babs711's 2nd Kitchen

White Quartzite Kitchen with Southern Charm

Details from babs711 on 9/29/2012
Link to babs711's Gardenweb finished kitchen post
Link to babs711's Finished photos

Introduction
We started building our home at the very end of 2011 and moved in at the end of June 2012. I wanted the kitchen to be comfortable yet open and airy at the same time.  

Kitchen Highlights:

• Cabinets: Eudora Frameless
• Island countertop: White Macaubus Quartzite
• Perimeter countertop: Leathered Absolute Black Granite
• Sink: Kohler Riverby Cast Iron
• Faucet: Moen Woodmere in Stainless
• Hardware on solid doors/drawers: Amerock Highland Ridge in polished nickel
• Glass knobs and Bin Pulls in polished nickel: Van Dyke's
• Range & Dishwasher: Thermador
• Refrigerator: Kitchenaid Pro
• Refrigerator Drawers: Electrolux
• Sharp Microwave Drawer 
• Backsplash: Settecento
• Flooring (entire first floor): carbonized hickory 7"" planks
• Pendants: Currey & Company Regatta
• Chandelier: Currey & Company Simplicity
• Window ceiling lights: Hudson Valley 

KitchenDetails:
1. Kitchen Basics
Type of Remodel:    New Kitchen/New House
Kitchen installation:     Hired General Contractor
Budget:    Middle Budget
Location:     U.S. Southern
Location Type:    Suburban

2. Kitchen Design
Kitchen Design Family/Function:    Multiple Cooks, Small Children, Entertain Frequently, Family Friendly
Kitchen Designer:    Self-Designed, with GW feedback
Kitchen Size:    Medium (151-350 sq.ft)
Kitchen Dimensions (WxL):    12x14 / 22x14 w/ eating area
Kitchen Height:    Height 10 feet or less
Kitchen Shape:    L-Shaped Kitchen plus Island, Open Kitchen
Kitchen Style:    Classic Style, Shaker Style, Traditional Style, Transitional Style, Southern
Kitchen Island:    Single Island, Island With Seating, Island with one level, Oversized Island
Kitchen Island#1 Size (WxL):    48Wx84L 
Kitchen Peninsula:    No Peninsula
Kitchen Seating:    Island Counter Seating, Window Seat
Kitchen Ceiling:    Beamed Ceiling
Design Special Features:    Beverage/Bar Center, Custom Range Hood, Built-in Pantry, Multiple Prep Areas, Wall removed between kitchen & DR 

3. Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinets New/Reused:    New Cabinet Doors and Boxes - Stock Sizes
Cabinet Manufacturer:    Eudora
Cabinet Door Composition:    Solid Wood Cabinet Doors, Glass doors also
Cabinet Door (Wood):    Maple Cabinet Doors
Cabinet Box Composition:    Solid Wood Cabinet Boxes
Cabinet Box (Wood):    Maple Cabinet Boxes
Cabinet Framing:    Frameless Cabinet
Cabinet Door Overlay:    Full Overlay Cabinet Door
Cabinet Door Style:    Recessed Panel Cabinet Door, Mixed Cabinet Door Styles, slab top drawer, recessed shaker for lower drawers
Cabinet Color:    White/Cream Cabinet Door
Cabinet Finish:    Painted Cabinet Door
Cabinet Height:    Gap between Cabinets and Ceiling with Straight Cabinets
Mixed Cabinets?    No mixed cabinets
Cabinet Special Features:    Wall Cabinet greater than 36in high, Full Extension Cabinet Drawers, Soft-Close Cabinet Drawers

4. Kitchen Countertops
Countertop New/Reused:    New Countertops
Countertop Composition:    Granite (slab) Countertop, White Macaubas Quartzite on Island / Granite on perimeter   
Granite Countertop:    Leathered Absolute Black Granite
Countertop Color:    Black Countertop, White/Cream Countertop
Countertop Finish:    Polished Countertop, other is leathered
Countertop Edge:    Eased Edge Countertop
Mixed Countertops?    Mixed Countertops perimeter/island (multiple colors/shades/finishes)

