Help me built my retirement home...kitchen edition...counter tops and appliance storage

[nomoretslt]

I need some distractions. Our house is on the market and if it ever sells we are moving to coastal Carolina.

We will be building a raised low country. We use our kitchen quite extensively. We changed out our countertops from Formica to granite around 10 years ago, as the price had dropped dramatically from when we first redid out kitchen. I have no regrets about the granite. Price was good and installers did a great job.

My question to those that have something other than granite...I know there are more options like soapstone, quartz and marble. Do you like it? What is the upkeep like? Does it chip or crack if you drop something on it? With my granite, I clean it usually daily with a granite cleaner and will sometimes follow up with granite polish. Every six months iI clean it thoroughly to remove the polish and apply granite sealer. Then do the usual cleaning and polishing for another six months.

Next question. We have one of those heavy duty Kitchenaid Stand mixers. On cooking shows I sometimes see this stand that can be stored under a cabinet and has some kind of spring/lever thing to bring it up to countertop level with the mixer already attached to it. Anyone have one? I like the idea, but can’t imagine the thing being sturdy enough when using the dough hook and kneading dough.

Thanks in advance.

 

[stmartinfan]

Some relatives recently redid their kitchen. One thing they did was a microwave that operated like a drawer. It's set in their island and easy to access and not constantly visible. They also did almost every storage area in their lower countertops and island as a drawer, rather than a cabinet with shelves and really like the easy access. She also installed a conduction cooktop that doesn't have specific burner areas. You can use any size pan on an area and it will heat.

 

[Old Hickory]

I need some distractions. Our house is on the market and if it ever sells we are moving to coastal Carolina.

We will be building a raised low country. We use our kitchen quite extensively. We changed out our countertops from Formica to granite around 10 years ago, as the price had dropped dramatically from when we first redid out kitchen. I have no regrets about the granite. Price was good and installers did a great job.

My question to those that have something other than granite...I know there are more options like soapstone, quartz and marble. Do you like it? What is the upkeep like? Does it chip or crack if you drop something on it? With my granite, I clean it usually daily with a granite cleaner and will sometimes follow up with granite polish. Every six months iI clean it thoroughly to remove the polish and apply granite sealer. Then do the usual cleaning and polishing for another six months.

Next question. We have one of those heavy duty Kitchenaid Stand mixers. On cooking shows I sometimes see this stand that can be stored under a cabinet and has some kind of spring/lever thing to bring it up to countertop level with the mixer already attached to it. Anyone have one? I like the idea, but can’t imagine the thing being sturdy enough when using the dough hook and kneading dough.

Thanks in advance.

Quartz. It's worth the cost. Hardest of all counter materials. No stains. No polishing. Can be made to look like marble or granite.

How often do you use the mixer? And do you need a heavy-duty model? If not that often then put it away elsewhere. Don't take cabinet/counter space for things you use occasionally.

We love coastal Carolina. I'm jealous.

 

[Conan]

We've had granite kitchen countertops for 12 years. I don't know the details, but they came with some kind of super-protecting seal. We've done literally nothing to clean, polish, or seal apart from the occasional wet, dish detergent sponging, and they look like new.

You might consider staying with granite and a permanent seal.

Note: Be aware of the difference between 'quartz' (quartz crystals are mined, then ground into a dust or an aggregate that's fused with resin binders under intense heat and pressure to form a solid slab) and 'quartzite' (a metamorphic rock slab made almost entirely of the mineral quartz).

 

[wackymother]

This kind of lift gets good reviews: https://www.build.com/rev-a-shelf-ras-ml-hd/s663518?uid=1573616#reviews

 

[WinniWoman]

Quartz seems to be the most popular these days, but we also went with the builder grade granite in our retirement home. In our former home we did the same when we remodeled a few years ago. All I have ever done is every 2 weeks when I do my regular cleaning I spray a cleaner/sealer combo on it and wipe it down. That's it.

In terms of the mixer I don't have one but all my appliances are just stored in a big cabinet and it is no problem to take them out when needed. Our pots are in drawers. I'll post a few photos.

We live in a cottage now (and we no longer have an island) so we maximized our space and it works well. Ours is a cookie cutter type house, of course, and nothing like what you are probably building, but gives you an idea in terms of storage.

Best of luck with your build and move!

 

[DaveNV]

Friends who remodeled their kitchen like to bake a lot. They had a section of the new countertop set lower, with marble (i think?) so they could use it for rolling out pie dough and kneading bread. They really like it. The rest of the countertops are at normal height.

