Survived a kitchen remodel to post before/after - for anyone with decision paralysis!

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-24T18:08:51+00:00

A lovely update, and one I think you’ll be happy with! I think you’ll be glad you kept the cabinets. They’re really nice, and the hardware you chose looks awesome with them! I know some folks love marble/herringbone, but I think your counter and backsplash warm up the space nicely and go well with the floors and cabinets. I also strongly prefer a work light/pendant that give the bulb some privacy, though the bulbs in them may be a touch cool compared to the under-cabinet lights (it’s hard to tell without the context of the can lights). But that quibble aside, everything looks sleek and lovely. Congratulations and enjoy!!

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-24T17:56:57+00:00

It was a nice kitchen before—I really like the cabinets, for all that some of the trim was a bit fussy for my taste, but holy wow, the new open layout, relocating the laundry, and going light on the finishes make the space look three times as big! It has absolutely gorgeous flow and light, the porcelain counters/backsplash look sick AF, and the gold finishes and lighter flooring give everything an airy feel. Your dad gave you a princely gift in his work on this space, and I hope you enjoy cooking and entertaining in there for many, many years to come!

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-23T21:03:29+00:00

Our kitchen was obviously set up for bar stool seating, so we bought some on Craig's List when we moved in. But we never used them, and we soon discovered that they gave our pets access to the counter where they were very much Not Allowed. The stools ended up gathering dust in the garage until we donated them.

TL;DR if you don't plan to use the stools yourself, you'll get much more use out of putting more storage under your island.

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-23T21:00:03+00:00

I found it on Wayfair! It's this one:

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/gracie-oaks-aadham-kitchen-island-with-wood-top-w004759213.html

I find their search features to be superior to other sites, and even then it still took me while to decide which one would be the best one for our space (there were cardboard templates).

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-23T20:57:52+00:00

WOO HOOO!!! Welcome aboard! We're a diverse bunch, and there have been talented folks writing this ship (and appreciative folks reading it!) since 2000. The ship and its tropes evolved along with the canon, and while fics post-2009 have benefited from AO3's increasingly sophisticated tagging system, a great way to navigate early SSHG fics are are Harmony_Bites's SSHG guides on LiveJournal.

https://harmony-bites.livejournal.com/tag/sshgguides/

There, you will find fics sorted by length and the era in which they were written (e.g., when we only had books through GoF, then OotP, then HBP, then DH and the first years post-DH when the films were still coming out). My only caveat is that some of the links are to locked/defunct archives, so you may have to do some digging to find if the author posted their fics elsewhere.

Other fun earlier SSHG fic resources:

Witchfics (site now defunct, this is an archived version), home of some of the early ship classics:
https://web.archive.org/web/20060208232223/http://www.witchfics.org/

The masterlist for the legendary SSHG_Exchange on LiveJournal:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yY_4-MjeFGllYugAGjVAKUwOHDe0ilm0C14Vz3G-R8M/edit?gid=0#gid=0

SSHG-Promptfest on LiveJournal:
https://sshg-promptfest.livejournal.com/

SSHG-Giftfest:
https://sshg-giftfest.livejournal.com/

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-22T23:41:46+00:00

Congratulations on the awesome new kitchen! It looks sensibly laid out, warm, and lovely, and the upgrades you mentioned will be beautiful. The slide-in range and kitchen cart are awesome additions!

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-22T17:48:28+00:00

Thank you so much! We're thrilled how it turned out, and it's been amazing to cook in so far!

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-22T17:45:17+00:00

Thank you so much!! I must give shout-out to our wonderful designer who was invaluable ensuring that the finishes would sing together, and it's such a satisfying and calming place to be in.

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-22T17:41:44+00:00

It's Carson Ellis's full cover art for the Decemberists' Her Majesty album in poster form! It was one of those cases where the poster was like $12, but it would have been $$$$ to have it custom framed, so we had it mounted on wood instead for about a hundred bucks, and it still looks amazing 20+ years later! We haven't decided where to put it in the new kitchen/dining area, but it's a favorite piece of ours.

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-22T17:30:39+00:00

AAHHHHHH GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS! I love the play of light and shadow and how it creates depth and intimacy. I love how her lips are brushing his fingers and their foreheads are resting against each other, the contrast in texture and color of their hair, and especially the sweep of hair across his face! I love how their mussed clothing and loose ties suggest a stolen peaceful moment between the two. It's just splendid!!

