Ditto the garbage in an under the counter pull out feature. We do have two bins so one is for recycling.
Looks like a few of us are Bosch lovers!
Yes, to dimmer switches!
There's also a way to put a faucet behind the cooktop to make filling pots easier but when the boiling is done you'll still have to bring it to the sink to drain it. A neighbor has done it in each of the two homes she's had here.
Another friend did ceramic tile through the area where the appliances were and wood for the rest - easy to keep clean and looks nice.
Kitchen Renovation Ideas, please.
Pirl, if I had thought about an extra faucet behind the cooktop when we were building, I might have done it. It wasn't 'out there' as a popular trend at the time we built which was just 8 years ago. Or at least not down here. We also have an island with a small prep sink which I love. Plus it's closer to the stove than the big sink so I use it a lot for filling pots (my 8 quart pot fits in just fine) and draining small amounts. And a perfect place for chopping things, serving, etc.
Oaky, stop me if this is weird, but I installed foot pedals for the faucet (like hospitals have) about a year and a half ago. I left the regular faucet handle in line too so you don't have to stand there with your foot on it to fill a big pot. Keeps DH from leaving sticky, greasy, or otherwise gross handprints all over the handle.
Much easier to plan a garden, isn't it Jan?! I have a Bosch tankless water heater and love it. The company is renowned for their engineering.
Kat - how do you mix hot and cold?! Both feet at once? Seems tricky.
They're close enough that you can step on both with one foot. The pedals are pretty much on or off, not much flow control. But they're great for handwashing or rinsing veggies or dishes.
I know my cats would figure those out!
What a great thread!! I'm not in a position to remodel my kitchen (yet) but I've read every posting with great interest!
The two items that stand out for me amidst all the great suggestions:
Have two ovens (both self-cleaning.) Ons is not enough for today's living.
Have a BIG window (mentioned above) over the sink, so gardeners can look outside. It may mean fewer cabinets but the view is worth it.
We put the garden in the window.
This is a suggestion for everyone: get a gel mat for next to the sink.
http://www.gelpro.com/
This design is expensive, but it is the only tasteful cushion-y mat I've found. We finally bought the bullet and got it. It is durable and fairly easy to clean (we have the weave option). And we got a color that is kind of close to our hardwood, and it doesn't stand out much, which we like.
Thanks for posting, Outsideplaying. Actually that's where I'd like to be. Well, maybe not at this moment, but you know what I mean. Very well said. That's a good idea aabout power strips under cabinets, eliminating outlets on the wall. Definitely a recycling cupboard. Definitely stainless double sink and another one with a big faucet for filling the pots. Definitely dimmer switches. I'm going to make a chart of all the pros and cons for DH's perusal.
Have I said how much fun this has been? I do appreciate all the pointers.
Katlian, what a great idea about the foot pedal. I'll run that by DH and see what flies. My grandkids would figure it out. Oh, boy!!!
Good to see you, Emily.
Bernie, love the corner window garden. Again, your website had some great ideas. Thanks.
Eve, gelpro mat is a great idea.
Those mats are are great for those post-feast stretches.
evie - I loved the rattlesnake mat.
DW needs the garden window because we have no dishwasher! We had one years ago & it only became a storage unit.
Our kitchen is big with lots of storage. I think we have enough food to last a year!
Be sure & plan everything & think it through thoroughly. It's very hard to change after it's all done & money spent.
Bernie
The first thing: besides hunger, what makes you want to be in your kitchen?
Is it a gathering place when entertaining?
What kind of cooking do you typically do?
do you like to spend a lot of time there?
Buy the absolute best appliances you can afford.
Make certain that you consider ease of cleaning for different surfaces.As an example - a recessed window (GH window?) is great, but I can vouch for 20+ years of cleaning that this one will be removed when we remodel. Access for cleaning is not as easy & because it sticks out from the house, it is more exposed to the cold air. If you get one buy very heavily insulated blinds.
Use of light - artificial & sun. Recessed is nice - worth the time to have someone from a lighting store come out to assess the space. Also, our energy company will do the same - check with yours.
Colours: medium to medium-light tones conceal better than light or dark, but this is one area you can be trendy - changing the colour is inexpensive & pretty fast.
Light reflective qualities of paint & stain throughout the day & into evening.
Built-in sink - without a doubt.
Solid wood lasts a very long time vs veneers & the like.
Cabinets: pull-outs the bottom should be thick enough to take the weight of pots/pans.
