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zerbebe nursery: two directions
Ok, so we already showed you what we have in mind for the basic nursery layout, but over the last several months I’ve been thinking more and more about specifics like colors, patterns and furniture. Pregnancy can be pretty overwhelming (so much to learn! so many decisions to make!), but the nursery – well, this is something I know how to do. Although we don’t have a lot of baby experience (most of our friends don’t have kids yet), I feel like I’ve read enough blogs and heard enough advice to be able to form my own opinions about what the nursery should be and what makes the most sense for our lifestyle. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that the nursery is mostly for us (or me…as Kyle has stated he only cares about the little munchkin we put in the nursery…that, and a comfy chair). I know the baby isn’t going to care about a particular theme or color palette (we still have a few more years before I get to put the kibosh on her Disney Princess desires), but I do believe that putting together the space helps new parents feel more prepared and well, let’s be honest…it’s fun.
Just like the other rooms in our house, we have the same basic objectives for the nursery: we want it to be functional and reflective of who we are and what we like. We want to invest in smart pieces that are versatile and will last for many years while also getting creative where we can. We don’t want to spend a lot of money, but we also don’t want to buy things that will quickly fall apart.
With those thoughts in mind, we’ve come up with two design directions for our baby girl’s room. They are both based on a collection of images, products and ideas that have been swimming around my head, but they are not a shopping list. Unfortunately, many items are just too expensive (imagine that?), but in our experience it’s best to start with what you want and then employ some creative problem solving skills to achieve a more affordable version.
A general note about color: regardless of the gender, I’ve always imagined the nursery with dark blue-gray walls with layers of gray and yellow. A few weeks ago (right after we found out that we’re having a girl), ModFruGal, Morgan and I were having a little back-and-forth on Twitter about nursery implications and how I could pull off a girl’s room that’s not too girly. Morgan made the below comment about colors. I wasn’t expecting it to, but her words really stuck with me and the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this lady is obviously a genius.
Although I love yellow and gray as much as the next person, I knew the nursery would need something else, something more. I kept churning this palette around in my head and this weekend I finally spent some quality time with Photoshop to see how it could all come together. I don’t know if I’m bold enough to go with hot pink, but Kyle and I have talked about a particular coral/pink color that we both like (seen in this quilt that my mom made for me last year)…and an inky blue-gray could mesh well with the other colors and pick up on the subtle dark navy thread in the chevron rug. It’s a palette that’s feminine and sweet without screaming “BABIES” and will work with the rest of our house (keeping in mind that the nursery will be quite visible).
So anyway, DESIGN TIME! Oh, one more thing first – I would like to note that I’m intentionally not choosing a theme. I want our little girl’s room to grow with her, so I’m focusing instead on creating a room that is modern, cozy and feminine.
Scheme 1: (In both schemes, we’ll be using the West Elm chevron rug and IKEA PAX wardrobe that we already own. I’m also showing the Artemide Tolomeo floor lamp, but we’ll likely go with something smaller and oh…not $1K.) During a trip to IKEA a few months ago, I was excited to see the new SUNDVIK crib in gray-brown. At $119, it made me feel less sad about the price tag on the Oeuf cribs. In my head, I’d been imagining incorporating some gray hues with our dark brown cork floors and this seemed like the perfect solution to help tie everything together. The Ryder Rocking Chair is from West Elm and although it’s not inexpensive ($599) I was immediately smitten with the design (it’s comfy too!). Like many new parents, our goal is to find a dresser that can double as a changing table. Ideally I’d like to find something vintage (see Scheme 2) but as a backup the IKEA Hemnes seems like an affordable alternative (unlike many of their pieces, it’s mostly made from solid wood and we could easily swap out the knobs for something else). The birch plywood bench/cubbies is from Offi, but at $500-$600 this is something that we’ll DIY (we’d also like to do a floating shelf or two from the same cabinet-grade plywood above the dresser). As we mentioned in our last nursery post, we plan on installing a ceiling-mounted (i.e. secure) curtain in lieu of cabinet doors on the wardrobe. I’ve been drooling over the Coqo pattern from Anthropologie (available in rugs too) for a while now and could definitely see it as a way to add a punch of color and pattern in the nursery. (I also like that they’re feminine, but in a timeless way.) The gray pouf is from CB2 and the mobile is from Petit Collage.
