Can I see your kitchen? black kitchen cabinets? *pics of my humble kitchen p 2*

[blessedwithboys]

We're moving into a new house soon and discussing redoing the kitchen (in the next year or so). I've been thinking about painting the kitchen cabinets black instead of replacing or refacing them. :think Dh thinks it might be too dark. I'd have steel appliances. Can I see your kitchens for some ideas?

ps- I love color!

:popcorn

[Praise]

No pictures to post right now, but wanted to sub so that I could come back to post. I LOVE our kitchen. :heart We are currently renting, and I think I'm just going to have to take our kitchen with us when we move! :giggle

[Allison]

I'm going to paint my cabinets black this summer. The walls will be a lighter brown shade. I have light brown stone tile counters. I can't wait to get it completed.

[blessedwithboys]

I'm going to paint my cabinets black this summer. The walls will be a lighter brown shade. I have light brown stone tile counters. I can't wait to get it completed.


I've considered this combination! Post pics when you get it done!

[mamaKristin]

I had black on the inside of my cabinets in a place we rented. It was really dark with the cabinet doors open (although, the wine glasses looked pretty in there). I don't know if I would go for it, personally. I find the darker colors in a kitchen tend to really show dirt - like fingerprints and smears. It could be really neat though. You may want to cover a cabinet or two with black paper and see what that looks like, light-wise, as a trial before doing the whole thing.

[RiverRock]

My sil refinished her wood cabinets in their last house with an opaque black stain. It looked awesome with the stainless steel appliances. She had a muted tone of butter yellow walls with a steel grey wide stripe around the bottom 1/3...if I remember right. :scratch

[Sakura]

:popcorn

We're in an apt. but subbing to see the pretty kitchen pics! One of my SILs was repainting her (tall) entertainment center black for a French Country look (going against mustard colored walls) and I thought it was going to be beautiful!

[crunchymum]

well, mine are far from black... :giggle an opaque black stain sounds pretty with steel appliances, though. :yes

these were taken last year, but it pretty much looks the same. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/mamamolly/jan%202007/IMG_0239.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/mamamolly/jan%202007/IMG_0242.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/mamamolly/jan%202007/IMG_0241.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/mamamolly/jan%202007/IMG_0001.jpg

[Sakura]

Oh, wow! What a lovely cozy kitchen you have, crunchymum!

[Marrae]

Well, my cabinets are oak but the worktop. splashback and flooring are a brown / black mix. The blinds and range are cream and black.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/conrick/HousePics004.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/conrick/HousePics003.jpg

[crunchymum]

i love your kitchen, ruth! :yes

[Six Little Feet]

:nak2 i have black cabinets will post pic later

[blessedwithboys]

Jen- your kitchen is gorgeous! I love the island! :rockon

Ruth- Wow! I am absolutely drooling over your kitchen. Your stove is awesome. :cool

[TuneMyHeart]

I think black cabinets could be really pretty, but it would definitely depend on the kitchen. I've seen lots of kitchens where the island cabinets are black, but the rest of the cabinets were a different color. If we ever get an island, we might do that.

Here's ours:

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t84/sraej/New%20House/DSC03704.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t84/sraej/New%20House/DSC03705.jpg

[jojola]

My cabinets are white, black and red with red and black doors and black countertops. I don't find it too dark at all, and love my tile countertops! We're thinking of doing the floor in the same black tiles as the countertop, as a matter of fact.

I can't figure out how to attach a picture!

[LittleSweetPeas]

Ruth, that range is AMAZING!

I can post mine tomorrow but pretty much looks like the others--maple colored cabinets and black granite countertop. We have a black built in stove and microwave, a black dishwasher and stainless fridge and sink/sink faucet.

I think black might be a bit much unless you have a large space. What are the dimensions of your kitchen?

[Drew]

:yes Black cabinets can definitly work in a kitchen that gets good light. Of course I'm not going to be any help here because my cabinets are natural.

I love getting peeks into other people's houses in these threads. Jen, I think we have the same cabinets with different hardware. I can't tell how they're stained from your photos though. Here are some photos of my breakfast area and kitchen. The walls look white in these photos (to me at least) but they are actually a light beige/stone color

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s210/Drew2k7/DSCN0807.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s210/Drew2k7/DSCN0808.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s210/Drew2k7/DSCN0806.jpg
(that's the column cap to the half wall seperating the great room from the kitchen in the lower corner of this pic.)

I love my kitchen. :heart It's my second favorite room of the house.

[blessedwithboys]

Drew- your kitchen is gorgeous! I love your dining set!

I'll be right back with a picture of our kitchen as it is right now.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x290/KarenForSale/kitchen.jpg

Okay- here it is. WAY not as gorgeous as all of your kitchens. :no What you can't see in the picture is that the fridge is to the left- the person taking the pic must've been standing in front of it. As I said, appliance replacement is in the cards...though won't be right away. That yellow tile backsplash (above the yellow countertops :giggle) is plastic- ick! DH wants to replace the countertops with tile.

Suggestions? :popcorn

[Dandelion]

this is my kitchen, and no the cabinets are not black...but black sounds cool. I am partial to red for everything, though. and pardon dd for sticking her tongue out at you! :P~ http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee84/mamacheetah4/Easter2006058.jpg

[Drew]

Thank you. I got the dining set for a steal on overstock.com. It took a long time to find something we liked that would work in that small area. What you can't see is that the sliding doors (which will eventually be replaced with french doors) leading to the back porch are to the right so we wanted to keep the walkway clear.

Are these the cabinets that you are thinking of staining black? When I think of black cabinetry I picture more a more basic styled door but these could work as well.

