Have you ever designed your own kitchen?
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion Archive: Archive February 2006:
Have you ever designed your own kitchen?
The house we are moving to will need a new kitchen. Cabinets, appliances, floors etc.
I am thinking about designing it myself, but this will be the first! LOL
Just wondering if anyone has done it and what things they wouldn't do or use again, great products or appliances you love etc!
Any tips would be appreciated.
TIA
I have not done this myself. However, I remember several ladies on here doing some remodeling so I am sure you will get alot of great advice!!! 
Sounds like fun!!
I do know that in my next house (and this wont be anytime soon, this is just me dreaming and talking. ) I would *love* to have one of the professional gas cooktops by Thermador. Also an island is a must next time around and I want my kitchen open to my living area for sure. A place to store my kitchen aid mixer. I dont know if you have that problem or not. Double ovens are a must. I use mine all the time (ie: dinner cooking in top oven and bread cooking down below or dessert baking down below, etc... LOVE them. My grandma always had them and I just had to be like her. ) If you get slode outs for you pots and pans... beware not to put too heavy or too many pans in them. Mine broke yrs ago.  I have some Kitchen Aid SS pans that are so darn heavy- they bent the roller deal.
We do have stainless steel appliances and I would use them again. I really like them. Next time I might have cabinet fronts made for my frig doors tho. We had them made for my dishwasher and I like the look. ;) We actually had doors made for a frig that we had ordered- but then we found a cheaper frig (long story there) and bought it instead. The cabinet fronts wont fit on the frig we ended up with. They are sitting in the attic, maybe the next homeowner will get a frig they can use them on...
You know I would feel overwhelmed with cabinet choices, countertop choices, etc... There are so many pretty things available now! Have fun!! And I cant wait to read and borrow the tips you get here. lol
Are there any model homes in your area? We have tons here. Go walk through them to get ideas. Some of the models have gourmet kitchens in them. I agree that the double ovens would be great. My mom's kitchen growing up had a stove with the oven and then above where the hood or microhood would have been she had a smaller oven. It was perfect for the pies when the turkey was in the bigger oven underneath for Thanksgiving. Have fun!!! I know I would!
We did! Look at lots and lots of magazines, displays, etc. to get some ideas.
No info here, we are going to be remodeling our kitchen later this summer. So I am also interested in finding out what everyone has to say.
We remodeled by replacing countertops, cabinet doors, and all appliances. We bought Whirlpool. We followed the advice of Consumer Reports on the models. Our appliances are black and I love them. The stove is a ceramic top. It is one of my favorite appliances. I am now going to replace a few of the cabinet doors with stained glass (my current project). Have fun!
I would go with a stainless steel sink, or a Sandstone (that's the brand) rather than a porcelain or china one. Those chip and scratch too easily. Stainless doesn't ever get damaged, but the water spots are ugly so you're constantly wiping it. Sandstone is a material that is solid the whole way through so if you get a chip or a stain on it, you actually SAND the area away until it is gone. Hence the name of it. Sandstone comes in a zillion colors. Also, light colored sinks DO STAIN!! Spaghetti sauce is terrible, especially. Perhaps you already have a light colored sink and know exactly what I am talking about. Also, the Sandstone sinks are a larger size than normal. Oh, and I don't recommend double sinks OR side by side fridges. It's so hard to wash a cookie sheet in a double sink, and I don't know how people with side by side fridges store ANYthing in them!! They are each so narrow! Stoves where the burner surface is flat sounds wonderful but I've heard they eventually leave permanent round marks where the elements heat up underneath. I agree with checking Consumer Reports on all appliances and don't be afraid to mix the brands. Lots of outlets and under the cabinet lighting is good. I recommend hardwood flooring, too. Good luck!
Oh, I never thought about mentioning the sink. lol We had a stainless sink and faucet and switched it out last August. I forgot about it until I read Kate's post. (i was tired of all the scratches- ss sinks do scratch and can dent) We put in a black (it's called slate it has speckles of grey but is mostly black) composite sink. It is a double sink with one side alot bigger than the other. (it is offset, i think thats the word?) Both sides tho are soooo darn deep. We didnt realize *how* deep until we put it in, it's great. I LOVE IT !!! It doesnt stain, chip, or scratch. However, I am sure *my* family will end up proving this wrong somehow, before its all said and done. lol
Kate, we do have a side by side fridge in the kitchen and you are right it was a pitb. Solved my storage issues by putting a fridge in the garage next to the freezer. I cant tell you how nice it is to have 2 refrigerators. I cant say that I would ever buy another side by side frig. ugh!
I have a double sink and a side by side fridge. Love both . I did go with stainless steel sink because I am very hard on a sink. I like to do home improvement projects and use the sink for things I shouldn't. I learned the hard way what paint remover does to porcelain.
I think the sandstone ones are pretty.
My double sink is large and I have no trouble washing a cookie sheet. My stove is flat. I have only had it a year so cannot speak about long term---so far no round marks.
You just need to choose what works for you. There are great kitchen ideas on Hgtv and in books at home improvement stores.
I too have a double sink and a side by side and love them both. My freezer has a pizza place though, so it works well for me. I FREEZE a lot, so I really enjoy having a big more freezer space. I can't imagine not have a double sink, mine is ss. I think the real secret is don't by cheap crap You will get what you pay for and you use your kitchen way too much not to buy good stuff! Better sinks are deeper, don't dent as easily, pors...ones are sealed better etc.
