Well hello!!! Coming back at you after such a crazy year (can I get a raised hand? šš½āāļø) with such exciting news in my world…..I’m busy planning a kitchen remodel for early January 2021. This has been a dream of mine for so long! I honestly can’t tell you just quite how excited I am (cue the happy squeal…) I feel like an intense project as well as a change of focus after 2020 is exactly what I need!
Of course it’s always good to start with a plan as to what you want to gain/achieve with the remodel.
In my mind – I want my kitchen space to feel more cohesive, practical, beautiful and inviting. Husband’s priorities were more along the lines of the space being more practical, functional, and gaining more counter space. (Which we are sadly lacking at the moment!)
I cannot wait to talk about *All The Things*…..!
So – without further ado – let’s talk kitchen!
Kitchen remodel-Design ideas
Of course – there is no shortage for design ideas for beautiful kitchens: one look on Pinterest, BHG or your favourite blog(s) would be enough to send your creative juices into overdrive!
If you know me – or have even looked at the name of my blog *wink wink* – you will know that I am a lover of all things pretty… what you may not know as well, is that I am also fairly practical. So for me – pretty and practical both need to be considered when designing a kitchen.
Kitchen Remodel Layout
As a result, when planning my kitchen – the first thing I looked at was the space that I have. I have spent hours thinking about how we can utilise the small space more efficiently. My current kitchen feels small and cramped due to the current layout, dark floor tiles and dark counters. My aim with the kitchen remodel is to open up the space and make it more inviting.
I have always been drawn to a white kitchen. But here is one instance where practicality trumped pretty for me. Well, if I have to be totally honest – I think I have probably only compromised a little bit (laugh)
A home with three small children in my mind means constantly needing to clean white kitchen cupboards… For the life of me I don’t want to be wiping down kitchen cupboard doors all day…
So – with that said – I am planning to have light grey kitchen cabinets.
Organisation in the kitchen
Of course- the kitchen is probably the room in the house that has to be the most functional. With that said- I have given a lot of thought to how I use my kitchen. I have thought about where items will be located in drawer and cupboard-and how I will use the space. I have always loved the idea of the lower cabinetry being drawers. So for my kitchen remodel I have gone for as far as has been possible! Drawers, drawers and more drawers. Pull-out pantry cupboard drawers. Fold-away doors for microwave and appliances…doors, doors and more doors!
Counter tops
When looking at countertops – once again for me – I considered practicality. I love a clean and understated look. I felt that because my kitchen is so small – it needed to be kept very streamlined and have (mostly) clean lines. Marble counters are very beautiful and timeless – but I decided on quartz as it is definitely more cost effective and a bit more durable. The main reason for this decision is the fact that quartz doesn’t absorb liquid like marble does. I can already see the kid’s juice spills on the counters in my minds eye and the panic that will ensue! (*rolls eye*…)
Cupboards
My choice? Shaker style cupboards – well, because they’re classic, can be dressed up or down (with differnt hardware) and have clean lines. Of course, when you’re spending money on a remodel – you have to look at the longevity of the design. I feel like somewhere there is a rule that says you have to love it for the next 10 years! I’m a classic girl through and through – so for me – the classic style cupboards was just the logical choice.
Don’t forget the cooker…
Can we just speak about cookers for a minute? Seriously – if you could know the lengths that I went to, the number of companies I spoke to, emails that I sent, the begging that I did to get the cooker of my dreams – you would understand why it takes up a paragraph in this blog post all on it’s own!
After deciding that I wanted a free-standing cooker – my vision was that the cooker needs to take centre stage in my new kitchen.
But- in South Africa we don’t have as many options available to us as to most other overseas markets. So when I set out to find a stainless steel cooker with brass knobs – I seemed to be looking for the impossible. I approached a couple of well-known brands and received similar replies from all of them: “Sorry, you can get it overseas – but we don’t get it imported here to South Africa!” My best response I had from one brand was from a sales manager who told me that in the 8 years she has been in the industry – she has never had a request for a stainless steel and brass finish stove. Like I was some kind of freak of nature to even be looking for such a thing! (*shakes head*)
Of course, as luck (or persistence?) would have it – I finally found my dream-come-true in the form of an Ilve cooker and a super helpful manager, Sue, at Ilve. She took my dream and has done everything in her power to make it a reality! Now the only question remains – what will be the first thing that we make, bake or cook in it?
Hardware, Faucets and other bits & bobs
Well – here is really where you can go down the rabbit hole. I am totally trying the “mixed metal” look – (read more about mixing metals here) wanting to combine all the stainless steel appliances and brass finishes.
So for the handles on the cupboard, as well as down lights – those will all be brass. I will also have brass finishes on my cooker and the brackets on my open shelves.
I have kept my faucet chrome. Honestly, this was because I was scared of over-doing the brass thing. And I feel that perhaps brass faucet’s might date a bit faster? Maybe I’m totally off the mark on that one though – who knows?
I really struggled to find a fridge for my kitchen. One that wasn’t too large so that it would over-power everything else. I also had to consider depth, as my kitchen floorspace is small-a wide fridge would be cumbersome and in the way. Luckily I think I have found the perfect one!
Other bits and bobs that I’m still deliberating about are the backsplash (something marble, but what? Big marble sheet, subway tiles, small mosaic hexagon? The jury is still out on that one!) Also whether to tile the kick-boards, or finish them in wood.
So so many decisions to make when planning a kitchen remodel…
But two things that I do know:
A kitchen is the heart of the home -and my heart always has and always will be – at home.
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