I am very excited to reveal the Portland kitchen today. You know as a parent (of kids or pets) when you find yourself staring at your child unknowingly whispering ‘I just love you so much‘ while they eat Raisin Bran? That’s what I do to photos of this kitchen. The only thing that could make me happier is if were my own, and while it’s not wildly different, it’s just a bigger, better version.
If you ever plan on renovating or updating your kitchen, read every word or bookmark this post. I break down every element on why we chose what we did with costs and tips. I learned SO MUCH from designing this kitchen and you bet I’m not going to leave this blog post without filling your head with all my Portland kitchen renovation knowledge.
Renovating a kitchen from another state wasn’t easy (not sure if I’ve properly drilled that into your head). Sure, I could have easily phoned it in with a basic kitchen, but I wanted it to be this perfect mix of classic + modern, happy + sophisticated, contemporary + timeless with enough special moments that take it from standard to special.
I’ll be honest that there were some bumps along the way, major ones like the island was originally built too small (my fault for not realizing earlier we could go bigger), and the first set of windows—where the big one is now—was originally three tiny, VERY high ones (I didn’t choose them TBH). But we ponied up and paid to fix them because I wasn’t going to spend months designing this kitchen to have any regrets. I’m so glad we did because I’m so proud of this room. I want to jump into the computer when I see photos. I want to live here. Hang out with my kids here. Make soup after soup after soup here while my kids read to each other quietly between spoonfuls of vegetables (opposite). I designed this for my life, with my family, and I would be so very, very happy here.
I have many favorite things about this kitchen but I can’t possibly name them in the right order, so let’s arbitrarily start with…
The Cabinets
We went with custom cabinetry (by Craig Cowing from Crestwood Inc.) as we usually do in higher end spaces. We chose a 2 1/4-inch inset shaker design with a slight step to add a bit of interest and depth. You can’t do smaller than 2 1/4-inch without using custom hinges/hardware but we like the narrower look versus a 3-inch panel. If you are choosing your cabinet design, go for inset or flush for a more updated yet simple look. Inset is where you see the stiles and rails (the 2-inch vertical and horizontal framing of the cabinet case) like pictured above. Flush is where the doors meet each other on top of the stiles and rails. Either way, what you get is a flat look versus where the cabinet doors are on top of the stiles and rails with gaps in between them. Inset costs about 20% more and your cabinet maker has to be very precise (it’s easier to cover inaccuracies when you place the cabinet door on top of the frame), but it’s worth it. These cabinets were all custom and cost about $25k (both for manufacturing and installation). I believe the lead time was 6-8 weeks with like 19 rounds of drawings.
Hot tip: The cabinets are often what hold up an entire house renovation. However, you can’t really get started manufacturing them until you are demoed out and your maker can take proper measurements. Therefore, you are sitting with an empty kitchen for often 6-8 weeks. This is why it’s crucial to get your cabinet plan done swiftly.
The Color
We went with lowers and uppers in the same color—Pewter Green by Sherwin-Williams—and we literally could not be happier with the shade. We thought about going white, but we really wanted to draw you in and make a quiet statement. I have done a lot of blue kitchens so I didn’t want to repeat that. We stayed away from gray in this entire house because we were properly warned that in Portland, where it’s gray a lot of the time, people don’t want gray inside, too. We tested out a million greens but ended up loving this super deep green with a lot of gray in it (versus being more teal or emerald). It’s not bright, but it’s deep and saturated. We thought about going white for the island or shaking up the uppers and lowers, but we liked how modern and simple (and dramatic) it felt to do the same color everywhere.
The Counter Cabinets
We didn’t want just basic cabinets, so we flanked the uppers with counter cabinets to add some interest. We thought about metal wall-hung shelves at first (the new floating shelves), but realized that many people are scared of open shelving. A row of closed upper cabinets, however, can make it feel smaller and just more basic. Glass cabinets are a great option, too, or we could have done the grids that we did at my LA house (which I LOVE, but I didn’t want to repeat the design element). At the same time that we were finalizing the cabinetry plans, we replaced the too small/high windows with this huge one which made the uppers on that end look slammed against the window. The window was ordered. The opening was cut. What were we going to do?
That’s when I started obsessing over counter hutches and it became our happy accident (I thought they added such character, and good design is meant to introduce any sort of personality into a room). All we had to do was set these back to 9 inches and treat them totally differently, thus giving them style and purpose (and freeing them from being smooshed up against the window frame).
If your first thought is that it takes up counter space, then know that it’s not a problem because they are just in the corner, which you don’t really use anyway. There is a butler’s pantry adjoining the kitchen that has a ton more storage and counter space, so we weren’t worried about that, either. By doing a single glass panel, it feels fresh and clean, and then that little adorable latch from Rejuvenation… ugh I love it so much. There is painted beadboard in the back, which is hard to see but in person, it adds a nice texture.
Having them flank the uppers like that with the hood in the middle really gives this kitchen a powerful but simple focal point.
The Tile
I toyed with doing a bold statement tile to the ceiling but ultimately decided to go with something classic and timeless, yet handmade and special. We worked with Pratt & Larson on a lot of tile in the house including this one. We are doing a whole post about all the reasons we love them and you will, too, but in short, they are handmade in Portland by people who have worked there for 30 years because they love it so much, and they take so much care and create each tile with such artistry.
We chose this beautiful matte beveled subway tile that is classic, but not just a basic flat white tile (not that anything is wrong with that but I like to have some sort of unique bent on anything that might seem basic). This tile was $56 per square foot, but the install was pretty standard at $8 per square foot (which = affordable).
We staggered (also called running bond) for a classic look and by choosing matte, I think it looks a little more modern and fresh.
The Stone
I love this stone so much. We worked with Bedrosians on the honed island and counter marble and while I know marble is a lifestyle choice, it’s one that I will make over and over. It has these stunning green veins and adds so much texture and depth in the room and since it’s not bright white, it’s going to hide any use (ours does at home). Designing a high-end kitchen is different than a budget one because you need some design elements to really sing. We thought long and hard about using a white quartz but chose a real stone because the cabinets were a flat paint and the subway tile which was already in production was a simple white tile. Something has to have movement and texture. Sometimes it’s your cabinets. Sometimes it’s your tile. In this case, it is that gorgeous stone. For less maintenance, go for honed or leathered, but also just relax because age adds soul to a house, full stop. A polished finish is what shows the most stains and etchings. By the way, if your kitchen already has polished marble and you want it to be honed, there are companies that will come in and do that for you even after install, or you can look up DIY versions because I’m pretty sure it’s all about some sort of acidic solution that takes off the shine (but don’t come back here and blame me if it’s a disaster… proceed at your own risk).
We chose to do a 6-inch backsplash on the other side of the kitchen instead of the tile because there was this “where do we stop the tile?” question since the kitchen has that structural beam running through it. See below:
So this was perfect and the 6-inch stone was definitely cheaper in materials and labor than tiling that whole wall would have been.
We went with an ogee bullnose edge instead of a squared miter edge (there are other options) to make it look more high-end and traditional. This was one of those decisions that added cost (you can expect to pay $20-$36 per linear foot depending on the stone and manufacturer for an ogee edge), but we all thought it was worth it and went for it. A normal house flipper would definitely save money here, but I’m so glad we added that detail. The stone from Bedrosian would have cost us $7,000 and the fabrication for this kitchen was $5,700.
The Window
As I mentioned earlier, the first round of windows that were installed were three really small, super high and had small grids on them. Unfortunately, we don’t have a very good photo of this, but here’s a rough iPhone photo we snapped during construction, so you can get the gist:
Since I don’t love playing the blame game, I often just take it because when you are leading the design you just have to, but no, I did not intentionally approve those three windows and it was an oversight completely – not sure how nobody caught them, but alas, we paid the $2k to fix it and we used the small windows on the shed (which turned out SO cute – more on that later). Milgard rushed that replacement window for us (THANK YOU). And you can see how much of a difference it makes.
Our goal with the new window was to bring in a lot of natural light, be big enough that you can see kids playing in the yard below, and also be able to pass food out to the outdoor dining area through those side windows if you wanted to. We worked with Milgard on the project and these windows turned out so beautiful and classic. We chose to do a picture in the middle, flanked by two grids that match the rest of the house.
The Window Treatments
We outfitted the entire house with custom window treatments from Decorview, and the Solera soft shades (which are made by Hunter Douglas) in the Layla pattern (in Mercury). I LOVE these shades because they are so simple and easy to use and when all the way up, they take up so little space, whereas a Roman can take up to 6 inches.
The Lights
The room is bisected by that structural crossbeam, so the island didn’t have an obvious pendant location. Instead, our big light moment was these beautiful articulating sconces above the window.
As you can see, the ceiling was tricky because it’s lower on the side that faces the backyard, so getting something that made a statement but fit the space was challenging and these from Rejuvenation worked perfectly. I chose these also because they mixed in the black from the range, and this warm brass but not so much brass that it would be this huge BLING. They feel classic, with a vintage vibe, and totally timeless.
The Hardware
Originally, I was going to do polished nickel hardware to match the range and faucets, but the more I stared at the materials board, the more I craved the warmth and modern feel of brass. But the faucets and range were silver!? I found myself googling “How to mix metals” and my blog came up over and over which is when I reminded myself of my own rule: You can mix metals if you do it intentionally and evenly throughout the space. Don’t mix a polished nickel faucet with a brass pot filler; the faucet family should match (same in a bathroom), and I like those things matching the range (although not as necessary). The lighting and hardware is the perfect place to mix it up and add another metal, thus creating more warmth and depth. It’s almost like all the “permanent” things should match and all the “jewelry” should match, but not everything has to be the same across the board.
Hot tip: To get a custom look in any room, to look like you really cared and thought about your design, you HAVE to shake it up and take some risks, otherwise your home can look mass manufactured even if you customized everything. You don’t want to spend $75k on a basic B kitchen that someone down the street also has. Choose a few things to make extra special (for us it was the counter cabinets, the stone, the beveled tile, the hardware) and give them a tweak that keeps them still simple and timeless but makes them feel totally unique.