Now, a quick reminder that this is just one direction and of course does not include the various accessories or other small items that we’ll likely add. We actually plan on incorporating some pink into the room (that’s what the coral-colored band on the left represents), but in small and subtle ways. We also realize that baby stuff is colorful, so we don’t need a lot of brightly colored furniture or textiles to compete. Also, by choosing timeless pieces we can reuse them for any future zerbebes. Finally, I started this palette out with my beloved inky blue-gray wall color in mind. (Even though we’ve painted every other surface in our house bright white (“super white” to be exact), I’ve always thought the nursery could go darker without feeling like a cave.) However, once I added the darker color things quickly got muddy and the grays and browns no longer seemed to work together.
Which brings us to scheme 2.
Scheme 2: I knew that part of the challenge with the first scheme was the gray-brown color of the crib and dresser. For this scheme, I found myself gravitating back towards a birch crib (by the way, are you surprised that we’re going birch instead of fir?). Oh hello, Oeuf Sparrow crib. You’ve weaseled your way back into my life. Ok, I love this crib. I love that it is well-crafted and responsibly made (minus the fact that it’s coming from Europe) and that it’s modern without being austere. I do not love that it is $730. My practical side is telling me that the IKEA Gulliver is similar and $600 cheaper, but there’s something that doesn’t quite click with me. (I do wish that the Sundvik came in birch though, that would certainly help my dilemma.) In my fantasy world I would also love to find a used Oeuf, but after months of trolling Craigslist I’m guessing that people who buy these cribs really do hold onto them or pass them on to their closest and dearest friends. On that note, I would also love to find a sturdy and clean-lined vintage dresser that is in need of some TLC (the example above is from a previously sold piece on Midcentury Modern Finds, the same people we bought our Eames fiberglass shells from). I’ve seen so many posts about people picking up versions of these for $30-$50 but I’ve been stalking Craigslist with absolutely no luck. Anyway, let’s move on to an equally depressing topic: gliders. Kyle has had an eye on the Monte Grano glider, but I have never been on board because to be quite frank, I thought it looked like something from Star Trek. But then, then…I saw the Luca. It’s not super modern, but if you’ve spent anytime researching gliders, this is pretty much the best thing out there. I love the charcoal fabric option and after seeing it in person, I was impressed that it was comfy without being oversized. (It also seems like more bang for your buck than the $600 West Elm rocker. Funny how you can rationalize an extra $400, huh?) The problem of course is that it’s expensive. Just under $1000 for the chair and another $400 or so if you want the ottoman. Although I know this chair would get some serious action and has received stellar reviews, it’s hard (ok, impossible) to justify shelling out that kind of cash for a glider. (Again, a perfect opportunity to buy a used version but they too seem to be nonexistent.) Yes, I also know that gliders/rockers are not a necessity but we really don’t have an equivalent piece of furniture that could serve as a substitute.
Sigh. Ok, let’s talk about something else. I love the yellow and white chevron shower curtain that Benita of Chez Larsson made from fabric she purchased off Etsy. It’s cheery and fun without being all rainbows and butterflies. I’ve also got an idea stewing about air plants in small glass orbs (like these from West Elm).
Finally, wall color. Yesterday I stopped by our local Benjamin Moore store and picked up a dozen or so different shades of dark blue-gray. We used BM’s “soot” on the exterior of our house and I’ve always loved how people have used it and similar shades indoors. The color above most closely resembles “abyss”, but I’m also liking “raccoon fur”, “gravel gray” and “baby black seal”. (If you’re raising an eyebrow and need convincing, check out some of the dark-walled nurseries I’ve pinned recently.)
The blue color is “lakeside cabin” and is what we used on the nursery sliding doors. We could always paint them (or even just the backside) but I’m thinking this color might work fine. The mustardy yellow and coral-pink swatches just represent how we might incorporate those colors through textiles, art, etc.
