The Kitchen!

FINALLY! Our much overdo kitchen pictures! Hurrah! Let's first remember what we started with...

Gross. And NOW (almost the same view):

Ahh...so much better and brighter! I can't imagine having that terrible WALL where the peninsula now is. Yesterday I prepped dinner while watching the Olympics and was happy as a clam. There will soon be a dining room table in the middle there.

Here's a BEFORE of the actual kitchen - 

And AFTER: 

 I still want to put something on that back wall - maybe these cool graphic prints we got as a wedding gift in colored frames? And I will paint that wood stool something fun someday.

Here are some other details for you:

Normal size stove! (If you remember what I had before...)

Awesome flexible faucet.

Big deep drawers for storage - LOVE THIS.

Some green friends in our window.

Big ass sink.

Breakfast area.

SO HAPPY!

Here's all the materials we used if you are curious:

Cabinets - Ikea Akurum Adel Off-White

Drawer and Cabinet Pulls - Pulls Direct

Countertops - Honed Absolute Black Granite

Stove Hood - Pacific Sales

Appliances - From Sears

       - Bosch Dishwasher

       - LG Convection Range

       - Kenmore Elite Fridge

       - Kenmore Microwave

       - Kenmore Washer & Dryer

Sink - Kraus

Faucet - American Standard

Hanging Lights - Restoration Hardware

Kitchen Chairs - Restoration Hardware - On Sale!

Table - Neal's Grandmother 

Map - Style De Vie inside HD Buttercup

Kitchen Details...

I know we owe you guys pics of the whole kitchen, but here's one of my favorite details in the kitchen. In the end of peninsula, we had our contractor put an outlet for mixers, blenders, and in this case, my sewing machine (had to hem some curtains!). It's inside the cupboard, so no ugly plug out in the open and it's in a perfect place for utilizing that counterspace.

The cabinet door DOES actually shut most of the way, so don't worry about me accidentally filling the cupboard with flour and goo from the mixer.

And the winner is...

Carrera Marble 2x4 Tile. Going up as I post this. Got a great deal on it (and a road trip to Orange County with Neal to get it). We can do Heath Tile in our "forever home".

Dishwasher thingy...

Does anyone know what this thingy is called?

The knob thingy that would squirt water out if your dishwasher overflows?

And more importantly, do they sell ATTRACTIVE ones anywhere?

Where does all our stuff go...

Any minute now our countertops will be arriving, our sink will be hooked up, kitchen lights hung, and we can actually start unpacking and USING the main floor of our place. We're trying to figure out how to lay it out and where all our existing furniture goes - though obviously we want to buy all new stuff!

Neal is anxious and drew this little layout this morning. I thought it was too cute not to share.

We do have a bit of a wonky situation where there's no clear wall for our big ass TV. We think we'll hang it at an angle in the corner (Neal's drawing not to scale) but want to put furniture in place before we commit. I am sure my readers will be DYING with anticipation for where we hang it.

I need your help...

Tomorrow our countertops are installed. We chose a blackish/dark grey honed granite (Absolute Black Honed if you want me to be exact) thinking that it would look like a natural stone and be durable enough beyond our time in this apartment. Our cabinets are white. Our knobs and pulls are satin nickel.

Now is the time we must choose a backsplash. I am torn. I had been decided on white subway tile with dark grout, but have changed my mind. I want more texture and more interest than that. But I'm stuck between two ideas. Help me.

FIRST OPTION:  Fern Green Heath Tile from their Modern Basics collection. We'd get the 2x6 tiles. I like the varied tones, I love the texture and gloss, but worry about committing to a color.

This is a pic of the actual tile we'd get - It's in a bathroom, and stacked instead of "running" like subway tile would go.

This is an inspirational picture of white cabinets, dark counters and the same kind of pulls. This green might be a little yellower than ours, and this kitchen obviously has some crazy light going on. Jealous.

OPTION TWO: Small Carrera Marble Tile from wherever is cheapest. I'm thinking 2x4 or even a herringbone, though that can get pricey. I love that it's a neutral, yet bright, and that the natural variations in the marble give the wall a lot of texture.  I also think it might be cool to have this blank slate and then have fun accessorizing the kitchen with all sorts of other textures and colors and fabrics and pottery, etc

Here are a couple inspirational pics of marble:

Which way should we go? HELP!