Does that gorgeous wooden frame go all of the way around the window? If so I would definitely leave it uncovered.

I'd also rip down the plastic faux tile and either refinish/paint or possibly redo it with glass tiles.

Do you want to keep the counters as they are?

ETA- mamacheeta I love your colors.

[PurpleButterfly]

I love seeing all the different kitchens, please post more and don't be afraid to share the heart of your home, whatever it might look like, we know it's filled with love. :heart

[mamaKristin]

I can't come back to this thread - everyone's kitchens are so nice. It's like kitchen p*rn. :O

I have kitchen issues. Serious ones.

[blessedwithboys]

Are these the cabinets that you are thinking of staining black? When I think of black cabinetry I picture more a more basic styled door but these could work as well.

Yes, those are it. I'd like to avoid the expense of refacing the cabinets. I do wish they were a bit more basic.


Does that gorgeous wooden frame go all of the way around the window? If so I would definitely leave it uncovered.

It does. I'm definately planning on taking that curtain down! :yes We haven't moved in yet. ;)


I'd also rip down the plastic faux tile and either refinish/paint or possibly redo it with glass tiles.

We're definately ripping the plastic down. I had considered putting up a beadboard backsplash. :think What kind of glass tiles?


Do you want to keep the counters as they are?

No way! we'll be replacing them asap (which will probably be next year, since they are functional)

[Marielle]

I agree with Kristin - kitchen porn and mine is teeny LOL.

blessedwithboys - Actually I can see a nice oil rubbed black finish on those cabinets of yours with the same detailed woodwork they have now. I think it would look fabulous.

[Marielle]

here's a couple of pics for inspiration from google:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1392/1326942304_22e7987e00.jpg

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ol-images/chicago/uploads/082007china-cabinet.jpg


http://www.paintedfreedom.com/black.jpg

[crunchymum]

I can't come back to this thread - everyone's kitchens are so nice. It's like kitchen p*rn. :O

I have kitchen issues. Serious ones.


:laughtears


drew, yes, i think we have the same cabinets... ours are natural, too.

karen, you can totally work with that kitchen! :tu replacing the countertops and backsplash will make a big difference. :yes i'm not sure about the cabinets... :think it seems like a little bit too small of a space for really dark cabinets, unless you get a lot of natural light. honestly, i don't think they are too bad he way they are - especially with new appliances and countertops, etc.

[Drew]

I can't come back to this thread - everyone's kitchens are so nice. It's like kitchen p*rn. :O

I have kitchen issues. Serious ones.


:giggle


Kym- I love your backsplash tile. I would like to tile ours except I'm not sure how well it would go with our very basic cabinets ans wall color.

Marielle- You'll notice that the panels on all of these doors are square though. To me that gives it a more basic look that works well with the black finish.




Does that gorgeous wooden frame go all of the way around the window? If so I would definitely leave it uncovered.

It does. I'm definately planning on taking that curtain down! :yes We haven't moved in yet. ;)


:yes I wasn't sure if you were planning to cover with something else once you moved in.


I'd also rip down the plastic faux tile and either refinish/paint or possibly redo it with glass tiles.

We're definately ripping the plastic down. I had considered putting up a beadboard backsplash. :think What kind of glass tiles?



I really like the style (in colors that would match your kitchen of course) shown in the second set of photos on this site:

http://www. mariotileguy.com/testimonials.htm

I like this one as well:

http:// dannyseo.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/08/mosaic_recycled.html


Do you want to keep the counters as they are?

No way! we'll be replacing them asap (which will probably be next year, since they are functional)



:giggle I didn't think so but I didn't want to assume. Are they laminate? If so you may want to consider sealing them and painting a faux finish rather than replacing them altogether.
Check out this site for ideas: http://www. thriftyfun.com/tf999197.tip.html

Jen is right, your future kitchen has lots to work with.

[Minerva]

I want a new kitchen now.
You all have such nice kitchens!!! :yes

[Drew]

I just looked up beadboard backsplashes (how have I never seen these before?) and they look really nice. :tu That would probably work better with your cabinets than glass tiles.

[PurpleButterfly]

I agree with Kristin - kitchen porn and mine is teeny LOL.

blessedwithboys - Actually I can see a nice oil rubbed black finish on those cabinets of yours with the same detailed woodwork they have now. I think it would look fabulous.


:yes That's what you're seeing on my cabinets - they are cherry with an oil-rubbed black stain. They don't show up nearly as nice in the pics as they look in person. The hand done stain really adds character and beautifully accentuates any details. :cool

For anyone having kitchen envy, I would just like to tell you a little about some of the kitchens I've had throughout most of my life. :kiss Many times, I had no kitchen, because I had no home. My kitchen for many of my teen years was a can of stolen vienna sausage eaten by hand at night when people finally left the beach and I had some semblance of privacy near the seagrape trees. And when I was later fortunate enough to have a kitchen, it was often in a one-room efficiency or tiny apartment, with those super skinny electric stoves that only have three burners cramped together, and like one of them maybe worked. :giggle I lived in one apartment for three years, cooking for my boyfriend and our roommate with nothing but a fridge and toaster oven. It helped me learn to be a very creative cook! Ironically, my mother (who divorced my dad and got her own apt. when I was 12) owned a gourmet restaurant, and I started working for her and was trained as a chef in a professional kitchen on a ten-burner stove. :smile

It wasn't until I was in my mid-thirties that God blessed me with my own home and a "real" kitchen, a true dream for me, with brand new basic Sears appliances that made my heart sing every morning when I woke up and had to pinch myself that I was really allowed to live in a clean and pretty home all my own with my tiny baby and sweet husband. :happytears

