Was this your old user name? Your attention to detail reminds me of a GW member Hoboken(something).

7th kitchen? Do you do this for fun or does work cause the moves?

Your artwork, sconces and the lamp on the counter are just lovely and add a warm personal touch. Love the stone and the design behind the range and the peek into the pantry. Did you remove a wall between the kitchen and dining room?

Now I want to find a way to put a lamp on my counter.

Beautiful, warm space. I gotta get one of those "No Whining" signs!

Very warm and inviting, and IMO tasteful. I love the pendants. Gotta wonder, if you move the island each time, what goes in it's place? For me, that island ties it all together and is what makes the kitchen so warm and inviting.

You guys are great. A little background- I have been on the gardenweb kitchen site for years. I keep moving because of my husband’s job. Each one will be my “last.” Lol. This house was purchased from the estate of original owner in New Jersey. We gutted it to the studs. Yes, we removed the wall between kitchen and dining. The pendants over the island are pretty much all that’s left (they were in the entry and hall, so they earned the place of honor over the island). As to the island, it’s a movable piece of furniture I bought in Phoenix many years ago. My kids have “accidentally” carved things in the top. I fight with EVERY buyer about taking it (including the current buyer who is allegedly furious I’m not leaving it). We have lived our lives around that thing. It will be the centerpiece of my next kitchen in Orange County, California.

oh- and this kitchen, like my last one, is ikea. I kid you not. Some of you may remember my ikea kitchen with walnut cabinet doors I did in Salt Lake City. This one has black ikea doors in the butlers pantry. Semi handmade doors in main kitchen. In my next kitchen, I’ll be using the walnut doors and semi handmade white shaker.

Here’s the before:

Kitchen update · More Info

Kitchen update · More Info

Kitchen update · More Info

Kitchen update · More Info

Kitchen update · More Info

Wow! Beautiful transformation! Please hang out on this forum more - we could use your expertise!

What was your Gardenweb handle back in the day? I would like to see if I recognize it.

VSalzmann

Heres the link to my salt lake kitchen:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2422346/finally-finished-walnut-quartzite-idea-kitchen-with-pics#n=90

So blown away by it all and what a great view. I remember your Salt Lake kitchen too. Good luck with the move. Check back and show us your progress there.

So beautiful! I really love how you displayed the blue plates on the wall. You have exquisite taste.

Bravo!!! It is absolutely stunning, and I especially love your lighting and curved slab backsplash.

I am a big fan of IKEA cabs as well, and plan to use them for my next kitchen as well, (where ever that is). Semi Handmade no longer makes walnut doors for kitchens. May I ask who your new source is?

Nicole

Big transformation from the original. We are doing our remodel, and frankly, once is enough!

I don't with to belabor the subject, having brought it up above, but an island such as that is an integral part of the kitchen, any kitchen. Perhaps next time, if there is one, you might move it to storage rather than have a prospective buyer see it and you end up 'fighting' over it. That would be better than leaving it and saying it doesn't 'go' with the house. Again, islands are integral, whereas sofas and such aren't. Just a thought.

This is seriously gorgeous. Those pendants over the island are my favorite that I’ve ever seen, and I love that they were repurposed from the hall/entry. It sounds like the next move is fairly imminent. I look forward to seeing your new kitchen as it sounds a lot like ours (we’re still waiting on cabinets but we’ll have shaker oak inset lowers and white uppers).

You have really, really lovely taste.

Beautiful kitchen....and may I ask (since you’ve done so many renovations) do you have a favorite range? I am building and am researching dual fuel ranges (gas/electric) and would like opinions. I have had a Viking for 9 years and while I like the gas cooktop, the oven is not good, so I have Viking at the bottom of the list....unless they’ve addressed the issues. But how to know?

2manydiversions: I actually fought with my husband and realtor to remove the island and replace with something before we went on the market to avoid the issue. I have the same argument everytime we move. I was voted down and told “we will just tell them it’s excluded.” A week later . . . . I think My husband is hoping I will eventually say “let them have it.” My realtors always want it there to sell the house. It’s a huge issue every time we move. But it really is just a piece of furniture. The floor underneath is finished. In my last house, it wasn’t even in the kitchen and the buyers tried to take it. It’s crazy.

nicoletouk: I order my walnut doors from Cabinetnow. They come raw, and I refinish with tung oil. You can read all about it in my salt lake kitchen post above.

That's incredible that you've kept the island. It's beautiful! And what a great way to make each space distinctly your own.

Love it all. I can't wait to see your next kitchen! The pendants in the NYC kitchen are stunning.

Wow, just Wow. I wonder, is each successive kitchen an improvement over the others (just in your opinion) as you "learn" what you like and as tastes change? Or do you long for a previous one?
Just put a giant sign on the island that says it is not part of the sale and please don't ask and stipulate the floors are finished underneath. You can throw in that it holds sentimental value and priceless in your eyes. Then they are morons if they hassle you!

nicoletouk: I order my walnut doors from Cabinetnow. They come raw, and I refinish with tung oil. You can read all about it in my salt lake kitchen post above.

Thank you, I will check them out!

I'm looking forward to seeing your next creation...

Nicole

Wow, I saw your post and thought, was that the corner rangetop? I loved your old kitchen (I was obsessed with walnut in my early TKO dreams), love your new one (esp the sconces & the backsplash & the black butlers pantry!) The story of the travelling island is the absolute best - what a great way to bring happy old memories into a new house!

wow beautiful work

Holy wow! Every detail is perfect. I hope the new owners replicate your island exactly.

I remember your salt lake kitchen. I think you had just finished when I found Gardenweb. I was just starting my kitchen reno & thought if IKEA looks that good, that's what I'm doing. I did & am very happy, I also did semi handmade doors from a company here in Austin. No one has a clue the cabs are IKEA. I had a little trouble finding someone that could figure out how to install them. I had cut one of the cabinets down & I think it threw the installer off a little. But he got it figured out. I'd do it again, if need to, but I'm not sure if I'll be moving anytime soon. Great to see this kitchen too. I love the pendants over your awesome island. So nice that you were able to salvage something from the original house. One question, in the butlers pantry, is the backsplash by the sink painted brassy looking or did you put brass in there? It could just be the way the light is shining on the wall. I haven't been on this site in quite a few years so it's nice to have run across your post. Good luck with your CA kitchen. Hopefully you'll post it on here too. Good luck with your move.

Bicyclegirl1-

good to read you again. I haven’t been on here in years either!

the backsplash in my butlers pantry is just gold leaf right on the Sheetrock. I painted the wall black, brushed on sizing, then applied the squares. after I put all the squares up, I scuffed it up in a few spots, then went over the top with a brown polyurethane stain and seal to age it up. Then we trimmed it in shoe molding. DH seriously doubted this was going to turn out. But everyone who sees it likes it. Here’s a better picture:

Vsalzmann, you are so creative & artistic! It turned out perfect. Thanks for the "how to" information. I'll hold onto it in case I need to do something like that one day! Can't wait to see your new kitchen, when you get moved.

More proof that Kitchens do not sell houses!! Where it started to where you took it--what made you even walk into that home? WOW what a difference!!

Love the gold framed artwork in the kitchen. I can see why the buyers are pissed about the island leaving! Do you note that in the listing, if not, when in the process do they find out?

I cannot imagine going through 7 kitchen renovations. More power to you!

What a wonderful marble backsplash design leading into the hood. Excellent interior decor elements as well! Thank you for sharing.

I love your style!!

Really lovely, I admire the DIY talent. Please share your next kitchen.

Wow. Following. Please continue sharing.