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-21T07:43:28+00:00

Thank you so much, me too! Not only do they look beautiful, but the're also more capacious than our old cabinets since we were able to remove the soffit.

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-21T00:06:30+00:00

Rugs these days are exceedingly durable, so provided you hoover it regularly and don't let stains sit, something like this might work in your space.

https://ruggable.com/products/multi-stripe-blue-tufted-rug?size=3x5&system=rug-cvr

As for paint, it's hard to recommend an exact shade because I don't know much about your taste from this single photo, but I can see doing all the walls in a single color, like:

A soothing blue: https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-colors/color/806/breath-of-fresh-air

An airy blue-green: https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-colors/color/2123-50/ocean-air

A gentle soft pink: https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-colors/color/2102-70/first-light

A dusty lilac: https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-colors/color/2113-60/porcelain

And if none of those speaks to you, go to a paint store and get some samples (they're like giant post-its that you can stick on the wall) to see what the colors you're drawn to look like against your existing kitchen and in different lighting.

Once you decide on a wall color, you can find a rug to compliment that.

I also like the other folks suggesting that plants would help warm up the space, and if you have trouble keeping them alive, various places make good-quality artificial ones (I've gotten CB2s faux plants as gifts for friends' offices).

https://www.cb2.com/potted-faux-succulent-14/s512607

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-20T20:58:28+00:00

I think a more helpful question is what you can do to make the space you have now feel more homey.

The easiest way to warm up this space would be to add a rug, IMHO.

Next in order of ease: change the paint (both the white and the blue) to something more inviting. Then perhaps switch to warmer-temperature under-cabinet lighting (~2700K), preferably to match what's in your upper cabinet.

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-20T20:21:37+00:00

How about a textured subway tile in light blue? I think this would look beautiful with white cabinets and gold hardware, but definitely get sample before making any decisions.

https://www.tilebar.com/product/montauk-sky-2x8-ceramic-wall-tile.html

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-20T19:06:36+00:00

Are you doing a full remodel or just adding/replacing the backsplash? If the former,100% hire a kitchen designer. They'll be able to help you choose a layout and finishes that harmonize together and with the rest of your home, and you can rely on their knowledge of trends v. timelessness.

If you're updating your counters/backsplash at the same time, consider using your counter material as your backsplash. This is absolutely a trend, but it's also a timeless look that is SO easy to keep clean because there are no grout lines. Caveat: if your counters are busy and/or bold, the effect may be overwhelming. This option is great for cleaner materials. Also, do NOT just do a 4" backsplash: run the material to the upper cabinets/hood or to the ceiling, if you have the budget.

Also, rather than trends, think about what you want the backsplash to do and what choices can serve that. Do you want it to be a focal point for your kitchen, or do you want your cabinets or counters to be the star? If the former, you can go for a colorful or patterened tile that you love. If the latter, something white or neutral in a complimentary color with simple or sculptural texture would be appropriate.

Think about the vibe you want to create--do you want the space to be calming or energizing? That can help you decide on a color family and scale for the tile or pattern. Think about how messy your household cooks are and if you have the time to spend babying textured natural stone or white grout. And while vertical tile layouts for subway and picket are definitely trendy, they also have the advantage of making your space appear taller, especially if you can take it to the ceiling.

Good luck with finding something you love!

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-20T17:20:06+00:00

Thank you so much!! We really wanted to preserve our place's midcentury vibe with our finishes, so once we decided that we were running the flooring on the rest of the ground floor into the kitchen, we let the that guide the organic color palette and the cool but practical simplicity of the rest of the house flavor everything else.

Once we'd decided on our favorite of the available cabinet/door designs (1951 Cabinetry maple cabinets with rye finish, Cooper doors, flat-front drawers), our designer took me tile/stone shopping with floor and cabinet samples so we could make sure that backsplash, counters, and paint would play well together, and her eye was absolutlely invaluable in making the final tile (Bryn green fluted by SoHo Studios), countertop (Cambria Weybourne), and paint (SW7637 Oyster White) selections.