So what do you think? (You guys have been coming up with some great ideas and tweaks for our other projects, so I am open to all suggestions, especially from people who have “been there, done that”.) Right now, Kyle and I both like Scheme 2 better but of course it’s more expensive. But rather than wallow in my “champagne taste, beer budget” dilemma, I see it as a challenge to achieve the same look without breaking the bank. We have not set a specific budget number for this project (we actually never do, for us it’s easier to just do the best job we can while being financially responsible), so I don’t have a magic number in my head. The important thing is that I now have a vision and direction that I’m happy with and can spend the next few months scoping out thrift stores, online sales and the un-mined creative corners of my brain. (In fact, it’s the same strategy that I plan to use with our baby registry…a topic that is not directly design-related, but might be worth a blog post of its own.)
Finally, this weekend marks the halfway point in baby-growing! I still don’t look very pregnant yet, which I’m a little bummed about but I know that might also be a blessing in disguise. (I’m sure in a few months I’ll want to punch my 20-week self for having such thoughts.)
Seriously Bailey, must you photo-bomb every picture I take?
the sad basement: a look back
As we begin to work on our basement (again), we thought it might be fun to rewind back to ’06 and revisit the metamorphosis that has already taken place.
So here goes. When we bought our home in ’06, it came with a finished basement. Yep. Something like this:
A built-in wardrobe, hunter green carpet remnants, lovely drapes and a rainbow for good measure.
Hey there, how many fuse boxes can you fit in an old home? (Out of necessity, we had the electrical service professionally upgraded and a new panel installed before we moved in.)
Ahh, the Indestructo. We’re guessing this was a 1940’s coal-burning furnace that was later converted to heating oil. Because there was no blower, the hot air rose to the first floor via gravity, which is why the ducts are so huge. At any rate, we never used it. Our house had been vacant for a year before we moved in and we didn’t want to sink any money into a heating system that made us super nervous in the first place. But the furnace wasn’t the only problem – our dryer vented into the basement and the washing machine drained directly into the utility sink. Sigh.
The furnace exhausted out of a brick service chimney (which originally served a wood-burning stove in the basement and one in the kitchen). During one of the home’s earlier “remodels”, an interior stair was added to connect the basement to the main floor. The landing was framed around the chimney. Classy. This made doing laundry the first couple of years a real pain in the ass.
Our basement is half crawl space, which looked something like this 5+ years ago. The ductwork? Covered with asbestos tape. (Before we moved in, we collected samples of various flooring, wallboard, and duct tape throughout the house and had it professionally tested for asbestos.)
For the first year or so, we didn’t do much in the basement besides clean things up, fix the dryer vent and try to make it a bit homier. (At the time, we just had a desktop computer that we set up in the basement “home office”. Oh the shame.) In early 2008, after we’d saved up some money we had the asbestos professionally abated. It was expensive, but not a job we wanted to tackle due to the amount of ductwork and small spaces we’d have to crawl around in. After the crew was done, we were left with this furnace carcass, which we hauled away to a scrap metal collection place.
With the furnace gone, we no longer needed that pesky chimney (in fact, during the roof replacement in ’07 we tore the chimney down to the attic). The whole thing came down easily. Too easily.
During some earlier exploratory demolition, we had discovered some interesting things about our basement. First, the wall between the basement and crawl – y’know…the one holding back 4′-5′ of dirt, was indeed made of wood! As we shook our heads in disbelief, the only logical explanation was that the basement was originally built so that the dirt just natural sloped down and that it needed no formal retaining. Sometime later (likely when the basement was “finished out”), the additional studs and wallboard were added.
Second, the back portion of our house was sagging a bit because the beams that span over the crawl space had begun to fail. There were a series of posts and small concrete “footings” that had settled over the years and were no longer holding anything up. Before we starting the big dig fest, Kyle added several temporary supports (sitting on CMU post bases) to prevent further sagging.
