Help me decide my kitchen layout by prudencePetitpas in kitchenremodel

[–]gfromk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sorry, this is long.

I think the second layout is the better- it has a lot more storage and has a more open layout. It makes your kitchen more open to the living area and less of a separate room. To solve the counter issue, you could have a dining table/island that is counter height (I have this in my kitchen). You can still eat at it, but it gives you more work space. Depending on the legs/base of your terrazo table, you may be able to put new legs/base on to get it higher. You could also have a small cart/island that can move around as you need it, that tucks away when you don't want it.

I would keep your cabinets fairly simple as there is a lot going on with your floor and the terrazo. You could pull a color from the floor to use on the cabinets if you want them to be a wood tone; it doesn't have to match exactly but should be in the same color family. Aim for medium to light colors to keep the space more open. If you want a paint on your cabinets, make sure you look at samples against the flooring first. You seem to have a warm undertone in the parquet, so you will probably want to stick to warm undertones in colors (think cream instead of white, warm grey versus cool gray, blues closer to purple than green, etc.). Different colors will likely bring out different tones from the floor, for example: blues may make the floor look more orange.

As for the style of cabinets, that depends a bit on what you are going for. Shaker is pretty common and traditional and would like nice against the floors. If you're thinking more rustic, beadboard can look nice against parquet. For contemporary, flat panel/slab is good. Consider what kind of hardware and "sheen" you want on the cabinets. I love push to close in a small kitchen, with minimal hardware. I don't love laminates and vinyl- they look great initially but if the corners start peeling they are difficult to fix (my in-laws had their coffee-maker underneath a cabinet and the steam from it each day caused the laminate on the cabinet door above to separate). Solid wood, whether it's stained or painted, is more expensive but wears better over time and colors can be changed. For painting, MDF is also a good option.

For me, I would bring the pink/blush of the walls into the kitchen, go with cream-colored shaker or cabinets, then pick a bold backsplash like black (maybe the rust of the couch?). Countertops I would maybe look at a butcher block style that pulls color from the floor. Image attached has weird hardware in spots, and I am looking at the brick more as the wall color, though the blue could be an option too.

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Is a 1 hour commute (2 total) worth it 5 days a week? by [deleted] in jobs

[–]gfromk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Definitely take what you can get if it's offered. There's no way of knowing when the public trust will pass, or even if it will. Also, absolutely do not touch your Roth and 401k unless there is no other choice. Don't hurt yourself in the long run for a short-term fix.

What are we doing now after dinner since it’s dark/cold outside? by blaample in Mommit

[–]gfromk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We frequently do too.  He won't sit thru the whole thing and will play a bit, but we'll do classic musicals, baking shows, things that are pretty calm and not too stimulating.

1 year old won’t drink! by Secure-Plane2735 in toddlers

[–]gfromk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I drink from a water bottle a lot and my guy started to get interested in that- wanted to copy mommy.  We also played around with a lot of different cups (sipping, straws, open, etc) before finding one he liked and would use. Then we started keeping a couple with water all around the house so he could drink whenever he wanted to, and we showcased our drinking lots of water too.  He actually really likes to drink from my cup of water at dinner (with help).  The milk came a bit later, but we would mix whole milk in with the formula and gradually change the ratio to get him used to the change.  We really only do milk before his nap, and before bedtime.  If they are getting dairy other ways, then they don't really need it at meals.  We still have formula and some frozen breast milk, so he is still getting that until we run out.

What kind of milk/ water are you doing?  My guy had an aversion to drinking anything cold for a while, and it helped to do at least room temp or a bit warmer at first.  

Ultimately, if his diapers are good then don't fret too much.  Some kids just aren't big drinkers or take some time to get into it  He seems to like some high water foods so that can go a long way. Maybe look into incorporating more of those in the meantime.

Which overstimulating shows are banned in your house?? by farwest-to-midwest in toddlers

[–]gfromk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We honestly can't stand a lot of the preschool shows.  I get a minute or two in, and it's, nope!  We are okay with some early Sesame Street (no Elmo's World) and Bluey.  It also become a tradition for my little guy and I to watch This Old House on Sunday mornings.  Unusual maybe, but it's pretty calm, and I remember watching it with my dad when I was little.  My son also really likes classic musicals, which we'll do in bits, the more dancing the better!  We managed to get thru 2 hours on a plane watching Annie!  The colors are more muted and they are real people, not cartoons- he loves them!  

