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87 Comments

  1. Thedogatemyhomework
    May 17, 2018 @ 1:59 pm

    I’m very afraid that you or your beloved is going to come down in for a midnight snack, forget about the floor to ceiling mirror, see one of yourselves in the reflection and SCREAM because you think it’s a prowler (but it’s really you). The other half up in bed will be awakened by the mayhem. I worry about your loss of REM sleep.

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  2. Joanie Cottrell
    May 17, 2018 @ 2:02 pm

    ….aaaaand if you want to consider supporting a great organization that rescues retired and abused elephants, please check out the compassionate work of Carol Buckley at Elephant Refuge North America http://www.erna.org

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    • Melanie
      May 18, 2018 @ 7:20 pm

      And ThE Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee!!

      Reply

  3. Anne Elise Hudson
    May 17, 2018 @ 2:07 pm

    Have you considered an 18″ dishwasher? For just the two of you, it should work well; instead of waiting for it to fill up, you run it immediately. Then you can have a larger base cabinet…do not forget the drawers!!!

    Of course, I think symmetry is over-rated, as long as you have balance.

    Enjoy the process. Your kitchen, your rules.
    Anne Elise

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  4. Robin Leah Howington
    May 17, 2018 @ 2:08 pm

    Fewer cabinets will give you more room for dancing.

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  5. Cris Connelly
    May 17, 2018 @ 2:08 pm

    I love following the evolving plans. The only thing that has ever bothered me is the uncased opening (to the ceiling) of the diagonal entrance to the kitchen. Considering all your other openings are probably cased, the sheet-rocked opening seems…..new and not up to the fanciness factor of your home. Casing it to the same height as the windows would tie the room together. Just my humble .o2. Meanwhile, carry on!

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    • Ryan
      May 17, 2018 @ 3:22 pm

      It could have a transom too!

      Reply

  6. Allie
    May 17, 2018 @ 2:12 pm

    I like your philosophy of showcasing magnificence > storage. 90% of the stuff in a kitchen (or at least my kitchen) is only used 5% of the time. If you can part with it or store it elsewhere to show off an amazing mirror go for it!
    My only question is, how fancy are the light fixtures?
    xAllie
    http://www.theallthatglittersblog.com

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    • Shaz
      May 17, 2018 @ 5:10 pm

      OMG – yes! What is planned for the light fixtures? 😍

      Reply

  7. Darling Lily
    May 17, 2018 @ 2:23 pm

    Your storage situation will be fine. I have been in European kitchens smaller than my walk-in closet, with hardly any storage to speak of, and the families all seemed to be perfectly normal and well adjusted.

    I am a trifle sad that the NWoF will remain a mirror, because I was on Team Repurpose, but I have every faith in your vision. Even with the induction stove in the island now, which seems almost sacrilegious to me, but again my faith in you is unshakable!

    And yes.. LOUDLY for the animals, always!

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  8. Gennielee
    May 17, 2018 @ 2:38 pm

    Oh…Perhaps I am missing something here, but why all of the mirrors? I couldn’t stand looking at myself every time I turned a corner. A giant mirror in my kitchen reflecting my enraged chicken bed head first thing in the morning, BEFORE coffee, would be enough to send me over the edge.

    Get some cabinets girl. Forgo a a big fancy mirror in lieu of a big fancy FUNCTIONAL kitchen. If you don’t cook, only use paper plates, never have dinner guests, eat in front of the TV and never shop for groceries your kitchen plan might work.

    Go back and look at all of the AMAZING photographs you posted of your dream kitchen? Do any of them look like they came from a college apartment? They do not.

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    • Sarah
      May 17, 2018 @ 6:02 pm

      To be fair, most college apartments don’t house monumental, historically significant, museum quality examples of fine Victorian craftsmanship. Also, I have 6 bazillion cabinets (we moved in and the kitchen had been done already) and they’re filled with items I use maybe 8% of the time, and even that’s being a bit generous. I think it would be hard to be dissatisfied with a kitchen filled with beautiful, special things you love, but what do I know.

