A total kitchen transformation....

[Cookiebaker]

Wow! Thank you so much for the wonderful comments!!!

To answer some of the questions:

No, we did not do the work ourselves, though we ended up doing a lot more than we intended! We did the plumbing, re-wiring, flooring, and installed the appliances ourselves. We had 3 contractors that did the majority of the work: The first one, Bill up and moved to Montana 6 weeks before he told us, and left us high and dry. The second contractor was a yahoo who lied, did very poor work, and finally left after having a temper tantrum at Mark because we didn't like the way something was done. And the third contractor, we found through calling a wrong number, has done all the "finishing" trim work, etc, does awesome work, and we are soooooooo happy with him!

We went through Kitchens of Distinction by Nelson to get us initially started. Nelson met with us to find out what we were looking for in a kitchen, and also brought some really great ideas, too. He was totally meticulous (down to the 1/16th of an inch!!!). So he did the layout and encompassed everything we wanted, and he also sold us the cabinets.

As far as the decorating goes, I pretty much came up with the colors and design of everything -- it was pretty frustrating sometimes because I felt like I was flying on a leap of faith that something would match. For example, I only had a 2"x2" square to remind me what the counter top color was; and I didn't have a sample of what the cabinets would look like, nor the flooring either. So the fact that everything blended together in the end is nothing short of a miracle.

The three lamps are from Hubbardton Forge and we got an awesome deal on them because Mark got a vendor's discount from them.

Cataholic, I could definitely send you the pics, or you can copy them right from this thread.

Rachel, the process was quite lengthy, mostly because of the snafu of contractors. We started saving $$ for the kitchen in 2000; started the work in May, and are just finishing up now (October).

Dorothy, you can come for apple pie anytime!!!

Thank you again for the wonderful comments.

[zoey]

Hey that looks really nice!
I'm glad you stuck w/ wood grain b/c I like that kind the best . That extra storage space i'm sure is coming in handy!
It looks so warm and inviting. I could almost smell the pumpkin pie baking! So nice that it is done before the holidays. It's wonderful that you guys saved up for it, too, rather than just putting it on credit as i think most people do, these days. there's such a good feeling to save, in anticipation. And the results are fabulous!

[sasvermont]

What kind of countertop did you get? I am thinking about having mine re-done and like the look you have.

Thanks,
SAS

P. S.

Looks like a nice place for a baby to be....warm and cozy.....Mommie will be having fun cooking and feeding the little one is such a sunny room!

[Pam]

What kind of countertop did you get? I am thinking about having mine re-done and like the look you have.

Thanks,
SAS

P. S.

Looks like a nice place for a baby to be....warm and cozy.....Mommie will be having fun cooking and feeding the little one is such a sunny room!

SAS and I are on the same wavelength. I had asked about the countertops too. Also we both thought that it is a lovely kitchen for your wee little one to grow up in. Some day he/she will be eating at that breakfast bar! Hard to imagine, I know!

[Cookiebaker]

SAS and I are on the same wavelength. I had asked about the countertops too. Also we both thought that it is a lovely kitchen for your wee little one to grow up in. Some day he/she will be eating at that breakfast bar! Hard to imagine, I know!

Pam, I am so sorry that I missed your question when I responded to the thread. The countertop is Corian, and I do love it especially because there are no seams and no cracks for junk to collect in. The color is "Burnt Amber"

I know, I can't really imagine what the kitchen is gonna be like with the patter of little feet around!! I can't wait to find out!!!

[Pam]

Pam, I am so sorry that I missed your question when I responded to the thread.

Don't worry Anna, I am just enough of a pain in the neck to ask again! LOL!

Did you put in the sliding door also? What was there before? A normal door? I just love what you have done. I could never get these ideas on my own. You and Mark must be so happy with the final result.

[Freckles]

What a great conversion!
I'm kind of asking what Pam did. Did the two windows in the first picture change into the 3 bay windows? Or the sliding glass door?

[Cookiebaker]

Did you put in the sliding door also? What was there before? A normal door? I just love what you have done. I could never get these ideas on my own. You and Mark must be so happy with the final result.

Pam & Freckles, yes, the 2 full sized windows got shortened and widened to become the bay window. Where the sliding glass door is now, there used to be a "normal" entrance door and next to it was a full sized window. We are hoping to put on a deck next spring, but for right now the silder opens to a whole-lotta-nothing.

Yes, we are so happy with the results! We started saving for this kitchen 6.5 years ago, so its been a long time in coming!!! My old kitchen was so cold (hardly any heat to it); and DIRTY -- the floor never looked clean no matter how much I scrubbed it, and the countertops were just plain nasty, cinched together with rusting metal strips; disorganized because I only had 4 full sized cabinets, and very little counterspace. So I truly feel like I have moved into a mansion!

Thank you for asking!!!