Back to hardware. We have four different styles/sizes all in the same finish, all from Portland’s own Rejuvenation. I’m going to do a whole post on how to choose, mix AND PLACE hardware because this was a struggle even for us and we did a lot of research to get where we got (of which I’m very proud). Hardware is where you can take your kitchen to the next level without spending a lot and I’m excited to show you how, but it’s stressful to drill those permanent holes so there is a lot to learn about doing it the right way. All of these handles and pulls make me so happy.
The Faucet/Pot Filler
That beautiful range is what drove the kitchen in a lot of ways (which we’ll discuss tomorrow) and like I mentioned above, I like it when the metals on the range match the faucets (again this is just a preference but I’ve seen silver metals in a range mixed with brass faucets and it looks beautiful, too). We chose a classic, antique style pot filler and a BEAUTIFUL gooseneck faucet, both from Kohler.
We obsessed about the metals of the sink matching the metals of the range perfectly, but when they are coming from different companies (faucets from Kohler and range from Bertazzoni), you can’t really know until you get them right next to each other but you have to purchase them in order to get them next to each other (unless there is a showroom that might have both, which is possible). The range is a mix of polished chrome and stainless steel. The faucet that we wanted didn’t have a pot filler that matched, but the faucet that matched the pot filler didn’t feel right. I really wanted this sweeping gooseneck. The faucet came in polished nickel and polished stainless, but not polished chrome, whereas the pot filler came in polished chrome and polished nickel but not polished stainless. We felt that it was more important for the pot filler to match the range, so the pot filler is in polished chrome and the faucet is in polished stainless (to also hopefully match the range).
THIS KEPT ME UP AT NIGHT. Not knowing how different those three metals would be next to each other (polished chrome, polished stainless and brushed stainless) was a real source of stress for me. The good news? YOU DON’T EVEN NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE and it looks really beautiful. Do I recommend taking this risk and adding this source of stress in your life? No. And yes, of course, I could have just chosen polished nickel for both faucets, but PN is definitely warmer than the chrome on the range. I could have chosen brushed nickel to hopefully match the brushed stainless of the range, but I don’t love brushed nickel.
These are the things that really stressed me out in this project, and I’m glad I learned a lot. I’m so glad I didn’t just phone it in and choose matching brushed nickel faucets that technically “worked,” but one of the biggest lessons I learned is that when a project is finished, when you pull back both visually and mentally and look at is as a whole, what you see is this beautiful layered finished room and you truly don’t notice the tiny things you thought you would.
Being in this kitchen feels good. The green is the perfect amount of bold, the lighting, stove and appliances just SING and that pretty soft tile and flooring are so classic, timeless yet fresh.
The Skylight
This room had okay light, but not as much as it could have had and as you know, natural light is EVERYTHING in a space. So we put in this huge Velux skylight that brings it all in and really changed the space. If you are renovating, please don’t forget to think about the option of a skylight—it can be a missed opportunity (I should know, I didn’t in our kids’ bathroom and am seriously considering adding one in a few years).
While it’s just me standing up there grinning from ear to ear, I think we all know that I didn’t do this alone. A huge thanks goes out to Brady, Julie, Priscilla, JP (the GC of Sierra Customs Home), Ken, Jenna (for initial project management), and Annie the architect.
There she is folks. The Portland Project kitchen reveal. And yes we have CLOSED on the house 🙂 YAY!!! I’m debating doing a big old post about the construction and staging process and how much it all cost versus the time and investment put into it. Some of you really don’t like it when I talk money, and it can feel gross but you know what, so is the net profit sometimes which I think is fun to share. Also, LESSONS WERE LEARNED and you know how I love to share those. I fixed all my design mistakes and regrets in this house, but there are some project management and budget allocations that I would have done differently, especially for an investment project—AKA there are some things that we probably didn’t need to splurge on and while I don’t regret them because the house turned out so beautifully, the profit margin decreased substantially by a lot of my design choices. So if you are curious about those, let me know in the comments and we’ll pull together the post.
Oh, and be sure to come back tomorrow for a post that’s ALL about the appliances (including my choice to make most of the major pieces panel-ready).
Before we move on to the Get the Look, I just wanted to quickly put this shot in for anyone who will be all like BUT WHERE ARE THE OUTLETS. We did a poll earlier this week on my Insta Stories after we did the master bathroom reveal, and people seemed into seeing “real life” images instead of Photoshopped for aesthetics. No outlets = visually cleaner for showcasing images like these, but I wanted you to get a glimpse at an image WITH outlets, and get your thoughts in the comments about whether you’d rather see things like outlets in images we showcase, prefer something pristine without them, or don’t really care either way!
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1. Planter | 2. Checkered Tray | 3. Natural Bristle Brush | 4. Roman Shades by Decorview | 5. Sconce by Rejuvenation | 6. Window by Milgard | 7. Faucet by Kohler | 8. Sidespray by Kohler | 9. Sink by Kohler | 10. Once ii by Jan Denton | 11. Sink Drain by Kohler | 12. Grid Pitcher | 13. Ceramic Bowl | 14. Mini Wood Bowls | 15. Wooden Round Boxes | 16. Round Wooden Board | 17. Pedestal Serve Bowl | 18. Green and White Dish Towel | 19. Canisters | 20. Stool | 21. Glass Jug | 22. Cabinet Maker | 23. Montclair Danby Honed Marble by Bedrosians | 24. Pot Filler by Kohler | 25. 2″ x8″ Beveled Subway Tile by Pratt and Larson | 26. Switch Cover by Rejuvenation | 27. Round Knob by Rejuvenation | 28. 4″ Drawer Pull by Rejuvenation | 29. 6″ Drawer Pull by Rejuvenation | 30. Large Oval Latch by Rejuvenation | 31. Salt and Pepper Shaker Set | 32. Dutch Oven | 33. Cream Striped Pitcher | 34. Textured Stoneware Pitcher | 35. Marble Tray | 36. Interior Doors by Metrie | 37. Interior Door Handle by Rejuvenation | 38. Brass Appliance Pull by Rejuvenation | 39. Abstract Art by MaryAnn Puls | 40. Moonlight – Oil on Canvas by Whitney Jordan | 41. Skylight by Velux | 42. Crown Moulding by Metrie | 43. Baseboard by Metrie | 44. Wood Flooring by Hallmark Floors | 45. Door & Window Casing by Metrie | 46. Pewter Green by Sherwin-Williams | 47. Pure White by Sherwin-Williams | 48. Oyster White by Sherwin-Williams
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1. Range with Double Oven | 2. Hood Insert | 3. Dishwasher | 4. Refrigerator | 5. Microwave
***Photography by Sara Tramp for EHD
***Design and styling by Emily Henderson and Brady Tolbert (and team). JP Macy of Sierra Custom Homes (who I seriously can’t say enough good things about) was the General Contractor, and Annie Usher was the architect.
Stunning – sophisticated, quiet, confident, perfect. As a regular reader of the blog, I feel like you’ve talked to me about this kitchen for years, you’ve shown me inspiration photos for this kitchen, it’s been in your mind forever. And now it’s out – it stands, and it sizzles. Congrats!
Love the explanations of what to do to distinguish a high end kitchen. Also, definitely a vote from me for cost breakdown and lessons learned, as well as real photos with outlets! 🙂
Just what I was going to say!
Absolutely, yes vote on that. Beautiful kitchen!
Yes! We’re building a new house and all the lessons learned could be so helpful! I would love it if you shared the nitty gritty.
Yes please to all three: cost breakdown, lessons learned and real pictures!
I agree – a vote for all three!
I agree – all three please!
I agree too! please all 3!
I agree! All 3!
Beautiful. That green is perfection. Definitely show the outlets. I don’t like my kitchens airbrushed any more than I like my humans.
ha. i honestly didn’t know they were photoshopped away until the master bathroom post (its not like I said ‘off with them’) but they are ‘cleaner’ photos and thus simpler and prettier. It’s a good note to give (and take). xx
I don’t mind them being photoshopped off for aesthetics, especially for portfolio or magazine purposes. However, if we are discussing the details of a renovation, I’m sure there are lessons to be learned from outlet placement, etc.
Agreed. I would love your lessons learned or “rules” for outlet placement.
Yes I would love a post on this too!
I certainly understand the desire to photoshop out all the outlets….however, I wish they were left in more often so that people could see examples of how to deal with them in the design of their spaces. I work at a high end architecture firm and am constantly raining on people’s parade when I have to inform that I have to draw ‘x’ amount of outlets spaced a certain distance apart in order to meet the electrical code. They’ve fallen in love with an inspiration photo that has a full height slab on the wall without an outlet or switch in sight. It’s a bit of bummer when I tell them that’s not possible and we definitely have to show outlets. I don’t necessarily think you have to start showing all your lamp cords and computer wires in photos, but I do think it’s helpful for people to see how professionals handle the often “unsightly” elements like outlets/hvac grilles/etc.
Agree with this 1000%!
That is a beautiful green. I also love the counter glass front cabinets. It obviously took a lot of work designing this and I’m sure the home owner will be so proud of this space (not to mention pay for it too in the sale)
As for the outlet pictures- when you showed the bathroom with the outlets it was really eye catching (in a distracting way) so I get the photoshop but here in the kitchen I do not notice them the same. So do I want to see them so it seems more real? Yes? Do I get why you’d photoshop them? Yes.
Please do discuss money issues, lessons learned, design mistakes, regrets, etc… That’s some of the best stuff on this blog, sets it apart and makes thinking about/undertaking my home projects tremendously helpful. More, please, on these critical aspects of renovations. Previous discussions on bathrooms and kitchens you’ve done have informed my design and construction process on the few recent reno projects I’ve done and all I can say, again, is THANK YOU!
Oh good. I know that I sure would benefit from someone telling me where they spent too much money. An investment property (aka a flip) should be dealt with differently than say a ‘forever home’ but i’m sure some of the same lessons apply. AND I HAVE SO MANY LESSONS. 🙂
I also vote for a post on budget, lessons learned, etc. ! I look forward to reading it!
We’re renovating our 4th ‘flip’ in the Bay Area so could write a novel for you! Sidenote: Do you still call it a flip when most of them are your own home? 🙂 Beautiful kitchen btw!
