Comments on: I’ve Remodeled 3 Kitchens—These Are My Biggest Design Regrets in Each One

By: kateperren

kateperren — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 16:37:38 +0000

I am so sick of huge kitchen islands

By: cristina tartarelli

cristina tartarelli — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 15:13:36 +0000

Hello from Rio, Brazil!
Let me share my pro p.o.v. about your “regrets”, begining by saying that all those 3 kitchen are wonderful.
As for your first regret, cement tiles flooring, I think you didn’t have the right guidance from your supplier or designer/contractor to begin with.
Cement tiles require high maintenance, specially right after installation: You MUST provide lots of sealing both from water and grease. There are special products for that.
Back in the day when cement tiles were almost the only choice available in Brazil (for kitchen, service hallways, shops) (until about 1940’s, when linoleum was the american popular kitchen flooring) people used WAXING over and over until they absorb it (im talking about months), so they were matte-finished no more. Then they became low-maintenance for good. Too bad you haven’t done that (with new products other then wax, irs easier and safer!)
As for your third “regret”, flooring again! shame on you 😀 JUST DON’T regret!. First because the floor was/is already beautiful. But mainly because you would regret your “gut” choice for marble, which, again, is high maintenance as well! If you ever change flooring, I highly recomend you use porcelain (fake but very realistic marble-like) which is zero maintenance.
Best rgds,

By: Wendy Koski

Wendy Koski — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 00:41:02 +0000

Not at all realistic – you don’t live in my world! Why are you remodeling SO often?! Wasteful and arrogant

By: Elizabeth Burns

Elizabeth Burns — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 17:50:37 +0000

Beautiful kitchens. I only use Fine Paints of Europe when painting kitchen cabinets. It holds up better than any paint I have ever used.

By: Ellen

Ellen — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 12:13:08 +0000

Our custom cabinets were intended to be painted from the beginning and have held up very well. It’s been about 20 years and we have repainted once. They are due for a few touchups now but otherwise fine. But they were built to be painted and my husband is a finish fanatic (at one time he worked painting high end yachts). Also we used excellent quality brushes to paint, not a sprayer. It makes for a more durable, less chippable finish.
Mind you, that was after we hired a “professional” to paint the cabinets while we were on vacation only to come home to a orange peel effect disaster. We had to strip all of them and reprime and repaint. Very disheartening!

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 22:29:37 +0000

After I had left a an upper cabinet door open and smacked my head I wish I had put sliding doors on the upper cabinets.

Full sized fridge and full sized freezer side by side in the kitchen.

I don’t like the granite and regret being talked into it. I wish I had done something else like soapstone or butcher block.

I wish I had hired a designer. My kitchen is okay but I feel it’s bland.

By: Benolkin Jane

Benolkin Jane — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 21:22:11 +0000

In reply to swaantwee. So yes to a butcher block counter type style or no?

By: Kate Sparks

Kate Sparks — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 20:56:25 +0000

Learn to ask professionals, Is there a down side to using this product that a client or someone else has expressed?

By: SWesterner

SWesterner — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 20:44:30 +0000

This comment from the author really resonates with me: "Unfortunately, we didn’t have the contact or the right suppliers to make it happen in a cost-effective way." This exact issue has impacted ALL of my remodels, due to contractors having a primary supplier that they deal with (ie, have an account with) and are unable to source beyond that single source. I've even worked with interior designers who theoretically would have more access to various suppliers and have had the same issue.

By: Estela

Estela — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 20:24:22 +0000

In reply to Janine. It’s true marble floors on the kitchen had some settling, it’s a proven fact I have observed in my Mom’s house. A couple of tiles broke and had to look for a match to replace it.

By: Sherry Bailey

Sherry Bailey — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 15:14:54 +0000

Is that island not free standing and without plumbing or electrical hookups? If so, why not shop around for the antique table of your dreams and sell your existing island, after you have found the perfect table? We just built a new house, and I can’t even face the money we put into upgrades from the builder basic… one big one was getting the stunning granite we wanted. Another was going from pressure treated wood and vinyl rails for our deck, to Trex and metal rails. But having exactly what you want, if possible, makes your whole life experience in that house better. I need low maintenance and aesthetically pleasing. I intend to live here the rest of my life. Changing your floor seems unduly complicated since you don’t hate what you have, but swapping out the island seems like a doable happiness upgrade.

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By: Infinite yield

Infinite yield — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 09:39:36 +0000

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By: Kate Arends

Kate Arends — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 17:11:38 +0000

In reply to Jacqueline. Thank you so much!

By: Kate Arends

Kate Arends — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 17:09:19 +0000

In reply to Amy V. Noted! Thank you for sharing!

By: Amy V

Amy V — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 01:27:34 +0000

We used Rubio monocoat 2c on the butcher block counters in our kitchen and LOVED the finish. Not sure if that’s an option when you look to refinish, but it’s an incredible product!!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 23:26:32 +0000

Funny story, your kitchen (with the cement tile) was a major inspiration for my 1938 Tudor kitchen remodel. We bought the exact same tile you used and found out how finicky the tile was straight away during the install. From there all the stains- I freaked out anytime anything acidic hit the floor while cooking. We even tried resealing it, which didn’t do much. Long story short, this tile is super high maintenance (as you know), but I’ve embraced the “patina”, as I call it, bc I love it so much and it makes the space feel so special. Let me know if you want me to dm you a pic of the space lol.

By: Jacqueline

Jacqueline — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 13:27:09 +0000

I love your current kitchen, so unique! An antique table would be the icing on the cake in this space.

By: Kate Arends

Kate Arends — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 19:50:54 +0000

In reply to Nelly. The third remodel is our current house, and we don't plan on changing any of it anytime soon.

By: Jlb

Jlb — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 19:15:35 +0000

In reply to Nelly. the third remodel is a different house. lol

By: Janine

Janine — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 13:18:49 +0000

Oh, and a marble floor! A contractor told me not to use marble on my kitchen floor or bathroom due to house settleling (sp?) cracking and replacement pieces and being extremely slippery and dangerous when wet!

By: Janine

Janine — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 13:10:58 +0000

I love the 2nd kitchen remodel. Love the color and industrial farmhouse feel. For me, the diamond pattern for the 3rd remodel would have been too busy with all the wood and brown color, hanging pots and wall hanging. I agree with you on the antique table/island tho, since it brings an element of coziness and eclectic vibe.

By: Nelly

Nelly — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 16:07:19 +0000

Wow! Who can redo a kitchen 3 times in 8 years? And have regrets?!? That last remodel must have cost a fortune- all those windows are awesome 🤩. I wonder what she’ll do NEXT year, since that seems to be the schedule she remodels on!

By: swaantwee

swaantwee — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 10:29:54 +0000

I’m totally cool with the marble in our kitchen developing a patina over time, but I’m finding myself less forgiving when it comes to the butcher block countertop we installed on the island.