gracesantacruz' Kitchen

Beach-inspired White Kitchen with Iridescent Glass and Stone Backsplash

Contact: gracesantacruz (My Page)
Posted on Sun, Jul 12, 09
Link to gracesantacruz' Gardenweb finished kitchen post
Link to gracesantacruz' kitchen photos:none

Details:

• Cabinets: existing oak cabinets were painted with Kelly Moore Durapoxy eggshell finish in Swiss Coffee White.
• Countertop: Caesarstone 6600 countertop in Nougat. Quartz embedded stone crystals offer polished shades of grey that match the stainless steel and any shade of white in the kitchen. Mitered eased edge hides any seam with the 2 1/4-inch edge.
• Backsplash: tiles are Hakatai, Emperia Series Celestial mosaic blend TR640 - 2 shades of iridescent glass with white marble.
• Hardware: crystal knobs and cup pulls from ebay
• Main sink: Kohler sink Model # K-3351-L. Found on ebay, right side deeper (10-inch)
• Main sink faucet: HansgroheMain
• Bar sink: Round Kohler bar sink
• Bar sink faucet: Hansgrohe Axor faucet with triple undercounter water filter.
• Refrigerator: Jenn-Air white "floating glass" side by side. Cabinet was deepened to match the standard depth refrigerator so it appears cabinet-depth.
• Ovens: GE Monogram. Top Advantium oven doubles as a 2nd convection oven or warmer, plus still a microwave.
• Cooktop: Jenn-Air electric downdraft stainless
• Dishwasher: Miele (it's silent)
• Floor: existing solid maple planking, 5-inch wide by a company called Junker. The finish is simple polyurethane (prefinished)
• Lighting: Juno mini undercabinet track lighting
• Bar stools: Fancy chrome and acrylic bar stools found on ebay.
• Wall paint: blue is "Hatteras Haze" from Kelly Moore. The other wall (goes into dining room area) is "Abalone White" from Behr.

Background Info:
We updated what was a mid-80's top-of-the line kitchen to a 2009 kitchen. We replaced the appliances, painted the oak cabinets, and replaced the 80's ivory colored 6-inch tile countertops and backsplashes.
Total cost was only a little over $20K because:
1) We kept our original cabinets by painting them.
2) We purchased all the appliances online and found good deals including no tax.
3) We did some DIY: backsplash, most of electric works, plumbing, and did not hire a general contractor.
4) Our painter is the fastest, most thorough, very affordable wonderful professional. He did the most tedious part of removing the wall papers and all the painting, which would have taken us months.

Cabinets: Painting the existing cabinet was another big decision. It is solid oak but after 25yrs, it was looking dingy. Our painter to use eggshell rather than semi-gloss swiss coffee, which turned out to be crucial. The Eggshell finish gave us much softer, classier tone. (i.e., looks more expensive). I was worried about stains and dirt on white cabinets, but because the dirt and stains show clearly, I can just wipe it with soapy sponge and in 2 seconds, they are gone.
Features:
Bar with Seating
Bay Window
Cabs Wall > 12in Deep
Cabs Wall > 36in High
Glass Doors
Lighting Pendant
Lighting Recessed
Lighting Under Cabinet
Peninsula with Seating
Prep Sink
Sink>30in Wide
Trash Pullout
Walk-in Pantry

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