Would love to learn more about the money mistakes or areas that you felt you could have not gone custom/totally high end. This is an incredible, and incredibly high end flip, but I’d love to learn where you wish you’d saved a bit.
Yes, I agree here. Would like to know where you could have made less expensive choices. Beautiful kitchen. The green is perfection!
This is so beautiful. Yes please to a cost breakdown and budget allocation post, that would be super helpful.
Love it all! I want all the budgets and outlets! Real talk and real images!
Did the house sell?
Yes 🙂 Closed last week. xx
Congrats. You deserve this. The house is stunning
Always love reading your thought process and this kitchen was no exception. Just curious why you didn’t take the stone backsplash up to meet the window sill? Seems that sliver of exposed sheetrock will be a food/dust trap. I’m sure there is a reason, so I’m just asking!
I had to scroll up to see what you were talking about. I guess 6″ just felt like the right size whereas 8″ might have felt, well, taller 🙂 I think either is good. I don’t mind the break but hopefully it doesn’t gather dust 🙂
I agree with Stephanie. That was the first thing I noticed also. I would have preferred it to go up to the sill.
All-in-all….beautiful kitchen!
I have the same small distance between my backsplash and the window sill. Does it collect dust? Yes. Is it a pain in the ass? Yes. Would I do it differently? No. I love the interest and texture and that the backsplash isn’t too high. Design wise it’s one of those that was worth it for the look.
Good grief, you’re perfect. Amazing, makes me want to move so I can create a custom beauty like in this post. You and Orlando are my absolute faves! Your writing always makes me laugh out loud and I actually READ the entire post instead of scanning…
Beautiful job, your work is amazing.
THANK YOU. that made my day/s. xx
Ditto, ditto, ditto on all counts!
I love this kitchen and the whole house is just lovely! The new homeowners are very lucky to have this house,
Wow, great post! I read every word. It turned out gorgeous. I prefer the fantasy shot of no outlets. Just like I enjoy the fantasy of your staging and styling of objects. and those handmade wooden boxes are beyond fantasy. I love them.
ha. yay. one vote for fantasy non-outlet world 🙂
Beautiful! I would LOVE a post on the cost breakdown and the lessons learned!
This house is just perfect. Obsessed with those green cabinets ?
I would love to hear about reno budgets and profit margins – and whether it was financially worth it and if you’ll do it again. It seems like a win win win type of project- at least from afar!
I will now be spending my morning googling how to get rich quick so Emily can design my dream kitchen. Currently have $5 saved….. I’ll get there.
Seriously stunning.. is it weird to be attracted to a kitchen? Cuz damn, this kitchen took my breathe away. I could sit here and compliment this kitchen all day, but apparently you can’t make money from that.
THANK YOU. I do love/miss this kitchen SO MUCH. Glad its not just me. THANK YOU.
Beautiful! I love the color, and the choice of paneled appliances is gorgeous. I’m especially surprised I like the counter cabinets! I’m normally not a fan because they seem an impractical waste of counter space, but you placed and sized them just right here. I do worry, though, about practicality. I cook a ton, and trying to clean the inevitable grease and buildup off that beveled matte tile on the backsplash seems painful. Normal flat, polished tile is hard enough to clean. Also, the sink is very shallow. I have a farmhouse sink that’s much deeper, which is its best feature.
And not to be the anti-marble person, but I’m going to be the anti-marble person :). I know marble counters are stunning, but I’ve lived with them (honed, polished, leathered), and as you note they are a lifestyle choice. A lifestyle choice to not use your kitchen. You can say that each spill adds character, but your first spill of tomatoes that sinks into the porous stone and browns it, the dark circle of a red wine bottle, the different texture created by any citrus, and lord help you if you get rust stains from a metal object – it just doesn’t look good, and that happens quickly. Not to mention how easily it chips compared to other options (avoid a beveled edge on a marble counter!). I know you know this, but I think designers aren’t as negative about these counters as they should be for those of us who cook frequently, simply because they’re so beautiful when new.
Hi there! I have white beveled subway tile behind my range. I was a little worried about the cleaning aspect when I picked them, but I’m happy to report that they just get equally dirty as everything else! No extra time to clean them either. Phew!
Totally with you on the marble. At a certain point it just looks grimy. Ive seen lots of designers say they don’t mind the “character” of the chips and stains but in real life it doesn’t read as “character” lol. If you actually cook in your kitchen- its a total no-go.
Agree on the marble! I recently stayed in an old, high end hotel that had probably last been renovated about 20 years ago and had white marble tile floors in the bathroom. While stylistically this matched the 100 year old hotel, the area around the base of the toilet was stained brown, the tiles by the vanity were cracked, and my overall impression was not “oh what wonderful character!” but rather “ew”. Granted, that’s a hotel, not a house, but it stood out to me because I had heard so many designers talk about the beauty of aged marble with all of its imperfections, but faced with it in person I couldn’t help but think that both kitchens and bathrooms are places you really want to appear CLEAN and white marble just won’t look that way after a bit of time.
I actually have these exact stone countertops in my kitchen (which I love love love), and while I take great care of them and annoy my husband and children with my efforts, they actually wear really well. The honed finish helps, and I’ve learned to let go of needing perfection. Plus there are some tricks to get little etches out of this specific stone – not sure if that same trick works on other types of marble. A really good sealer is mandatory of course. And little nicks can be buffed out too. I wouldn’t change them if I did my reno over again – they are special and different from every other marble-topped kitchen out there. But I get why some people run away from marble in certain spaces. Quartz went into the kids bathroom for sure:)
I’d also be interested in how the pricing of this house compares to similar size recently renovated houses in the area. Where I live, there are a lot of flips / new builds that seem to fetch a premium for being “new” even though they look poorly designed and not very well constructed to me. I am curious if there’s a premium for actual beautiful work.
Yes to the budget, cost margin, etc. That is so helpful to someone like me…designed our home, finished much of it ourselves, debating on investing in a rental property that I want to be lovely while knowing that much has to be replaced between families. Please do a financial post! Thanks!
Bravo! Looks amazing, and as a Portlander myself, I found myself nodding in, “amen” when you steered clear of gray. We’re currently planning our kitchen renovation and this is all so helpful! Thank you!
I’d love to hear more about the construction/staging/lessons learned.
Check out Modern Angle for your Portland kitchen reno needs . We love working with clients who love good style! 🙂 ModernAngle.us
Photoshopping out outlets? That’s really a thing? Actually, I was skimming your post for a section on outlets and specifically where to place them. This is one thing I wish we’d given more thought to when we remodeled our kitchen. One vote for showing what’s real and functional.
We are still planning a full ‘outlet’ post because I, myself, want to know how to hide them or choose pretty ones, etc. Last year I gave the ‘don’t photoshop out cords’ command and now when we shoot we try to minimize them as much as possible, but we leave them in the shots. It’s really about what is the focus – and outlets are never the focus but if people want us to leave them in we will 🙂
Hi Emily, I agree with the other comments that ask for any detail you want to provide on the actual costs, where outlets are located, etc. The reason being that your site is such a resource for lessons learned, that any more lessons you want to provide are gladly accepted! A question that i don’t believe has been posed yet is ‘where are the lights’ other than those you specifically point out over the sink? what about the main part of the kitchen? are they photoshopped out or hidden by the beam?
There are cans in the ceiling that you can’t see because its so high. they MIGHT be photoshopped out, but there are cans (and yes, noted, that we’ll always include some versions with all the distracting but real outlets/light switches and cans). i was telling Sara earlier today that I recently saw a photo of a bathroom in a magazine that has NO light sources. No sconces, no pendants, no flushmount …. clearly there were cans that were photoshopped out and I was pretty annoyed. So i get it, too. Our new motto is IF they could be somewhere else then we photoshop them out. For instance in my current kitchen I should have put the outlets under the cabinets, hidden, but didn’t catch it in time so we photoshop them out because they COULD be there. Same with cords and outlets. If a cord for a lamp COULD go to the right to the wall where there is an imaginary outlet then we put it there, rather than having it go to the left where it is very distracting and in the shot. However, we leave the cord in general and just try to minimize its distraction. Like in the office post we left the cord, but tried to hide it behind the leg as much as possible. Anyway I hope that helps 🙂 It’s a balance because they can be SUPER distracting.
The outlets are something I’m often curious about as they are needed. As well as to where to place or store smaller appliances for less clutter and ease of use. Would also love a post about practicality, and minimizing clutter with regards to cords as well as other items (keys, coins, other items, etc. Also a post about baby proofing. How to organize oneself for the purpose of attaining a safe and beautiful space. What furniture or storage items to prioritize and ideas where to place them. I love and need organized spaces, but it’s so difficult to attain especially when one has a toddler. I have my own ideas but would love to find out how others do it in a small house or apartment.
Love this kitchen!!! Regarding Photoshop vs real life pics — I think both options are helpful. Beauty shots to sit and dream on and real life shots to help with decision making. I’ve lived in homes where outlets were 1. hidden behind where hand towels hang down to cover, 2. outlet plates were painted to match dark color like with your blue bathroom, 3. Outlets were so numerous i wanted to cover some up and 4. All white rooms so outlets disappeared but cords were the bother. Love all your details about why made design choices and decision options. Unique and super informative!
Yes to outlets! While planning my own renovations I went looking for pictures with outlet placement so I would know what to do and how it looked. No wonder I had so much trouble!! Had no idea they were photoshopped out. For me, the point of good design is the ability to include these details in ways that won’t detract from the aesthetic.
I don’t disagree with you at all. I’m STILL trying to pull together the ‘how to minimize, disguise or beautify your outlets’ post. I need it as much as you guys. xx
Wow–this is an incredible kitchen! The paint color is so beautiful, and the glass fronted cabinets are perfection. One of the prettiest kitchens I’ve ever seen. Great job, Emily and co.!!!
THANK YOU 🙂
I would love a lessons-learned post. Honestly, your blog is a major educational resource for me in general about homes and home design, and I really love the text-heavy deep dives.
I also (relatedly?) like/appreciate/am fine with the real-life pictures (i.e. the ones with outlets visible).
Kitchen looks great–thank you for the discussion of mixing metals!!