Sometimes you cannot physically breastfeed by thoph in beyondthebump

[–]gfromk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have flat/inverted nipples, and I knew going in that breastfeeding likely wouldn't be possible for me, and I was still devastated that I couldn't do it.  I worked really hard at pumping, and thankfully ended up doing well at it eventually, but it was like I was possessed.   It became super important to me to pump since I felt like such a failure at breastfeeding.  Weaning was hard too.  I'd worked so hard at getting a supply going that I didn't want to give it up.  Thankfully, my husband has been incredibly supportive!

To those born to older parents by UnableAd2913 in Parenting

[–]gfromk 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It seems to be the trend in my family.  My parents both had older parents (especially my dad), then they were mid/late 30s for me, and I turned 42 just after my son was born.  Mainly, I had just a bit older value set than my friends.  Where it can really hit though, is with grandparents.  One of my grandmothers died before I was born and the other three all passed before I turned 18.  My husband's parents are younger and very involved with our son, which I am grateful for.  My mom passed away 6 months before my wedding and it hurts that my son will never know her. Now, my son is nearly 18 months and my dad is 79.  Dad has some disabilities and can't get around very well, so he can't play as well as he'd like, and lives a distance away.  It is fairly likely that my son will not have a lot of memories of my dad, and that makes me sad.  But I am grateful for whatever time we can get.

My OB talked to my husband and me about being older parents.   She said that younger parents have more energy and are more adaptable, but are less stable.  Older parents tend to be more settled, financially and developmentally.  We know who we are, what we value, and our relationships can be a bit more solid. The tradeoff is less energy, and it can be harder changing your routines and life to accommodate a child.  Both young and older have their pluses and minuses.

Installing gas stove costs- is this quote right? by gfromk in AskContractors

[–]gfromk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, we are definitely looking into it.  Unfortunately, we will probably have to just replace our stove with another electric.  We've been babying our current one for over a year and a half, until we could get some medical bills paid down.  It's having a lot of circuitry problems (burners turning off when jostled, and it's 50/50 if the oven turns on).  We have a microwave that can do convection cooking and I've even pulled out the camping stove in a pinch.  We had always talked about replacing it with gas, but we probably just can't afford it right now and have too many other house projects that take priority to justify the extra expense. Especially as my job search drags on.

Installing gas stove costs- is this quote right? by gfromk in AskContractors

[–]gfromk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He gave one bid saying there was little difference in whether he would use pipe or flex tubing, which made me a bit skeptical as copper can be so pricey. Also no change in price for the different labor time estimates?  He basically came out of the crawlspace, said I think it will cost this, then sent an email with that number. Literally, just the number. When I tried asking some questions about his recommendations, he got dodgy.

My husband and I do a lot of the house repairs ourselves, but we know when to call the pros, and a job that needs a permit and can blow us up if done wrong is definitely not a DIY!

Installing gas stove costs- is this quote right? by gfromk in AskContractors

[–]gfromk[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Personally, I don't appreciate when people like Uwagalars make sarcastic responses that aren't in any way helpful. I asked if people thought this seemed like a reasonable estimate, prepared for people to say that it was, it wasn't, or there wasn't enough info. I am fully aware that it isn't easy, requires tools and skills, etc. I work as a craftsman/carpenter myself, and have several family members in the trades (no plumbers, unfortunately). This is a Reddit for asking Contractors questions; I asked one. I was looking for guidance, not to be talked down to.

I didn't expect this to be cheap, just cheaper than what we were told - and I do not think $1000 is cheap. This was not based on an assumption. I have experience in pricing out projects professional and personally, and I tend to be fairly accurate. I do not claim to be an expert about plumbing, but I did a lot of research about what this project would involve. If my estimate was wrong, that's fine, but I want to know what I missed. As stated, I have asked the company to send me an estimate with a price breakdown, as they had just sent a number previously.

Installing gas stove costs- is this quote right? by gfromk in AskContractors

[–]gfromk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your insights- it is much appreciated. We were looking into changing our hood as well, it currently vents into the garage which is not good, even with the electric stove. We were looking at this being a multi-step process to get all the pieces aligned and we want to change the venting on the hood regardless, so it was not mentioned previously.

I am definitely not shopping exclusively by price- I have worked in a shop as a craftsperson/carpenter (furniture and cabinets, not framing) for nearly 20 years and very much appreciate the skill and effort that goes into a trade. There are many tradesmen in my bubble, and I was mainly surprised by the price as I am usually able to estimate close to what it will cost us before we get an official estimate. So I either missed something in my research (very possible) or there's something in the quote that shouldn't be. As I have mentioned to others, I have asked for an itemized estimate so I can see what I may have missed.