Now that we were entering the zone of “substantial structural work”, we considered our options and what would be best for the long-term plan for our house. We considered digging out the crawl space to create one larger basement space, but soon realized that the labor involved to remove the dirt and underpin the entire foundation would not be worth the 300+/- square feet that we would gain. We also considered leaving it a dirt crawl space (but still fixing the structural problems), but decided that in such a small house, the space was too valuable to not use. The compromise? Short basement.
In order to convert the crawl into a useable space, we needed to remove a good deal of dirt. This was the beginning of Kyle’s worst nightmare. Good thing he was only 29 at the time. I think we’re now too old (or maybe just too wise) to do this type of thing again.
So he dug and dug and dug. In addition to removing dirt entirely, he also had to dig giant holes for new concrete footings that would support the new enhanced beams.
And as you know from our drainage project last summer, we totally hit hardpan soil. When the pick ax came out, it was a tough day.
OMG WHAT HAVE WE GOT OURSELVES INTO?
To complicate the process further, the only way to get the dirt out was to shovel it into buckets that got carried up the exterior stairs and dumped into wheelbarrows that got carted into the back of our truck. I don’t remember how many trips we had to make, but it was most likely about 10x more than we originally thought. (And now you know why working with dirt makes us so bitter.)
But after a few months, we were ready for concrete. Kyle had never really worked with reinforced concrete, but that didn’t stop him. We bought some rebar off Craigslist that was leftover from a job site and got busy. Kyle even built his own rebar bending jig.
Craigslist turned out to be a great source for concrete supplies in general – we found most of what we needed for formwork that way and then we resold it after we were done. Since we were doing this on the weekends, we scheduled the concrete work in three different pours. The first weekend was the footings for the new retaining wall.
We used 2x’s as temporary shoring to prevent any blowouts during the pour. The concrete was pumped in through the hose coming through the window, a technique that actually worked quite well.
With the footings in place, Kyle finished up the formwork for the walls.
And the next weekend the pumper truck was back again.
With the concrete wall in place, it was time to fix the beams. Kyle used the red bottle jacks and a laser level to raise the existing beam back to where it should be. During this time, I was on the main floor doing damage control. With each crank of the jacks all you could hear was the sound of plaster cracking throughout the back half of the house. And this is exactly why we knew we had to fix the floor framing before we did anything on the main floor.
After the beams and floor joists where level again, Kyle sistered on LVL’s to each side of the original beams and installed new posts on top of the new concrete footings. With plenty of hefty connections and bolts, it was like finishing up reconstructive surgery on our elderly house. Sadly, the digging wasn’t done just yet. Kyle still needed to level out the remaining dirt so we could pour a thin concrete slab over the entire crawl space.
After the dirt was level, we added a vapor barrier, welded wire mesh reinforcing and a new slab on top. We also added a layer or rigid insulation along the perimeter to provide a thermal break between the foundation wall and slab.
This project took us nearly a year from start to finish. In between adding the new beams and the crawl space slab, we also gutted and remodeled our bedroom and bathroom. To further add to the insanity, during this time we were also taking the first 6 (of 9) architecture registration exams. Oh 2008, you were so painful.
The final step in the crawl space was to move stuff back in. To save our knees, Kyle found these used interlocking rubber tiles off Craigslist which work like a charm.
After two years without a heating system, we finally were able to get a new furnace! To free up space in the basement, we chose a model that could fit in the crawl space. The ductwork was also designed so most of it stays in the crawl space (which will come in handy during this next phase of basement work).
In 2009, we completed a seismic retrofit to our basement. In old houses like ours, the wood framing was not properly connected to the concrete foundation walls. This becomes a weak point during an earthquake, something akin to hitting someone in the knees with a bat. So to remedy the situation, Kyle installed hold downs and anchor bolts along the perimeter to tie the framing to the foundation. Then we insulated and added a vapor barrier.
Finally, we added plywood to create a more structural shear wall.
During this time, our “stuff” had been shuffled around from one location to another, but I was finally able to implement my obsessive organizational skills in our new short basement. (We call it a short basement because it is a conditioned space and does not require any type of venting.) We use the short basement mostly for out of season stuff, like decorations, ski gear, camping gear, luggage, etc. It’s also been an invaluable space for various other storage needs as we’ve tackled different rooms of the house.
