What did you compromise on and did you regret it - sink edition
Kim Bergman
13 days ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (38)
Related Discussions
What did you splurge on, what did you save on.
Comments (34)Very preliminary plans here so much is subject to change. Splurged on land -- paid about 50% over planned, but got the land at 66% off original 1.2 million list. Since it is paid for, it is no longer a consideration. Probable Splurges: Interesting ceilings in main living area (not sure what yet) and 9' elsewhere on main floor. Maybe a nana wall (or similar) between kitchen and deck to maximize light (only natural light directly in the kitchen). Integrated plaster walls (although that may not end up being much of a spurge over good Sheetrock finish) because it is common in comparable new builds in the area (and not advertised as an upgrade). Large covered decks. Back if house -- Living room, deck and MBR will be cantilevered with basement patio below. ( probably not complete cantilever because it will be supported by stone columns) Nice fencing, but because the back yard is small, we won't need too much of it. Radiant hot water in floor heat throughout (again not much of a splurge because SIL in the business). Exterior must be 1/3 natural stone. Probably a nice chandy for the dining area, but the rest can be pretty basic. 8' doors in main living area. Undecided: windows, definitely want efficiency, but I can work with standard sizes; cabinetry and countertops, want nice and soft close, but flexible on wood type and finishes. Last time we shopped for granite for the ski house even though we budgeted for class 4, we found we really liked a class 2 stone better. Save: flooring (2) hardwood floors don't have to be anything special -- I have seen many midrange that I like, tile, again I have seen midrange options. I like. Carpet in bedrooms, office, closet and staircase except to the first landing because the rest is enclosed. Simple trim work (but also a splurge a bit t be sure it is beefy enough) Plumbing fixtures, I prefer simple and basic. Appliances -- been there, done that, on higher end appliances and really, I see no real advantage over my 10,000 range at home and my 2,500 one at the ski house and I cook a lot both places. Pantry storage will cost much less and pantry counters (as wll as laundry room can even be Formica. No fancy shower heads. No AC -- it's only needed a few days a year in our climate and we can survive without it. Upstairs guest room can have 8' ceilings. Of course, all this is subject to change -- we are waiting for the next plan revisions before we really start sourcing....See MoreRegrets, serious edition
Comments (72)Blue! I haven't checked in here for a while and thought I'd see if anyone I knew was still posting. I saw your post and your dilema. First of all--hello! Good to hear from you! Secondly, I love your kitchen as is and am sorry you regret not getting all white cabs. I can understand how it feels to be talked out of something you wanted. I regret I didn't get the silgranite sink I wanted nor the blind corner cab pull outs that I was talked out of by my KD. Next time (if there ever is a next time) I will stick to my guns! So, if you are bent on changing your cabs, do so. Have them professionally sprayed. My opinion, for what it is worth, I LOVE your kitchen the way it is! I don't like the photoshop pictures at all. I think you may have a hard time matching the white cabs to the island and then your tile. It may be a bit too much white. Have you thought of other things you can do? I am not a fan of glazing but was thinking of taking out the inside panel of some of the doors and putting in opaque glass--maybe with a nice wavy or ridged pattern in it. That would be "white" without painting the entire cab white. It looks like you have no inside panel on the uppers by the sink and maybe carry that over to the stove area. Are the cut outs plain glass or wire or ??? It is hard to tell from the picture. In any case, I am sorry you have regrets. I hope you are able to resolve them. You might want to check out another designer than the one you used and pay him/her by the hour for some suggestions. Let us know what you decide. Sending you big hugs! You know, for those of us that remodeled in 2008, I think we should have a once a month reunion on here just to catch up with each other and see how our kitchens have progressed, loves and hates, etc. It would be fun! Lord knows I could use the support as I watch the value of my house slipping daily!...See MoreDid you regret polished chrome hardware?
Comments (18)I have polished nickel (Restoration Hardware which is made for them by Newport Brass) in the powder room and one of the main bathrooms. It has seemed to get a little darker/burnished where you touch the faucet handles. I'm not totally happy with it. The medicine chest also seems to show darker marks from being touched and they are somewhat resistant to coming off. I'm the only one in this bathroom (DH treats it like my private sanctuary and only uses the other "His" bathroom) and I'm very careful and constantly wiping and cleaning. As a result of this experience, decided to get chrome for the kitchen sink....See MoreDo you regret your island? Did you leave enough/too much space?