Apply extra coat of varnish/polyurethane interior & exterior - makes it easier to clean.
Satin finish doesn't show fingerprints/smudging as much.
Taller bottom cabinets, unless you are short. Deeper drawers, too.
Tile: will you want to spend time cleaning/sealing the grout?
Flooring: that's a tough one. I have wood - warm to the touch, but if you get a slow leak - you'll need to replace any floorboards that warp. Also consider wear & tear from animals & (grand)children.
Refrigerator: yes to the freezer on the bottom. 2 options: door or drawer. Drawer style is a bit more complicated to access for cleaning. I think chiropractors love them!
Animals? A spot for water/food bowls, that won't be in the way.
Most important is to make the kitchen work for you. I like a "communal" feeling to my kitchen - makes people feel welcome, and at home.
AHHHHHMEN to all the ideas.
We start mid Feb, duering school break so GD can help remove cupboards.
This message was edited Jan 7, 2009 4:59 AM
Bernie, I loved your statement about the DW "needing" a garden window cuz there isn't a dishwasher. That just struck my funnybone. I pictured her there all day long washing dishes.
Hopefully, with all this help we will be fully prpared. It will happen after DH gets out of school, but we hope to have all the preliminaries done, appliances bought, etc.
Katye, great ideas. No more pets here, I'm afraid. I do want a wood floor. Yes, to deeper drawers for pots and pans. Interesting about the lighting aspect and having the energy company come out.
Anyone know anything about those little, round skylights with flexible tubing?
It was her choice, so be it.
I got some literature on LED lights for under cabinets & such the other day. Expensive to install, but use virtually no electricity.
I installed under cabinet lights where the mixer sits & above the french fryer.
Will have to check the LED lights, cuz I definitely want under cabinet lights. Right now, I have a corner that is sooooo dark. We did put a light in there, but it's not sufficient.
I have a question for you guys now. I can't figure out what color to paint the kitchen. The cabinets are I think a maple or some other lighter wood and the countertop (until we can afford to replace it) is a dark green. This is really throwing me.
We are cool color people - not big on red orange or yellow. All beiges I look at conflict with the cabinets. We're blue people and the only blue that seems to go well is a light blue. DH isn't convinced yet. And green is hard because the counter is green.
Also, the kitchen is on the west side of the house so it is often dark. I don't want to do a real dark color because I think it'll make it too dark in there.
Thoughts??? Other than replace the stupid counter :)
Evie - why not pick up sample color chips at a paint store - even colors you might not think you'd like.
Do you want a color that harmonizes with the next room or not?
I agree with Arlene. Check out several colors, maybe, even painting several little squares on the wall.
Is there an accessory you particularly like that goes well with the green? Maybe you could pull a color from it and the store could match it.
If anyone finds a refrigerator that operates by voice control please post a link. I just want "Open", "Stay", and "Close". Is that asking too much? Trying to put away a big platter of food after flinging the door open only to have it return with ferocity to render an arm incapable of motion is just too annoying.
LOL, pirl! I know what you mean. My new one does beep if the door remains open for too long or if it doesn't shut all the way. That's kinda nice actually.
Evie, how about just one of the beiges? I have coffee cream on my walls with dark blue counters and the light wood.
Isn't that what husbands are for, Pirl??
But I only have one, Victor.
Found some great ideas here: http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/how-to/articles/gallery-kitchen-sinks.aspx
I love the farmhouse style sinks
whew that's alot of $ for a sink.
Latest kitchen we are doing has a farmhouse sink. Owner bought it so have no idea how much.
Neat link, Arlene. I really liked the concrete countertop with the built in drainer.
Our sink won't be visible to the casual observer, so I think the farmhouse style would be wasted here, but they are beautiful. I'd rather spend more on good appliances. The area we live in is not very stylish ( not sure if that is the word I want or not), so I guess I'm saying that I don't want to overspend my area.
Right, You don't want to overprice yourselves for the area you live.
I was shocked to see sinks costing from $149. into the thousands.
At the Taunton link I gave above there are many articles on kitchens and on home improvement myths. One of them that the person debunks is doing anything for resale value. He said the same as I did - do things to please yourself.
I like the idea of a farmhouse sink for the size - nice and big, esp to clean bird feeders in :)
thanks for the ideas on colors. I have a ton of paint chips but just haven't found one that works. I think we may just wait until we change the counter. or revisit the beiges and see if I can find one that will work with the cabinets (which has been the problem with beige so far).
With the green countertop something with more yellow in it would look good.