Before we dive into today’s post about kitchens, let me just tell you about a fun giveaway coming on Monday. I’m partnering with an exciting online decor company that you’ll be reading about then AND they want to give a little something to my readers! So, don’t forget to stop back by on Monday to sign up for the giveaway. You’re gonna love it!
Kitchens are such an important part of a home, the center of living, where all the food preparation and lots of hanging out is done, so isn’t it nice to have a pretty and functional kitchen? While I would be very happy to have any of the kitchens below, mine does not resemble any of them, however, I’ll be happy to do a little facelift in there and have it a bit more functional.
(Southern Accents)
I think this one above is my favorite. So classic and traditional.
(Southern Accents)
And of course, I just love all the open shelving on this one, even though it’s probably not all that practical. Anyone have open shelving and do you like it?
(Coastal Living)
This one is so pretty and inviting too, with the warm walls and the large island. Dreamy!
(South Africa Black) Not sure where this came from
I adore the above black kitchen, take a look at how much light comes in and how open it feels. Ahhh, that is so pretty! And so we come to my kitchen. The one getting a little bit of a makeover that I’m jumping up and down about.
Our kitchen is not all that big. It’s a galley style with cabinets on both sides.
This side has an L shape with a curved corner. We’re getting ready to do a little facelift in here and looks like I’ll finally be able to get granite countertops. The previous owner put down tumbled marble tile over the old laminate and after 3 years, the grout is looking pretty dirty. Tumbled marble is also not a great idea for a countertop, as it has so many pits in it. I never feel like it’s clean. It looks pretty, just impractical to live with. So, hubby says we can do this and I’m so excited to get a little update.
It’s a functional kitchen and it gets lots of use, since I’m in here cooking every single day. I’m really loving the new tracklight in here too. The bright white light is great shining on the counters.
The eat-in breakfast area. Not one of those large and spacious kitchens, but it works for us and I’m grateful for it. Someone will ask, so I’ll tell you the paint color in here is Laura Ashley Olive 4 (from Lowes).
Do your counters look this cluttered? Real life here!
See my little shelf area? I’ve got a little something planned for that too, so can’t wait to share that with you.
I also hate my white sink and faucet. Would never pick that for a kitchen, so I can’t wait to replace these too. I’m looking at the granite composite sinks (black undermount) and it will be so nice to have everything seamless and get away from a dirty white sinkbowl. This one shows every pot mark and is impossible to keep clean. Now, should I get an oil-rubbed bronze faucet or a brushed nickel one? I’m debating that one. I’m leaning towards oil-rubbed bronze, cause I like that look so much. Any of you with the ORB, have you had any problems with it turning colors on you? I want something that will stand up to years of use. I had brushed stainless in my last house and it was easy maintenance. This will never be a true dream kitchen, but it’s just fine with me and I will be tickled pink to get a new countertop. I don’t sit around dreaming of new houses or dream kitchens anymore. I’m just thankful to have the one I’ve got.
This is the granite we are looking at. It’s called Napoli and I like the colors in it. We are keeping the backsplash we have, so I need something that will work with it. I was thinking about going dark with my white cabinets, but from what I’ve heard, dark granite shows every fingerprint and spot and it’s a nightmare to keep it looking good. Anyone have experience with that? I’d love to hear it all. I even got feedback from the granite people that they had so many complaints about the shiny dark granite and he told me that honed was just about as bad. Honed is pretty too, but more expensive and my hubby really didn’t like the looks of honed, so this is what we settled on.
Close up of the granite. This was very similar to the granite tiles I had in my old kitchen and it never looked dirty, so I don’t think I can go wrong with this. It has enough black and white mixed that it brings out the white in the cabinets, yet the black and gold gives it interest and ties it into the backsplash. So, I think this is the one!
Here’s the granite sink I’m looking at, Blanco Silgranite undermount. Home Depot also has a version by Pegasus that is less expensive, so that might be an option too. Anyone have that one?
And this faucet was a favorite of mine from my old kitchen and I had it in brushed stainless. This time I think I’m going for the oil-rubbed bronze. This is the Marielle by Price Pfister.
Also, have any of you bought kitchen knobs on Ebay? I bought some matte black ones 2 years ago that are already changing colors. The black has worn off especially on the knobs we use a lot. So, I’m going to get oil-rubbed bronze ones to replace. Do any of you have any favorite sellers or sources for knobs that won’t turn for a good price?
