[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]As promised here are some pictures of our "dream kitchen". I consider myself a gourmet cook and family/friends are always encouraging me to open a restaurant - but too much work. I cook for the pleasure of creating wonderful food, for the relaxation and of course eating.
When we moved into this house the kitchen was located on the other side of the living room and VERY VERY small. Only 2 feet of counter on either side of the stove and sink area. I was always putting cutting boards on the stove/sink just to get a little more room. The previous owners had added a 600 sq ft "family, music, sewing room" on to the house. There was also a storage closet and glass doors off the entry way from the front porch that led into the family room. A bay window and bench seat in the window which looked out to Mt. Shasta and from the other side of the room Mt. Lassen. We were never sure what we were going to do with that room, may be an office or craft room - it was kind of removed from the general living area of the house. But we charged all that!![/FONT]
The first Thanksgiving we were there my younger brother had invited us to their home. I of course signed up to bring the appetizers! After struggling for the day making all my goodies in the small kitchen, I was frustrated to say the least. While driving to my brothers house the light came on. Move the kitchen into the unused family room! When I told Mark he said "well if that's what you want, then let's make it everything you want".
We went through a local lumber company who drew up the plans and incorporated all the features that we wanted and suggested a wonderful contractor for the remodel. We have an all electric household, and the truth be known I love electric stoves (I know I'm rare in that regard) so picked out a 46" smooth 6 burner glass top with pop up down draft exhaust fan. We did not want any thing to interrupt the view of the mountains. Our house is basically a sage green and we choose green granite counter tops. We like the idea of glass in the cabinet doors and choose a fern leaf pattern. Cabinets have lights under, inside and on top to the ceiling - makes for a beautiful setting at night.
[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]Took out the glass doors from the entry closed off the wall and punched through to the storage closet off entry way and made the 7'x7' walk in pantry (I'll post pictures of that later). Took out the bench in the bay window, added a door out on to our 1700' sq ft deck that runs the entire length on the back of the house out to the pool. We also use this area between the door and stove for guest sitting since everyone loves to be in the kitchen![/FONT]
From the stove we see Mt. Shasta and from the kitchen sink, Mt. Lassen, barn and my beloved chicken coop. Well, have been long winded enough so here are the pictures!
The view coming into the kitchen from the open concept living room. If you look really hard you can see the tin roof of the chicken coop out the center window.
[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]Here is a shot looking straight in. The pantry is 7'x7' We use the small refrigerator for extra vegetables and to ensure that there is always a
"cold one" waiting - got keep the husband happy
[/FONT]
[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]Nice to have mixer, toaster and other appliances handy and tucked away out of sight from the kitchen[/FONT]
[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]The cabinets are for storage of all our can food items[/FONT]
[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]One last shot of the space behind the door[/FONT]
[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]Hope you enjoyed this tour of our "dream kitchen". Thanks for stopping by and taking a look.
Sandee and Mark[/FONT]
When we moved into this house the kitchen was located on the other side of the living room and VERY VERY small. Only 2 feet of counter on either side of the stove and sink area. I was always putting cutting boards on the stove/sink just to get a little more room. The previous owners had added a 600 sq ft "family, music, sewing room" on to the house. There was also a storage closet and glass doors off the entry way from the front porch that led into the family room. A bay window and bench seat in the window which looked out to Mt. Shasta and from the other side of the room Mt. Lassen. We were never sure what we were going to do with that room, may be an office or craft room - it was kind of removed from the general living area of the house. But we charged all that!![/FONT]
The first Thanksgiving we were there my younger brother had invited us to their home. I of course signed up to bring the appetizers! After struggling for the day making all my goodies in the small kitchen, I was frustrated to say the least. While driving to my brothers house the light came on. Move the kitchen into the unused family room! When I told Mark he said "well if that's what you want, then let's make it everything you want".
We went through a local lumber company who drew up the plans and incorporated all the features that we wanted and suggested a wonderful contractor for the remodel. We have an all electric household, and the truth be known I love electric stoves (I know I'm rare in that regard) so picked out a 46" smooth 6 burner glass top with pop up down draft exhaust fan. We did not want any thing to interrupt the view of the mountains. Our house is basically a sage green and we choose green granite counter tops. We like the idea of glass in the cabinet doors and choose a fern leaf pattern. Cabinets have lights under, inside and on top to the ceiling - makes for a beautiful setting at night.
[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]Took out the glass doors from the entry closed off the wall and punched through to the storage closet off entry way and made the 7'x7' walk in pantry (I'll post pictures of that later). Took out the bench in the bay window, added a door out on to our 1700' sq ft deck that runs the entire length on the back of the house out to the pool. We also use this area between the door and stove for guest sitting since everyone loves to be in the kitchen![/FONT]
From the stove we see Mt. Shasta and from the kitchen sink, Mt. Lassen, barn and my beloved chicken coop. Well, have been long winded enough so here are the pictures!
The view coming into the kitchen from the open concept living room. If you look really hard you can see the tin roof of the chicken coop out the center window.
[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]This is door into the pantry area. We still need to do some trim work around the door. The intention is to make it look like another large cabinet.[/FONT]
[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]Looking across the room[/FONT]
[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]Looking back the other way. You can see the peak of the barn out the window. Was cloudy that day and can't see Mt. Lassen but can normally out these windows on a clear day. The over head lighting is suspended from the open beam ceiling that is lined in cedar as are all the other ceilings in the house. Again, we did not want to interrupt the views.[/FONT]
[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]Looking across the room[/FONT]
[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]Here is a shot looking straight in. The pantry is 7'x7' We use the small refrigerator for extra vegetables and to ensure that there is always a
"cold one" waiting - got keep the husband happy
[/FONT]
[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]Nice to have mixer, toaster and other appliances handy and tucked away out of sight from the kitchen[/FONT]
[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]The cabinets are for storage of all our can food items[/FONT]
[FONT=comic sans ms,sand]One last shot of the space behind the door[/FONT]
Sandee and Mark[/FONT]
