u/Terrible_Mix5187

Hi all,

I have one major design decision left. So far, what I have picked out is:

• White cabinets
• Rubbed bronze hardware
• Botanic green soapstone countertops - photo is the actual slab.

[Both kitchen images are renders] I met with my design/build firm's tile person. They consistently steered me toward white subway, which would be fine, but I'm wondering if there are more interesting possibilities. I would like to have a turn - of - the century vibe for the whole kitchen. Anything "mid century modern" or later is right out.

Any suggestions?

Botanic soapstone.

Next question: what edge treatment?

Finally got a peak at some slabs for countertops. These are all soapstone. I have not seen them in person but may drive to the warehouse - it would be a full day trip to do that.

Which one would you put into this kitchen?

Final three slides: two different renders that are inaccurate in various ways, but show the planned layout. Cabinets will definitely be white and flooring will be very similar. Last slide is the space as it is currently.
Putting my thoughts into a spoiler - if you like, think about this ahead of time for a bit before reading!

>!My thought was originally to go with black, but I'm crushing on the textures in the other options. This might make picking a backsplash more complicated. I'm also colorblind, and that always introduces a little impostor syndrome when making choices like this!<.

Just signed a contract to remodel cabs, floors, and add a backsplash. All of the design decisions have been made so far:

• Warm white cabinets
• Soapstone counters
• medium-dark wood flavored LVP (coretec Venado oak, to be precise.)
• Oil-rubbed bronze hardware
• Incidentally the diningroom walls are painted in Verona Beach, which is a warm beige with a yellowy emphasis.

Images:

• 1 shows current space, which is obviously fairly dark. Mitigating by going with white cabinets and getting rid of the cabinets above the peninsula.
• 2 A render I cobbled together by designing in the cabinets.com design tool, with added renders for the floor and counter.
• 3 shows designer's render. He was mostly concerned with the dimensions of the cabs. The lighting is comically inaccurate.

What would you do for the backsplash?

My thoughts:

>!I don't want anything in the space to look more recent than, say, 1930 in terms of design. Looking for something warm and vintage but still fairly simple. No glass, no counter material going up the walls, nothing that looks like a commercial space or a middling conference center reception area.!<

>!The dream would be high-end, handmade tiles with Victorian / Edwardian flavoring: chair rails and decorative moldings. But I can't afford that. !<

>!White subway obviously fits the bill, but what's something that would be more interesting?!<

I just discovered this brand from their Cambridge MA store a few weeks ago. LOVE the styling. I'm travelling overseas in a month and I expect the weather to be hot and gross.

I want to order a few MUJI items for the trip:

• Breathable t shirt
• Breathable half sleeve shirt
• Breathable Shirt

The thing is, I have not a clue about what size to get.

• Male
• 190 pounds give or take
• Wear a size 44 jacket, decently athletic upper torso
• 36" belt/pants waist (true waist is embarassingly larger. Hey - I'm not a whippersnapper anymore)
• 53 years old

I normally am very comfortable in XL clothes from brands like LL Bean, and sometimes for some styles I size down to a large.

Based on the sizing chart for the Muji clothes (on each project page), it's like they're telling me to go all the way to a medium, which seems insane.

Part of the issue is that the sizing chart on each item page is orders of magnitude different than the generic size chart, which seems to run small for US sizes.

what size would you recommend getting for these items giving the considerations above?

Remodeling my kitchen from 1980; pics 1 & 2 show the current state. (If you look closely at the upper row of cabinets, you can figure out the reason for the remodel!) Remodel will be kinda-sort like the pictures in the obvious AI renders (pics 3 & 4) overall. White cabinets, hardwood-look floor (kitchen only, despite the render), soapstone countertops, and either a white subway backsplash or something moderately more ornamental. Beige paint in the diningroom will remain.

I'm replacing both the dining room chandelier and the flush mount light in the kitchen itself.

Questions:

Since the upper cabinets are going away (although the soffit will remain, sadly), is it a good idea to try and get the same fixture for both locations?

What style would you suggest for the fixtures?

I've also included a picture of a Tiffany styled lamp that I inherited from my folks. I think it would be cool to keep that theme going. Doable?

So I've just paid my contractor a chunk to finalize the structural design of the kitchen. The render is not 100% accurate, but the basics are correct:

• White cabinets
• Soapstone counters, or possibly a black granite of some type.
• Some type of wood-look flooring. Shooting for dark and somewhat distressed looking, probably darker than the render.
• Backsplash will likely have something more retro/vintage looking than plain white subway tiles, but that's to be decided.

Overall mood I'm going for is a mix of farmhouse/rustic with some accents of Edwardian/Victorian. My goal is to recreate the vibe of a really nice ice cream shop that's been around for a hundred years! But I'll be adding those elements with accents like a rug and lighting fixtures rather than the basics. I am completely avoiding any suggestions of modernism/minimalism, etc.

Anyway, my contractor design guy gave me some homework to pick out hardware.

Pulls
I'm 95% likely to go with the pulls in the image. I think they hit that farmhouse/rustic casual vibe perfectly without looking too "cracker barrel."

Here's where I'm stuck:

Round knobs vs. square knobs?
I love the look of square - they are more sophisticated and distinctive -- but I'm worried they might get misaligned and out of rotation, looking janky. Is this a realistic concern?

Matte Black vs. Oil Rubbed Bronze finish?
I'm really not sure here at all. [Please don't suggest chrome/nickel/brass/gold/pewter etc. I am not interested.] What's the current wisdom about hardware finishing these days?

Curious to hear people's thoughts.

So ten days ago I got home and discovered that my ceiling- mounted cabs were no longer quite as ceiling-mounted. Derp. This condo was built in 1980 and I believe it's 100% original. Builder grade particle cabinets are collapsing, so it's time.

Anyway, I'm playing with ideas for new cabinets and these are the three options in the lead:

• White cabs + black stone countertops (quartz or granite, idc)
• upper white cabs, lower black cabs, white stone countertops
• all natural wood cabs, charcoal countertops

I'm shooting for a traditional or farmhouse vibe, this being in rural New England. Unfortunately I don't have funds for a full appliance replacement. The renders obviously aren't super accurate as there's no way to put in a soffit, but I hope these convey general impressions.