echoing the raised counter/reeded glass arrangement.

On the pot rack, we weren't sure whether that was something we'd like or not so we grabbed one from Ikea for $15 or so that screwed right into the wall behind the range. (We have no backsplash or hood.) I ended up hanging a couple of teflon-coated skillets, one copper saute pan, and a small Le Creuset saucepan from it. I love it. When our mythical re-model finally happens, we'll definitely have something along those lines.

I'm taking notes for when we finally get to build our log dream home (probably not before 2011). But hey, we've already got the front door, the double convection oven, and the hybrid convection/regular electric cooktop in storage, awaiting construction! I love, love, love the range hood and the pot rack!

[Jenise]

I'm taking notes for when we finally get to build our log dream home (probably not before 2011). But hey, we've already got the front door, the double convection oven, and the hybrid convection/regular electric cooktop in storage, awaiting construction! I love, love, love the range hood and the pot rack!

Good for you! Keep your eye on Overstock.com--I saved thousands, probably, shopping there since I, like you, had the luxury of time. Faucets, sinks, drains, garbage disposals...oh, and a hint? If you find something you like, stick it in your cart but don't checkout. Their system will interpret that as undecided, and they'll start throwing coupons on you to get you to complete the transaction. Might take a week or so, but they'll do it. Save save save!