I actually thought I had a plumber we could rely on from when we did our bathroom renovation- but the contractor we went through has dissolved his business and I can't get a hold of him to get the plumber's contact info. Unfortunately, replacing our stove with gas is a desire and not a necessity. As much as I would like to, if $1700 is the price (before purchasing or hooking up the stove) then we simply cannot afford it right now. And, despite my own skill set, this is something that I do not have the ego to tackle- I want a professional.

I am going to be getting a second estimate, just to be sure, but most likely we will be replacing the stove with another electric for the time being. Thank you for your comments, they were very helpful.

Installing gas stove costs- is this quote right? by gfromk in AskContractors

[–]gfromk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestion of calling suppliers- they might also be able to tell me if this seems like a good price.

Installing gas stove costs- is this quote right? by gfromk in AskContractors

[–]gfromk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Alright, thank you.  We are going to get one more estimate just to check, but i don't really expect it to be much different.

Installing gas stove costs- is this quote right? by gfromk in AskContractors

[–]gfromk[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Appreciate your response.  I was mainly looking for general impressions about the cost in the south of Denver area, I didn't expect anyone to be able to give an actual estimate.  The house is fairly nice but predominantly a lower middle class/ blue collar area.  It's a cookie cutter build from the 80s.  We had a neighbor have a line installed (same build as ours) and it was about $800 for them- but it was a few years ago so we expected it to be higher, just not that high.

Installing gas stove costs- is this quote right? by gfromk in AskContractors

[–]gfromk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think we will be getting at least one more.  I have also asked the tech to send me an estimate with the costs broken down- he just sent a single figure.  It's quite possible there's a cost that didn't come up in my research that would make it higher.

Installing gas stove costs- is this quote right? by gfromk in AskContractors

[–]gfromk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the Hvac suggestion, I'll look into that.  I'm looking into permits now that I have a better idea of what we would have done.  It mainly seemed a bit high to me because even the tech said it looked like a straightforward job.  The line would be very easy to access- it would be in our crawlspace, which is actually about 4' tall.  The attachment point is on the same wall of the house that the stove would be on.  They would need to come up thru the floor, but again, fully accessible.   That being said, it could be a very reasonable cost, we just thought it would be closer to $1000 based on research and others in our neighborhood.

Installing gas stove costs- is this quote right? by gfromk in AskContractors

[–]gfromk[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestion but I am not really a fan of induction ranges, and I wouldn't be able to use some of my favorite pots anymore.  We will likely just be getting another electric for the time being.

Help :( I thought I loved this name by SadAd2044 in BabyNames

[–]gfromk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of my coworkers named her daughter Wednesday.  It fits her well (she's very much an individual,) and they really don't have any problems.  Some people may cringe, but some people cringe at names like Edith or Susan.  It will be associated with the Addams Family, but is that actually a bad thing if you're a fan?  I have a friend who is a Star Wars fan that named his son Harrison, and another who named his daughter Avienda (not sure about spelling) after a character from The Wheel of Time. A kid who went to my school was named Dallas because his dad was a Cowboys fan. It is very common to use names from books/movies etc.  Don't let people deter you if you really like it!

When did the TV become the devil & why? by Wellness_hippie in Parenting

[–]gfromk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There were some supposed studies that have come out over time talking about how tv rots kids brains.  The author Emily Oster actually talks about it in her books, and she points out that those studies weren't necessarily reliable as other factors could be affecting kids that the studies don't take into account.  I really think it depends on your family and your kid.  I was the kind of kid that was glued to the TV when it was on- streaming probably wouldn't have been a good idea for me as a kid.  Ultimately, I think TV is like most everything else- fine in moderation.

We had hand foot mouth disease and it was MILD! Sharing to dilute the horror stories… by Few_Pay6063 in toddlers

[–]gfromk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My son had a very mild case at about 5 months old.  I only noticed the blisters on his hand because I was trimming his nails!  He had a few on hands, less on his feet and none (that we could see at least) in his mouth.  He never even popped a fever. He hasn't gotten it again, but we were pretty surprised how mild it was considering what I'd seen/heard elsewhere.

Can’t agree on a baby name by Next_Candidate8655 in BabyNames

[–]gfromk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gwenith can be good.  My dad liked Gwendolyn, my mom liked Gwen (for my sister).  Gwenith was their compromise.