I would love a post about the process and cost/ time investment. I’ll admit they are frequently eye opening because I’m used to seeing costs on renovation shows like Property Brothers and I’m pretty sure that those don’t include the cost of the general contractor and that the labor is extremely discounted. I like reality.
Preach it!
The counter hutches are so cool! Total dream kitchen.
I would love to read about the expenses and profits! I’m also curious about how the project impacted your relationship with your brother (if it all) and if you’d do another house-to-sell project like this?
I want the nitty gritty, money wise!
I’d love to know what flatware you picked! I’m putting together my wedding registry and can’t seem to find a modern, not-too-shiny, dishwasher safe set on a CB2/West Elm/Crate budget.
I definitely would love a cost breakdown and to know what expensive things you wouldn’t do again. We all need to know HGTV costs are not real!
I have a question about the dishwasher, I noticed the panel comes up shorter than the cabinetry on either side. Is it possible to add a trim piece to the bottom to make that flush or is there a reason that isn’t the case?
This is absolutely stunning. All of the time, energy, and investment totally paid off because this kitchen is truly something special. Definitely putting in a vote for cost/profit breakdown!
This kitchen is gorgeous – such a good job!!! And I’m very happy that you mixed metals… people are so afraid to do it, and now this kitchen can show everyone that, yes, you can!
It’s stupid beautiful. The counter cabinets have my heart a flutter! I feel like in this kitchen I could make some epic Jenny Mollen style lunches for my kiddo. THE DREAM.
Yes please on the “big old post about the construction and staging process and how much it all cost versus the time and investment put into it.”!
And I’m 100% TEAM NO CHEATING WITH PHOTOSHOP. What’s the point of a design blog if not to inspire? And whose inspirational kitchen is non-functional because it doesn’t have outlets? I understand photoshopping for clarity/light/contrast/visual effect/etc., but photoshopping out solid things that are physically part of a space def. seems like cheating.
Also, I don’t know if I missed it (I tried searching back in the blog for Portland Kitchen) but I would love to see a final floorplan for the house including the kitchen layout. I was staring at these pictures trying to figure out what was in the non-seating side of the island (microwave/convection oven thing on the right side facing the… fridge? was that the fridge hiding there behind all that paneling?) but on the left side, is it just cabinets or solid? or other appliances?
OMG! I have been waiting for this reveal since the first time I saw a picture. It is beautiful and I fully intend to use as many of the ideas from this post as possible in our kitchen remodel. I think it is interesting to hear about the money despite what some think. It is a part of life. In this case,Ii think it would be worth while for people looking at renovating to know what you think was worth it and what may have been a area of savings. Thanks!!
Beautiful kitchen!
Count me in for interest in a post about the financial details and things you’d do differently/lessons learned. Would also love to see a photo of the space at night – I always wonder how a combination of lighting elements lights up a room in the evening, especially in a room with such high ceilings.
You COULD whisper it, or you COULD loudly sob, “I LOVE HIM SO MUCH” like Holly Hunter in “Raising Arizona.”
I just had to say that–it was the first thing that popped into my head.
OMG. That made me laugh out loud. Well, chuckle loudly because the kids are still asleep 🙂 THANK YOU.
So in love with this green! Also, I love the real life pictures and stories so please do a post about what you learned doing this investment! All we have is HGTV and I still haven’t figured out how they do a whole kitchen remodel for 8k ?
They don’t factor in labor, which is the BIGGEST cost of a renovation. BIGGEST. its just so unfair when they throw out their numbers. I really should pitch a show called ‘THE REAL FLIP’ and deal with contractors and subcontractors that actually CHARGE FEES. This kitchen was easily $80k. Not my money, but thats what it probably cost between labor and materials. But that’s an unpopular number because its not approachable so HGTV wants people to relate to the show (and lifestyle). But in my opinion its MORE depressing thinking that something is wrong with you because your renovation cost actual money. You just compare yourself and think you are getting screwed, when really it just costs so much. It’s like thinking that a celebrity just doesn’t have wrinkles instead of knowing that they get work done. ITs like, JUST TELL ME, i’d rather know that they have help than think my skin just sucks.
YES!!! Agree!! Just tell me! So then I don’t have my own kitchen redone where it costs an arm and a leg and I’m left wondering where I went wrong. ?
Kitchen is gorgeous and would love for you to share all of the money deets and lessons learned!
I hate not accounting for labor costs too, because it is disrespectful to the laborers. This idea that you can DIY anything and just pick skills up from youtube is nuts. The skilled caftspeople who make these spaces beautiful need to be recognized and valued. I appreciate that you always do that, Emily!
I always want to know cost. As a normal-salaried person i think it is unfair to not show the nitty gritty details of stuff like this, because those who aspire to have beautiful houses need to know the realities that reality television lies about (ironically). How else would we know?????? you are the giver of truth, Emily!
COPY AND PASTE into my house please. Seriously, would not change a thing this is PERFECT. So warm yet sophisticated, earthy yet clean. Love love love!
And outlets, please! The space is not really any less beautiful with the addition of them anyway. Show us more reality!
thank you thank you 🙂
OH MY WORD!!!! Emily, it’s gorgeous. Well done!!
As much as I would hate writing a money post, because talking about money is so often weird, I would love to read one! I look around my house all the time and think, as a non-rich non-designer, what are the small changes that would make the biggest difference? I always learn so much from your lessons learned posts!
The kitchen is stunning. So happy the property is closed and people will be living in and enjoying that gorgeous space!
HA. I would read it in a SECOND, too, but when you are talking a high figures (even when its not yours and its your brother/sister-in law who invested) it throws a lot of people off because people talking about money is gross. Its tricky. The world asks for transparency then berates you when you give it so I’m always trying to figure out what its worth to me to open myself up to that.
Yeah, you totally get it, Emily – the big numbers for this sort of project are so completely beyond what my family will probably ever have or spend on a room, and it feels weirdly uncomfortable for me to read about it. I would NEVER make a mean comment because I’m a fan of the free market and love when people get successful enough to make beautiful houses like this… but I would prefer to read about what budget choices make the biggest difference i.e. where to spend and where not to, rather than a bald costs breakdown with so many humongous dollar amounts.
I wish designers would show everyday things like outlets, tv’s, etc. Maybe a rollover gif (mouseover gif) that show these things?
I very much appreciate any and all details you provide. All those detailed decisions about tile height, window size, outlets, island size, cost compromise etc.. make a huge difference. When we redid our kitchen there were an avalanche of issues like those and more which did not fully reveal themselves until construction started. And that happened after we worked on the design for almost a year with a professional kitchen planner. There’s no way the planner could have known that our original gas lines were installed incorrectly, the city would changing permit issues etc,, I am so grateful for the project manager/designer and her team of professionals. I am now convinced that any remodeling project will encounter issues. Working with people who can manage and adjust to change is imperative.
Love that you chose the marble counter tops as that is what we did. I love the look, including the aging, but that same aging really grates on my husband. If our budget allowed I would have used quartzite. More durable than granite and there were some slabs that had the same movement as our marble with a tiny bit more color. That choice would have tripled our stone costs. We did use a quartzite remnant in the powder room. It is one of my favorite things in the house now, beautiful and durable.
Will you please show the butler’s pantry?
I would love if you would do a money post! I don’t know why people are weird about it, but personally I’d love to tackle a big home reno one day and would love to know how much things actually cost!
Stunning! And I love that you share your thought process on why you chose what you did. That’s what I love about your website. I’m always learning something new and come away inspired! It helps me to process through ideas I’d like to do in my own home.
And I vote yes for a cost breakdown and lessons learned! Yes! yes!
As far as outlets go, feel free to add them to show “real” life. This project is beautiful!!! Congrats to you and your team!
Its magnificent!!! Please do a cost breakdown. It’s so educational! I love the detail in your posts. It’s nice to know what I could achieve on my budget vs. what is a dream item 🙂
The kitchen is gorgeous!! I wanted to add a quick comment to say that the site has been crashing on me (just on my phone) most days for say the last several months. I haven’t even been able to read the last bit of today’s post b/c it has reloaded at least 7 times. I thought you would want to know. Congrats on this amazing house!
Beautiful! And helpful. Thank you.
Outlets, please!
The green cabinets are beautiful. Love this room so much. And can someone from Emily’s team let me know where those pants are from? Love them, too!
Beautiful!
Yes please, put together a post with costs etc.
Yes please, leave the outlets in the photographs. Your form is so gorgeous and I want to place myself into the room doing everyday things–like using a blow dryer in the bathroom or using a hand mixer in the kitchen.
Beautiful work by you and your team! I love the explanation of everything and would LOVE a cost breakdown. Cost transparency in home renovations and the things professionals are learning is so important and I appreciate when you discuss it on the blog. Also, I was so surprised to see the mixed metals in the kitchen! I went hunting for resources on this two years ago and could not find anything so that you for addressing it!
Is that a fridge and pantry side by side? I can’t tell if its two fridges?!
THanks!! Love the kitchen!
What a lovely kitchen – love the cabinet colour!! Question … other than the sconces above the sink and I see two recessed lights on the sink side what other lights are in the kitchen? Always a struggle to figure out when ceilings are angled so I’d be curious to know how you addressed it!
would LOVE to see a post with budget amounts!! Very very helpful and realistic for those of us who use your blog as a resource and inspiration! 🙂 Also, along similar lines…I prefer to see the “real life” stuff in the spaces!
Great job EHD team! Beautiful, classy and feels like a true home, if that makes sense. I don’t have a lot of feelings in the outlet debate but I would love a post on outlet placement and options like you mentioned!! I think in your insta stories you mentioned/linked your outfits as you were shooting the house but would you mind including them here or a separate post on them? They are all SO good! Congrats on the closing! xo
LOVE it! I say leave the outlets in…I didn’t even notice them in the photo you posted. Maybe they would stand out more in one of the detail shots, but I often wonder how designers handle outlets…are you using the same big box store plastic ones I have or is there a secret world of outlet upgrades I just don’t know about??
I wanna see the switches and outlets.
I’m always interested in lessons learned, particularly with respect to costs & budgets.
So beautiful. I think this is my favorite room you’ve ever designed. I feel calmer just looking at the pictures and just picturing myself there!
