The previous kitchen had been remodeled within the last 10 years, but it was separated from the rest of the home and lacked sufficient counter space for a family of four. We decided to tear down the wall that separated the kitchen and laundry room and expand into the dining room to give us more counter space. The windows in the corner were too low to run counters and that proved to be a design challenge. Instead of raising the windows which would have altered the architecture of the exterior of the home, we decided to make the area a banquette. We also moved the old doorway off the foyer and created two larger arches which open up the kitchen to the living and dining room.

The space was too small for an island, so we had our counter top fabricator make us a work table that is movable -- it has wheels and we can roll it out of the way if we want to open up the kitchen.

Details:
Cabinets - custom by Los Angeles cabinetmaker - maple shaker style (bar area is espresso finish)
Countertops - Madre Perla quartzite
Backsplash - White onyx staggered tile
Faucet - KWC Eve
Sink - Franke
All KitchenAid appliances, except for GE profile microwave Vent-a-hood
Lighting - onxy pendants purchased at Lighting Emporium
Pulls - Great Indoors
Floors - White Oak hardwoods to match the rest of the home
Paint- Martha Stewart "Fossil"

Before:

During:

After:

and, of course, a photo of Pip himself, enjoying his new kitchen...

BEFORE:

DURING:

AFTER:

Cabinets: Custom - Triple A Custom Wood (Lancaster PA)
Granite: Juparana Persa
Paint: BM: Maryville Brown
Double Ovens: Wolf DO30-2FS-TH
Refrigerator: Kitchenaid 42" French Door Built In KBF042FTX
Hood Insert: Best PK2238
Undercounter Beverage Fridge: Marvel 6SBAREBB0L
Microwave: Sharp 24" microwave drawer KB6524PS
Range: Capital Culinarian CGRT484G2
Warming Drawer: Miele ESW4812 Convection Warming Drawer
Dishwashers: Miele Optima G2472 SCVI w cutlery tray
Main sink: Franke Orca Single Bowl undermount 31" X 20"
Prep SInk: Elkay SS Undermount EFRU191610
Main faucet: Kohler Vinnata K690-BN
Prep faucet: Kohler Vinnata K691-BN
Cabinet hardware: Schaub Ancient Bronze Corinthian pull, knob, appliance pulls
Backsplash behind rangetop: custom
Tile floor: 12" X 12" ZENDO color: dust
Chandelier: Minka-Lavery: Aston Court MIN4755-206
Pendants: Minka-Lavery ASton Court MIN4751-206

We wanted something that would balance the red tone in the cherry. Also, in looking at open houses, we found that kitchens with a jumble of neutral surfaces didn't appeal to us. Unless you choose carefully, different "neutral" colors don't necessarily go together. I like the looks of black with cherry, but we didn't want to go that dark.

In our search for greens, we came across Azul do Mar granite (really quartzite) and it was love at first sight. We took home a sample to check and really liked it in our kitchen. It has been in for over 5 years and we still love it. We have no regrets about going non-neutral.

It probably helps that it is in a color range that we have always liked. It not only goes well with all the dishes we currently have, but all the ones we ever have had. Also, it has a range of colors in it from quite blue through blue-greens to a bit of green, plus some small maroon dots that tie into the cherry cabinets, white and cream markings, and a purplish-blue grey stream. Because of the variation, when I put certain dishes with it, it pulls out the color tones that go with that dish where with a solid single color surface it might not.

We are in the midst of remodeling the fireplace wall in the family room and replacing the floor in the kitchen/family room. We used the remnants from our granite for the fireplace surround along with a black stone for the hearth extension. There are some more photos on the thread below.

Here is a link that might be useful: thread with more pictures including the new fireplace surround

A lot of my favorites are already posted, but here are a few more.

Brooklyn Limestone (soapstone):

rmkitchen (Calacatta Xtra marble):

firsthouse_mp (white princess honed):

smarge (Caesarstone raven):

alliern (soapstone and honed statuary marble):

niffy (aqua grantique and statuary marble):

pps7 (soapstone again!):

beekeeperswife (bianco antico):

joan2121 (giallo ornamental):

I could go on and on (and I guess I have!)

Last week we had an incident of a scratch on the cabinet. The white bottle of touch-up paint had all dried up and was powdery. The espresso one seemed ok.

Used the espresso one for a touch-up as that was the one with a scratch.

The colour from the touch-up provided is not identical to the cabinet colour and we now have marks of the lighter coloured paint!! So mad!

Tried contacting the builder and KM and they don't care to respond to help at all!

Now... what can we do? How do we get this fixed and how can we get more touch-up paint?

Here is a pic of the kitchen.

I will post a pick of the touched-up area later when I get home.

Thanks for your help.