In the early part of 2010, we started packing up our belongings on the main floor and moving them down to the basement. A few months later, we moved our furniture down and set up our temporary basement apartment. It wasn’t stylish, but it was functional.
For the kitchen we went with industrial chic. This was our kitchen for about 7 months.
When the big remodel of 2010 was done, we moved our furniture back upstairs, but the basement had become a total disaster area, filled with building materials, empty boxes and who knows what else. Over the last year, we’ve been able to reestablish order to the space and purge what we no longer needed. (Which is good, because now we’re ready to tear things up again.)
And that’s how we deconstructed and reconstructed our basement over the course of 5 years. Now it’s time to actually finish something (no more sad basement?). More details coming.
the holidays
Last year I got all philosophical about Christmas decorations and I’m feeling the same way this year. But despite my lack of motivation (and more truthfully, a lack of time), I pulled out the plastic bin labeled “Christmas” and did my best.
For some reason I don’t take holiday decorations too seriously and I think that’s a good thing.
As per tradition, we got a small tree from the open air market near our house. For the last several years we’ve tried to get a least one new ornament each holiday season. I like to think of it as creating a timeline of our lives together and it’s a practice that will help ensure a magnificently eclectic tree down the road.
For this year’s ornament, we picked up the above (left) jewel from the gift shop at Taliesin.
My mom also sent me some of the overflow ornaments from my childhood. When my mom was pregnant with my sister in the early 80’s, she made a bunch of soft fabric ornaments and even though they look a bit dated, I love them. The ornament on the right is some of my early handiwork. (Do you remember those DIY kits with the cheap plywood ornaments and paint?)
Speaking of holiday decor challenges, last week we hosted Kyle’s office holiday party at our house. It was the first time since the major remodel that we had a formal dinner for ten!
During the design phase we strategized about ways to fit more people around the table for events such as these and I’m happy to report that it was a success! (Nevermind the mismatched chairs that clash with the red and green decor…at least we had 10 chairs!)
So how did we convert our regular table into a table for 10? Here’s a hint:
A few years ago (back when the living room was the dining room), we were hosting Thanksgiving at our place and needed more space at the table. So Kyle built this topper out of plywood and 2x’s that fit on top of a card table that we already owned. For this event, we simple rotated the wood table, added the extension leaf and then the card table. The LCW flipped to the other side of the living room which allowed the sectional to be pushed closer to the wall, giving just enough space for the larger table configuration.
Once you throw a tablecloth over the whole thing it’s hard to tell what’s going on. (By the way, the red tablecloth is a $20 piece of linen that I picked up from the fabric store.)
The next day, we simply put away the card table and topper, removed the extension leaf and rotated the table back to its original home. If we’ve learned one thing from living in a small home, it’s that flexibility is your friend.
Oh, and happiest of holidays to everyone!
side table
After making the decision to move the coffee table into the flex room, we realized that what we really needed for the living room space was some sort of side table. With our L-shaped couch configuration, our first thought was to find something that could overlap the chaise. Something like this:
This style of table is not hard to find, but with prices ranging from $150-$400, DIY was starting to seem like a better alternative. I mean, how hard could it be?
So a couple of weeks ago, after a few preliminary discussions and some back and forth e-mailing, we came up with an idea that’s a different spin on the ol’ C table. In a moment of simultaneous design vision, we realized that with one small move, what appeared to be one table could actually be two. To illustrate the idea, Kyle texted me this quick sketch (hence the funky colors):
Instead of a simple wood top fixed in place, we had the idea to use a piano hinge along one side so that the top could be flipped to the opposite side of the frame (as shown with the dashed blue line) and then the whole thing could be turned on its side, creating a coffee table of sorts.
Later that night we talked more about the design and ultimately ended up nixing the piano hinge (too fussy) and instead decided to use a simple friction fit method for the removable top.
So with the design settled on, it was time to build!
Kyle used 3/4″ tube steel that we had leftover from the loft ladder project. First he cut the pieces to size, then grinded them smooth to ensure a clean, mitered connection.