5. Kitchen Backsplash
Backsplash New/Reused:    New Backsplash
Backsplash Material:    Ceramic/Porcelain Backsplash
Backsplash Type:    Subway Tile Backsplash
Backsplash Pattern:    Running Bond Backsplash
Backsplash Tile Size:    Backsplash Tile Rectangular - Medium (2x4 to 3x6)
Backsplash Size:    Full backsplash
Backsplash Color:    Light Backsplash, Neutral Backsplash, Aqua Backsplash
Backsplash Manufacturer:    Settecento
Backsplash Details:    Grey/Green (but it's clearly a grayed blue/green
Backsplash Other Information:    crackle tile

6. Kitchen Appliances
Appliances: New/Reused?    All New Appliances
Refrigerator Manufacturer:    KitchenAid
Refrigerator Color:    Stainless Steel Refrigerator
Refrigerator Special Features:    Bottom FreezerRefrigerator, French Door Refrigerator, Counter-Depth Refrigerator
Refrigerator Details:    Water right inside the door when you open it. Icemaker inside. Organized freezer.
Range/Stove Details:    36" wide. Star burners. Extra Low simmer feature.
Range/Stove Color:    Stainless Steel Range/Stove
Range/Stove Special Features:    Range Gas Continuous Grates, Convection Range, Pro-Style Range
Range/Stove Manufacturer:    Thermador
Range Hood Manufacturer:    Kobe
Range Hood Max CFM:    601-1000 CFM Range Hood
Range Hood MUA:  
Range Hood Color:    White/Bisque Range Hood, Painted Wood Range Hood
Range Hood Special Features:    Wall Mount Range Hood, Chimney Style Range Hood, Liner Insert Range Hood
Dishwasher Manufacturer:    Thermador
Dishwasher Color:    Stainless Steel Dishwasher 
Microwave Manufacturer:    Sharp
Microwave Color:    Stainless Steel Microwave 
Microwave Special Features:    Built-in Microwave in Drawer
Additional Appliances:    Refrigerator Drawer
Additional Appliance Information:    Also have refrigerator drawers by Electrolux.

7. Kitchen Plumbing
Plumbing: New/Reused?    Installed All New Plumbing Line 
Main Sink Manufacturer:    Kohler
Main Sink Material:    Cast Iron Main Sink
Main Sink Shape:    Rectangular Main Sink
Main Sink Bowls:    Single Bowl Sink
Main Sink Width:    Main Sink 30 to 34 inches
Main Sink Cabinet Size:    Main Sink Cabinet 36 inch
Main Sink Mount:     Positive Reveal Undermount Sink
Main Sink Details:    Riverby Cast Iron sink with right hand drain and a slightly sloped bottom for water flow. Small positive reveal for the accessories that come with sink: drying rack, soaking bin, cutting board and bins, etc.
Main Faucet Manufacturer:    Moen Woodmere
Main Faucet Color/Material:    Stainless Steel Main Faucet
Main Faucet Finish:    Brushed Main Faucet
Main Faucet Type:    Pull-Out Spray Faucet, Single Handle Faucet, Gooseneck Faucet  