I am turning 42 this year, and it's taken me a long time to get here. :lol I thank God for my kitchen and home every day, and it's one of the reasons I work so hard to keep it very tidy and polished...I want to make it shine because it is a gift from God that I do not take for granted. :heart

So please, sweet mamas, if you are feeling a little down about your kitchen, remember that behind these pictures are women just like you, with life trials and experiences and appreciation for all kitchens, grand and cozy. I personally would really enjoy looking at kitchens that might remind me of days past. I think every kitchen tells a story, and as the heart of our homes, should never be anything to be embarrassed about. Think about all the people who have nothing, seriously, nothing. All our kitchens are a true gift and blessing from the Lord! :kiss3

:grouphug :heart

[Joyful Mommy]

I can't come back to this thread - everyone's kitchens are so nice. It's like kitchen p*rn. :O

I have kitchen issues. Serious ones.


yeah, i agree.

i've got some serious kitchen envy going on right now.

[mamaKristin]

Kym :heart

To clarify my kitchen envy, we live in our church's house. They have been promising a reno for the three years we lived here, and it is supposed to be happening soon (first meeting of our 'task force' was this morning). my kitchen is literally falling apart, and half our church is complaining about having to spend money on it. :/ If they could see the broken cabinets and the cracked and chipped countertops....this place is in worse shape than any rental we've been in.

on a brighter note, I have spent the last 3 hours sketching out new floor plans.

[Aisling]

I can't come back to this thread - everyone's kitchens are so nice. It's like kitchen p*rn. :O

I have kitchen issues. Serious ones.


:haha :yes

Kym- :happytears Thanks SO much for sharing that. It totally made my day. :tissue :tissue :heart

[LovingMy3]

I hear yellow & blue is making a come back so maybe you want to keep the countertops - LOL :lol On a more serious note....I love the wood around the windows so will you paint that black as well? And have you thought about replacing a couple of the insets on the cabinet doors with glass so that the black isn't too dark, like some people mentioned it may be?!?! I know we are having that done and it's about $40-$50 per door. Are you planning to do white beadboard? If so that may give the kitchen a black & white feel? At Home Depot they have tin backsplashes that are BEAUTIFUL and reasonable & I think that would look AMAZING with black cabinets. Just another thought....I think that kitchen has a lot to work with for sure! I love taking an older home and updating and making it my own!!!! It is really going to look wonderful no matter what you do!!!! So exciting!!!!

[blessedwithboys]

I hear yellow & blue is making a come back so maybe you want to keep the countertops - LOL :lol

:P~ HA! :lol Riiiight. Wasn't it "harvest gold and blue are making a comeback"? :haha

I dunno if I'm keeping the wood around the window dark. We're doing the other trim in the house white...but that would look dumb with black. I just don't know. I'm not good at this decorating stuff. :/

I saw some of those tin back splashes at Menards the other night. They are really cool, but I was afraid they'd look a bit much for that little kitchen. You don't think so? I was going to paint the beadboard to match whatever wall color we do.

I did think about the glass on the cabinet doors. That's not too bad. I wonder if dh could do it himself for a little less...

[Titus2Momof4]

I would refinish the current cabinets keeping the color the same, and splurge on some nice countertops and backsplash, if that's an option. Re-doing the floor would be nice, but a large area rug can be a simple, affordable solution there. Also, steel appliances :yes. It's truly amazing what some new appliances and new countertops can do for a kitchen!

Now, here I am spending your money for you.... LOL..... but I can also see some great areas for some modern lighting/light fixutures, I'd get rid of the drapes and go for some darker wooden blinds.....I could go on spending your money if you'd like :popcorn :giggle

[mollobe]

We had yellow counter tops, back splash, and sink! Thankfully we just finished (well, mostly) remodeling our kitchen. Still needs a few touch-ups and I have to make the curtains - I have the fabric though! Here's the before and afters:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a165/mulmol/House/KitchenBeforeAfter3.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a165/mulmol/House/KitchenBeforeAfter1.jpg

The green walls turned out a bit brighter than I anticipated, but it works. :yes

[blessedwithboys]

but I can also see some great areas for some modern lighting/light fixutures,


Where would you put new lighting fixtures? :popcorn We were discussing that today.


We had yellow counter tops, back splash, and sink! Thankfully we just finished (well, mostly) remodeling our kitchen. Still needs a few touch-ups and I have to make the curtains - I have the fabric though! Here's the before and afters:

The green walls turned out a bit brighter than I anticipated, but it works. :yes

What a difference! I really like your green walls. Is your new backsplash ceramic tile? The new sink is awesome! :cool

[crunchymum]

ooo, molly, i love it! :rockon

[cmecu2]

Man I am with all the rest.......some SERIOUS kitchen evny going on right now! Shoot I don't even have a sink or mirror in my bathroom! It's been a remodel project in the works since last summer. *sigh*

But I am ashamed to put my kitchen up here. I think it's probably the ugliest one here. I got those white countertops with the gold flecks...LOL! Only it's bubbled up and falling off. Everything stains it. I am a bleach queen to get it clean. It's the only thing that works on it. And lovely white tile for the backsplash which I hate! Do you know how hard it is to keep it clean? My cabinets are falling apart. One drawer broke and the face is off too. It's just a hole. The other day a door fell off it's hinge. It needs the hinges replaced now. So it's leaning up against where it goes. LOL! :giggle Yeah it's a sad situation over here. Oh I forgot about the fake brick! Yes I have that lovely 70's fake brick! I tell you it's UGLY with a capital U!

[expatmom]

mollobe, what a huge difference the change in appliances & the new door made! Your kitchen is beautiful.

