Kitchen Design Online
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Your questions are welcome!
Do you want answers to your kitchen questions? Send me your question (pictures are great) and I will help you solve a problem or give my opinion on your issue. My goal is to help you achieve a kitchen that will reflect you and your family.
Some questions and answers will be published so everyone can benefit from the information. With a big job like a new kitchen you need all the help you can get.
I also offer a kitchen layout design service online to help you with the basics before you do all the fun stuff of finishes and decorating. After answering some questions about your needs and existing kitchen I will send you a new kitchen design and 3d pictures of your new plan. Then you can shop around and get pricing from several companies with your new plan in hand. The only way to compare prices is to have them all bid on the same plan and style. The cost is $50 per hour and the average kitchen takes about 6 hours.
computer kitchen design plan
3d kitchen design plan
I look forward to answering your kitchen questions.
Yvonne Kraft
Kitchen designer,Design Consultant
e-mail yvonne@designkitchenideas.com
Dear Yvonne,
What an AWESOME site you have!! I love, love, love, all the ideas, especially when you have pictures of what you like and comments on what you would change! I am agonizing over my tiny kitchen. I love the layout, but it is pretty dated. It came with dark red ceilings that are fabulous and a full wall of windows for lots of daylight, white appliances, pickled cabinets that are tired, beige laminate countertops (also tired) a pee colored sink, god-awful borders and blah walls. I am thinking red cabinets, gold walls, but am afraid those white appliances will stand out like a bandaged thumb. I love dark kitchens, they seem so cozy. Any advice?
Thank you,
Kari
Thanks for your question Irene. It really is a shame that you paid to have your cabinets professionally painted and now are having problems with the finish. I don’t think it is the color at all, light grey sounds like a great color for kitchen cabinets.The painter may have used a white primer under the finish paint so that the white shows through the surface scratches. Personally I would have used a water based paint in a satin finish. As far as I know the Ironclad paint only comes in low luster. I have found that any paint (but oil based especially) takes up to 2 weeks to fully cure to a durable finish. Until it is cured it can be easily scratched.
My advice would be to try to just sand and repaint the scratched areas with the same paint before you take on the huge task of repainting the entire kitchen. By using the same paint and color you would not have to repaint all the areas or doors, just the worst areas. Ask your paint store if there is a clear finish you can put over the paint when it is dry for more protection. If you do add a final clear coat you want to make sure that the products are compatible.
Good luck with the cabinets and feel free to submit another question in the future.
Yvonne
hi yvonne, great website, wish i found it while we were planning our kitchen remodel!
overall we are happy with the outcome of our renovation however a problem that haunts us is the painted cabinets. we had purchased pre-made modular cabinets (made of red oak, pre-stained and sealed with polyurethane) and hired a professional painter to paint them a dark grey. we used BM oil based Ironclad paint and found that scratches are very apparent. scratches show up lighter than the paint. i’m not sure if its because of the color, quality of work, or paint type? we are thinking of repainting the cabinets and want to know what is a durable color that will hide scratches and scoffs. we have young kids that love to take part in the cooking process.
many thanks in advance for your help,
irene
Dear Yvonne,
I have visited many websites but I have enjoyed yours the most. We are thinking of updating our kitchen and I would greatly value your opinion about our kitchen cabinets. Our kitchen is Medium to small with brown woodgrain cabinets. The house was built in the 70′s and these are definitely originals. Fortunately, the cabinet style is very basic and I feel that paint and upgrade on handles and knobs will do the trick. Unfortunately, we are having a hard time deciding a color to paint the cabinets. I have chose a warm brick red as the main color in the kitchen and will eventually replace our white counters with a light granite color. We have a bistro table that is has cappuccino colored legs and wooden seats with wooden table top. We have a beige ceramic tile floor and white appliances. I wanted to paint the cabinets a dark cappuccino color but my husband is afraid that it will make the kitchen look too small. I suggested white but he grimaced at that also. Could you suggest an alternative color for the cabinets?
Thank you!
Tara
Hi Jeff, it sounds like a nice kitchen that used to have very nice appliances. The space above the built in oven was for a microwave but the size indicates that it had a trim kit around it to match the width of the built in oven. When you purchase the built in oven just choose any microwave and a trim kit to match the width of the oven. They are all either custom made or adjustable and are very easy to find at any appliance store. As for the 36″ stove they are now available for a reasonable price compared to 5 or 10 years ago when you had to purchase a commercial stove. If you purchase a gas range just make sure it does not put out too much heat for the size of your hood fan. Ask an expert to help you with this at the appliance store. All you need is a standard stove that is made in a 36″ size to give you that commercial look. Hope that helps, Yvonne
I am purchasing a home where the previous owners took the appliances. I am happy with the cabinets, but obviously need appliances. The openings for the dishwasher, refrigerator, and trash compactor are all standard sizes. The opening for the free-standing range is 36″, as is the opening for the hood above. There is also two openings for built in appliances, one directly above the other. The bottom is 28.5″ x 28″ (apparently a single wall oven), and right above it is an opening 28.5″ wide x 19.5″ tall. I assume some sort of built in microwave was there, but can not find anything with those dimensions. The 36″ range was obviously an upper end range. I am struggling finding a combination of appliances that will fit the openings yet have a uniform appearance. My girfriend thinks they all should be the same brand, but it just seems that will not be possible. Any suggestions?