      Reply

    • Darling Lily
      May 17, 2018 @ 7:18 pm

      You must be new around here…

      Reply

    • Nikki
      May 19, 2018 @ 4:56 pm

      The current plan is still bigger than the kitchen that I’ve fed a family of 4 in for a number of years. Aside from the sink there were only two base cabinets. Two! And yes I cooked bolognese and quiches and cakes just fine 😉

      More cabinets does not mean more functional… Can you imagine how many would end up as simply clutter/junk storage? It’s wonderfully personal with the awesome mirror and the piano island. This is a historic home, not a mcmansion.

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  9. fixitchick
    May 17, 2018 @ 2:48 pm

    The cooktop in the island you say? hmmmm. What will you do about the hated vent situation? Also, I had forgotten about how open the bottom of the piano island is, and to both increase storage and fanciness have you given thought to what kind of beautiful chest you will put there?

    As for forgoing upper storage, as long as you have figured out where your dishware/other crap will live, I say go for it. I think it will make the space look much larger, enjoy!

    and lastly, after not hearing from you regularly for so long, I thank you for coming back full force – especially as we are finally going to start our own kitchen reno [by moving it across the house]. it has reinforced my desire to go unfitted. In fact the guy is coming for a plumbing quote this afternoon.

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  10. Erin
    May 17, 2018 @ 2:50 pm

    All. The. YES. You will be so delighted with this plan, I know it. How do I know it? Because we did similar in our MUCH SMALLER kitchen and everyone was all, “What do you mean you are going to have NO UPPERS in the entire kitchen??? Have you gone totally mad?!” But I held firm and I do not miss the hideousness that is upper cabinetry at all. I have open shelving and then I have a teensy pantry area with very narrow uppers, separate from the main kitchen space. It is perfect. We have tons of storage and the added bonus that our kitchen is actually pretty! Onward, Victoria! You are doing everything right. xo
    (Nope, not at all biased….)

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  11. Jennifer
    May 17, 2018 @ 3:12 pm

    I really like this plan. It definitely makes the kitchen more like a room that you happen to cook in rather than a full on kitchen onslaught. And, you didn’t mention the best part of your plan…no corner cupboard!

    I’m always on team small kitchen means less to clean. I am curious how you will address storage, and even more curious about repurposing the piano island into housing a cooktop, but that may be more straightforward than I think.

    Reply

  12. JeanFB
    May 17, 2018 @ 3:13 pm

    I love it. The mirror is so YOU. It’s gorgeous. No one else has one. Your kitchen will not look like a Pinterest kitchen and that’s okay because every kitchen on Pinterest will be wishing it looked like yours! 🙂 And here’s the thing…. if it ends up that in a year’s time you and Paul are driven to drink due to the lack of uppers….. it looks as if you could actually put some sort of enclosed storage up on the wall housing your sink, etc…. I won’t say cabinets, because I envision you being able to find a pair of marvelous, antique, fancy pharmacy cabinets or some such thing that will work beautifully. Thanks so much for letting us follow along….
    And it also mystifies me as to why there are still traveling animal shows anywhere. And it breaks my heart to think of a solitary elephant! I do not go to any event that has this sort of stupidity. Thanks for your activism.

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  13. Jayne Zabala
    May 17, 2018 @ 3:21 pm

    Once a while ago, we had neighbors who had their kitchen built on the European idea that refrigerators and majority of their staples are in the pantry — not in the actual kitchen. I also just toured a model home and in addition to a beautiful kitchen, they had a separate sink, convection cook top and refrigerator in the pantry area with a door, so they could close it off if they didn’t want anyone to see a mess, keep the odors in that area or serve as a kosher kitchen. Hopefully you have a pantry area — maybe where Paul closed up the stairs down to basement — you can line with shelves and have more than enough storage. No matter what you decide I’m sure it will be stunning! I completely agree with you about how atrocious circuses and in most cases zoos are! I will not patronize either. Makes me sick, literally sick, how too many humans mistreat animals!!!