Comments (41)My black lab and border collie mix have taken to checking out what's on the counter lately. Might have something to do with 17+ and 19 year old cats who don't belong to the clean your plate club. They coordinate with the marble and black granite very well, but it makes me chuckle to think how silly (and uncomfortable) they would look if I ever put them up on the counter. The Great Pyreneese? Better be a BIG island! LOL I meant to say earlier that I would not want a movable island. I would have no place to move it to where it wouldn't be a bigger problem. Now, I suppose that you could custom build something that had an island that fit under a counter height table(would still allow some storage but would have to preserve leg room for the table) you might be able to address that issue -- even use it as a table extension at holidays, but one of the things I love about my island now that I moved the cooktop out is having a sink there. I also really want power there. We use the waffle maker and blender mostly st the island. Again, if you really engineered the thing, I suppose you could have a power strip on the side of that island, a cord running down the leg and an outlet inset into your floor to plug it in when it's in place and be covered and smooth when it's not. But all of that seems like a hassle. In my mind, you probably either have room for an island or don't and you will wind up using it one way or the other. You might as well figure it our and make it the best you can in the right configuration rather than trade off. For example, if you don't do an island, you can extend your counters to 30" depth and have more workspace there, but you can't do that if you try to squeeze in an island. My kitchen is less than 14 feet wide -- pretty minimal for a 3 ft wide island (cabinets are 34", so it is 36" overall). Had we made the perimeter cabinets 30" deep, I'd have had 8 feet to trek across from stove to sink and half the work space. No question I'd rather have the island....See MoreKim Bergman
12 days agoci_lantro
12 days agolast modified: 12 days agoSabrina Alfin Interiors
12 days agoci_lantro
12 days agoOC Kitchen
12 days agoBPMBA
12 days agoDebbi Washburn
12 days agoShasta
12 days agoBeverlyFLADeziner
12 days agoJAN MOYER
12 days agolast modified: 12 days agoRoger Gleason
12 days agolast modified: 12 days agoKim Bergman
12 days agoacm
12 days agogardener123
12 days agolast modified: 12 days agoJoseph Corlett, LLC
12 days agolast modified: 12 days agorockybird
12 days agogardener123
12 days agorockybird
12 days agogardener123
12 days agorebunky
12 days agolast modified: 12 days agodesignsaavy
11 days agoDiana Bier Interiors, LLC
11 days agoJAN MOYER
11 days agolast modified: 11 days agoanj_p
11 days agoKim Bergman
11 days agoDiana Bier Interiors, LLC
11 days agoanj_p
11 days agoDebbi Washburn
11 days agoDiana Bier Interiors, LLC
11 days agorebunky
11 days agolast modified: 11 days agoJAN MOYER
11 days agolast modified: 11 days agoNancy Karr
10 days ago
Related Stories
BUDGETING YOUR PROJECTHouzz Call: What Did Your Kitchen Renovation Teach You About Budgeting?
Cost is often the biggest shocker in a home renovation project. Share your wisdom to help your fellow Houzzers
Full StoryHOUZZ CALLWhere Did You Stay During Your Remodel?
Did you live through the noise and dust during your project, rent a place or camp in your backyard? Tell us your story
Full StoryVALENTINE’S DAYTell Us: Why Did You Fall in Love With Your House?
What was it about your house that made your heart flutter? Share your photo, and it could make the Houzz homepage
Full StoryHOUZZ CALLDid You Design Your House Around Your Pet?
Doggy doors are just the beginning. We want to know what other pet-centric features have driven your home design
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESEdit Keepsakes With Confidence — What to Let Go and What to Keep
If mementos are weighing you down more than bringing you joy, here's how to lighten your load with no regrets
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURSHappy Compromises for a Minimalist and a Maximalist
A Toronto architect makes the most of narrow rooms with a renovation
Full StoryLIFEEdit Your Photo Collection and Display It Best — a Designer's Advice
Learn why formal shots may make better album fodder, unexpected display spaces are sometimes spot-on and much more
Full StoryDECLUTTERINGDownsizing Help: How to Edit Your Belongings
Learn what to take and what to toss if you're moving to a smaller home
Full StoryMOST POPULARHow to Choose the Right Kitchen Sink
Learn about basin configurations, sink shapes, materials and even accessories and specialty sinks
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDES10 Biggest Remodeling Regrets and How to Avoid Them
We’ve asked a panel of experts to reveal the most common renovating mistakes — and how to steer clear of them
Full Story
anj_p