Dave

 

[Talent312]

Our small appliances are stored in cabinets on the outer-side of the island.
Every bottom cabinet that faces inward are drawers, inside cabinet doors.
They have the look like cabinets. IMHO, individual drawer fronts are better.
But I lost that argument. The cabinets are dark bottoms, white uppers.
The countertops are quartz. We used a mosaic-tile backsplash.

The problem with marble is that it's porous and absorbs stains - so I'm told.
.
.

 

[WinniWoman]

Our small appliances are stored in cabinets on the outer-side of the island.
Every bottom cabinet that faces inward are drawers, inside cabinet doors.
They have the look like cabinets. IMHO, individual drawer fronts are better.
But I lost that argument. The cabinets are dark bottoms, white uppers.
The countertops are quartz. We used a mosaic-tile backsplash.

The problem with marble is that it's porous and absorbs stains - so I'm told.
.
.

In our former kitchen, that is where we stored out appliances- in the outer side of the island.

And our pot cabinet and pantry shelves rolled out.

Yes- I would not use marble unless you like a stained patina like they have in a lot of kitchens in Italy. I think most people in our country like shiny and unstained counters.

In our former kitchen we had 3 different colored cabinets (tops and bottoms and opposite wall) and 2 different colored granite countertops. The island one was different from the one in the rest of the kitchen and it incorporated a built in bistro table at one end, as well as accomodated two more seats in the main island.

 

[Beachclubmum]

The smartest thing I did in my kitchen remodel was to take a cabinet with the rollout drawer and have an outlet put into it. The toaster and the vitamix sit on this roll out drawer and I can use them in place and then close everything back up. I love having pretty much nothing on my kitchen counters.

 

[Beachclubmum]

I’ve also been happy with the quartz countertop, Blanco sink that’s also some sort of stone mix, and the glass tiles for backsplash.

I am also a huge believer in under counter lighting and dimmers on everything. In our eating area, besides the main chandelier, we have four perimeter can lights (one in each corner) that really light the area well. If you’re planning to age in place pay a lot of attention to lighting.

Another mistake with under counter lighting is placement. Get the light strips and make sure they are placed forward just under the front of the cabinet. This better illuminates your counter where you need it. (As opposed to in the middle where often you’ll see puck lights placed).

Also if you do plan to have some things out on the counter, and if they are going to be more in the corners, make sure the outlets are built close to the corners. It really keeps things looking clean as opposed to having it all in the middle of the countertop. Plus you have the outlets where you need them and a lot of appliances seem to have short cords these days.

 

[bbodb1]

Some relatives recently redid their kitchen. One thing they did was a microwave that operated like a drawer. It's set in their island and easy to access and not constantly visible. They also did almost every storage area in their lower countertops and island as a drawer, rather than a cabinet with shelves and really like the easy access. She also installed a conduction cooktop that doesn't have specific burner areas. You can use any size pan on an area and it will heat.

Microwaves in drawers do have one serious drawback. They are located at the same height (approximately) as the......um......nether regions....shall we say....

 

[VacationForever]

We have granite in this current house and our former California home. I do have a granite cleaner which I use once in a while when I mess up the counter and didn't clean it up thoroughly and just use it to take off dried food which I could also simply use regular Ajax for cleaning. Our granite really requires no maintenance. We don't reseal it whatsoever. I would stick to granite as I feel that it is timeless. In my opinion quartz is just a fad which will pass.

 

[PamMo]

...She also installed a conduction cooktop that doesn't have specific burner areas. You can use any size pan on an area and it will heat.

We've had a 36" induction cooktop (Kuppersbusch) for almost 10 years and we LOVE it! I spend a lot of time in the kitchen and don't ever want to cook on a gas or conventional electric range again. We're looking for our next home, and feel frustrated when there's a big expensive Wolf/Viking/etc, gas range that we'll rip out - we're THAT hooked on induction.

Otherwise, I love the beautiful, natural imperfections and movement of granite, but the easy care of quartz might persuade me to go with that in my next kitchen. It depends on the kitchen. My KitchenAid mixer is on a roll out shelf, behind a door. I move it up to the counter when I use it. The lift mechanism takes up too much space for my kitchen - it's a compartment all to itself.

 

[lynne]

I have my KitchenAid mixers on a rolling cart in my pantry. It is very easy to roll them into the kitchen by the island, plug them in and use on the stand without needing to lift them onto the counter. We also went with granite counters in the kitchen during our build.

 

[PamMo]

I have my KitchenAid mixers on a rolling cart in my pantry. It is very easy to roll them into the kitchen by the island, plug them in and use on the stand without needing to lift them onto the counter. We also went with granite counters in the kitchen during our build.

I never thought of that, but it seems like a very practical solution if you have a big pantry!

And BTW, that's some serious mixing you're doing with TWO big KitchenAids, Lynne!