When I was renovating my kitchen, I learned that my inspiration picture kitchen cost $80k. It was almost a relief. NO WAY could I recreate that on an ikea budget! It forced me to let go of an unrealistic dream and forge ahead (creatively) with what I had. It helped me actually be inspired instead of playing the comparison game. So, please share financial details! It’s so helpful.
The kitchen is beyond beautiful and the whole house is stunning. You and your team did an incredible job! And it’s great to hear the house has sold. I would love to read about the money side of things and also whether or not the buyers chose to keep any of the furniture/art. Your styling and choices really made the house come alive. I hope you partner with your brother again! Two sides of the coin in the same family!
Completely, totally in love with this kitchen!
Regarding money, l’m sorry you’ve had negative feedback in the past (your post about things you would change in your own kitchen comes to mind), but l for one find these disclosures helpful. I read design blogs/ magazines for inspiration and to admire others’ creative work, not to compare my home to theirs. When l first started reading your blog my husband and I were full-time students and lived in the most rundown windowless apartment ever, but I still found ideas that l could implement. Now we own a house in the suburbs (big step up!), and our kitchen doesn’t look anything like the one pictured above, but that’s totally okay. I’m happy to look at other beautiful homes without feeling like l need to own every beautiful thing l see. All that to say, please keep sharing posts for a whole variety of budgets and stages-of-life. I love it all!
Yes, would love to hear your the real deal on costs and profit margins. I’m an account with designer’s heart?
I would love it if you would be so generous as to post about the financial side of things. Honest info like this is almost impossible to get. Dare to tell the truth, sister!
P.S. The kitchen is absolutely stunning. : )
Love love love the kitchen. That green is so cool!
I’d like a gif of outlets/no outlets where it is significant to the design. Like – look how we cleverly hid them, or look how they had to go here and we made it work or ignored it.
I would also appreciate an investment/costs post. The taboo around money talk is what keeps women and minority designers, bloggers, trades and artists from getting equal pay – and it leads consumers to being vulnerable to scams based on impossibly low costs and bids. You can give round numbers that put the costs into realistic expense brackets to make it informative.
Thanks for being awesome.
uggghhh!! please no gif!
just a “rollover” 🙂
Please, please do the full cost breakdowns for the entire project. I’m looking to buy again in the next year or two and really want to explore a renovation project. Costs are a huge discussion, and while they may cause discomfort, it’s invaluable for me to know where you find costs outweigh benefits, etc.
Ok, this kitchen is gorgeous, but why would anyone spend $56 per square foot on a subway tile. It looks amazing, but whoa! so expensive.
Beautiful kitchen! For future plans, could the outlets have been made less obvious in your design or more custom so that they could remain in the photos without being distracting?
Thank you for all of your work and willingness to share sources and resources. Yes please to outlets—although we actually installed under cab outlets in our kitchens (came in strips of 3 outlets per cab) and would do it again—made for much easier tiling, lots of outlets, and it’s so unobtrusive.
One other ask would be for rough dimensions of spaces. It is so, so helpful get a visual on a 12×16 kitchen vs knowing “oh, that kitchen is 20×30 so no way I could pull that off in my smaller space.” I think people (me) have poor depth perception and that can really help.
Thanks again! That green gives me the feels.
I think the Portland house is some of your best work, it is just so so lovely – classic but still special, gorgeous yet livable, and luxe without being ostentatious. I just want to move right in.
I agree – I love it! The entire house is an inspiration, the entry, the master bathroom and the kitchen are amazing. Love love love! I think a cost breakdown could be useful for many people. Tips on how to get a special custom look for less are wonderful too, appreciate the cabinetry tips. Tips on where to save and where to splurge also helpful. For example, I knew someone that had an expensive pro grade stove but preferred her old stove. Thank you again for your posts and your willingness to share. I appreciate the new organization of your website. It was difficult to find older posts!
I say to leave outlets in when they aren’t as noticeable, like in the kitchen. However, the master bathroom definitely benefited from them being removed. I think it’s more of a case by case decision. Curious why the outlets weren’t painted in the bathroom?
Yes, yes, yes on the cost breakdown and lessons learned.
I second that!
I am deeply curious about the profit margin, lessons learned, all the business stuff behind this home. I know it can feel weird to share all of that, but if you can pass along certain helpful things without revealing anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, that would be awesome. That’s the type of post where I would brew myself a fresh pot of coffee and completely dive in. Ever since you introduced this project, explained your partnership with your brother, how the sponsors factor in – it’s just completely fascinating because it has so many moving pieces. I’d love to hear what worked, what didn’t and what you would do differently next time.
ALSO, THE KITCHEN IS STUNNING. I should have led with that.
THANK YOU. Ok, i’m working on it. I will say that my relationship with brother is even better than it was before. So profit or not, it was a success. xx
Who are these grumpy people who have problems with you talking money? Do they need to be reminded that this is your career? You recently also mentioned that some folks get mad when you change things up and get free stuff and put that on the blog. Rhetorical question: Would any of these people be such curmudgeons with a male designer? What it is that makes them think they have any place complaining to you?
Don’t let the grumps get you down. You don’t have to make everyone happy, and the guilt tripping is a weird thing that I think it tied up in envy and determination to bring other down. Tell the haters to sashay away (even if only in your head). You have much more important things to worry about, like how mixed finishes will look!
As someone who just moved into a new home and is dreaming of my new kitchen one day, posts like these are incredibly helpful. PLEASE keep them coming!
Also, that kitchen is fantastic. It’s a real work of art, and I really enjoy seeing what you’ve done and the deliberate decisions behind such a cohesive space. Brava!
YES. all of this! Well said, Bridget ??
I don’t really have a super strong preference on outlets vs no outlets, BUT I think it would be a missed opportunity to NOT show outlets. A common issue with designing kitchens or bathrooms (wherever tile is involved, really) is how to install the outlets in a way that doesn’t look terrible, and I think you have the opportunity through your design and blog to showcase some options for combating this issue (issue? maybe that’s dramatic, but you know what I mean).
For example – I used to work for a high end residential GC in Boston and we would put plugmolds under the upper cabinets in most of our high-end kitchens so the backsplash tile could remain uninterrupted. This is something many people don’t know about and it’s an easy solution to the outlets vs backsplash concern!
Yes!!!! I definitely want to know where you would change your spending on an investment house!!!! I actually do the same thing in Toronto (as well as being a designer) and I would be very interested to compare notes. By the way – I love the feel of the entire house – both you are your team did a fantastic job : )
Show the outlets! Love seeing the reality of the design. This came out stunning by the way! Also, totally down to read a post about the construction process 🙂
I am VERY eagerly awaiting that cabinet hardware post. We have our hardware but I’m so scared of those permanent holes!
Love this kitchen. Nice work :).
Wow, this is certainly beautiful. Being in the midst of my own–more modest–kitchen remodel, I’m looking for drawer pulls. I really like the brass Perles drawer pulls here, but Holy Mackerel, $36 for each pull made me gasp. My budget is more like $10.
Love love love!!! This is one of the best kitchens I’ve ever seen.
Please do post on costs and lessons learned, and show us the inside of those gorgeous cabinets and what type of storage components you felt were most useful.
May we have the dimensions of the kitchen and island please? I’m always curious how big a space I need to pull something like this off.
I normally never, ever comment on content, but MAN, this kitchen is so, so stunning!! I wish I could transport my family to this house and never, ever leave. It’s perfection. Nice work!
I would never have gone mix of finish and mix of hardware and yet I love specifically that SO much. It definitely gives this kitchen something special. It is beautiful. Please give more details on going that route without getting unassorted or ackward.
This kitchen is AMAZING! I love your “classic + modern, happy + sophisticated, contemporary + timeless” because that is exactly what I want my basic 70’s walk-out ranch to achieve. THIS hits all those descriptions. Its STUNNING! I don’t think I would ever want to leave this kitchen. So beautiful. I can’t wait to read the costs post and if you have any suggestions on savings that would help those of us who are on major budgets achieve a this look.
GORGEOUS kitchen, Emily! Love it! And I, for one, always appreciate seeing the real shots with the outlets, especially for my own planning.
Quick question: is the flooring color “medium” in the Mangrove Venture, as the link goes to, or another color? I just want to be sure, because I’m crushing hard on this beautiful flooring.
Please keep outlets in photos and would love breakdown of costs/lessons learned. Beautiful space.
I think you should not photo shop pictures, it makes it so that what we see and what we get don’t match. That makes me cranky when my real life doesn’t match up with what I see online. If what I see online is as photo shopped as the models in magazines it makes real life seem like less than, when real life is just as good as, outlets and all!
I love love love reading this! And yes, please show me all of the numbers! I would also love to hear any of the ways money ended up making the decision (i.e. if we get the custom tile, we’ll only do it on one wall). On my third date with my now fiancee’, we talked about budget spreadsheets and that’s the first time it crossed my mind that he and I could totally get married one day.
Also, the more detail you give, the more excited I am to read! Cabinet depth, metal comparisons, one big window vs. three little ones, I love it all. As for outlets. I love those, too. Taking them out feels like pants mannequins with no feet.
Gorgeous kitchen! My favorite features are #1 cabinets color, so chic and not a neutral yet works almost like one; #2 that marble stone with the green veining, she’s a beauty; #3 a tie between the glass-fronted countertop cabinet (love a vintagey touch!) and the lighting,yeah, brass jewelry. Yes please, to reality photos and money posts! I wanna hear about it all!
SO beautiful, green is amazing, thanks for sharing as always. You guys rock. I agree with what one other commenter said re: outlets – I don’t really care either way (visually speaking) especially since these outlets are so clean and neutral that I could hardly see them anyway? But I think there are renovation lessons that could be learned about outlets – quantity/placement – that would be worth touching on if you showed the un-photoshopped image.
Also, legitimate design question, are all pot fillers placed that high on the wall? I understand you would want it out of the way, but that one is so high it seems like the water would splash out of the pot at first contact.
Yes please, some real talk about money – if people don’t like it they don’t have to read it. I think it’s important to have an insight into how much it really costs to do building/renovation work. And yes – please show the outlets!