[Titus2Momof4]

Man I am with all the rest.......some SERIOUS kitchen evny going on right now! Shoot I don't even have a sink or mirror in my bathroom! It's been a remodel project in the works since last summer. *sigh*

But I am ashamed to put my kitchen up here. I think it's probably the ugliest one here. I got those white countertops with the gold flecks...LOL! Only it's bubbled up and falling off. Everything stains it. I am a bleach queen to get it clean. It's the only thing that works on it. And lovely white tile for the backsplash which I hate! Do you know how hard it is to keep it clean? My cabinets are falling apart. One drawer broke and the face is off too. It's just a hole. The other day a door fell off it's hinge. It needs the hinges replaced now. So it's leaning up against where it goes. LOL! :giggle Yeah it's a sad situation over here. Oh I forgot about the fake brick! Yes I have that lovely 70's fake brick! I tell you it's UGLY with a capital U!


Well NOW we all must see pictures of this! LOL!!!

Where would you put new lighting fixtures? We were discussing that today.

It's hard to 'describe', but basically I would put some recessed lighting probably along both sides in the "L" shape. OK, trying to describe this... 2 recessed lights in the ceiling in front of the wall that has the fridge, and then the same thing on the side the has the window. Practially speaking, though, I think you could get away with putting them in only one spot, instead of both sides in the L shape (recessed lights really light up the kitchen, so you don't need TOO much lighting, but this would give you the option of using either side, so no matter which side you come in from, there is a switch- instead of walking through the kitchen to get to the switch. OR install more than one switch to operate the same set of lights) I would also have something hanging down in the middle, but I would have an island there and was assuming you were going to put something there. Finally, I would have some under-the-cabinet lighting. :)

[mollobe]

What a difference! I really like your green walls. Is your new backsplash ceramic tile? The new sink is awesome! :cool


Yep, the new ceramic tile backsplash was lovingly installed by my dad who flew down to help us remodel. I wanted something a little fancier, along with better counter tops, an actual island rather than a cart, etc, but DH reminded me that we won't be in this house for more than another couple years, so we shouldn't make the kitchen worth more than our humble little home allows or we'll end up losing money on it. So, we did the best we could with the best lower-end stuff. :shrug3


mollobe, what a huge difference the change in appliances & the new door made! Your kitchen is beautiful.


Thank you! The new appliances were the first thing we did when we moved in a year and a half ago - the old ones were NASTY because this was a rent house that needed tons of fixing up. I told DH we at least needed a new fridge and stove if he wanted to eat in our house. :P~ I LOVE the flat-top stove! Overflow from pots can get hard to clean off, but it beats digging stuff out from underneath burners any day. :yes


ooo, molly, i love it! :rockon

Thanks, Jen! Maybe you should come down and see it for yourself.... :poke ;)

[ArmsOfLove]

I really hate my kitchen . . . right now because it's not finished but ultimately because it's a galley kitchen. What that is totally practical for a mama with fibro and means I have to move a lot less than in most kitchens, when everyone is in there I just leave. And I have a very hard time cooking now because it's so closed off and crowded :( We put in a Varde Free standing kitchen from IKEA but after one of the cupboards fell twice from the wall and totally broke (and broke everything in it each time :rolleyes) I just left it down. And we have a few things left over from our original kitchen (from 1942--we ripped it out because we got mice and they were just running through the entire kitchen :hissyfit)

Anyway, we have a friend who is a cabinet maker and when he saw our kitchen recently he informed us we're staying in their guest room for a weekend while he renovates our kitchen :happytears :happytears :happytears Which means I have no idea what our kitchen will look like :)

[mollobe]

Anyway, we have a friend who is a cabinet maker and when he saw our kitchen recently he informed us we're staying in their guest room for a weekend while he renovates our kitchen :happytears :happytears :happytears Which means I have no idea what our kitchen will look like :)


Ohhh, that's so sweet! What a great thing to bless you with! :yes :happytears

[J3K]

do any of you USE your kitchens ?? That's what struck me more than the beautiful countertops , the cabinets , fixtures or top of the line appliances....where's the FOOD? Where are the dishes ?
and if any of you say "in the cabinets" I'm gonna pop thru this screen and bop you a good one. :mad

See the STUFF on the counters ?
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/jenjohnvon/kitchenandcheerleading089.jpg

and the STUFF in the dish drainer ?
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/jenjohnvon/kitchenandcheerleading088.jpg

and the target bag just sorta lying there completely forgotten ?
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/jenjohnvon/kitchenandcheerleading082.jpg

[Drew]

Anyway, we have a friend who is a cabinet maker and when he saw our kitchen recently he informed us we're staying in their guest room for a weekend while he renovates our kitchen :happytears :happytears :happytears Which means I have no idea what our kitchen will look like :)


Ohhh, that's so sweet! What a great thing to bless you with! :yes :happytears


:yes That is completely awesome.

J3K- If it makes you feel any better my DH is away on a business trip and we don't have any DC in the house so that makes it easy to keep clean. If you want I can post pictures of the kitchen after DH has made a big meal and I'm too tired to clean up. It's a whole different look I assure you. ;)

[crunchymum]

J3K, i have that SAME EXACT target bag!!! :jawdrop


:giggle




don't hit me, the dishes *are* in the cabinets... but not all the time. usually they are laying around the living room where little people have wandered with snacks.

[Titus2Momof4]

J3K, i have that SAME EXACT target bag!!!

Amazing!!! I was just tidying up, and picked up FOUR of those SAME EXACT Target bags!! :haha

***PSSSSSSSST! Drew has the SAME Target bag on one of her chairs in her post, so see, even enormous, child-free kitchens have Target bags! :giggle :giggle :poke


do any of you USE your kitchens ??