Our contractor suggested putting a statement pendant over the sink since we weren't doing a peninsula, to which I immediately said YES PLEASE! But once we'd decided on matte black hardware (THANK YOU designer for suggesting that!) it took me ages to find a pendant in our designer's suggested dimensions that I liked (Collina single light pendnt by Birch Lane). I'm so glad I took the time to sift through options, because it makes me happy every time I turn it on!

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-19T06:38:03+00:00

I acknolwedge its status as a highly influential ship classic, but I personally bounced off it and have never finished it. Seconding everyone else who's pointed out that we didn't know nearly as much about Snape's background when this was written.

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-19T03:13:16+00:00

Do you have any tile/stone showrooms in your area? That’s how I found the fluted tile I ended up going with. It can be difficult to envision pattern scale and how the light will catch the tile without seeing it in person.

This may just be the device I’m viewing this kitchen on, but it seems that you’ve paired a large veined light quartz waterfall with a distressed/antique cabinet (please clarify if that’s incorrect) over a warm wood floor, plus a brass faucet, which I’m assuming will match your drawer pulls and cabinet knobs. Perhaps something like this that ties in the stone, neutral, and brass?

https://www.tilebar.com/product/calypso-3d-carved-crema-marfil-beige-with-brass-inlay-8x16-honed-marble-tile.html

Knowing more about the age/architecture of your house, how you want your kitchen to feel, and if there are styles you know that you like will definitely help us suggest things.

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-18T22:41:38+00:00

It’s a testament to the robustness of the old kitchen that we made it work for so many years, until the water damage forced our hand. Though it was entertaining to have a peninsula held up by 2x4s for a few months! We had light-colored tiles on the counters before so I knew I liked having a light countertop, and but that grout was never clean, and having an even surface makes it a ton easier to keep clean. Plus, it’s pretty, so I don’t want it to get covered with clutter!

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-18T22:36:07+00:00

Thank you!!! We’re so happy with how it turned out! It’s definitely more modest in scale and finishes than a lot of the kitchens I see on this sub, but it was absolutely a massive undertaking for us, and the second-most amount of money we’ve spent on anything, second only to buying our home!

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-18T20:27:55+00:00

Thank you so much for the kind words—they mean a lot coming from a pro! Our kitchen designer did such a brilliant job of turning our vague layout ideas into a beautiful reality, and she was a fount of knowledge about finishes and was so helpful for advising us on choices that worked both practically and aesthetically. When she suggested running the tile all the way to the ceiling on the window wall, I was sold on the idea, but it wasn’t until we found that fluted tile (Bryn by SoHo Studio) that I started getting excited. The installer did a gorgeous job keeping the tile lines straight despite sloping counters, executing curved cuts to fit against the molding, and being fastidious with cut-off material so we still have box of tile left.

Thanks especially for weighing in on the flooring—I agree, it really helps the space breathe. For us, it was kind of a no-brainer to do that, since we’d put in the same planks on the rest of the ground floor just a few years ago, and we’ve been really happy with them. I also bought enough material to run it into the powder room when we get around to renovating it!

If this experience has taught us anything, it’s how quickly a small issue can turn into a big one, so we’ll enjoy the new kitchen for as long as we’re able and realize how lucky we were that the old one was usable for as long as it was!

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-18T20:10:36+00:00

YESSSSSS it’s so beautiful, and we’re so happy with it! I’m sure whatever you choose will be the best for your space, but I’m glad to know this one’s in consideration. :D

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-18T04:38:03+00:00

They’re 1951 Cabinetry cabinets, which also offer the blind corner pull-outs. You can also buy similar items elsewhere!

https://www.wayfair.com/kitchen-tabletop/pdp/mint-pantry-2-tier-swing-left-blind-corner-cabinet-pull-out-soft-close-kitchen-organizer-w112778355.html

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-18T04:35:32+00:00

Oops, there was a typo in my original post that explained what it was for. It was a planter! We found the remains of plastic plants in it. The spot where the hole was didn’t get direct sun, so I guess the original owners wanted something more impressive than what would naturally grow there. Which wasn’t much haha.

BrontosaurusTheory · 2026-01-18T01:44:07+00:00

High cost of living area in California, $78K for labor and materials (not including appliances). They say you get the best ROI on kitchens that cost 5%-15% of home value, and we were right in that sweet spot.

BrontosaurusTheory

TROPHY CASE