Can’t wait to do it in the next few weeks! I’d love to hear from all of you who have granite countertops. What color do you have and do you love it?? Do tell, let me hear all about your kitchens, what you have now that you like and what you’d love to change if you could!
Edited to ADD: In case you’re new to my blog, I posted last year about the kitchen renovation we did in my OLD kitchen in Georgia, so this little kitchen update is small compared to that one. You can see the pics here. I was really proud of how that one came out.
Birmingham Girls! I have just found out that the flea market is NOT opening this month, so we will have to reschedule that for another month. Apparently, they are doing construction at the fair grounds, so I’m hoping May will work out if they have it open again by then.
Oops! I forgot to mention that I have a white sink (which I don’t like due to the marks and stains that show) so a ORB faucet went well with it. However, if you’re going to have a black sink (love those) then I would go with a silver colored faucet. The ORB would clash. You could go with a copper colored sink though, but that would probably cost too much. Love them though!
First off, I think your kitchen looks lovely right now. Of course, I’m sure what ever you have planned will be spectacular. Your granite looks a lot like the granite we have. Ours totally hids the dirt–which is fantastic, until you are trying to clean it, and can’t see what you have missed. But since I don’t clean that often, it’s perfect! Can’t wait to see what you do!
I have Giallo Ornamental which looks a lot like the one you’ve chosen. I was torn between a dark brown and this one and I’m glad I choose the lighter one. The dark color would have shown every water spot or fingerprint.
I have an oil rubbed bronze faucet and absolutely love it. I got the one bowl deep, stainless sink.
It’s really deep and I love it too.
I got oil rubbed bronze cabinets pulls from Lowes.
You’ve seen some pictures, I’ll try to make a better one and post it on my blog.
Since my kitchen remodel, I feel like I’m living in a new house.
Now I have to make curtains for the new kitchen. Any suggestions on a location to purchase fabric other than Hancocks or Hobby Lobby.
Melinda
http://youknowjuststuff.blogspot.com
I had the Pegasus sink you mentioned in our last house and we loved it! Our new house has a kitchen that I am not thrilled with but it will do for now until I can dream of and justify spending the money on a new one BUT we are going to replace the current stainless steel sink. I want to put in the same Pegasus sink we had before.
Enjoy your new countertops and your new look for your kitchen!
I have granite that is very similar to the one you picked out. Mine is called New Venetian Gold. We love it! It is so easy to keep clean and does not show fingerprints or streaks. My mother in law has uba tuba black granite and it shows every mark! So, you are correct that the lighter is less maintenance. I think your choice will look wonderful with your tile and cabinets. The only thing I wish I would have done differently was get the fancier ogee edge. I think it dresses up the granite nicely.
Hello Rhoda.
I have both dark brown granite and the Marielle faucet in the antique bronze finish. I have loved the faucet for 4 years but it is (prematurely I think) beginning to show wear. Water spots on the fixture and when you clean them, a little of the finish comes off to. I’ve tried everything natural. I would recommend getting a nickle finish. Just dependson what goes with the rest of your kitchen.
Dark granite . . . I have the terrible track home speckley brown. Shows a lot, but worse, covers up a lot and isn’t necessarily as clean as you think until you move like a contortionist to see if you got everything. HA! But I’ll take being a little more cautious over cleaning grout any day!
I think you’ll love whatever you get. The granite you’ve chosen is lovely. Have fun!
Oh you’re going to love the granite and the undermount sink, my granite is very similar to yours and it always looks GREAT…I did a D shaped Franke stainless steel, I had a double sink before and I felt I lost too much counter space, the deep bowl is great for pots etc…my faucet is similar too.
I got my knobs at EXPO I paid a few $$$ but they are exactly what I wanted. I searched everywhere !!!
Your kitchen is very cute could you get a little island in there, might help with counter space ??
I can’t wait to see what you do, I KNOW it will be great !!!
See you on Monday….
All the best,
Kathy 🙂
My granite is similar and it’s a dream!!! Consider how the oil rubbed bronze will look with your stainless appliances…I had the same debate and decided to go with the brushed nickel in the end so everything flowed together. I think consistency in a small kitchen is important (granted your’s is huge compared to mine – ha!).
