Well, we've been in our house for just over a week! Later this week I'll fill you in on how all of that is going, because right now, I want your opinions. Yesterday, our cabinet samples arrived, and they were exactly what I was hoping for (yipee!), so now we're getting ready to order our new kitchen. There's just one problem: we keep going back and forth on what we want.
Here are our two options:
Option A: Hood vent and tile feature above the stove
What we love about it: it definitely makes the kitchen feel a little higher end, and we love the industrial touch that the hood vent gives the room. This would allow us to put a cool tile feature above the stove (in reality, it wouldn't be gray - it would probably be a herringbone marble - the drawing is just gray so you can differentiate it). We'd also get a pot filler out of the deal (which I shouldn't even have to explain to you how awesome that would be). We'd run subway tile all the way up to the ceiling, and it would just look clean/simple/awesome. We would buy a microwave drawer (which I've heard amazing things about), and that would find it's home in the island.
And the downside: It costs more. Not a lot more, but it does cost more. Can we make it work within our kitchen budget? Yes. The main issue for us is that we lose storage space. In this option, there aren't any cupboards above the stove, and since the microwave would be in the island, that's additional storage space we're losing. Also, I go back and forth on this one (mainly if I have just looked at option B), but sometimes when I look at option A, it feels like the cupboards on each side of the window are just kind of awkwardly floating there. But like I said, sometimes I think it looks funny, sometimes I love how simple/minimal it is. I'm weird, I know.
Alright, with all of that, let's look at the other option.
Option B: Cupboard & microwave above the stove
What we love about it: It's easy. It's cheaper. It gives us more storage. The microwave is at eye level, so for us giants, it's really handy. Also, this way, I can continue to always use the microwave timer instead of the stove timer, because for whatever reason, my go-to timer is always the one on the microwave :) (don't worry, that isn't an actual factor in our decision making).
And the downside: It's less unique, therefore a little less wow factor (let's be real, majority of kitchens have this same setup). It can get a little cramped between the microwave and the stove (but we both had this in our last home and it's definitely not the end of the world), and the microwave exhaust fan wouldn't work as well as an actual hood vent.
So, what I want to know from you guys is if you were to buy this home, which kitchen would you rather have? Which do you like the look of more? Would you go for more storage over cool aesthetic? Let's hear what you have to say! :)
----------
Update: Here's a third option, Option C: which may be the best of both worlds. Cupboards with a smaller range hood beneath.
Here are our two options:
Option A: Hood vent and tile feature above the stove
What we love about it: it definitely makes the kitchen feel a little higher end, and we love the industrial touch that the hood vent gives the room. This would allow us to put a cool tile feature above the stove (in reality, it wouldn't be gray - it would probably be a herringbone marble - the drawing is just gray so you can differentiate it). We'd also get a pot filler out of the deal (which I shouldn't even have to explain to you how awesome that would be). We'd run subway tile all the way up to the ceiling, and it would just look clean/simple/awesome. We would buy a microwave drawer (which I've heard amazing things about), and that would find it's home in the island.
And the downside: It costs more. Not a lot more, but it does cost more. Can we make it work within our kitchen budget? Yes. The main issue for us is that we lose storage space. In this option, there aren't any cupboards above the stove, and since the microwave would be in the island, that's additional storage space we're losing. Also, I go back and forth on this one (mainly if I have just looked at option B), but sometimes when I look at option A, it feels like the cupboards on each side of the window are just kind of awkwardly floating there. But like I said, sometimes I think it looks funny, sometimes I love how simple/minimal it is. I'm weird, I know.
Alright, with all of that, let's look at the other option.
Option B: Cupboard & microwave above the stove
What we love about it: It's easy. It's cheaper. It gives us more storage. The microwave is at eye level, so for us giants, it's really handy. Also, this way, I can continue to always use the microwave timer instead of the stove timer, because for whatever reason, my go-to timer is always the one on the microwave :) (don't worry, that isn't an actual factor in our decision making).
And the downside: It's less unique, therefore a little less wow factor (let's be real, majority of kitchens have this same setup). It can get a little cramped between the microwave and the stove (but we both had this in our last home and it's definitely not the end of the world), and the microwave exhaust fan wouldn't work as well as an actual hood vent.
So, what I want to know from you guys is if you were to buy this home, which kitchen would you rather have? Which do you like the look of more? Would you go for more storage over cool aesthetic? Let's hear what you have to say! :)
----------
Update: Here's a third option, Option C: which may be the best of both worlds. Cupboards with a smaller range hood beneath.
So which is your favorite? A, B, or C?
I like the vent hood better! To me microwaves are so tacky looking and wish I could hide mine away and have a hooded vent instead. I will keep mine like it is, and you do the hooded vent!!! :) I think in the end you will appreciate the hooded vent more....more spendy now but even more spendy down the road if you choose to do it later!
ReplyDeleteHaha, that sounds like a plan Lindsey! And such a great point about cheaper doing in now vs. later!
DeleteI like the vent hood better. Also if you have kids just think they will have to be reaching up over the stove/oven to get to the microwave. So it's kinda a safety thing also :)
ReplyDeleteI'd go with the hood and then on the far right, floating shelves/open storage. You're right in that the cabinets on each side of the window look to be floating, so maybe opening the far right up to be floating shelves would allow you some storage for prettier things. And since they're called floating shelves, well, the whole floating thing makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI like C.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I thought when I saw A. was that there wasn't enough continuity with the cabinets. Although I like large hood vents I think it's more of a recent trend that could end up going away, and long-term you'll probably be glad to have extra cabinets over the stove.
I think the vent hood is a trendy thing to do now, but really aren't all that useful. If I were purchasing the home, I'd want the microwave and additional cabinet space.
ReplyDelete