6 Jun 2008

And Now For Something Completely Different

Thanks again for your lovely comments on my last post. I know that the next adventure is just around the corner...and that it doesn't need to involve air travel or even leaving my house. It's all about perspective...and sometimes mine just isn't where it should be.

Speaking of perspective, I'd love to hear yours on the following:


Dark brown and white...


Lighter brown and glossy white...


All white (yes, please throw in the view)...

We are leaning towards dark brown accents/bottom cabinets, with glossy white uppers, but I am stumped as to the flooring. I can't do wood (though it would look lovely), and I don't want to spend a fortune on natural stone (that fortune is already being spent on cabinets, thankyouverymuch).

Help? Anyone?

40 comments:

Unknown said...

White would not last one moment in our house. Not even one. I am still MAJORLY regretting doing our kitchen in stainless steel. It is a nightmare to maintain!

Rima said...

Ooooo, I like the first one! Can you do laminate floor that looks like wood? I've seen several kitchen updates with this and it's relatively inexpensive, but looks great and is easy to clean, from what I understand.

Ice Cream said...

I'm not a big fan of white, but that comes from years of renting and having no option but white. What about dark brown and light cream?

Kellan said...

Dark brown always looks so rich - great choice. And, I love white cabinets - looks rich as well and so sleek and clean looking. The flooring could just be ceramic tile or slate - maybe cork flooring.

Can't wait to see what you choose and how it all turns out!!

Have a good Friday - Kellan

Anonymous said...

I vote for all white. The other styles will date very quickly.

Plus I'm old enough to think that dark brown cabinets are v. v. 1970s. And not in a good way.

theotherbear said...

Dark brown and white for sure. With wooden floorboards, or good fake laminate.

Anna-b-bonkers said...

I love, love love the second photo!! That is exactly like what we are going to put into our new beach house (excelt slightly lighter) with recycled glass countertops and green and white glass tiles. My gosh, when I saw these pics my heart skipped a beat, love them.
The bottom ones I love too but I do like that slight bit of contrast to ground the space.

Whatever you choose I am sure it will be amazing!

Anonymous said...

I'd go with the dark brown on the lower cabinets. White lower cabinets get filthy easily and daily. Trust me, I know.

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

I like all white--that's what I have. The cabinets stay clean because every time I talk on the phone I also wipe cabinets.

I also have wood laminate flooring throughout the whole first floor of my house--it's sturdy, looks great and is easy to clean. It has stood up very well to 4 kids, 2 dogs, and 2 cats. Plus, it's fun to pick rugs.

Caffienated Cowgirl said...

All white...especially if your kitchen is smaller. I like white because of all the color accents that you can add.

Kat said...

The top one is my favorite. I'm all about color. The right kitchen can go all white but you have to be careful to avoid looking sterile.

Misty said...

I like the middle picture. Not sure why :) And the ceramic in the pictures would be a nice choice for flooring.

Amy Y said...

I love the white on white with the view... but I don't know if I'd love it without the view? It belongs next to an ocean! And keeping that clean... with two boys... no fun!

You can do tile yourself relatively easily (I say this because my husband successfully tiled our laundry room in our last home and if he can do it, anyone can). I bet you could find a nice slate tile that wouldn't break the bank if you installed it yourselves?

Mary Beth said...

I've found that white shows every flaw, fingerprint, etc. In my dream kitchen, I never think colors - just lots and LOTS of space (storage & counter) because I never seem to have enough:)

Chantal said...

I like the dark brown one (the first photo). But thats just me. You do what you like, it is your house after all! :)

shay said...

I love that first one but would take the last if they could promise me that view out the window.

Our friends put in a tile that was cheaper than stone but looked a heck of a lot like it. Could you look at something like that?

We are going to do hardwood or laminate all thru when we finally get to that point. I was totally anti-laminate until I had it. I am actually loving it as the dog and kids can't scratch it! My only warning is that dark flooring (which I have) shows dirt - ALOT! (which mine does) I still love it though and would do it again.

Gina said...

I like the first one but it's really a matter of personal choice. I love the modern style with bar pulls that all three of them have. I personally wouldn't do all white because I've got too many kids and dogs but brown lower and white uppers sounds like a great idea.

As for the flooring, I've had it all. Wood in the kitchen is a pain in the butt. Tile was my favorite because it was easy to clean and the kids could roller skate on it (ok.. I'm really weird but they all learned to skate hanging on to the kitchen counters)but it can be murder on your feet and back if you spend a lot of time cooking. Laminate is easy but pick something you really love or you'll get sick of it. Also, pay for quality because it's really worth it. We had cheap laminate in the temporary rental before this house and ripped it the first week. (and no one was skating on THAT) The laminate I have now is incredibly durable and looks like tile plus it is super easy to clean... but I honestly miss having real tile.