I love this—especially the paint and the counters. I know you recently did a “post Reno” post on your kitchen, but I’d love to see more up close and personal shots of what your marble looks like after some wear and tear. People talk about marble’s wear-related flaws but I’ve never gotten a good feel for what you’re actually signing up for!
I cannot stop staring at this stunning kitchen! It’s captivating! We are about to begin an investment remodel of our kitchen, and this blog post has been so inspiring and informative for me. I think one of things that resonated most is that you don’t want to spend 75k on a Basic B kitchen. This rings so true for me! Thank you for the encouragement and reminder to take risks!! I would love to hear more about your lessons learned and budget breakdown and any other advice you can give!
Please, please, please post about the nitty, gritty financials. Pretty pictures are fun but to make it relevant I need to know the $$$.
Also, I know this is petty, but “big reveals” are starting to wear on me a little. Is it still a big reveal if pictures have been out and about for months? What about “the backstory” or “the details” or, who knows, I’m no copywriter. But the more I see blogs posting about “reveals” the less it means and the more likely I am to just skim and move on. I love your content! Thanks.
Yes please, show us the cost analysis. We see this all the time on HGTV shows, why not on your blog. Love the hardware with the cabinets – stunning. Also like seeing the real world placement of outlets. Lessons everywhere, Emily. Thanks!
Yes, I want to see the outlets be we totally messed up the placement on some Reno projects we did and it’s been because no designers are talking about them, so everyone forgets them. But they’re sooooo important (and so annoying when placed by an electrician, instead of a designer).
And absolutely let’s talk money!!! I’m so sick of HGTV fake budgets and need some real life scenarios to compare against.
Thanks Emily and team!!!
This post and the one just above are a perfect set. I was about to reply to hers that HGTV budgets are NOT real!
I am saving this to be my inspiration!! I love this kitchen so so so much. I really want to look inside the butlers pantry, and I can’t wait to read about the appliances tomorrow!
This is so gorgeous but before I really soak it in I just had to comment to say that these prices make me want to cry.
We just redid our existing kitchen with semi-custom cabinets (in a decidedly smaller size) and our price for manufacturing plus install was fully double yours. Same on tile install (actually more like quadruple). Hellooo, San Francisco.
Yes, would love a breakdown of overall budgets! I think by being more transparent, all clients will be better prepared for what a real nicely done remodel costs!
Teach me allllll your lessons! I’m curious about panel-ready appliances, mixing metals, where to splurge vs. save in a flip, and nitty-gritty stuff like where to place outlets and recessed lighting. ALSO please tell us about the design process, cabinet function layout, and show construction/shop drawings (like you did with the Mountain House).
My favorite feature is the counter cabinets with those sweet little latches. Also high on the list is that picture window combination, and the perfect shade of green. My brain is spinning (so much to soak in!) and I know I’ll come back to read this 5 more times and pin every image. Such thoughtful design, and gorgeous as always. xoxo.
New to your blog, found you on IG.
I would really like for you to share your net profit. Your projects are so custom I’d love to know if your labor of love is also financially rewarding. I am designing four luxury townhomes and your blog is very informative and inspiring.
GORGEOUS! Wave that pride flag with reckless abandon! Smile ear to ear! Brava!
And yes PLEASE do all of the posts you mentioned in your last paragraph: lessons learned money investment etc. I’M FASCINATED by it all and you are my favorite teacher.
Thanks and congratulations on the sale??
Absolutely perfect! I ADORE the cabinet color. I don’t know why I hate grey, but love colors that have been greyed down. Weird, but these are beeyootifoool. I applaud the decision to go with mixed metals. These cabinets would have been slightly less stunning without the brass hardware (I love the little latch on the “mistake” cabinets, too!), but I love the silver tones on the faucets.
If this were a kitchen in L.A. I think I might have kept the three little windows, just because large flat panes of windows can seem too open to me. Being in Portland, though, you need all the light you can get. Plus, you have the side windows that, I assume, are operable.
The Bertazzoni is awesome. And that marble is the correct choice — quartz would have been too “sterile.” Great styling here, too. Oh, and the pendants over the sink bring a more modern vibe to what at first glance seems a traditional kitchen.
Super job!
Lovely!! And I prefer seen pictures with the outlets and place. I love to see real life and that a kitchen can still be beautiful with lots of function including outlets. Helps to even think about where you might want to place your own outlets if you were doing a renovation. Also I’d love to see more about the cost and net profits
This kitchen is AMAZING! And for those of us reading every word of all your kitchen remodels, yes, please share more! I would love to see cabinet layout and interiors, what’s in the island, outlet design/placement, info on splurges, lessons learned, etc.! I am learning so much from reading your kitchen posts as we prepare for our own kitchen remodel next year!
First off LOVE LOVE LOVE this kitchen!! Second, the Arabescato Montclair Danby is from a quarry in Vermont where all the marble for Arlington Cemetery is from as well as the stone walls in the Yale rare book library and countless other instillations in the US and beyond. It is one of the most dense marbles that can easily be resurfaced with a Scotchbrite pad and Comet. I agree marble is a lifestyle choice and with Montclair’s price point it makes it a more assessable choice for a lot of people!! thanks for letting me go on about marble…I’m a stone geek as in I sell slabs of natural stone!!
I think this is an awesome kitchen. There isn’t a thing I don’t like about it! And truth be told, even though I’m a fan, there’s always something I don’t like.
But please, yes, talk about the money. I think it’s very interesting and can be educational. Speaking of money, although I love the tile, and think it would be a fine decision if you were keeping the house, $56 psf seems pretty expensive, when as you say, you could have gone more basic. That being said, it’s not a large area, so it’s probably not a big deal, but lots of “not so big deals” can start adding up. I’d be curious to hear where you think you could have saved more.
Emily! Thank you for this and similar posts. We are debating whether we want to renovate our current home (to hopefully get exactly – or as close to “exactly” as we can get- what we want) or find something already done. The latter probably wouldn’t be close (design-wise) to what we would choose but without knowing the price of renovating, it’s impossible to know how to proceed. These posts with the COSTS (!!!) are so incredibly helpful. Thank you thank you! (Also, I like seeing where you place the outlets, for what it’s worth.)
Please share all details! Even if I am not a flipper, I never stay in a house very long and so it is interesting and good to see where you would allocate money differently. The thing that I love most about your blog is the openness about cost, mistakes, etc.
The kitchen is gorgeous! Totally not my taste (I like modern, sleek, black and white) but I really love the green cabinets and all the extra high-end touches that you incorporated. The corner glass-front cabinets really stand out. I’m definitely team “show the outlets.” This is such a dream kitchen, the new owners are very lucky. I had to laugh about your comment about inset cabinet doors – I looked at the cheap builder cabinets in our apartment kitchen and not one single cabinet door lines up! Congratulations, team EHD, on another great project.
This is a stunning, simple but very special kitchen, and so perfect for the Pacific Northwest. The more I read, the more I loved it because of all the thought that went into it. Every painstaking decision was worth it, it’s so beautiful. I truly cannot tell the difference of the faucet finishes and I think you absolutely made the right call. I LOVE the counter cabinets, so smart! As for the outlets, I personally like not seeing them, but for the sake of being transparent and informative, I like that you added them into the post. Congratulations on creating a kitchen of your dreams!!
Bravo! This is a stunning kitchen and a very informative post. You also made me laugh out loud with your introductory sentence comparing staring at your children lovingly and photos of this kitchen.
Yes! One of my favorite things are mistakes, costs and profit margins!
Hey!! I don’t care about the outlets, seeing them or not seeing them… But I DO care about that Butlers Pantry!!!!! I want to see it! Now!
Again, stunning work ? I think, designing this whole house was an exercise that streched and built your designing muscles, so now you can perform even more beautiful, more magical, more effortlessly elegant and delicate performance. So, so beautiful.
Also, I’m all for an honest and open talk about the process of design, behind the scenes moments and everything that goes into designing a space, but on the other hand I think we are all here for the beatiful photos, because…well, because that’s what interior disegn is all about. That being said, I don’t think there is anything gross or insulting in talking about costs and money, but I don’t mind outlets being photoshoped out of the photos. We all know they are there, as much as we know there will be dirty dishes in that kitchen, but we don’t have to necessarily see them in photos. So, while I learn so much from the content of your posts, I also endlessly enjoy the artistic beauty of the crisp, clean and bright photos you treat us with.
I would be interested in reading about what you learned through the construction process and what you might or might not change were you to do it again.
Gorgeous! And I love numbers, seeing the reality and non-reality pictures. Your work is stunning!!
Please PLEASE share numbers! It is one of the things I admire most when major bloggers/designers share the numbers. We’re all big kids and it can be so helpful (especially for us other designers). Hoping to flip our first home next year and this post I can feel is going to be one of my favorites of many to come. Thank you for your transparency!
Love this kitchen- the green color is fabulous! And I like the mixed metals. Quick question about lights- are there any other lights aside from the ones over the sink? Just don’t see them but I could be missing them.
very pretty! curious about the lighting at night? Are there can lights on the other tall side? Is that enough? it seems heavily weighted to the window side.
I really like this, Emily. I can’t believe you were almost going to do silver hardware! I’ve never been an allthebrass fangirl but it seems like the ONLY choice possible in this kitchen, it works out so well with the green paint and the mixed metals elsewhere. I love how you brought the elements together and your explanations of your choices (as always). I do like seeing outlets – it takes it from fantasy to reality somehow lol. Maybe photoshop out the occasional one in a vignette shot, but leave them in for larger room pix.
I would definitely be interested in reading about what you learned during the construction process and hearing about the cost breakdown and what you might change if you had it to do over.
Simply SUPERB. I’m in love! Congrats to y’all for all your hard work paying off!! Please do the post about the $$$, I definitely prefer it when you get real with us! (Although I do prefer the pics without the outlets. 😉 )
Can you PLEASE do that post on hardware placement and choices immediately? We’re wrapping up a kitchen remodel and I’m just paralyzed by the hardware. UGH. Is tomorrow too soon? 🙂
Also, the kitchen is STUNNING!