:giggle :haha

I was thinking the SAME THING - did they all just clean up their kitchen, wait for just the perfect Better Homes and Gardens lighting from outside, tie the kids up and take pictures??!?!?

:haha :haha :haha

seriously, because I am having MAJOR kitchen envy right now!! You ladies with the pristine HUGE kitchens, I envy you!!

I would take a picture of OUR kitchen, but, uh.... I am afraid that once I stood in it, the camera would be too close to everything for a good focus :rolleyes Seriously- this townhome we're renting has a BOX for a kitchen. It's a little bitty thing. Really teeny. When I open the blinds it makes it FEEL a little bigger and more airy. Though it does have amazingly deep counters...deeper than standard, which gives me LOTS of counter space, helping to make up for the lack of cabinet space (there are like 4 not including the ones under the sink and the two little ones above the stove :rolleyes) :sigh we need to move into a big house with one of these enormous kitchens!

[Drew]

***PSSSSSSSST! Drew has the SAME Target bag on one of her chairs in her post, so see, even enormous, child-free kitchens have Target bags! :giggle :giggle :poke


:haha I didn't even realize that! Were my pantry door open you'd be able to see my huge collection of Target bags. :giggle

I can totally identify with the tiny kitchen thing. We spent nearly the entire first 9 years together in apartments with tiny kitchens. The last one was so dinky we literally didn't have anywhere to put canned goods. :/ It really makes me appreciate the kitchen I have now.

[crunchymum]

i most CERTAINLY did NOT tie up the children for the pictures... :snooty i only locked them up out on the porch.

[flowermama]

DH's family built this house, and I guess it must have been the style of the day or something for this type of house ??? , but the whole house is pretty much dark brown and white, inside and outside. (please note that the Nestle product you see on the counter is MIL's. :shifty)

From one end of the kitchen:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/flowermama/DSC04296.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/flowermama/DSC04297.jpg

From the other:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/flowermama/DSC04302.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/flowermama/DSC04303.jpg

[Drew]

Jeri, I love that kitchen! I love the huge island with the sink. I've always wanted one of those.

[Titus2Momof4]

i most CERTAINLY did NOT tie up the children for the pictures... :snooty i only locked them up out on the porch.


:haha :poke

[PurpleButterfly]

I'm not going to apologize for having a nice clean kitchen. :shrug I work hard to keep it that way and like I said before, my kitchen is a gift from God that I don't take for granted and I want to make it shine for HIM. :heart There are dishes and food in my cupboards, on my counters, and in my sink. I snapped my pics in the morning when I was making toast (see the Earth Balace, plates, silverware?) and grits (see the pot on the stove?). I find it much easier to keep my kitchen clean if I tidy up as I go along during the day. Dishes sometimes get left in the sink, but most often it is fastest overall to just rinse and toss in the dishwasher. :) I love that my husband can come home to a clean and peaceful refuge and that I can give him that. :heart

The "envy" and "ashamed" comments are actually a bit hurtful, ladies. What is wrong with different lifestyles and seasons of life for different families? I wish I could share pictures of my home without feeling like people are hating me. :blush

I've enjoyed and admired every single kitchen in this thread. I know these homes are filled with love and goodness. :heart

[musicmama]

Kym,

I love your kitchen and your home. I love looking and having the memories I've had the chance to make you there, even just the couple of times I've visited! My girly making a mess of your high chair and floor with oatmeal and the bath she and Meadow shared in your big perfect sinks. Your home is peaceful and inviting and so very beautiful!! I never want you to stop posting pictures, your home is filled with love :hearts

[PurpleButterfly]

((((Sara)))) :happytears Thank you for such loving words of encouragement. :hug :iloveyou :heart I'm sorry ladies - and especially the OP :hug - I am emotional and extra-sensitive today. :blush :bag

[malakoa]

So please, sweet mamas, if you are feeling a little down about your kitchen, remember that behind these pictures are women just like you, with life trials and experiences and appreciation for all kitchens, grand and cozy. I personally would really enjoy looking at kitchens that might remind me of days past. I think every kitchen tells a story, and as the heart of our homes, should never be anything to be embarrassed about. Think about all the people who have nothing, seriously, nothing. All our kitchens are a true gift and blessing from the Lord! :kiss3

:grouphug :heart

this made me tear up... :heart

[JoyGal]

I think you have a very lovely kitchen Kym, and I always enjoy your pictures too :hug2 Just like I enjoy everyone else's pictures! I think it is fun to see other peoples homes and styles. In a way, it is almost like looking at a magazine.

Unfortunately, I've gone down in kitchen and cupboard size. We have the tiniest kitchen ever! But, it's ok for now and I try to keep it pretty and homey as much as possible. I'm also thankful to have a kitchen, since here people literally pack up the entire kitchen to move. As in everything from the appliances to the cupboards to the kitchen sink! So most places do not have a kitchen in them when you move in. Our sweet landladies provided a kitchen for us with all new appliances, a complete blessing!! Anyway, I always keep a fresh tablecloth on (extra long to hide the drink storage below :giggle ), fresh flowers in the window, storage behind the door and surfaces cleaned off as much as possible. I find it easier and more comfortable to clean as the day goes on also, but I have a really hard time if I know there are dirty dishes in the kitchen for some reason. I guess its because I always look at the kitchen as the heart of the home.

[blessedwithboys]

I'm sorry. :( I didn't mean for this to be a controversial or hurtful thread. I've enjoyed looking at everyone's kitchens. Whether they are in my price range or not they mean so much to the families who live in them. I think everyone's kitchen is beautiful. I'm the type to have the random Target bag out too, and I don't find it dishonoring to anyone.

