(Almost) Finished Kitchen

Although I would have preferred to have "staged" the kitchen for photos, I decided to take advantage of the very RARE opportunity that both of the girls were napping to snap some pictures of the kitchen and even though I don't feel like these photos really do it justice, I just feel like it would be wrong not to share them with you! Some disclaimers...our budget did not allow for new floors (we would like to eventually do a wood color similar to the butcher block counter on our hutch which I think will really pull everything together) and I still have some decorating to do. For example, I really need to find some sort of decoration for above the window. And lastly, still not sure whether or not to paint the walls or leave them, but for right now we are leaving them.

Here is what the kitchen looked like when we moved in...

 

 And here she is now!

 The left wall was empty and we had a large kitchen island there at first and then put two craigslist hutches there. We purchased unfinished cabinets for the bottom and open shelves with a plate wrack for the top. We bought the butcher block counter top at ikea and put up some wainscotting for a backsplash. The corbels really pull the whole piece together. I love being able to have all of the extra storage, but also wanted this side to give the appearance of a hutch rather than just more cabinets.

Kitchen Update

Well, if you thought I was indecisive about a backsplash for the kitchen you should have seen me the past week about a countertop. I really wanted something light and neutral for the counters. I didn't want anything too loud that would make a huge statement. I fell in love with marble, but decided it would be way too difficult with little ones. Then, I fell in love with quartz but it would have taken too long to get in. That left me with granite. I love granite for its durability, but most of the slabs were a bit too loud for the look I was going for. I thought I had finally made up my mind with kashmir white. Then I started looking at pictures online of kasmir white granite with white cabinets and it looked too gray and I got really nervous and freaked out. My mother suggested black and at first I was like NO WAY. Then I started seeing pictures of "honed" black granite which I thought looked really good. So, long story short...I decided on honed absolute black granite. I'm really hoping I can still acheive the "warmth" I was going for in the kitchen with a black countertop. I think the dullness of the honed granite will help. Also, on the empty wall of the kitchen where Shaun added the built in cabinets, we got a butcher block counter which I love and saved us $600 (instead of granite) and adds to the "hutch" look I was going for and I am hoping will also add some warmth! Phew...that was alot of rambling about countertops. I hope it will all make sense to you when I show you the finished product. (It is being installed on the 18th...ahhh I can't wait that long)

 (kashmir white granite with white cabinets. image via Coastal Countertops and Tile)

(honed black granite with white cabinets image via Advanced Kitchens)