Can you please do the post on the hardware placement IMMEDIATELY? We’re wrapping up a kitchen remodel and I’m just paralyzed by the choices to make on hardware and placement. Is tomorrow too soon? 😉
After so much high end design, why not install smart switch plates/electrical, such as the LeGrand models? Also, when you do the post on the faucet colors and mixing/matching metals, please include how to mix and match different models within a brand. We are ordering Kohler Purist faucets for our bathrooms, but oddly enough the Purist shower system only comes in chrome and brushed nickel. Not sure what to order for the shower that will match Purist faucet style.
Absolutely beautiful! Agree with SG5785. Stunning!
I, too, look forward to cost breakdown and lessons learned.
Interesting to read your thought regarding mixed metals. We are renovating small bathroom, ( will have slipper tub) taps were purchased quite some time ago and they are chrome with hot and cold displayed. Ok. It was fine then it’s still fine, but within last few years discovered polished nickel. Because it is a small bath I can’t decide to go with polished chrome or polished nickel for 8 spread faucet. We shall see.
Love, love the colors.
I definitely want to hear the $$ details, especially where you would save if you don’t have as big of a budget.
Hooray for real photos! I would LOVE to see them all the time for every project, it’s so much more relatable and makes the design feel more attainable. I appreciate a flawless aesthetic but sometimes it gets me down because I know it’s not real and therefore my house will never look like the photos. It seems silly because outlets are such a small thing, but it’s true. Anyway, I adore this kitchen! It’s dreamy!
Hi Emily – I echo just about everyone else! Simply stunning.
I usually find a few what-I-would-have-done-differently moments in every kitchen, but I have a hard time finding anything I’d change! Bravo, for the gorgeous cabinet color choice, window re-do, counter cabinets (got ’em), side splashes (got ’em), marble (BRAVE!), that RANGE(!!), the paneled appliances (got’em), skylight, mixing metals, absence of open shelving (Ha! don’t have ’em!), mixing in some glass fronts…. and those amazing sconces…among other things!
I can see why you want to live there! 🙂
As to outlets… We have plugmolds strips (like someone else commented) under our cabinets – so as to not distract from our hand-made backsplash – but we had to fight to include them. Our compromise was to have wall outlets in two out-of-the-way corners. I am soooooo glad I resisted having them ick-ing up our beautiful walls! Everyone should have them!!! I thought I spied some under-cabinet outlets near your handsome range? Do tell!
As for all the specifics, yes, spill all the beans!
(btw…looking back on my comments I have to give myself a little pat on the back that many of our 2004(!) kitchen choices are holding their own today and have a bit of the EH seal of approval. 🙂 )
Niiiiiice job, everyone!
Definitely real pics with outlets and cost breakdown would be helpful for anyone redesigning in the future
Outlets outlets outlets – I would prefer real life. We are lucky enough to live in a place where things we take for granted (ie electricity ) should honestly be celebrated. No one should be ashamed of their outlets, bring em!
When I read “chrome on the range” I definitely started singing, “Chroooome, chroooome on the raaaange…”
I vote for a financial post, please! It’s so helpful to get information on costs for those of us who have never undertaken a major room reno. Thanks!
The reality of numbers is important. I’d like to know pricing please
I vote YES to showing us the outlets & also to the $$$ post! It would help so much when thinking about our own renovation … especially first time home owners! I remember when our electrician asked us where we wanted our outlets & light switches when we renovated part of our current home & my husband and I just stared at one another 🙂
Beautiful!
Thanks for the way you teach us in such a fun way!
My vote: with outlets. ?
Happy day,
Cathy in Texas
Emily this is incredible, and this post is an amazing resource thank you so so much for sharing!
Also – hellllllls yasss to the money post! I love that stuff, it’s just as educational as all your design tips which we’re all here for! x
YES! Definitely share the money moves, girl! I’ve reno-ed for resale a few houses here in Portland and it is HARD to maintain quality design/materials/construction and make a profit! (Much harder than it looks on TV!) Share your lessons. I’m dying to see how the numbers crunched.
The kitchen really does sing. Super beautiful design and execution.
I am in love! This kitchen is a beautiful, classic, work of art! I can’t imagine one person not falling in love with this kitchen no matter their design style.
Oh Emily, this is the most beautiful kitchen I’ve ever seen. And this post couldn’t have come at a better time as we’re just about to install a new kitchen in our house. We’re currently choosing the paint colour for the cabinets and was going to go white, but now I’m seriously considering green … do you think this colour would work with an oak benchtop? We’ve got marble subway tile for the backsplash, brushed brass hardware and taps, a white farmhouse sink and our cabinet profile is similar to this one. Decisions, decisions! Congratulations on selling the Portland house, the whole place is a dream!
I love all the details, please share cost breakdowns and anything else in that realm!
I’d also LOVE a post that discusses decisions around things like where outlets go and generally how to fit in those items to pristine design ideas. Is there a way to have outlets be put in a place where they won’t mess up the aesthetics? I think yes, although when I saw that untouched photo—which I’m glad you shared btw— I was horrified by its placement! And while I’m sure you guys put a ton of thought into the best placement options, I would love to learn more about that because it seems difficult and no one talks about it and I figure you chose that placement for very good reason! Love your posts this year (I’ve been following you since 2014!).
Such a beautiful kitchen! The hutch cabinets were my favorite solution to the space. We’ve been considering upgrading our outlets and switch plate covers, Le Grand was one brand we’ve been eyeing but seems like a big commitment if we do the whole house. It would be awesome to see a post about outlet covers here!
This kitchen is a dream! You managed to make it fancy but still inviting.
I really appreciate when you talk about your mistakes. We just did a bathroom reno that was so costly and time consuming – now that it’s done, I’m *mostly* happy but there are a couple of things that I wish we did differently. Talking about mistakes can help someone else get it right the first time.
I liked moving between the outlet and no outlet picture, so I vote for both.
I would also enjoy reading about the cost break down, even though it is out of my budget.
This whole house is amazing. I love your work, Emily!
Wow. Absolutely spectacular! Love this kitchen and reading about the design process to get there!. And I would love to read about the construction and staging process, and how much it all cost versus the time and investment put into it too. As far as photoshopping out outlets, it doesn’t bother me but I guess it would be nice to see an un-photoshopped shot a the end of the post. I would also like a post about outlet placement. That’s always a tough one for me when planning kitchens. Love your work!
I’d love a budget post and also prefer non-photoshopped images!
Did you have trouble getting the electrical boxes above the window? There would be a giant wood header above the window, not room for electrical boxes. Did you fur-out the wall or use a special header?
Great job! Love your work. Appreciate your honesty about the entire process. From design to construction and redos! You provide a realistic glance at all the work and reams of people necessary to complete the finished project. And I would prefer to see where the outlets are so it’s more realistic.
I would also like to move into this kitchen, please! Soothing is somehow the word that comes to mind. Like somehow a sink overflowing in dishes in here would never stress me out.
I for one would like to see the outlets and light switches. We all have to have them so it’s really helpful to see how designers design them, either doing clever things to disguise them, or just to see that sometimes it’s just an eyesore we all have to live with. This kitchen is still super aspirational, outlets and all.
Finally, I’d also like to see a post on the $$$ issues. I’m so curious!!
I would love love love to see a more detailed post on the breakdown with money and investment. I’m technically a licensed agent that does both reno design and then also new-build, luxury spec house design. While I know that I did a pretty awesome job at balancing cost and design (profit margins were very nice to us!), I’m curious about your experience. It’s such a tough thing to choose the “lesser” item because of cost/appealing to current mass taste.
Also, I laughed when you mentioned losing sleep over finishes in the kitchen because I. WAS. THERE. Several times. It all works out but in the middle of the night, it doesn’t necessarily feel that way.
Well done! Oh, to have a kitchen this large. Love the paint color on the cabinets, the tile and the marble.
P.S. I’m a Portland native and I love grey in my home, especially the kitchen. ?
Absolutely beautiful!! And I would love all the money details, I find those pots so informative and I love this version of “flipping” where you do a really stellar job on the design. I almost hesitate to call it flipping, because that can have such a cheap and fast connotation. Giving an insight into the costs would help others see if this type of a project is doable for them.
Also yes to the outlets please, I like seeing the real. Maybe photoshop for magazines and books, but on the blog the real house people actually live in is better in my opinion.
I didn’t think this was going to be my style because I don’t think of myself as super traditional and I’m not big on green, but holy s%&*! This is amazing! I love everything and never would’ve thought of doing any of this in my own kitchen. My absolute favorite is the counter cabinet and the antique looking clasp on it. I love the island, that it feels like its own table space instead of stools cramped around a counter. I love the integrated fridge, the small oven in the island (is that storage for cookie sheets? brilliant!) I love the counters extended into a backsplash instead of tiling the entire kitchen. The tiled backsplash almost looks like a brick wall with the matte finish, which is just lovely. The added natural light, even the choice of the picture window + grid windows, I LOVE it all!!!!
This kitchen is beautiful, and I actually really love this mix of metals! I’ve wondered before if the bright color of brass is going to be outdated sooner than a silver toned metal would be, since silver tends to blend in a bit more. By doing the brass on the “jewelry” and the silver on the larger more permanent surfaces, I think you’ve struck a wonderful balance! Plus, the brass could easily be changed out for different finishes if it goes out of style or if the buyer is more brass-averse.
Oh the ever present question about photoshopping things! I think in pulled back shots and renovation reveal posts it seems right to leave all of those things in because ideally if they are designed well they should blend well both in person and in photos, while also being functional. The devil of design is often in the details, and for better or for worse, how an outlet is placed or disguised is one of those details that should be considered – skipping this and photoshopping seems like cheating. However, in a close-up vignette or shots that are designed to showcase the furnishings or styling more (like a post about choosing the right barstools for this space or a something similar) I think I am on board with photoshopping an outlet out if it is really distracting and not relevant to the point of the post. I think the whole point of this is to consider the purpose of the photo, and to always default to NOT photoshopping something out unless it’s inclusion is egregious.
I also think that many people (though a smaller percentage of your readers than of the general population) really don’t notice these things in photos because our eyes have been trained to ignore them in real life – good designers like Emily, by definition, will notice and obsess over the small details, but most people won’t.
Oh hey guess what my eyes completely missed on my first read through of this post, but noticed after writing my comment about people not noticing these small details most of the time?