(((Kym))) Your kitchen is gorgeous and I don't think anyone was trying to be hurtful to you. I think that the comments were meant in love and in good fun. I know I love some people who are ULTRA organized and better off than I am financially and if I ever give them a bit of a hard time about their beautiful homes it's only because I admire them and I've got a bit of a sarcastic streak. ;) :heart

It was just a dreaming thread. :yes

[Titus2Momof4]

I'm not going to apologize for having a nice clean kitchen. :shrug I work hard to keep it that way and like I said before, my kitchen is a gift from God that I don't take for granted and I want to make it shine for HIM. :heart There are dishes and food in my cupboards, on my counters, and in my sink. I snapped my pics in the morning when I was making toast (see the Earth Balace, plates, silverware?) and grits (see the pot on the stove?). I find it much easier to keep my kitchen clean if I tidy up as I go along during the day. Dishes sometimes get left in the sink, but most often it is fastest overall to just rinse and toss in the dishwasher. :) I love that my husband can come home to a clean and peaceful refuge and that I can give him that. :heart

The "envy" and "ashamed" comments are actually a bit hurtful, ladies. What is wrong with different lifestyles and seasons of life for different families? I wish I could share pictures of my home without feeling like people are hating me. :blush

I've enjoyed and admired every single kitchen in this thread. I know these homes are filled with love and goodness. :heart


....actually, my kitchen is spotless, and is about 98% of the time, and I'm not ashamed to say so. As is the rest of my house. In fact, I have been bashed on this board before for not understanding why people cannot keep up with housework, even with kids around :shrug

So. I would be the LAST person to be jealous because your kitchen is clean. Size, maybe... but that was really more my missing the big kitchen I had before we moved here.

It was a JOKE. Nothing more. :heart J3K posted her kitchen, complete with dishes in the sink and Target bag on the counter. She was joking when she asked if the kitchens are used, and I certainly didn't *really* think anyone tied their kids up to take any pictures. ;)

[J3K]

The "envy" and "ashamed" comments are actually a bit hurtful, ladies. What is wrong with different lifestyles and seasons of life for different families? I wish I could share pictures of my home without feeling like people are hating me.

:scratch :scratch

No one hates you for your beautifully kept kitchen. It LOOKS like a gift the way it's presented , it looks like you take pride in it...and that's perfectly fine. :hugheart

My comments came from a place of humor. The majority of kitchens I see (with small children in the home) do NOT look pristine. They look VERY used...over used...and sometimes the dishes sit there because the mother is too tired to clean it up. Mine certainly looks "lived in" most of the time.

Nothing is wrong with different lifestyles , different levels of kitchen cleanliness-comfort , and different stages of life.

I'm really surprised that an off handed funny comment shook you so much. The fact is many of do not keep pristine kitchens and I was just poking fun at that. Sitting here looking at all the gorgeous perfectly designed dream kitchens wondering "who ISN'T posting pictures of THEIR kitchens ?". Then giggled hysterically when I realized *I* wasn't posting pictures of MY kitchen.

It was just a joke.

[flowermama]

I'm sorry ladies - and especially the OP :hug - I am emotional and extra-sensitive today. :blush :bag

Sweet Kym, I love you. :heart :hugheart

BTW, you guys, the kitchen pics I posted look pretty clean (IMO), and the reason the kitchen is that way is because we're living with MIL and she feels badly when she sees that it's messy, so I'm trying my best to keep it clean. It's struggle for me, but I'm trying to remember that I'm Jesus' hands and feet and do my best at blessing my MIL. :O :heart

[PurpleButterfly]

Thanks, mamas, and my apologies again, blessedwithboys, for my emotions running all over your thread. :O :hug :heart

I totally got that it was a joke, but it felt hurtful and sarcastic to me. I'm really sensitive to sarcasm...my own personal stuff and nothing anybody else is responsible for. ;)

:grouphug :heart

[Titus2Momof4]

I totally got that it was a joke, but it felt hurtful and sarcastic to me. I'm really sensitive to sarcasm...my own personal stuff and nothing anybody else is responsible for.

:grouphug

It's ok :heart :heart :heart

[cmecu2]

I'm not going to apologize for having a nice clean kitchen. :shrug I work hard to keep it that way and like I said before, my kitchen is a gift from God that I don't take for granted and I want to make it shine for HIM. :heart There are dishes and food in my cupboards, on my counters, and in my sink. I snapped my pics in the morning when I was making toast (see the Earth Balace, plates, silverware?) and grits (see the pot on the stove?). I find it much easier to keep my kitchen clean if I tidy up as I go along during the day. Dishes sometimes get left in the sink, but most often it is fastest overall to just rinse and toss in the dishwasher. :) I love that my husband can come home to a clean and peaceful refuge and that I can give him that. :heart

The "envy" and "ashamed" comments are actually a bit hurtful, ladies. What is wrong with different lifestyles and seasons of life for different families? I wish I could share pictures of my home without feeling like people are hating me. :blush

I've enjoyed and admired every single kitchen in this thread. I know these homes are filled with love and goodness. :heart


We aren't hating you for having a nice kitchen. We are just wishing our kitchens were as nice as yours. I'm sorry you took it that way but honestly I can't see how anyone took our jokes badly. :shrug

[cmecu2]

Man I am with all the rest.......some SERIOUS kitchen evny going on right now! Shoot I don't even have a sink or mirror in my bathroom! It's been a remodel project in the works since last summer. *sigh*

But I am ashamed to put my kitchen up here. I think it's probably the ugliest one here. I got those white countertops with the gold flecks...LOL! Only it's bubbled up and falling off. Everything stains it. I am a bleach queen to get it clean. It's the only thing that works on it. And lovely white tile for the backsplash which I hate! Do you know how hard it is to keep it clean? My cabinets are falling apart. One drawer broke and the face is off too. It's just a hole. The other day a door fell off it's hinge. It needs the hinges replaced now. So it's leaning up against where it goes. LOL! :giggle Yeah it's a sad situation over here. Oh I forgot about the fake brick! Yes I have that lovely 70's fake brick! I tell you it's UGLY with a capital U!