Next, he moved the pieces to the carport (aka the welding shop) and began setting up the frames for welding.
The key with welding is to have a solid work table that pieces can be securely clamped to.
[10 bonus points if you see Bailey in the above photo.]
To make sure that the corners were true 90 degree angles, he used this fancy Mag-Level…
After the welding was complete, Kyle used an angle grinder to clean up the welds.
The finished frame – a bit mottled but not a big deal since we planned on painting it.
[Newbie welder tip – we’ve found we have better results if you can either hide your welds (like with our planter boxes) or grind and paint them (like with our loft ladder). It’s a good way to get a nice end product without needing to go super high-end with your equipment.]
For the wood top, we wanted to use solid fir wood instead of a veneered plywood, so we decided to biscuit together three 1×8 boards.
After a quick dry fit to make sure everything was lining up, Kyle moved the frame down to the basement (aka the spray shop) to give it a few coats of our favorite black-gray automotive primer (the same thing we used on the loft ladder and barn door tracks).
The table top received a coat of Benite and a few coats of Satinthane. Here’s a shot of the underside that shows the wood strips that provide a snug friction fit into the frame.
To protect the paint finish and provide a slight reveal between the wood and the steel, Kyle added small plastic protectors at each corner.
And here’s the finished product – instead of making both pieces solid fir, we decided to instead face the larger table top with the same cork we used on our floors (we had some unfinished scraps leftover). Can you say giant coaster?
But wait, this isn’t just your run-of-the mill C table…
Nope, it’s a Transformer.
TRANSFORMER – coffee table in disguise!
(If you were a child in the ’80s…you’ll get that.)
That’s right, our lil’ table has a dual identity.
Over the years, we’ve learned that in a small home it’s crucial for pieces to serve multiple functions. Depending on our needs, we can change the configuration or location in just a few quick steps.
Oh and hey, it also works as a side table on the opposite side of the couch…
To get a flush transition between the two top pieces, we used 3/4″ fir for the fixed panel and 1/2″ fir (with approx. 1/4″ cork) for the removable panel. Kyle also did a very light sand at the cork for an eased edge.
It’s a bit tall, but in a pinch it could also double as a couch-based work station…
Finally, to test its durability we called in our feline expert:
The table is a prototype of sorts, but we like it. (As seen in the photos above, we’re also messing around with some more artwork ideas.) The “finishing touches” phase has been one of the most challenging for us, but with each bit of progress it starts to feel more and more like our home.
kitchen follow-up
It’s been just about 8 months since we finished (and revealed) our new kitchen, so we thought it was a good time to report back and let you know how we like it.
(Don’t remember the horror that it was before? Click here.)
Before we picked up a sledgehammer, we spent a lot of time designing the space and researching various fixtures, appliances, materials, etc. Below is the final materials palette that we assembled in May 2010 which represents the actual products used. For a complete list of everything we chose, check out the resources page.
Cabinets
Starting out, we were a little skeptical about the quality and durability of IKEA cabinets. But after reading a number of good reviews we decided to just go for it and so far, we’ve been very impressed. Granted, custom cabinets would have been better crafted and more durable, but for us this was an area where we could save a substantial amount of money without sacrificing function or our overall design ideas. We also came up with a layout that uses IKEA components but doesn’t scream “hey there, I’m an IKEA kitchen!”.
So far, we have had no issues with the functionality of the cabinets. (There is a slight squeak when you turn the carousel in the lazy susan cabinet, but I haven’t been motivated/annoyed enough yet to take everything out and remedy the problem.) Aesthetically, one minor issue to keep in mind is if you’re using white frames and a darker cabinet/drawer face, you can sometimes see a bit of the white behind if the faces don’t precisely line-up (and they often don’t). At first we were concerned and even corrected the issue on one cabinet by adding a piece of black electrical tape over the frame edge to create a “reveal” of sorts. It worked fine but we never got around to doing it on the other cabinets and unless you’re standing directly in front of the gap and crouched down, you never really notice.
