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.
I have that very same faucet.
The soap dispenser is wonderful. I let my husband fill it. With his long arsn it is easier to reach.
Our kitchens are similar. I have antique ivory stain on my cabinets. With that faucet and I have counter tops that are a salmon, beige and cream color.
I love the shape of my kitchen. I have to say the cabinet makers we’re very helpful.
My FAVORITE chips! Er, okay. Love the ideas you have planned. I’ve been informed that I can’t really do anything to our kitchen as we rent. However, this summer hubby will be refinishing the cabinets. They are the originals and as I am cleaning them up again, they really need to be refinished. I’d LOVE to replace the countertops, so we’ll be talking to the landlord about that. I am trying to decide what color to do the walls in there as I plan to paint my plastic wood trim…and for some reason, it just really dawned on me that it is plastic. How sad it that…or is it just that it does look realistic? Yeah, we’ll go with that one 😀
Have fun. I love the new light and would LOVE the ORB faucet..the style is great.
I love the black sink, we are getting ready to replace our sink, going with black and BLACK faucet. Try homeclick.com and ImprovementDirect.com.
They are a little pricey but getting what you want is pretty important. My husband believes in getting what you want to begin with and you want have to do it again! Ha!
Home Depot also has a black faucet. Can’t wait to see your kitchen! And clean up that counter!!! HA! Mary Ann
Hi Rhoda! I’m so excited for you to get to update your kitchen. I’ve always loved it just as it is! I love those Olive #s paint! I’ve used Olive #2 (I think ;)and do love it! I like the granite you’ve chosen.
Now I have an old 1970s kitchen. It’s perfect for me, but it really does need an update so badly. We had planned on updating it by now, but some of life has happened and it’s on the back burner for a while. I would love to have granite or Silstone (because it is indestructable) I’m in the kitchen so much and afraid I could mess up the granite!
Can’t wait to see your kitchen after it’s completed!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;0
Good thing for my garden I’ve got an ordinary kitchen…the fanciest thing in it is a dishwasher, lol! I’d never leave a kitchen like you picture…
Sandi
It’s always so exciting to get a mini makeover. I have the same granite but with more of the chocolate and cream tones and I love it, never shows anything. My daughter has the black granite sink and hates it, she says it always looks dirty and the water spots drive her crazy, she’s even had it rebuffed 3 times. The oil rubbed bronze fixture will show water spots and does look really bad very soon if you have any mineral deposits in your water. Just my experiences, hope the input helps. I had a really heavy duty stainless sink put in when I did my granite and I just love it. There’s a great little pad they sell at the Auto Paint Supply stores that’s a very soft brillo buff pad and it takes any scratches right out of the stainless in just a second, just be sure to go with the grain of the stainless. Can’t wait to see your new redo. Hugs, Marty
A kitchen make-over is so exciting! I’m ready to do one in my house, too. I love the granite you picked out.
I re-modeled a half bath last summer, and I put in a granite counter similar to what you have picked out. I went with oil-rubbed bronze fixtures. They are gorgeous! They are holding up just fine so far, but it has only been about 8 months, and the half-bath doesn’t get as much use as a kitchen. I think if you go with a good quality, you will be fine. Can’t wait to see the after pictures!
If you’ve not been to the granite yard, then do take the time to go and look at the slab before you make your final decision. What I thought was my final decision changed when I saw what the slab looked like. We just got granite last fall and I love it….the name escapes me at the moment, but it is taupe,gray and black with silver sparkling spots in it. I love it, and it hides dirt VERY Well!!! Also on the knobs, I did have bright gold brass ones, and I spray painted them with hammered bronze paint. It isn’t perfect, but I save a lot of money with 44 knobs…and as nester says, it doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful! They look darned good.
Suzanne
Looking forward to seeing your makeover!
I have a love for kitchens. I have the same Majolica Bunny platter you have on your display shelf AND I had that same faucet in my last kitchen and just love it!
I really like your kitchen and I think the granite will look awesome. I have the same green bunny plate, love bunnies. The really neat stuff is hard to find. If you ever decide to get rig of some of your stuff you need to have a online auction on your blog, I would be first in line. I love your stuff!!
I’ve had ORB in my remodeled bathroom for about a year and a half and it still looks like new. I brought home a Price Pf 1st and my plumber said they don’t hold up well and leak, etc. He recommended Delta and I’ve been very pleased. Good luck on your project.
Hi Rhoda, your granite choice is wonderful, you can’t go wrong with it. Mine is very similar and my kids say it is “toast crumb color” because you can not see anything on it. I have had it for 6 years and still love it as much today as the day it was installed.
Love the black granite sink, just make it DEEP. Mine is 10″ and worth every extra penny I paid to get the deep one. You only do something like this once (generally speaking), so don’t skimp here! Whether you go with the granite or a SS sink, get a deep one, you’ll be glad you did.
I have ORB faucets in my powder room. I love them and they are very pretty, but they don’t get a lot of use. I, too, would worry about the finish with everyday kitchen use. I also have the ORB knobs/pulls and door knobs throughout my home, and after 6 years, the finish has worn in some places. I probably would recommend you go with the brushed nickel there.
Whatever choices you make, it will be great. You are a classy lady with great taste…thank you for sharing yourself with us! LOVE your blog.
Desiree
we had our kitchen redone a year ago. We got the black galaxy (mostley all dark black) with light maple cabinets. It pops really well.
I love the marble counters because thay are a breeze to clean..your gonna love it!
I also got the under mounted stainless steel sink. Very appealing to the eye & clean looking as well.
Dont know abou tthe copper sink…although i think it would fit in perfect with your decore.
Either way it will be better than the white…sometimes i wonder whay people are thinking when they replace things in a house.
Cant wait to see the finished product..
and yes 3 times a week my counters are cluttered like that. i do my best to keep it decluttered, though you cant stop real life from happening
Black granite counters show everything. Evveryything. We have them in our apartment, so at least it’s a wee tiny kitchen (and not much counter space to keep after). I love open shelving but there is so much DUST in our place…and there’s only two of us, so we just don’t use everything frequently enough to make it work. And I’m also not sure I’m organized enough to live in a “glass house” like that! 🙂
Love the granite you chose! Can’t wait to see it.
Made your chicken divan last night–it was a huge hit with both the hubby and my 2 year old. YAY!
So pretty! I can’t wait to see what it looks like when you’re finished. Quick question – how much space do you have between the top of your cabinets and the ceiling? Yours look similar to mine and I’d love to decorate the tops of mine – I just didn’t think there was enough room. But, I LOVE how the tops of your cabinets look. Thanks!
Last year there were reports that granite can emit radiation and radon gas.
I have granite countertops and thought about having them tested.
Hi! I have the black silgranit sink and I totally love it. It is absolutely indestructible!! I have quartz countertops – much easier care than granite, same great look. Very slightly cheaper. The awesome thing about the quartz is its antimicrobial properties – germ free!
Ok I like the granite alot. Does the tumbled marble have more of a burgundy pink tone or a peach tone hard to tell in the picture. I have Oil Rubbed bronze in the bathrooms and after one year have held up really well. No tarnishing or finish coming off, they are also Price Pfister. I bought my knobs at Home Depot Expo, of course they are going out of business. another web site is knobs and hardware. We purchased hardware for one of my client’s through this site. It will look beautiful. I like the first picture and the coastal living picture. The color is so warm and inviting. Good Luck
also black or very dark granite is very hard to keep looking clean. You alwayse see fingerprints, glass marks, and food smears on it. a few of my cleints wanted it so badly, looks very dramatic but alot of upkeep.