New kitchen in Paris

[mich64]

I like your choices very much and agree about getting a backsplash added. If not tile, what product will you have installed? I have no backsplash as I feel as you do about the tile grout. It has been a year since our renovation and because I am ultra careful when preparing anything, I have no stains on the walls but I have been thinking about having something installed, however, I am still not sure what to do so I am now very interested in seeing what you do!

My friend is in the final stages of completion of her kitchen and she is asking for my advice with cabinet door handle positioning so I get to see it tomorrow. She did not have a backsplash installed either. It seems we are not the only ones not liking wall tile grout!

The floor color is awesome.

[bixaorellana]

When we built our house in NC, my husband scored a great big piece of stainless steel for the stove backsplash. So wonderful to have something with no seams.

[lagatta]

Indeed. I use the wok a lot, so despite how careful I am, it means spots that have to be scrubbed off. Not tiles with grout,but something other than a painted wall.

Kerouac, what do you have in the way of an oven now?

[kerouac2]

It's a standard oven. I haven't even looked inside yet.

[bjd]

It looks good. Similar in some ways to what I had done in the new kitchen in the house we are redoing. Good idea to get drawers instead of cupboards at the bottom --much handier to see what is in there. I also have a Bosch oven and a Siemens vent and induction top.

It's normal that the top cupboards are shallower than the bottom ones. At least you won't smack your head on them when you are using the counter. And it's a good opportunity to get rid of junk you don't need: plastic containers without lids, etc.

Re: the backsplash. I didn't want tiles either so put a big piece of glass behind the cooktop, filling the space under the fan, and a similar, smaller one behind the sink. It's easy to clean and matches the countertop. In the glass store, they told me that if I put clear glass, then the lines of glue attaching it to the wall would be visible. In your case, I wouldn't put any glass as dark as the counter though.

[chexbres]

I would not recommend that you use stainless steel, because you need special products and it always streaks.
A thick piece of glass might be nice, and easy to clean. No mirrors, though.
Your stove - if it is a modern one - should be self-cleaning. Look for the "pyro".

[kerouac2]

The oven is pyro.

[tod2]

Most ovens are pyro these days but I would give my eye teeth to have the old enamel surface.
To clean a pyro oven it has to be turned on full wack for a certain length of time and even then if it is badly 'dirtied', can stay like that forever. I hope you have the very latest technology coating in your oven Kerouac and that its is a great improvement.

Your kitchen is a dream! What happens at the very far end next to the window. How do you utilize that lower shelf, and....are the pots and pans in that drawer? I notice you won't be able to open the window fully if you stood something there.
I would love to hear what you like and what might cause a slight problem.

[onlyMark]

I think the only thing missing from that kitchen is a cat.
Or a dog.

And maybe a small planter of half dead herbs plus a glass of water with an avocado seed in.

[mickthecactus]

What about a droopy orchid with a long dead flower stalk?

[onlyMark]

No kitchen should be without one.

I'm also wondering which draw has now got the excess screws, nuts, bolts, spare light bulbs, hand operated mixer and odds and ends one accumulates. There has to be a draw like that somewhere.

[kerouac2]

I am still organising. My biggest problem at the moment is that not even half of my spice collection fits in the spice cupboard. I am also wondering what happened to most of my knives, forks and spoons. They are hiding somewhere in the flat but where?

[cheerypeabrain]

I had that problem...bought an in-door spice rack . Only the little bottles of herbs and spices fit in them and I tend to buy large packs of things like dried oregano, smoked paprika and cummin amongst other things....so they are in the cupboards.

I do like your super new kitchen Kerouac...are you polishing the counters every time you walk past ?

When we designed our kitchen I wanted the work tops to be high enough for me to knead bread on without hurting my back so we made them a couple of inches taller than standard.

We knocked a wall down as well (making a kitchen-diner) so I lost all the wall cupboards...as you say...not necessarily more room..but 'better different' beautiful floor too

[bixaorellana]

Looking at the pictures, it appears there is an empty area between the last top cabinet and the divider between the kitchen and the area with the washer and fridge. Could you use that empty space to put in some kind of arrangement to hang pots and pans?

[lugg]

What a transformation it looks fab.

[amboseli]

It's very nice kerouac.

Have you thought about glass for the backsplash? We have glass over the whole length of the counter(s). We've had it for over 10 years how and I haven't regretted our decision for one single moment. The glass is coloured on the backside and available in all RAL-colours. We chose a neutral tone that fits with our cupboards. It's much easier to clean than my previous stainless steel backsplash.

[questa]

In Oz the building regulations won't allow a painted wall as a backsplash, it has to be ceramic tiles, glass or steel. Glass is the rage now with brilliant colours behind stovetops and wet areas and everything else white. My daughter in law has a gorgeous peacock blue glass splashback which looks great.
Your kitchen looks good as well. The red floor makes it a happy place. I agree with Mark, you need a place to put all the odds and ends which you know you can't chuck out.