Rhoda –
I put that exact sink in a kitchen remodel my husband and I did. When the woman at the showroom suggested black all I could envision was black porcelain. When she showed it to me, paired with an oil rubbed bronze fixture and drains it looked fabulous. I loved the granite composite and would definitely recommend it. We had dark countertops but I think it will look great with the Napoli you have chosen.
Randi (in Auburn)
I LOVE the black sink! I have stainless and it scratches easily. Love the black! However, since you asked, I don’t like the granite counter top with the back splash…..I think it is too busy. I just redid mine about a year ago and it is a suede brown. (I have white cabinets). True, I wipe it down with granite wipes that I buy at Bed Bath and Beyond, but one wipe down a day does the trick….and, I don’t have little ones around any more!!! Just keeping it real here. Love your green walls and hardwood floors!!
angela
I have open shelves that I put in myself and am very happy with them. I keep my dishes and a few decorative items on them.
I’ve bought knobs twice on ebay. Great deal.
Hey Rhoda,
I have black granite countertops, but they have lots of veining in them. grey and orange. Which sounds horrible, but it’s really not. I have satillo tile floors, so the orange veining is perfect. You can kind of see a picture here:
http://www.lazymoms.com/ten-minute-task-kitchen-counter/
They don’t really show that much because of all the variation. I also have the granite composite sink, which I really like. It wasn’t too expensive and it doesn’t show water marks at all! File this tip away for future reference…after a few months that new pretty sink will start looking kind of ashy and old. When that happens, just rub it down with some olive oil and the beautiful new shine will come back. I do that about once a month with my sink and have had it for about six years now. Sorry to ramble on, hope this helps.
Can’t wait to see your kitchen done. Anywho to answer your one question about dark granite-I have black and love it. After either living in military housing or apartments I have had yucky stuff and told the builder dark is something I wanted. Well after having it since June I still do love it but you do see the “dirt” more. It looks “dusty” but I just use one of those dusters-I can’t remember what it is or I just take a quick swipe of a towel. It is beautiful though. 🙂
Rhoda, two things:
1) Your kitchen is laid out EXACTLY like mine and;
2) You are my design inspiration;
so I’m going to be following your makeover veeeeerrry closely!
Thanks for the tour of your kitchen. I would change everything about my kitchen from the cabinet color, counter tops, appliances and floor. I like the setup it is a galley style kitchen. I would love a larger pantry.
I can’t wait to see what your kitchen looks like after the makeover.
Hey Rhoda!
I have ORB fixtures in our bathroom and they’re great! So far, the finish is still good.
Regarding the granite, I like your choice. It’s close to what we have and whether I wanna admit this or not in the blogosphere, mine hide crumbs and things well in the design. 🙂 I use 409 for granite and it shines them just like new!
I can’t wait to see your new countertops and changes!
Susan
Love this post! We are updating our kitchen now…Have been since last Jan (shh, I know). But it’s almost finished! I am loving the style and colors that have been chosen..We went with red accents, slate (can’t remember the exact color) flooring, gray walls, and our counter tops look like granite (granite wasn’t in our budget). But I did get the metal backsplash behind my stove that I wanted…And we did get new appliances…I am excited when I am able to do the final reveal soon!! I hate that ours is a galley kitchen…Unlike yours, you can stand at one counter on one side and practically reach and touch the other side..Oh and forget eat in…It’s not! I’d love to have a huge kitchen with an island and big enough for a table!! (I dream big!)
I had the granite similar to the one you chose and I loved it. We have moved and our rental had the black shiny granite and I HATED it. It was awful all the time. We are remodeling so I have lived almost a year without cabinet doors in the kitchen. I tried to edit the contents and make it look all European and like I wanted it that way and I actually get a lot of compliments but it is so hard to keep from looking extremely busy. And, all the grease from cooking coats things so much faster and I am constantly cleaning my items. In our old home we had cabinets over the island. My husband cut the panels on the cabinet where yours are grooved/raised and then we had a glass shop cut pieces of glass to fit and we made glass front for those cabinets. It was very cheap- like $10 each for the glass. That gave me display without opening them for dirt and I still had the others closed.
You’ll love having granite counter tops. I LOURVE mine. 🙂
We have an undermount stainless double extra-deep sink. I don’t know why I lived without an extra deep sink until now. It’s the best! I don’t know if that’s an option for you, but I highly recommend it.
Don’t know if you have already seen her site-but I see you 2 as peas in a pod.
http://theletteredcottage.blogspot.com/
You will definitely be inspired there.