Jeff
Hi Amy, thanks for the kudos! Classic colors and finishes will always look great. You are definitely on the right track with your choice of colors and finishes. As for the soffit, if you can get rid of it, do it since it does look dated. However if it is needed for upstairs plumbing or venting add some molding and paint it the same color as the cabinets to blend them.
If you are interested in have me design your kitchen see my answer to Rick.
Yvonne
Hi Rick,
What I can offer is is a computer drawing of a new kitchen plan based on information you give me. I would need a sketch of the measurements of the space, appliance information, and some idea of what your ideal kitchen would include. I would send you lots of 3d renderings of the new kitchen plan so you can see it from every side. This would include the style and colors as well. It takes me about 6 hours and I charge $300. Payment would be through PayPal.
I can email you some samples of what to expect if you are interested.
Yvonne
Hello,
We have a 1982 kitchen with mismatch appliances. The breakfast area and a small sitting room adjoin. I watch my wife cook and the kids come and go through the kitchen from the sitting room, so I consider it all one room. We redecorate as we have money, so I do not think things go together as well as they should.
I want a plan, a picture and a color pallet. Is this what you offer?
Please give me a short reply. This way, you will not have much invested if we do not hire a consultant
Thank you for your time.
Rick
Dear Yvonne,
GREAT information. What a wonderful service you are offering. Just in the planning stage for what I hope will be my almost dream kitchen. Would love your help and ideas. I liked the page where you stated your likes and dislikes about the space also. Just a super resource and thank you. Email me if you want more info and you are willing to help! My thought are white custom cabinets, unsure of door style but want classic and clean..not slab however. Granite counter tops in the taupe, beige and dark gray tones, perhaps honed. Light hardwood floors to transition to the adjoining rooms. 36″ cook top planned with 30″ oven and microwave/convection oven. Soooo much to take into consideration and think about. Biggest dilemma is do we tear out the 1988 soffit??? LOL. Thnaks so much.
Sincerely,
Amy
Hi Annette
My general rule is that the floor and counter should co-ordinate with each other and should contrast with the cabinets. So if you want cherry cabinets (you don’t mention what shade the cabinets will be) I would suggest a floor and counter that are a lighter color than the cabinets.
If you check out photos of kitchens that have dark cabinets, counter and floor it all gets a bit dreary and dark. That might be the choice for a young bachelor who only uses the fridge and microwave, but most women want a lighter feel in the kitchen.
If you want to go with the Richlite counters I would suggest the Sage, Baguette or Hemp colors and co-ordinate the floor tile with the counter. A black floor will be a very high maintenance since it will show every crumb and piece of lint. Choose a faux slate or stone tile with a variety of colors including the cabinet and counter colors. This will give you a finished product that will stand the test of time and look warm and inviting.
Let me know what you narrow down your choices to and I will give you some final advice to let you know if you are on the right track before you make any commitments.
Regards, Yvonne
Dear Yvonne,
I would like to know about color organization so I really need your opinion and experience.
I loved the RICHLITE sample (for ‘green’ countertops) because it feels like smooth petrified wood and it needs NO maintanence and its so strong, it needs no under support (does not stain either).
I liked the REDSTONE color in the Richlite paperstone product (the other limited colors were Mountain green, black, and browns/yellowish)
I thought at first, the Mountain green color would look great on white or neutral color cabinets but I want to have cherry color cabinets or a darker color cabinets instead (tired of the white and neutrals).
Would the REDSTONE countertop be OK with the cherrywood cabinets? If that is good, can I use black slate floors? I used to love the multicolor slates but got tired of it when it started to look to ‘busy’ so I started to admire the green/blue Vermont or soft black slate floors (in large rectangle shapes, hate squares lately).
I have a feeling you would say “black” counters is the best for slate floor and cherrywood cabinets but if I select black, I’d rather have that beautiful Black Galaxy GRANITE with the gold/copper flecks….. and I do not want granite material (I hate the clinking sound when the glass or dishes hit the granite and they are easily shattered when it hits/falls on the granite counters).
The black Richlite didn’t appeal to me for some reason, so I’m hoping you’d say the REDSTONE would be good? The Redstone was called “Merlot” before they changed the name of the color.
Sorry about such a long message but I’m trying to convey my taste to you so that you can correct me in some way…
thanks
Annette