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  14. Vickie H.
    May 17, 2018 @ 3:22 pm

    I am on board with the kitchen so far…..can’t wait for more…and thank you for your commentary about the circus and the animal cruelty…..slowly but surely….this MUST END.

    Reply

  15. Perfectly Perfect
    May 17, 2018 @ 3:25 pm

    I LOVE IT! TRULY LOVE IT.
    And my 1924 single story Spanish Colonial Revival train car kitchen sans partner/master craftsman in L.A. is trés jalouse. That’s fine though because I have lemons and finger limes ready for picking in my unglamorous urban garden. And lettuces outside the kitchen door.

    As for caged animals you can help promote understanding and admiring of wild animals in their NATURAL HABITAT in Africa, twice a day on an INTERACTIVE program called SafariLive on YouTube, et.al., where they take viewers on safari, teaching respect for animals and all nature by educating not only about individual animals but also about the interconnection of nature’s systems and species. They also do school drives engaging with classrooms directly during the show, answering questions from the kids. The show is a marvel and WildEarth, its creators intentions are of the purest focus : to help save animals/nature/the planet through education as firsthand as it can get without actually being there. Word of warning: it is initially addictive; lion prides and leopards with baby cubs playing, while we are learning from educated caring guides is phenomenal. Watching cats stalk prey and seeing elephants chase away lions, amazing. Seeing a newborn elephant they’ve happened upon take first steps, breathtaking. I hope you have a look. I happened upon it 2 years ago. It is life changing for the understanding it provides to anyone tuning in.

    I’ve just written more about nature than your kitchen! And I LOVE your ever transforming kitchen…but mine is smaller : l, while Nature is EVERYWHERE. 😀

    Love your rants, I mean rambles…I mean WRITING. Cheers!

    Reply

  16. Lora
    May 17, 2018 @ 3:25 pm

    Confused. Is there still going to be a smaller mirror over the sink? Open shelving for drinks of water, coffee cups, and more room for decorative stuff? This is where you’ll come to check the length of your skirt before you dine with the Markles, I mean Windsors? Whichever Duke and Duchess they end up being named this weekend? Have to say I don’t understand the use of this very GFT in this location, but I’m excited that things are merrily rolling along.

    Reply

  17. Kiki
    May 17, 2018 @ 3:35 pm

    Whoa! So exciting. I’m always of need of more storage, but I’m sure you know what you need. My thought would be to make the mirror swing out on hinges and have secret storage, but that’s probably crazy considering the weight of the mirror. Or roll like a barn door? But of course you could always decide to add more storage later if needed. Can’t wait to see how it all turns out!

    Reply

  18. Laura Lind
    May 17, 2018 @ 3:43 pm

    Toronto Architect Donald Chong has been writing and researching a project called “Small Kitchens Make Better Cities” for some years now. The notion is that small kitchens (typical of European residences) reorient their users by encouraging them to shop for small items daily – resulting in more support for neighbourhood grocers on the nearby main street. Since there’s no room to store items bought in bulk from the big box stores with such compact spaces, people with smaller kitchens are more likely to have healthier diets, walk more, interact more and have companionship.
    One has to ask, how much of super bloated kitchen design is related to the cabinet sales industry? In any event, your current kitchen design has a proper work triangle, space on either side of both the sink and range for prep and a landing spot on the island for fridge contents. It includes, a dishwasher, storage under the island so it ticks all the boxes for a fully functioning room. It is stunning already! And it will never go out of style. Bravo!

    Reply

  19. Katie
    May 17, 2018 @ 3:53 pm

    It’s a gorgeous plan, will work beautifully. BUT, HANG ON, wasn’t there a giant fancy cupboard/cabinet you were going to use as storage? Did it get sold and i missed it?

    Reply

  20. NevadaNy
    May 17, 2018 @ 4:03 pm

    I think the big mirror is the kitchen is a great idea. But what has happened to the Woman Carved Mirror?
    Are you still going to put that over the sink? I hope so.

    Animal Rights Now! An idea who’s time has come. And while you are at it-The Environment of our Planet -must become a priority. No point in saving animals if we are going to destroy the planet.

    Reply

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