Laski said...

First and last . . . especially if you can add a punch of color.

I'm with everyone on the laminate. There are so many good ones.

Then again, there is a new "stone" tile that is a composite of some sort--less expensive than stone and easier to maintain. Might be worth checking out . . .

carrie said...

I love the brown but in a few years, you may tire of the darkness . . . although they are lovely. White is pretty timeless.

As for flooring, I vote for some beautiful ceramic tile - it is durable and inexpensive!

painted maypole said...

cement slab floors are very popular here, but I imagine you have a basement and so your floor isn't cement?

Amy said...

Oh so sleek! I go for the brown. A new kitchen - LUCKY!!! =)

dkuroiwa said...

Oh my...what lovlines to choose from...personally, I'd go for the all white...it just seems so open and airy...the dark wood (IMHO) just seems too much like a night club...Plus, with the white, you can accent with any color and it will look good. And ReallY?? That view?? ~sigh~ almost too perfect!!

As for flooring, here in Japan, almost all floors are a hard-wood type...sometimes we use floor rugs to cover...or a tatami-style mat...it's very easy to change. I also have some "cleaning slippers" that make cleaning that floor so much easier...just put some rocking' music on and I can clean and dance!! It's great!!!
have fun deciding!!!

Aliki2006 said...

I like the middle one. I'm not much into white kitchens, either. We inherited an old kitchen with white-ish cabinets (not startling, modern white!) and they are hard to keep clean.

Is that Ikea stuff?

The Lady Who Doesn't Lunch: said...

Ooh! I hope I'm not too late for the voting, but I love the brown and white - modern and classic.

Just so you are reminded that I'm a total nerd - my Sims have those same cabinets - I love them.

Tonya said...

I like the first one for whatever it is worth!

the dragonfly said...

I think I like the first one best...but all look nice. :)

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

DEFINITELY go with your gut. I don't think you can go wrong. All 3 of them look beautiful to me.

Anonymous said...

I vote for the first one.

As for floor, I'd go with a tile. Slate would look fanstastic, but I don't know if it owuld break the bank.

Tile options are limitless so with a little looking, I bet you could find one that works for you and your budget.

Mrs. G. said...

I'm not a decorator;I just want the view. I'm sure it will be beautiful.

katydidnot said...

i would marry Glossy White.

Karen MEG said...

Heidi, I love that glossy white cabinetry ... I myself lean toward the more modern, sleek look too I'm pretty happy with our compromise . We came THIS close to going with a dark island too ... but we were concerned that the size of our kitchen couldn't carry it; I think that yours could very well.

I like #2, and not just because of that light fixture ;).

Too many options on the floor, I'm afraid. We're porcelain people. I feel your "pain" .... this'll be fun!!

Heidi said...

I like the middle one if you could have all the lower cabinets in brown too.

kimmy said...

I like the first one! I think white cabinets are so classy too! And, wouldn't the view just be perfect too?

Good luck!

Kimmy

Valarie said...

Hmmm, I would love to put in my two cents, but trust me, you don't want my advice when it comes to decorating. IThat is something that I like to leave to the professionals. :)

Nadine said...

I LOVE the first one!! If there is one thing I love about our house, it is our wooden floor. So anything wood (or that looks like wood) has my vote :)

Beth from the Funny Farm said...

All white is my vote. I think white is just as easy to keep clean as any other color.

Unknown said...

You could do a dark bamboo floor- not very expensive here in GA, or I found slate REALLY cheap and it is great in kitchens. Also, don't forget concrete flooring that is acid washed. If you are on a slab you're half way there. You have great taste. Nice clean lines.

kim-d said...

Hey Heidi! How are you? I've really been missing you SO much, but I needed to take my time and put some thought into the decorating advice I give you...BWAHAHAHA! Seriously miss you, though!

I LOVE the first one, but the second one comes in a close second. And the third is nice. I just like the richness of the brown along with the white. I think it "warms" it up just a little.

How are B-Boy and C-Man? I know you must be so incredibly busy, but since I am your nosey friend, I need to know what you're up to :).

Big Hug...

Barrie said...

My house is very white. And I'm tired of it now. Which is why I'm moving to colour. :) We must keep track of each other's decorating. :)

Karen said...

I didn't have time to read through all the comments so other people may have suggested this. We put cork flooring on our kitchen floor. It is wonderful! It is really easy to stand on for hours without your legs aching and if glasses fall on it, they don't break because it is softer than a traditional floor. If you don't like the look of cork, you can get it so it doesn't actually look like cork but has a very funky finish. The other flooring we considered is called Marmoleum. It's an all-natural linoleum and very durable. it comes in very bright colours as well as traditional ones. Here's a link to check it out: http://www.thehealthiesthome.com/products/flooring/marmoleum.php