Well NOW we all must see pictures of this! LOL!!!

Where would you put new lighting fixtures? We were discussing that today.



Ok ok You talked me into it. I just took pictures and will have to get them posted later. LOL! We are in the middle of remodeling too. Can we do bathrooms next? I bet I win there too. We don't even have a sink or mirror at the moment! LOL! :giggle

[TuneMyHeart]

I just wanted to say that my kitchen is usually fairly clean, but not as clean as it is in those pics. ;) We had just painted our kitchen and living room, so I cleared all the dishes off the counters and took some quick pics before anyone could mess it up. :shifty

[WalkByFaith]

PurpleButterfly, I love your attitude about having a clean kitchen/house so your husband can "come home to a clean and peaceful refuge". I'm quitting my job at the end of the summer and am hoping that I can do the same for my DH, because right now we get home from work at the same time and our house is a MESS!

Ladies, your kitchens are beautiful!!! It makes me want to go home and start painting and getting my kitchen a little more organized!!!

[mollobe]

We had just painted our kitchen and living room, so I cleared all the dishes off the counters and took some quick pics before anyone could mess it up. :shifty


:yes Me too.

[Abinsmom]

Awww, I'm just finding this thread and am sorry I missed your kitchen photos, Kym! Any chance I could take a peek? I am in the process of getting bids to remodel my kitchen and have found this very inspirational! We did the appliances a couple of years ago, but we are doing floors, countertops, and probably full backsplash. I've got the floors hired out, but I'm a bit paralyzed with where to go with the countertops (dark, light, granite, soapstone, quartz composite, WHAT????). So many choices and such a permanent one! If I can get some time, I will snap a few photos of my kitchen. It needs a facelift for sure (it's 12 years old).

[illinoismommy]

Drew- your kitchen is gorgeous! I love your dining set!

I'll be right back with a picture of our kitchen as it is right now.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x290/KarenForSale/kitchen.jpg

Okay- here it is. WAY not as gorgeous as all of your kitchens. :no What you can't see in the picture is that the fridge is to the left- the person taking the pic must've been standing in front of it. As I said, appliance replacement is in the cards...though won't be right away. That yellow tile backsplash (above the yellow countertops :giggle) is plastic- ick! DH wants to replace the countertops with tile.

Suggestions? :popcorn


you might be able to get away with a weathered-white french style.... and replace the countertop

[crunchymum]

:yes i like that idea... dark seems like it would make the kitchen look so small... :think

[blessedwithboys]

you might be able to get away with a weathered-white french style.... and replace the countertop


:yes i like that idea... dark seems like it would make the kitchen look so small... :think


Yeah, I'm coming to that conclusion as well. White, and that countertop will have to go at some point. I really love crunchymum's white apron sink, so I'm considering that too. I've got time to think about this - that's the blessing of not having the $ to do anything about it right now. :lol

[crunchymum]

I've got time to think about this - that's the blessing of not having the $ to do anything about it right now. :lol



:lol ITU! it's like the world is your catalogue, :giggle

[Six Little Feet]

Here sorry it took so long

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/wiebe4/IMG_4467.jpg

Excuse the cluttered counter...and really cluttered fridge!!!

[blessedwithboys]

sheryl- I love it! I might be changing my mind back to doing black....

[Abinsmom]

I'm ready to show my humble kitchen but can't figure out how to share photos! Can anyone help?

[cmecu2]

Ok I told you all I had the ugliest kitchen! So here it is! Do I get a prize? ;)

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t308/cmecu2/Dscn3295.jpg

The entire kitchen area. Do you like the hole where my drawer is suppose to be? And the countertops are cleaner now...lol! How about our personal pharmacy by the stove?

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t308/cmecu2/Dscn3296.jpg

The other side.....those shutters are dust magnets! And how about that lovely door that fell off the hinges? It was hanging by one hinge until it fell on my toe....AND the pickle jar fell out and landed on the SAME toe. I made a comment about fixing it....yeah through my pain. ANd hubby fixed it all right.....ripped it off the one remaining hinge! LOL! How about that RED paneling! Can you say UGLY!

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t308/cmecu2/Dscn3297.jpg

This is across from stove on other side. We still need to build a cabinet around the dishwasher...oh and the bottled water holds it down from tipping over! :giggle

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t308/cmecu2/Dscn3298.jpg

The dining area. I was drying some shirts still. And the corner with all the trim from the bathroom that is in the works of being remodeled. I think I went to the store that day since there are things sitting on the floor like soda and cat litter...lol!

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t308/cmecu2/Dscn3299.jpg

My desk and the craft table. Surprisinglymy desk is somewhat clean! However the bar area is a catch all for everything. I scrapbook and stamp at that table and that is Emily's sewing machine.

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t308/cmecu2/Dscn3300.jpg

The craft table with no room to craft! LOL! I had returns that I needed to do on there. All my ebay items I was selling were on there. Oh and then under and around it are the towels from the bathroom since it's tore up. And then all the stuff to fix the bathroom including tools and the shop vac!

