Great Design Resource

Now that summer is in full swing (and whoa, is it swinging!), I've cut back on all the extra stuff I do (like blogging!) and I'm sticking with what has to be done.  However, I have continued to follow one blog... Remodelista.



When I first started Cattywompus, I thought I should check out what's out there in the blogging world so I signed up for a load of feeds.  And Remodelista always manages to inspire me above the rest.  Almost every time I look at it I find something that is relevant to my work, home or own personal style.



It could be something as simple as coat hooks...

Or maybe house numbers...

Or even a fancy trash can.  This compost pail can be found in their 'Domestic Science' section!

I particularly like their 'Steal This Look' features where they show you enviable images like this one and then give you tips on how to make it your own.

I get Remodelista Daily sent to my email and even though I swear I signed up for the weekly recap, I do get it everyday (yeah, like the title states!).  The funny thing is... now I'm happy when it arrives and I always look forward to opening it.  I find the posts highly visual with just the right amount of info that I can quickly scan to see if I'm interested in delving a little deeper.  Like today they featured these beautiful chairs that feel so beachy to me.  Ahhhh, to be on the water on a hot day like this... the soft blue color almost make me feel cooler?!

Carl Hansen & Son Chair

Or like the other day, these great brick tiles had me checking out the latest on the Waterworks website...

Not only do they talk about great products they also inspire with good design and beautiful imagery.  I had mentioned Remodelista on my Double Island Counters post.  They featured a light filled kitchen in Brooklyn... which is one of my favorites.  

It's just a well packaged website, that I find simple, inspiring and informative.  If you're in the process of renovating or hope to do it soon... it's a great way to see good stuff to consider for your own project. 



Where do you get design inspiration for your home?

Double Island Counters

I've been working with a client on a kitchen with two islands.  It's a big trend but there's always the question whether you want to differentiate between them or tie them together stylistically.  Right now we're trying to figure out the counters.  We are set on the surrounding counter as soap stone and we're thinking about a big slab of Danby white marble for the square center island and maybe natural wood for the other.  I found the following images to help us in our discussion.

Here's a good example of surrounding soapstone counters and a center island with white marble.

Decorpad

Here's another thick white marble slab at the island with surrounding soapstone counters...

 

Simplified Bee blog

This kitchen was featured on Elle Decor and has two islands... a big center island to sit and work; and a skinnier island to separate the kitchen and provide storage.  I like how the kitchen revolves around a generous square slab of marble.

Elle Decor

We also talked about a dark wood counter at the island that separates the kitchen and the dining area. Here it offers a great contrast to the white cabinetry.

Southern Living

A wood counter might make the island feel more like furniture and add warmth and richness to our all white space. The coloring of this wood counter is particularly beautiful...

Materialicious

Another soap stone counter with two islands with dark natural wood...

Urban Home Design Blog

I'll leave you with this great kitchen I saw last week on Remodelista. Huge windows offer lots of light to this airy kitchen that looks so clean yet feels homey. And I was excited to see that they've used soapstone counters and a rich wood topped island.  The natural shelves and iron brackets offer a great focus... if you've got the height, show it off!

Brooklyn Home Company

Brooklyn Home Company

I'll post about our own kitchen renovation soon.  The Vigo sink came in this week; it looks great and for a good price.  I'll be ordering the cooktop and hood today! 

Still in the Kitchen- Choosing Appliances

We've started selecting replacement appliances for our kitchen renovation and the scope creep is happening!  This all started with just wanting a new counter and backsplash. My original thought was to only replace what wasn't functioning or aesthetically appealing.  I thought the cooktop could stay since it works fine and the cream color isn't objectionable.  I thought the double ovens could stay because the black would blend into the cabinetry and at least one of them works!  (Looking at this photo...I can't wait until those cabinets are painted!) 

But reality is setting in... if we get a beautiful bright white counter how could you stick a grimy old cream colored cooktop in it!  Yeah, that's going.  And since the hood matches the cooktop, it has to go.  And if the cooktop is new, why would we keep ovens that only half work!    Yep, they're going too. 



Fortunately, we installed a new stainless steel Bosch dishwasher when we first moved in so that's one less expense. We had one in our old apartment and I couldn't live without it for long.  Here's the unit so you've got the entire picture (just add lots of fingerprints)...

I like to shop for appliances at AJ Madison.   Just like IraWoods is great for fixtures and faucets, AJ Madison is a great place to see what's out there in the appliance world.  They carry most brands and you can select your specific requirements.  Once I find something there, I'll look around online for reviews and pricing.  In the end, they usually have a competitive price and I can save on shipping by using one supplier. But if you don't have a contractor and you need someone to install it, you might try your local Lowes, Home Depot, or Sears.



