Kitchen Remodel #1: Kitchen Remodel - Phase 1 Design

Kitchen Remodel – New pics added…

Well, March is here and the shop is now open. I had planned to have the design of the new kitchen finished but it’s not. What a great use of the winter down time but the design process has been long and hard fought with my wife. We have very different tastes and I was just happy to agree on the cabinet style but where to put them and what type of hardware has been the road block. Oh yeah then came the gut and redo of the down stairs bathroom (that I almost finished).

So here’is my basic plan. Since this will take a while and my wife is a little unsure of my ability to complete the project and do a nice job, I have broken the project into manageable pieces.

Bathroom Cabinet – The redesign of the bathroom includes removal of the vanity and replacing it with a pedestal sink. To replace the storage, we lost, I have designed and built (building) a “prototype” cabinet. This prototype cabinet will serve as a demo piece for the kitchen cabinets. This way I can work out the design bugs and paint options. Our cabinets are to be painted white with an antique finish. My wife will then be able to “see” what they look and feel like. All the bead work and molding will be milled in the shop. Once I have her approval and sign off I move on to the …

Pantry – We have an existing coat closet just out side the bathroom that we have always used as a pantry of sorts. I will add some pics tonight. This “pantry” is a mess and is covered by a curtain after I took the cheap bi-fold doors off when the new hardwood floors went in. So this will be redesigned with new doors and a fresh interior with lighting!

Microwave/Fridge Cabinets – This is a set of cabinets that house the microwave and surround the current fridge. These cabinets hold the pots and pans and is that ever a mess to deal with. This we be completely redesigned with larger, deeper, taller cabinets and drawers!

Kitchen Hot Wall/ Wet wall- (Norm Terms) This is the meat of the kitchen. This will be rebuilt but follow the same basic layout of the current kitchen. Another change here will be the removal of the soffit so the cabinets can extend to the ceiling. Our current “cheap” cabinets don’t so the builder added soffits so dust wouldn’t collect above the cabinets. Lets hope there are no pipes in there but i believe these were added after all the plumbing was roughed in.

Additional Cabinets/Bar top – This will be an new set of cabinets with a bar top for people to sit at. This will be completely new to the kitchen and will require the removal of a kitchen slider door. This will be replaced with single french door to make more room. Design is still in progress here.

Counter tops and lighting – This will be my wife’s department. She wants granite and all new (desperately needed) kitchen lighting. This will involve recessed and pendant lighting oh and don’t forget under cabinet lights.

Well, that should do it. If anyone has any input, ideas, or suggestions I would love to hear them!! I am struggling with cabinet hardware – make and types. Everything with be face frame and inset.