The pull-out pantry has been a lifesaver for storing food in a small kitchen (we also use one of the island drawers for snack food items).
The “soft close” hardware? Totally worth it. Totally awesome.
Another great thing about IKEA is that, contrary to popular belief, you’re not limited to small drawers and cabinets. The unit to the right of the range is 36″ wide and deep enough to store the food processor, large baking sheets and the toaster (I know, a little weird, but the toaster is ugly and must be hidden from view at all times).
For the three upper cabinets, we installed the special hinges that allow the doors to stay open and then softly close with a slight tap when you’re done. Again, a must-have for cabinets at this height. Kyle made the two open shelves and wine rack out of fir plywood (with a fir edge band). At first we were apprehensive about the open shelving from a dust standpoint (aesthetically though, two thumbs up), but because these are our “everyday” dishes they aren’t on the shelf long enough to get dusty. The wine glasses are an exception, especially since we like to drink almost everything out of the smaller tumblers on the right. So we might shuffle those around one of these days.
We’ve noticed a slight discoloration on the wood where the stacks of dishes are, but it doesn’t bother us and you won’t be able to see the discrepancy unless we rearrange.
The steel drawer pulls were a splurge, but we know they’ll last forever. The only minor complaint I have is that they can act as a mini-shelf for crumbs, especially at the island where most of the food prep happens.
Plumbing Fixtures
We purchased (and still own) three kitchen sinks. The first was a double-basin that we foolishly bought several years ago. After nearly four frustrated years of our double-basin Sears Roebuck sink (seriously, did people not have pots and pans back in the day??), we were single-basin converts. The second sink was a cheaper single-basin that we picked up at a shady location in South Seattle. It was ok, but we were concerned about the quality (the brand was unknown). Finally we found this Kraus sink on Craigslist. I love this sink. It’s clean and modern, but the slight radius of the inside corners means there’s no place for gunk to collect. At first I was indifferent to the rack that sits on the bottom, but have since found that it keeps the bottom of the sink from getting scratched and allows air to circulate around dishes that get left in the sink overnight (or for a few days). Oh, and undermount vs. self-rimming – this is not even a discussion worth having with yourself.
The Grohe Minta faucet was another splurge (although we did get it at a discounted price), but it was worth it. It is incredibly durable and we haven’t had a single issue with the retractable pull-out sprayer (when you turn the faucet off, it pulls the sprayer hose back into the faucet). Oh, and it’s pretty.
The adjacent soap pump has been a great way to free up counter space and even though we initially planned on a separate water filter, we eventually nixed the idea. The modern filter faucets were almost as expensive as the main faucet and after drinking out of our bathroom sink for a few months we decided that the water quality was actually pretty good. Problem solved, money saved.
Countertops
For the countertops we mainly wanted something that was durable and would reflect light. We collected a bunch of different samples and ultimately ended up with Silestone composite quartz in “white north”. By purchasing the countertops through IKEA we got a discount. By sweet-talking the dealer into an architect discount, we saved a little more. (Sadly, we could not talk them into a “double architect” discount. Damn. Why does the double architect discount never work??) Anyhow, the quartz is very durable and easy to clean. The seam at the corner is nearly invisible and I generally have to show people where it is for them to notice. Silestone was not the cheapest option out there, but knowing that the counters would be one of the most abused surfaces in the house we knew it would be a good investment.
For the island, we opted for butcherblock for a few different reasons. First, a solid piece of Silestone that size would have been crazy expensive. (Aesthetically, I think our kitchen proves that you don’t have to have matching countertops or matching cabinets to make it feel cohesive.) We also liked the idea of the island being a true work surface and a place where people could gather to help prep a meal. We looked at several different butcherblock options (including IKEA), but ultimately decided on Lyptus, which had a coloring similar to the surrounding fir wood and was surprisingly affordable. (To save on costs, we bought one 12′ counter depth piece, cut it in half and biscuited the two panels together.) Even though the intention was to use it as a giant chopping block, it was so new and pretty that I’m still pulling out the cutting boards. Over time I’m sure we’ll eventually transition to cutting directly on it, but at least we know we can always sand it down and refinish it (with a food-grade finish) if we want it to look all pretty and new again.