First, the cooktop requirements:  30", gas, stainless steel, simple grill pattern & knobs, and.... that it works!  Oh, and I don't want to spend a $1,000.  Maytag's cooktop jumped out at us...

Now I just need to find a store where we can see it.  It's considerably less than a lot of other cooktops so I want to find out why?!



My husband also wanted to consider an induction cooktop because of its simple design and ease of cleaning.  (If you want to understand how induction technology works you might try The Induction Site.)   I have to agree that it would be easy to clean but since we have gas I don't see a reason to switch at this point. I like gas.  But if we didn't have it, induction would definitely be my next choice.  This is a Thermador's version...

Here's an installation of a Diva cooktop on one of my projects.  If you want to put a wall oven under it as we did here, you'll have to do some planning in advance due to required clearances.  But it's worth it in the end for a clean look.

Next, the hood requirements:  stainless steel, fit our existing opening, recirculating, simple design and... that it works without it sounding like an airplane taking off!  Oh and I don't want to spend a $1,000.  This Zephyr model jumped out at us.   Who could resist a gentle breeze?  It's unassuming enough and the price is right.

Lastly, the double oven requirements: ...okay this one is a bit more complicated.  Do we need two ovens? The current ovens are 24" wide which makes for two small ovens when I'd rather one big one.  Right now everything I bake cooks too quickly on the edges.  But the only way to widen the oven is to move it under our stove but I'm concerned it's too low and our kitchen is too tight. I think we'll stick with the current location and just get one taller oven.  Here are the options we've been considering. 



This oven from Blue Star has an interesting design with a side hinged door. But the price tag, quickly eliminated it for us. 

This one from Delonghi has an elegant clean design...

I think we may go with this electric oven from Bertazzoni because it looks good and the price is right at $899! 

Right now we have a gas oven but I've heard electric provides more even cooking.  We just need to confirm that our current wiring can support it.



So those are the appliances!  Next step... hit the stone counter supplier to make that marble vs. quartz decision.  



I'd love to hear about your experience with new appliances...what you like and don't like. Or maybe there is an appliance you dream about owning someday.  Ahhh, it brings back memories of my first dishwasher purchase...

Back to the Kitchen

Wow, what a weekend...yes, spring is here! And with that comes the desire to fix up my house. We are back to thinking about our kitchen again.  It's for real this time... my husband started sanding the cabinets!

We've been debating what to do with the kitchen since it may get ripped out if we renovate the whole house. So we're looking at it like this... what would make our kitchen experience better right now? Easy... get rid of the tile counter!  I can't understand why anyone would want a work surface that's uneven with grout joints to clean?!

Unfortunately, it's the only element that would be difficult to reuse if the kitchen gets moved.  But even if we only get a few years out of it... I think it's worth it.  I'm tired of saying, "Someday I'll enjoy cooking when I've got a good work surface!"   So over the weekend I hit the internet for some counter inspiration. We're thinking about gray or black cabinets, so that's where I started...



These cabinets look great with the white Calcutta Gold marble counters.

Lisa Epley Design: Image from Decorpad 

Another beautiful white marble counter with black cabinets... I like that it's thick with minimal veining.

Jeff Lewis Design: Image from Decorpad

We may go with dark lower cabinets and light uppers.  Here the island is in a different material that blends beautifully with the floor.  And another bright counter (looks like I'm leaning towards white!).

 

James Michael Howard Interior

We're thinking about subway tile for the back wall since it's economical and would tie into a white counter.  (And we have two boxes sitting in our shed!) Here are nice full walls of subway tile and they've used different colored cabinets.  I would prefer white grout instead of gray to minimize the tile pattern.

Image from Decorpad

These are actually dark brown cabinets, hmmm....

Image from Decorpad 

We're also considering a manufactured stone like Silestone or Caesarstone... which could be considered a 'green' option.  It is easier to maintain and more durable than marble, but mostly I like it for the consistency in color and the potential for a substantial slab edge...

Silestone: Image from Seven Seas

Caesarstone: Image from Re-green

I've read up on marble maintenance issues and found a good discussion on Apartment Therapy.  One other consideration for us is reuse.  If the kitchen does eventually get ripped out and we go with marble, I might cut up the counter for a bathroom vanity or a baking area in the new kitchen (yeah, 'cause I love making pastry?!).



So what do you look for in a kitchen counter?  I'd love to hear what you like and don't like about the material you slave over every day!  Well, at least that's how I feel.