Under-cabinet outlets visible on the picture of the beautiful, showstopping range.
Because guess what? They don’t distract from it one bit – they’re well designed to be unobtrusive, and when your eyes have all that black and silver candy to look at, who’s glancing up under the cabinets anyway? 🙂
This is absolutely the right way to handle the outlet issue! Default should be no photoshop unless you are specifically showcasing the styling.
Yes, I want to see “real” photos with outlets and other practical things and YES please share money matters. I know you do this for the love of design, but everyone needs to/wants to/has to make money. True your budgets may be out of reach for many, but hearing about your lessons learned helps others avoid costly mistakes…it’s a public service really. 🙂
Real photos with outlets, please! They can be a real pain to design into a kitchen and still meet building codes, so it would be nice to see where they are – especially by the sink and on islands
This is one of my favourite post you have ever done! I feel like I just learnt so much. Since you asked about outlets – is there a strip of outlets I can see under the wall cabinets? Or is that just under cabinet lighting?
This literally takes my breath away. It is perfection. Absolute perfection. I will refer back to this post if I am ever in the fortunate position of being able to renovate my kitchen. I am in love.
A note on getting already installed countertops honed… I have really ugly granite in my kitchen that I’m sure was meant to be beige but is actually on the very orange side. New countertops might cost $5000 (perhaps more), but I got mine honed for about $700. It improved them SO MUCH. Taking off the shine was great, and it also lightened them a fair amount and toned down the orange. It took a professional about 6 hours to do it. He applied solution and used a hand sander. He said it’s finding just the right amount to sand off that is key. If you go too much, you end up adding shine. I would never have attempted this on my own, but it was so reasonably priced and I’m very glad I did it.
I’d love a post about the money breakdown and profits. My husband and I would love to do an investment property some day (on a smaller scale!). I also definitely want to see where the outlets are instead of having them photo shopped. We all have outlets in our kitchen. I like to see how designers make them work in backsplashes etc. because we will need to tackle that some day. Gorgeous kitchen btw! I love this entire house so much! We are considering pewter green for our master, so I love seeing how it turned out. Looks awesome!
Currently designing my own kitchen and you pretty much added the features (vintage-like range, inset cabinets, panaled vent, counter resting uppers, sky light) that I was planning. And you helped make a couple of other must-haves that I was considering like panel ready appliances. And the input on mixing metals was priceless, so thank you! But I will be putting the microwave (and not a high end one) in the pantry.
I would LOVE to see a detailed cost breakdown post 🙂
I LOVE this kitchen! You guys did a fabulous job! It’s absolutely stunning, gorgeous, and interesting! I’m oogling over that green color! One of my favorite thing about your blog are the numbers behind the project. It makes me understand better just how high end I can go with my renovations. Construction & material costs aren’t easily accessible (like shopping for a dress online) so I love to know. Thank you for always including costs! I would also like to know where the placements of outlets are.
Please, please, please give us the full breakdown of budget, lessons, the works! So helpful for those of us who like it, and no harm to those who don’t (they can skip that post….but I bet most don’t 😉 )
Holy kitchen goals. This is just perfection. The green is the stuff dreams are made of. I for one would love to read the budget realities post and I like seeing the outlets. I get for a magazine spread etc. ditching them, but we’re trying to learn things from you and outlet placement is tricky.
Please do share a post about money!! It’s so interesting to learn about it all.
I would love to see a post on your profit margin and potential differences in the future! It is always a struggle to agree on what is worth the splurge and your experienced opinion is a delight!
Really lovely kitchen, team!
She’s a real stunner! Great work Emily & team. I’ll be eagerly awaiting your hardware placement post and lessons learned. Amazing writing & content. Keep up the great work!
I would be very interested in the splurges in this house that you might not do again.
Thanks. PS…..great job.
This is gorgeous!!!! I love it all. Also, I love seeing the outlets because it’s real life and also so I don’t have false hope of having a lovely, outlet-less kitchen, even though it is more beautiful without them. Thanks for showing them!
Is the beadboard in the glass front cabinets the same color as the cabinets themselves? I’m planning to do the same in a china cabinet I’m painting but don’t know what color to choose. Thank you!
It’s so beautiful, Emily – Congratulations!
I’d love to see a post about detailed costs, that would be cool!
Also, I really wish we could zoom in on the photos on your blog… why isn’t that a thing we can do?
Beautiful kitchen and I love the transparency to the hiccups. I would love to learn about which design decisions for a home renovation hit your profits with less of a visual impact!
This kitchen is STUNNING PERFECTION!! The green is to-die-for gorgeous (I’m trying to figure out what I can paint in my house this color), the counters are perfect and now I’m regretting not using the Rejuvenation handles in my own bar / office we just built (I used Rejuvenation, just different). I am all for seeing the $ breakdown!! We just flipped (more like spec built because we pretty much took it down to the studs) in the Bay Area and would love to compare costs!
Congratulations on closing, its a beauty! Kitchen is stunning. Curious as to why you went with Milgard windows here vs. Marvin in other places like the bedrooms, did you find a difference in quality and look?
Beautiful kitchen! I’d love a post about the budget/profit/finance side of things because I’m about to dive into a fixer upper myself. Thank you!
I definitely appreciate when you talk money because it helps give the project a realistic perspective, especially for those planning their own renovation. I also like outlets in the shots for the same reason – sometimes images on social media just seem out of reach for us mere mortals.
Emily love your posts and love the color of this kitchen. When I went to sherwin williams color palette to see the color Pewter green SE6208 is a dark gray with no green or blue tones. Could you double check the number and name and give that to me please!
This is so beautiful. I want to live here! I am a loyal white kitchen lover so when I first saw these cabinets I was a bit disappointed. But the more I look at these cabinets, the more I Love them! So glad you took a risk. It turned out perfect!
I definitely vote for learning the details on the money. That sort of thing is relevant for my life, as my husband and I consider some large scale renovations/investments. I also vote for seeing the real with the outlets and whatnot. Beautiful kitchen!
Em, of course it’s gorgeous! The green is so refreshing because I’ll just say it… I am OVER white kitchens! Thanks for taking a risk. The mix of metals is a nice touch, too.
Question, do you ever consider alternative outlet options – such as using an outlet plate made with the same material, or rendered in the same color as its surroundings? For instance, the ones in the Portland bathroom could have had paintable plates that matched the wainscotting. Or the outlets and covers themselves could have been black instead of white to minimize the disruption. I know custom outlet plates came up in the comments when you revealed the kitchen in your current home. When we bought our home it had travertine on the backsplash with standard white outlets and plates, and we were able to change the housing to off-white and get travertine-finish plate covers to match. It made a huge difference! My absolute favorite was when Kristen Jackson of the Hunted Interior camouflaged her outlet covers with clear plates. It was a little tedious, but it turned out beautifully! Again, great job, and I too look forward to any cord management and outlet conversations you choose to have here. We could all benefit from that knowledge.
Stunning! Thank you for keeping it real (or as real as your seemingly glamorous lifestyle is for those of us in awe) by acknowledging what kept you up at night. And please don’t forget about the post about hardware. Desperate for guidance on it; the options are overwhelming!
Yes, please! Show us the outlets!!! So important from a function and design perspective. I can only see two on the backsplash on the window wall. Maybe you can do another post and what to consider when placing them in a kitchen remodel. Thank you for this post. It has appropriately been pinned for later reference!
Yaassss budget allocation/ mistakes/ would-do-differently post! Yaaaaasssss!
Love that you’re willing to share this
Functional and Stunning! Even a non cook would learn to cook just to be in THAT kitchen. But the food would get cold because the guests would be too busy admiring that breath taking kitchen. LOVE IT.
Question re color ~ SW Pewter Green? It’s Strange we looked up the cabinet color, SW Pewter Green, and it doesn’t look like those cabinets at ALL. Yours seem to have some blueish in them. Yet SW is more of a deep olive green. Hmmmm and I have a new Mac. so my colors should be very close to accurate.
Gorgeous!!! Show me the outlets (real life), and show me the money! (Would love to see the cost breakdown). Would love a post on door knobs/hinge hardware. Your work is stunning.
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing all the nitty gritty details, I love reading about your design process and lessons learned. It’s encouraging to know that even you and your team occasionally make mistakes too.
I would definitely be interested in the budget/timeline breakdown post. Also, the backsplash tile is gorgeous and adds beautiful texture, but do you worry about all those ridges/texture collecting dust and grime over time? I just have this image of cleaning grime off a thousand tile ridges (like tiny picture frames).
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing all the nitty gritty details, I love reading about your design process and lessons learned. It’s encouraging to know that even you and your team occasionally make mistakes too.
I would definitely be interested in the budget/timeline breakdown post. Also, the backsplash tile is gorgeous and adds beautiful texture, but do you worry about all those ridges/texture collecting dust and grime over time? I just have this image of cleaning grime off a thousand tile ridges (like tiny picture frames).
Love this kitchen, stunning, warm inviting.
We are building our own home and love your honesty and generosity in sharing details, thought processes, budget, finances, lessons learnt, etc. Please keep it coming, so much to learn.
Personally I analyze “real” images to understand what/where important everyday use details were put in such as outlets/ switches. It is the reality of this kitchen and living in this beautiful space.
Yes!!! Please do a post on lessons learned and cost breakdown
Love the explanations
https://drebrahimgol.com/what-is-compsite-veneer-
would love to know more about the profit loss and gain and the mistakes to learn from and what to splurge/not splurge
I love it! The green is so gorgeous and I love the counter and backsplash combo. I’m redoing my kitchen and my new counters are quartz, but the white subway tiles I have samples of look super bright when they are right next to the quartz (backsplash not installed because I can’t commit to a tile). I’m afraid a white backsplash will be too bright. Do you ever have that problem? The quartz I have is a a white that almost looks translucent with grey and greige veining. Help please!
Hi Emily! I’m a flipper. I’ve been reading your blog for years and your advice has informed a lot of my design choices in the ten homes I’ve remodeled over the last 3 years. Even though I’ve never tackled anything as high end as the Portland house, I would love to see a post detailing your budget and profit!
http://www.rehabwonk.com/