8. Kitchen Electric and Lighting
Electric Special Features:    Outlet in Island, Speakers/stereo (built-in), Nuvo stereo system   
Lighting Special Features:    Chandelier in Kitchen, Dimmers in Kitchen, Pendant over Island, Recessed Lighting, Semi-Flush Lighting, Under Cabinet Lighting
Lighting Details:
~ Currey & Company Regatta Pendants (three) over island
~ Currey & Company Simplicity Chandelier over dining/breakfast table
~ Hudson Valley semi-flush lights over sink and window seat
~ Kichler Xenon UCLs (on dimmers)
~ All lighting on dimmers
9. Kitchen Hardware
Hardware Type:    Both Knobs and Pulls
Hardware Knobs Manufacturer:    Amerock Highland Ridge - polished nickel knobs on kitchen & window seat hutch cabinet doors.    Van Dyke's - glass knobs on upper kitchen glass cabinetsHardware Knobs Material/Color:    Glass Knobs, Nickel/Pewter Knobs   
Hardware Pulls Manufacturer:    Amerock Highland Ridge Pulls on Kitchen drawers, Van Dyke's bin pulls on window seat drawers
Hardware Pulls Material/Color:    Nickel/Pewter Knobs

10. Kitchen Flooring
Flooring New/Reused:    New Flooring
Flooring Manufacturer:    UA Flooring
Flooring Material:    Wood Floor
Flooring Color:    Dark Wood Floor
Flooring Details:    Carbonized Hickory

11. Kitchen Pantry
Pantry Type:    Walk-in Pantry (Built-in)
Pantry Size:    6'Wx6'W
Pantry Depth:    12"
Pantry Cabinet Features:    Fixed Shelves in Pantry Cabinet, customized shelving depths & widths
Pantry Shelving:    Fixed Open Shelving in Built-in Pantry, Painted Wood Open Shelving in Built-in Pantry
Pantry Door:    Swing-In Door on Built-in Pantry
Pantry Shape:    U-Shaped Pantry Shelves
Pantry Items:    Bottled Goods in Pantry, Boxed Goods in Pantry, Broom/Dustpan in Pantry, Canned Goods in Pantry, Dishes in Pantry, Fresh Vegetables in Pantry, Paper Products in Pantry, Pet Supplies in Pantry, Wraps in Pantry
Pantry Containers:    Baskets in Pantry, Specialty Bins in Pantry, Metal Specialty Jars in Pantry, Plastic Specialty Jars in Pantry
Special Pantry Features:    Electrical Outlet in Pantry, Single-Can Pantry (Shallow Pantry Inside a Wall)
Pantry Other Information:
~ Shelves are in a U shape facing you when you walk in the door. On the left, shelves are 12"" deep.
~ In front of you, shelves are 16"" deep.
~ To the right, the can shelves are 6 1/2"" deep and stop short of the door swing.
~ From bottom to top, the clearances between shelves are roughly: 20"", 16"", 14"", 10"", 10"", 12"", 9"", then 24""ish inches before the ceiling.
~ Behind the door, I keep a step stool and a wall mounted rack for brooms, etc. I also have a wall mounted grocery bag holder.
~ The wall immediately to the left of the door (same wall as the door) has no shelves, purposely. I have an Eye-Vac vacuum plugged in that sucks up anything I sweep near it. Above it, I'm mounting some narrow wire shelves for small items. "
12. Kitchen Special Features
Convenience Items:    Bookshelf, China Hutch, Dish Drawer, Super Susan
Special Features Other Information:
~ Hidden storage cabinets on seating side of island.
~ Large windows. One over sink 4"" from countertop. Other at window seat. 

13. Kitchen Decor
Decor Wall Color Details:    Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter
Decor Special Features:    Colorful Decor, Decorative Soap Dispenser
Decor Other Information:
~ Custom Roman Shades
~ Custom cushion and pillows at window seat
~ KitchenAid Mixer
14. Kitchen Additional Comments
Opinions:    I love my kitchen. It's light and airy yet warm and welcoming at the same time. It's exactly the feel I was going for when I started. I'm so happy with the island quartzite. I think it helps make the kitchen. We get asked about it, the pendants, chandelier and the backsplash the most. It's just a fun, nice place to be!

Thank You's:    I want to thank all GWers who answered my questions when I had any. The help and input here is invaluable. I received better input here than I did from any designer.   

Before Photos:  No
Floorplan Photos:  No