SanDesignsUS's Profile

Granite counter tops will someday be considered passe' /so "2000-2010s". And subway tile and glass tile backsplashes may also go out vogue. But if you like what you choose and it looks good, don't worry. I personally don't want granite counter tops because I love cooking and want to have "a kitchen that works" like a pro kitchen. How many restaurants have granite counter tops????

Having grown up in California and then Portland, OR,, I have always loved single level ranch style homes with lots of glass, easy access to nicely landscaped outdoor areas and an attached garage.
Having spent the last three years in the Washington DC area I am still so puzzled as to why the homes built in this area do not have a garage at all (when the winters require people to scrape snow and ice off their cars on many mornings). Many of the brick bungalows do not have any access to the outdoors except the front door. Most homes are not landscaped with anything other than grass all the way from the home's foundation right out to the curb with maybe a few trees planted in the grass here and there. Most of the homes are built of red brick with wood trim painted white (boring to me). In order to see homes with landscaping and the more interesting diverse styles of architecture like I'm accustomed to throughout the entire Western US, I have to go to the wealthy metropolitan areas here in the East. I am counting the days till I can move back to the Western US!

I was all ready to buy a stainless french pantry with bottom freezer JennAir in 2005, when I saw the same fridge in white with floating glass. My condo was small with a dark kitchen so I went with the white and have never regretted doing so even though stainless "the thing" especially in 2005. I never did the granite counter tops either and am happy with the birch butcher block counter tops I got from IKEA. Had to drive to another IKEA 200 miles north to get the last ones I needed to complete my kitchen as butcher block is the most popular choice for kitchens these days and my closer IKEAs were all sold out of all sizes in the birch.

Having lived in Portland for 35 years, I was especially interested in what you've done. It looks great. I love the open shelving and your having colorful bowls on display. As former co- owner of a NW Portland wine bar/bistro, I have found that the more a kitchen resembles and works like a restaurant kitchen, the more valuable and appealing it is. I am doing my kitchen here in the DC area with a style similar (cabinets are white instead of gray). I absolutely love having a professional stove too.

As professional designer/craftspersons, my husband and I have found that most of the popular restaurants have black and white tile flooring installed straight instead of diagonally (and have done so for decades). Black and white checkerboard flooring, by no means, needs to be installed on the diagonal.