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t308/cmecu2/Dscn3301.jpg

THIS is my UGLY contertop! It use to be white with gold flecks. Even new hidous but realy UGLY since it's old and falling apart. Everything stains it and it does not come clean.

Do do I win for the ugliest kitchen?

[Abinsmom]

Okay, here goes. I think I may have figured out this whole 'photo-posting' gig, but please forgive me if my photos are huge or non-existant!

This is my sink, dishwasher, and generally most-generous countertop area. I spend at least 60% of my waking moments in this 12 square feet of space. I did not specifically clean up for this photo -- I just REALLY always try to keep this area clean (although it can also be an area of clutter from the other people of my family, and we struggle with this!). Please note the lovely wood-edged laminate countertops. Believe it or not, when we were picking the 'specs' of our home just 12 years ago, we actually selected that! Yikes! In case you want to order the same laminate, it is called White Suede, circa 1996. Ooooo. What you can't see in this photo is the ugly white sink that is scratched and no longer even shines in places. And you can't see the $250 new garbage disposal we had to replace last month. And don't miss the beauty of that angled corner on the peninsula -- was it really all that much cheaper for the builder to do rather than just a gentle round or a simple corner? I hate that thing!

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t28/Abinsmom/IMG_1814.jpg

Next up on the block is the cooking area.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t28/Abinsmom/IMG_1815.jpg

Please note that the White Suede Peninsula is still showing in the foreground. We just can't see enough of that White Suede (and another appreciative view of that pretty angled corner!)! And we're so fond of those pretty, pretty wood-wrapped edges, we might just keep them even once we convert to something different! The only good thing about this photo is that it provides some hope with the stainless appliances. We replaced the appliances about 2 years ago and are very happy with the way they look. We had all white appliances before -- WAY too much white! And yes, that's a loaf of bread next to the tea kettle, and a box of kleenex on top of the fridge (so the dog won't get into it -- he loves kleenex!). And the two baskets on top of the fridge hold toys in time-out and some special dog treats that can't be reached by the dog! I do try to keep my house tidy, so I hope I will not be condemned for it looking so very not!

And, speaking of the dog, here is his favorite place to hang out (my third and final photo):

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t28/Abinsmom/IMG_1817.jpg

He doesn't miss a thing dropped while I am cooking or chopping! You'll notice little bits of blue painter's tape on the baseboards -- we are having the baseboards removed on Friday throughout our main floor in order to have the floors refinished a darker color and I had to mark which ones I wanted to be stained or not! We're in the process of a lot of house projects, changing up our 12 year old house one step at a time. In two days, I will have no baseboards for about 6 weeks -- yuck!

So, I am just at the beginning of my kitchen facelift journey. We're doing the floors in a few weeks, then the countertops which will probably be a dark granite, maybe soapstone, maybe quartz composite. The sink, faucet, and full backsplash tile will be done, but I haven't selected any of that yet. I hate my cabinets (you might have noticed they are a lovely white-wash which is NOT fashionable in the Pacific Northwest, and should never have been encouraged with new construction!), but am trying to live around them and hope that all the changes I have planned will give them a few more years. If not, I will just paint them.

Any tips? Your photos have been helpful since I was initially afraid of staining my floors a darker color than my cabinets.

[Drew]

cmecu2- I wouldn't say that your kitchen is ugly, it just needs some tlc. Your drawer situation reminds me of our last apartment. In our case the front of the drawer fell off but the rest of the drawer was still in there. Our kitchen was so dinky we didn't have anywhere else to put that stuff so we just left it in there. It was a nice look. :giggle

Abinsmom- Perhaps your cabinets look different irl but in these photos they look nice to me. Also I'd love to see pics of your floor after it's refinished. I think a darker color will look really good in there.

[malakoa]

cmecu2- I wouldn't say that your kitchen is ugly, it just needs some tlc.

it looks pretty good sized... is it?

i won't even take a picture of mine. we live in an apartment and everthing is made of particle board. but we'll be moving soon (end of june) and i'll have a gorgeous kitchen then.

[cmecu2]

cmecu2- I wouldn't say that your kitchen is ugly, it just needs some tlc.

it looks pretty good sized... is it?

i won't even take a picture of mine. we live in an apartment and everthing is made of particle board. but we'll be moving soon (end of june) and i'll have a gorgeous kitchen then.



Not really. It's a kitchen and dining room combo and the kitchen itself is u shaped and there isn't enough room for the 2 of us to be in there at the same time. And we don't have much counter space or storage. Those cabinets over the fridge are pretty useless to me...I'm short so I can't reach them. I can't reach the 3rd shelf in the other cabinets either. ANd barely can reach the 2nd shelf. I want a pantry! Oh I should have taken a picture of the floor. it's vinyl and it's dingy and icky. It was not professionally stalled and is rolling up on the edges. And when Bella was a puppy she chewed up some of it by the back door. LOL!

[Abinsmom]

Thanks, Drew, for the encouragement! My cabinets are a bit more pink-y than the photos show, but I think a dark countertop will downplay that a bit. At least I hope! Replacing the cabinets really isn't an option for us -- it's very expensive and we are already spending so much just to do the floors and countertops and carpet! My baseboards were removed this morning, so here we go! I'm so excited! We've picked a Brazilian Cherry stain on our red oak floors, so I am crossing my fingers that it will come out with the color I'm dreaming! I'm nervous -- it's such a huge investment -- but I'm ready to make the change!

By the way, I'm so frugal, it is hard for me to spend thousands of dollars on things so petty such as flooring. But I'm thrilled nontheless -- it feels good to be so indulgent every once in awhile!