Since we’re talking about the kitchen I might as well mention a few other things that I would like to accomplish. One is a long term goal and the other three are achievable within the coming months.
The long term goal is some new back doors with possibility a bit of an expansion. Of course, there is no such thing as “a bit of an expansion” which is why this is a bit of a pipe dream for now! I’m always so impressed by some of the older Victorian homes I see in New York and London that have elegant and sympathetic additions added to the back.
Ben and Marina Fogle’s home in England in Living Etc. – Photo – Paul Massey, Robert A.M. Stern designed townhouse in New York City - talk about a bit of an extension!
The three much more doable items on my list are to buy a new dishwasher (the only appliance we didn’t replace when we did our kitchen renovation 5 years ago), organize our kitchen cabinets and paint our current doors black.
I won’t bore you with the ins and outs of my dishwasher choices but I would be interested in hearing if any of you really love or loathe your current models. Our current dishwasher is very much on its last legs. We hesitate every time we turn it on because it makes such terrible noises!
As for organizing our cabinets I was totally inspired by the home of Jenni Kayne in January’s Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Look what some matching containers and baskets can do to the inside of your cabinets.
Jenni Kayne’s kitchen as seen in Martha Stewart Living. Photo – Lisa Romerein
Perhaps one of my resolutions this year will be to get every closet and cabinet in our house organized in this kind of manner.
As for painting our current kitchen doors black I think it would be a quick and immediate way to get the look of the kind of doors I would like to eventually put in. Something like this:
I certainly wouldn’t mind those floors either! – Photo – Curbed
Or this:
I think a lick of black paint over our current doors could get us one step closer to achieving this look. Plus I love a quick weekend project with dramatic effects!
25 Comments
An addition would be stunning! Your inspiration photos are gorgeous. We’re also considering the same thing but I have no idea how much a one story addition usually costs… any idea on ballpark so I can start saving?
Great idea about you door, we did the same thing a while ago and it made such a big change, looks so much more elegant. You might also want to do something about the trim around your door. I suggest either removing it (if not too damage under it) for a more clean look (like the pictures you posted) or making it bigger by adding large plain ones (you can use MDF) and painting them black to give your door more presence.
Love this plan! I’m obsessed with those black door and window edges. I trust you’ll take lots of snaps of the process!
@Valerie – great ideas about the trim! Hadn’t thought of doing that but you are right. Those small changes would make a big difference.
Happy it helps…; )
We have a Miele Crystal dishwasher and I’d give it a “B”. Parts are very expensive, it’s a bit finicky to use and they recommend you purchase fancy Miele dishwasher detergent for it. That said, the showroom in Toronto is amazing!
We have the Kenmore Elite dishwasher and I couldn’t be happier. It’s super silent, not as expensive as the Bosh or Miele, it has a eco run cycle and we’ve have had no issues whatsoever in the past 4 years. We have been very happy with Kenmore Elite appliances in both our houses.
I LOVE black framed windows & doors!
For the dishwasher, stay away from Samsung. I love my other Samsung appliances, but this is our second Samsung dishwasher (the first had a faulty weld) and it just does not do a good job. We are constantly re-washing dishes, and it just throws around the food. Its quiet and efficient, but not a hard worker.
Loving the dishwasher reviews! Keep them coming! All this first hand advice is great and very helpful.
@Sam I hesitate to give you a number since it depends on so many factors from your site to the Building code to the materials you use etc., etc. Best advice is to talk to a contractor or architect about your plans and see if they can give you a ballpark number.
We have a Bosch (lower end of the line) and could not be happier with it. Hosting a New Years Party for 14 adults and 5 children and getting the dish washer loaded to the gills. All of our guests commented that the dishwasher wouldn’t be able to handle that many dishes. But she did. Beautifully.
PS. it’s quiet too.
PSS. it takes a while for a load of dishes to wash because it saves on water and energy. So my only complaint is that there is no option for a shorter cycle. The half load takes just as much time, only uses less water.
We used to go the Euro route with dishwashers, Bosch etc, and were never completely happy. Our last dishwasher was a Blomberg and easily the worst of the lot. I was happy when it finally gave up the ghost completely so we could get rid of the thing.
We replaced it with a Maytag and love it. Silent, gets everything sparkly clean with eco friendly tabs and vinegar standing in for the rinse-aid.
Great read! Especially since we have a similar long term plan. We have two additions in our Victorian, of which the second is poorly done by previous owners. The addition is past our kitchen and is currently a full bathroom and guest room on the main floor and a master bedroom on the top floor. Plan is to make a huge kitchen dining room, combined with cosy seatings for hang outs and a master ensuite upstairs. We also want a big glass area to have great view into the garden. One day….
Re dishwasher, we had a Bosch and a Blomberg and didn’t like either. We did tons of research and believe it or not we went with a Maytag. What a huge difference. Everything is solid, nothing flimsy at all. We have large plates that were always difficult to arrange in the dishwasher. Not with the Maytag. LOVE IT!