Trash
You know how excited I was about our fancy waste organization system. 8 months in it’s still doing its job. We knew summer would be the real challenge though – right around this time of year we start to get fruit flies and of course they love to hang out in the compost container. Our temporary solution? We converted the cookie jar to a countertop compost container. It doesn’t have a charcoal filter or any of that fancy-ness, but as long as we empty it every couple of days, we’re ok. For larger items (pizza boxes, egg cartons, etc.) we just take them straight to our yard waste/compost container.
Appliances
It’s hard to find something to dislike about our range, mainly because it was a huge upgrade from every other cheapo electric range we’ve had in the past. We purchased a scratch & dent GE Cafe dual fuel (convection oven with gas range). It has the professional styling w/o the crazy expensive price tag and the flaw was on the side of the appliance and not visible. Cooking with gas has been great and the only downside is that the cooktop surface is harder to clean than the glass-top electric varieties.
After living with our stupid, non-functional (and brown!) range hood, we made it a priority to find the best hood we could afford. We purchased a simple and modern model from Vent-A-Hood. At an equivalent 900 CFM’s, it is certainly powerful. The only negative? It’s loud. This probably has more to do with the way it’s ducted, but at least I don’t have to fear high temperature cooking anymore. (You don’t want to see what Bailey does when the smoke alarm goes off.)
Even though we briefly considered not having a microwave, I’m glad we found a way to incorporate one in without it being all in your face. The location works well and even though it’s lower than counter height, it hasn’t been a problem to use.
(Note: our fridge and dishwasher were purchased in 2006 when we moved in.)
And what does Bailey think about his custom dog bowl station? Well, he doesn’t really care as long as we put food in there twice a day. Storing the food within an arm’s reach under the sink was a good move, especially when Bailey wakes me up at 5:30 every morning. Does he wake me up to go to the bathroom? No. He wants to eat. So every morning I make him go outside first, then stumble bleary-eyed to the kitchen and feed him before going back to bed.
Lighting
Lighting has been one of the areas that we were most nervous about (so expensive! so many options!) but that we’re really pleased with. Almost all of our fixtures are made by different companies but everything meshes together while also serving its intended purpose.
The Bruck linear chandelier over the island provides good task lighting and is elegant enough that it doesn’t overwhelm the space. The two wall-mounted reach lights above the kitchen window provide additional task lighting and are only used if we’re cooking at night. The undercabinet LED lights also don’t get used all of the time, but serve as additional lighting and sometimes as a nightlight when we have guests staying with us.
Flooring
I know this is probably the product people were the most skeptical about: the cork flooring. So here’s what we like about it: the color, the texture, the easy maintenance and the slight cushion underfoot. What don’t we like? Here’s a clue:
To back up just a little bit, we ordered our cork tiles prefinished with a hardwax oil. For whatever reason, they didn’t come that way so the dealer and manufacturer ended up splitting the cost to have a floor company come out and apply a wax finish over the installed tiles. We chose a wax finish over a polyurethane one because it could be spot repaired and since the cork was throughout most of the house, we thought that would be a good thing. We also thought that even though we have a dog, he isn’t the type that runs in circles around the house (in other words, he’s kinda lazy). The thing we didn’t completely realize? He likes to lay “froggy style” and as a result his back claws tend to scratch the floor every time he scrambles to his feet. You can see a little bit of that here:
So what to do? Fortunately, the scratches are just in the wax and not the cork itself. I haven’t tried to do a true spot repair yet but it’s on the list. Since wax is a “buildable” finish, adding more layers will increase the life of the flooring and this might be the strategy we need to put in place. We’ve also though about scrapping the wax and going with a poly finish but this would mean emptying out the house and most likely hiring the work out. We’re going to live with the flooring and try a few spot repairs for now, but if we’re still not happy in a year or two we’ll weigh the different options.
So all in all, we feel like our research has paid off. The space functions well, is comfortable, easy to clean and is a bazillion times better than the shameful 5-doored room that was our old kitchen.
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