Kitchen Design Plans ORC Week 2
One week into the challenge already! I’m not sure how I’m feeling about that. My kitchen design plans, shown above,  are coming together. While we have accomplished some things, the scope of work that is left is tremendous. I have gotten a good amount of painting done on the cabinets, but I’m not close to  done with those yet.
We have gotten one thing checked off our list since last week.  We installed the new pendant lighting from Lamps Plus over the sink, and it looks amazing. I’ll share some photos of those next week, right now it’s too much of a construction zone to take photos.
To refresh your memory, here is my to-do list:
Buy a new refrigerator- Add a row of cabinetry above the existing cabinets to extend to the ceiling
- New countertops
- New undermount sink
- New backsplash
- Paint existing cabinets
- Add glass fronts to some of the cabinet doors
- Install lighting in new upper cabinets
- Install lighting under lower cabinets
- Add new cabinetry hardware
Install new pendants over the sink- Completely makeover the existing table and chairs
- Paint the walls
Our quartz countertops are on order. They are sending people over today to make the template. I was under the impression (according to the sign at Home Depot and what they guy there told me) that it’s 10 days until install. However, the place where the countertops come from say it’s 10 days after template and after the paperwork is processed. UGH! The backsplash cannot be installed until the counters are in. And the counter I ended up choosing, I couldn’t get a sample for at the store (it’s on order) which is not helping me actually pick a backsplash. Although I think my heart is set on the subway tile. Here is a photo of the samples  I have been collecting, which you may have already seen on my Instagram.
The subway tile above is slightly smaller in size than average subway tile which is why I like it, as well as the fact that the gray veins are extremely light. The basketweave tile underneath is beautiful but I think it’s just a little too dark for me. I’m going very light and bright in my kitchen. My first choice for the countertop, which is shown in the center, left side of the photo was way out of my budget. I had the hardest time picking a countertop and the clock was ticking to get it ordered, so I finally ordered a different one last week.
The wood sample is from a company called Stikwood. That is what I will use to cover my existing kitchen table to give it the farmhouse treatment. So excited to get that done!! The latch shown in my photo was one option I was considering for cabinetry hardware but they were way too large for my doors. The lightest color on the paint swatch will be my new wall color and the darkest shade I plan to use on my existing kitchen chairs. I know from experience painting kitchen chairs with spindles is also very time-consuming, so I’m hoping I can get this done in time! I might look into using a spray-painter for that.
The new appliances are all in place which is great. However now that the fridge is finally here it is presenting new challenges.
Adding new cabinets between the stove and fridge and getting a slightly larger fridge pushed the fridge to the right, halfway under a soffit that cannot be removed. I planned to add custom cabinetry above the fridge (and a slide out pantry in the space on the right of it), but because of the stupid soffit the cabinets above it are going to have to be L-shaped. That is really going to mess with my symmetry-loving brain. In addition, that top right cabinet you see now has to be removed and redone to accommodate this. Two step forwards, one step back.
One last before photo I didn’t share last week is this side of the kitchen.
The kitchen opens up to my living room. You can see my pendants with the track lighting which have been a thorn in my side for years. I’m happy they have been switched out!
Do you have any suggestions for the cabinetry above my fridge?
Week 3- Kitchen Pendant Lighting
Remodeling is such a pain–we’ve done a kitchen and bathroom, plus lots of stuff to the guts of our house that you can’t really see. I like the choices you’ve made; it’s going to be so pretty!
Oh my gosh! You’ve made some beautiful choices so far – can’t wait to see that new light and the counter tops you went with. I wish I had some advice for that cabinet above the fridge, but I know you’ll come up with something beautiful!
Looks like it is slowly but surely coming together – that’s annoying about the counter, though! Hope it works out.
I adore the direction that your room is headed towards! You did SO much better than I did in my room this week.
I would love for you to share this post at Thoughts of Home on Thursday. I think our readers would really enjoy it!
Good luck in the upcoming week!
So fun to see how it’s coming along! Love your new fridge and can’t wait to see how the rest turns out.
I love the direction everything is moving! Ugh, I remember the countertop craziness. Just take deep breaths and remember how beautiful it’s going to look when they are all in! I’m super excited to see how your kitchen table turns out and the how to! I can think of a million uses for Stikwood! I am really loving those cabinet latches, too! Beautiful! See you next week. 🙂
You sure are moving along! I know I am just going to love your finished kitchen!! Bummer on the cabinets by the fridge – it always seem to happen that way, right?
I love the look you are going for with this kitchen remodel! It’s going to be so pretty. I want to add a backsplash in my kitchen so I’m excited to see how you do that.
It is always so hard when things don’t work out the way we expect them to the first time. This may not be a great solution either but is there any way that the horizontal cabinet just to the left of the fridge could be bumped up to flush with the ceiling so that you would have a straight line across the bottom of the cabinet and soffit? Then the built-in above the fridge might look less haphazard? Best of luck, the finishes you are considering are all beautiful!
The kitchen no matter what shape is going to look amazing, you had said you were concerned with the symmetry of the cabinets being messed up. With all the textures and samples you showed us on the mood board It can only be a really grand transformation, Good luck Maria
I really like your design ideas – and maybe you can still do the tall cabinet to the right of the fridge, then frame out around the soffit so that the base of the wood matches the height of the cabinet on the right; but leave the space open and put a couple of short baskets there instead of a closed in cabinet. Does that make sense haha?!
This is going to be absolutely wonderful. You will love it when it is all done. I don’t know if I am as brave as you to tackle a kitchen on the 5 week challenge but my kitchen needs a makeover too. I am going to follow and see how it goes. Who knows maybe I’ll try the kitchen for the fall challenge.
I hope your week 2 is shaping up to be just as productive.
Have a great week ,
Jenny
I just can’t wait to see the finished space! Love what you are doing. Good luck with all of that work! Thanks for sharing at The Creative Circle. Hope to see you again this week. xoxo