I’m contemplating painting the French doors in our kitchen black as well and am wondering how you suggest I do this in order to get a smooth and even finish. Brush or roller? Or do I bite the bullet and send it out to be sprayed?
PS. We have an LG dishwasher. It’s not great but not bad either. It’s supposed to be extremely quiet and isn’t anymore. It’s only two years old.
@ Kathy – The professional painter who painted the exterior of our doors black used a brush. Of course, he’s a pro! I’m going to start with the brush and see how it looks. I think it is definitely important to prime first!
Hi Emma
I have been thinking of painting my door black for a long time, but the frame is made of plastic and metal and I am not sure how the paint will stick
Hmm…….?
Love the black windows/doors. We just did a kitchen reno incl. new windows/door. The exterior is dark (iron ore is the colour). Looks really great argainst our old brick. The windows look great with white trim on a charcoal wall but the adjacent door wall lacks comtrast (white trim, off-white wall). Maybe black or the same charcoal would jazz it up?
We have an Asko d/w. The guy at Tasco knew we were looking Bosch and Miele and he showed us the Asko’s. they seemed to have more metal construction for cheaper. A year in, we’re happy. But next time, I plan to bring some of my bowls and containers to try out as I find my awesome Ittala bowls don’t fit we’ll at ALL!
Hi Emma
Happy New Year! My kitchen conservatory extension, back doors and windows are all painted in F & B Railings – a soft black. It’s fantastic and definately worth doing. Just make sure you stick to the correct drying times as black is not as forgiving…….
We have an LG that has been repaired 9 times in 4 years. 5 motors replaced, 1 fan assembly, 1 door replaced, 2 leaks. Now the cabinet beside it is damaged. Luckily we bought the extended warranty. Total cost of warranty and dishwasher $1500. When the warranty expires in July, so will the dishwasher. Glad to hear the recommendations for possible replacements. We bought LG fridge and stove at the same time and they are perfect.
Had three dishwashers since I became a home owner: Kitchen Aid, Asko and Miele.
Kitchen Aid back then (20 yrs ago) were very noisy and located in an island with its back to the dining room, you couldn’t hear yourself talking in the living room.
Asko was my 2nd.. Loved it but even then was already aiming for the Miele.
Miele : expansive yes but since I don’t live in a 3000′ feet home, I am bound to hear my dishwasher, no matter here I am – I live in a cottage. 2100′ spreaded out on 3 floors.. Frankly, I can start it after dinner while my guests are still home, and you can’t hear a thing. And you can’t fully appreciate “no-noise” until you experience it. We tend to forget it works until it drains itself and in a very discreet way. We loved it so much we bought the same for the chalet. And we don’t even have the one with the electronic panel, we have the base model. By the way my in-laws have the Bosch and mine is quieter. I would never buy anything else. My friend bought one too and hers is located in an island (I have moved and the Miele is no longer in an island) and she loves it for its silence. Yes it could be a little painful to put that kind of money on a dishwasher, but you ‘ll never regret it.
Stay away from Frigidaire – we have the ‘Professional’ dishwasher and it is incredibly noisy. I’ve found many other reviews (AFTER purchasing it, of course) that say the same thing about our model the other Frigidaire lines… not a good product.
love our Bosch dishwasher – it was a splurge compared to others but worth every penny. The folks at Tasco recommended it and we love it! We bought it 2 yrs ago when we renovated.
I bought a Bosch this summer… 4th July sale at lowes… Then free installation from Bosch offer… Meant I could get a good model… I now realize my old dishes that I thought were clean….. Were NOT … This dishwasher is so quiet it sounds like my coffee pot is on when I hear it filling up… Love it but wait for sale
Oh I am loving the look of tall black doors, and they would certainly be perfect in your house. I look forward to seeing your transformation – I am always so inspired by the things you do!
Here are the results of my obsessive research.
European – Miele, Bosch – no visible heating element. Slower, more energy efficient cycle. Smaller space inside – but this results in a quieter dishwasher.
Miele – best in industry, built to last for 20 years. Comes with a pricetag – starting at 2k. You can try to get one at the miele warehouse for less, but there’s no guarantee they’ll have what you’re looking for.
Bosch – what I bought (500 series) – a compromise. Happy so far, but it’s not perfect. Very quiet – you can hear it if the rest of the house is silent, otherwise you don’t hear it. We use lots of mugs and glasses, so the top is always full, the bottom is not efficient for this type of thing.
Sears Kenmore – check these out. Each model is made by a different manufacturer (both american and european)
Kitchen Aid – bigger baskets inside, but also more space between dishes – so they don’t hold more plates etc. Apparently the components on this are not as good as Bosch. (more plastic parts)
Whatever you buy, get it on sale!
From my research best place to buy is SEARS – they service the machines themselves, so you don’t have to go through the manufacturer. Places like Caplans etc are good unless something goes wrong – at which point it is your problem, not theirs.
Good luck.