 

[VacationForever]

Quartz seems to be the most popular these days, but we also went with the builder grade granite in our retirement home. In our former home we did the same when we remodeled a few years ago. All I have ever done is every 2 weeks when I do my regular cleaning I spray a cleaner/sealer combo on it and wipe it down. That's it.

In terms of the mixer I don't have one but all my appliances are just stored in a big cabinet and it is no problem to take them out when needed. Our pots are in drawers. I'll post a few photos.

We live in a cottage now (and we no longer have an island) so we maximized our space and it works well. Ours is a cookie cutter type house, of course, and nothing like what you are probably building, but gives you an idea in terms of storage.

Best of luck with your build and move!

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I am glad you have a back splash for the kitchen counters. A kitchen does not feel complete or nice without a back splash.

 

[Talent312]

Ditch ivory plastic covers for electrical outlets and switches.
Use wood or metalic covers that blend with the background.

We avoided off-the-shelf pulls+handles for doors+drawers.
Instead, we special-ordered ones from Lowes design-center.

We also put drawers in the pantry behind doors, except for:
(1) The very top shelf that you need a stool to reach; and
(2) A place in the middle for a free-standing microwave.
We wanted it to be shoulder-height so we could reach in.
It's behind a pantry door so you don't see it except to use.

 

[WinniWoman]

I am glad you have a back splash for the kitchen counters. A kitchen does not feel complete or nice without a back splash.

Yes. And we paid dearly for it, too. Builder never gave me a price when I picked it out and in the rush to close started installing it without telling me how much it would be! It is a lot prettier than in the photo. It is ice (white- like an ice cube, though) glass tile. Unfortunately the lack of natiural lighting - sun - in our kitchen does not show this- the white- and it looks more gray because of the reflection of the gray grout.

 

[Snazzylass]

Yes. And we paid dearly for it, too. Builder never gave me a price when I picked it out and in the rush to close started installing it without telling me how much it would be! It is a lot prettier than in the photo. It is ice (white- like an ice cube, though) glass tile. Unfortunately the lack of natiural lighting - sun - in our kitchen does not show this- the white- and it looks more gray because of the reflection of the gray grout.

It's a beautiful kitchen, Mary Ann! I love the photos. I think I like the compactness of this one better than your old one. I'm looking forward to redoing my kitchen. Not sure I'll have room for a beautiful refrigerator like yours. Definitely want a Dishwasher

 

[Glynda]

Quartz. It's worth the cost. Hardest of all counter materials. No stains. No polishing. Can be made to look like marble or granite.

How often do you use the mixer? And do you need a heavy-duty model? If not that often then put it away elsewhere. Don't take cabinet/counter space for things you use occasionally.

We love coastal Carolina. I'm jealous.

My concern with quartz, unless it is quartzite, is that it will eventually become unfashionable as did Corian. Natural stone will always be a classic.

 

[Glynda]

If I design another kitchen, I will have only drawers in the lower cabinets with the exception of under the kitchen sink and that will have a pull out shelf/drawer. I love having two wide, deep drawers under my stove top filled with dishes. So easy to plate food when cooking and so easy to turn from island dishwasher and load back into drawer.

 

[Conan]

We live in a cottage now (and we no longer have an island) so we maximized our space and it works well.

I think you did a great job!
When we were doing our kitchen, we looked at hundreds of kitchens on Houzz.com and so many were awful. (We lost our nerve and used a designer--we were happy with the results, apart from the cost.)

 

[Eric B]

....
Next question. We have one of those heavy duty Kitchenaid Stand mixers. On cooking shows I sometimes see this stand that can be stored under a cabinet and has some kind of spring/lever thing to bring it up to countertop level with the mixer already attached to it. Anyone have one? I like the idea, but can’t imagine the thing being sturdy enough when using the dough hook and kneading dough.

Thanks in advance.

This kind of lift gets good reviews: https://www.build.com/rev-a-shelf-ras-ml-hd/s663518?uid=1573616#reviews

We put in a Rev-a-Shelf stand like the one @wackymother provided the link for. It's quite convenient, though you do have to position the mixer in the right spot to avoid having it bump into the counter when you lift it. Already had an outlet under the counter convenient to use for it because we took out a trash compactor that was there when we bought the house, but that's something you also have to consider.

 

[wackymother]

We put in a Rev-a-Shelf stand like the one @wackymother provided the link for. It's quite convenient, though you do have to position the mixer in the right spot to avoid having it bump into the counter when you lift it. Already had an outlet under the counter convenient to use for it because we took out a trash compactor that was there when we bought the house, but that's something you also have to consider.

Do you find that the stand is sturdy enough that you can use the mixer without worrying?