We bought a repo house a few years ago and gutted the kitchen....all the way down to the studs. Ripped out the flooring, drywall, everything & started all over. We sat and designed our own kitchen. It was a ton of fun! My in-laws have experience in contracting, so they led the way in helping. But, most of it was us picking out what we wanted & where. We were on a tight budget, so weren't able to buy the dream appliances we wanted. We're too practical anyway at that time.
Magazines...that is your first source. Then move on to model homes or Lowes or Home Depot for ideas.
I wanted red walls in my kitchen & we worked with that on countertops, etc. to make it work.
We are hoping to build a house within the next 10 years {fingers crossed} and when we do...I'm putting in double ovens. DH says we're putting in two dishwashers, too. My kitchen will be my biggest expense, but I know what I want now.
Good luck & have fun!
I've only planned my kitchen in my head and I cook A LOT, but here's what I would have in my dream kitchen:
*Double ovens
*Island with a sink, large prep area, and counter/bar stools
*Open kitchen with a keeping room
*Pantry
*Drawers for pots and pans
*Gas cooktop
*Sandstone or similar type molded sink that it one with the countertops
*Appliance garage
*2 drawer dishwasher (if money was no object)
*frig with a bottom freezer (I have my first side-by-side and I HATE it!!!! Not enough room in the frig side and it's a big frig)
Have fun, keep us posted with pictures and descriptions along the way so we can live vicariously!
I would definitely include a pantry.
Also, I would suggest NOT going with a Thermador oven. We have the double oven and I absolutely cannot stand it. It takes 33 minutes to fully heat up. (It says it is up to temperature in about 10 minutes, but when I put in a thermometer it shows it takes much longer. When I called Thermador on it I was told it was designed to take thirty minutes. Major PITB!) Also, it has a fan that runs from the time you turn it on until it is completely cooled down. (Not just the convection fan). It is, IMO, obnoxious. We eat right next to the oven and to this day, almost three years after we installed these darn things, it still annoys me! (I do, however, love my Thermador gas cooktop stove).
Have fun designing!!
Pam, what is a two drawer dishwasher?? I'd love two dishwashers and two ovens, and six burners, that's for sure!!
A friend has the bottom freezer fridge and I don't like it. Remember, when you open the normal fridge (freezer on top) you can SEE all the way to the bottom. The glass shelves and the openness of such a large door allow you to see easily, plus you have crisper drawers that pull out in the very bottom. When the freezer is on the bottom, it's HARD to see what's in there!! It's often a bunch of frozen boxes and packages, and only two shelves high, so a sweeping glance doesn't cut it. I much prefer my freezer on top where I am more eye level and can easily see into the frozen tundra. I just know when I open my friend's freezer I can't see anything, LOL! I have to squat right down and stare.
Good point on the bottom freezer Kate. I would at least NOT want a side-by-side though. My really really rich friends with their multi-million dollar home (and copper countertops, double ovens and a warmer....and she doesn't cook....arrrrrggh) have a drawer dishwasher. It's a breeze to load and if you have just a few things you can just run a cycle on one drawer. It's really cool and probably cost thousands of dollars.
Well, my friend does like her bottom freezer fridge...and many people here just said they love their side by sides! And I adore my 'normal' one! There doesn't seem to be a clear consensus on the fridge!
Pam, my neighbor has one of those dishwashers. It is awesome. I looked them up and they are $2,000. She also has the 6 burner gas stove with a grill and she doesn't cook either...urgg.
I have a flat top stove and love it. It is 5 yrs. old and I don't have any problems with rings. You just have to buy the ceramic top cleaner and clean it every few days, it is very easy to do. I also have a double sink, one side bigger then the other and love it.
Yvonne, is there something that will take paint of a Stainless steel sink? We have one in our laundry room and dh cleaned paint brushes in there. He didn't clean it out and there is paint. Can you recommend something to get it off?
Try goof off. Home Depot sells it.
Try goof off. Home Depot sells it.
"Stoves where the burner surface is flat sounds wonderful but I've heard they eventually leave permanent round marks where the elements heat up underneath."
We have a ceramic top/flat top stove top, and we don't have that problem. I use Weiman Glass Cook Top Cleaner on mine for really dirty jobs, and I found Carbona *Clean It!" ceramic stove top wipes. Ours still looks great!! I think the trick is to clean it after you cook, and not leave burned on food on the cooktop, or let it build up.
That's good to know for future reference. It was the salesperson who discouraged us from these stoves saying marks would eventually appear. She said it would be burn marks from the heating elements though...cleaner wouldn't help that. BUT, this was in 1994 so since no one here has had a problem, I assume the technology has improved and the heating elements don't burn the tops anymore. In that case, I'd love one for my next stove!
Thanks Yvonne, I think we actually have some of that. I will try it.
Thanks for all of the suggestions! I realize how outrageous a kitchen remodel can become. LOL
I was looking at the subzero fridge with the glass front doors and they want almost 8,000! OMG, I just can't see spending that much, I would much prefer a spa! LOL
Also,
What brand of kitchen cabinets do you have? Our you happy with those?
Our cabinets (oak) were custom made by a local cabinet shop. I would go that route again for sure. We have been pleased. We also had them build cabinets for our cabin at the lake (pine). They built and installed those and lucky ME we stained and finished them ourselves last summer. lol That was actually kind of fun! I dont mind doing work like that.
If we ever build another house I would use the same cabinet guy again.
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