This is the sample of the formica and the color of the painted pieces that Ed will build -- wine rack, dish shelves, and microwave shelf. 
Today, the sink and faucet arrived. And I like them!
The hood is ordered. Brillia is a brand created by Kobe for Costco. So, some of the benefits of the higher priced Kobe for at least $200 cheaper. And I needed that for my budget.
I just ordered two of these. One in front of each window. I added the vaulted option so that the light can swing away in front of the window if necessary.My rather desperate plea on Gardenweb.com. Too many numbers and calculations. And i am having an impossible time figuring this one out. And it should have been ordered yesterday. The one bright spot is that I think this is the last technical decision I have to make regarding kitchen renovations.
The post:
I posted a more general question about range hoods and got a short, terse reply. Now I understanding why!!! It is a crazy jungle out there!! Choosing a range hood has been really challenging for me. (I admit to wishing I just went along with my GC’s recommendation and did not look further) I need help.
Background: I am looking for a 30" stainless steel wall mounted chimney range hood. I am not changing out appliances with the renovation. My present gas stove has a cfm rating of 585. If I change out the stove in a few years, the gas stove I have my eye on has a rating of 920. The duct size is 6”. I cook a good deal but just for two and I do not cook much meat. Although we do eat fish which I usually do in the oven.
Challenge: Unfortunately, this is a budget renovation. I am looking to spend no more than $800 for a range hood and if I could get away with less than that, I would be very happy.
I don’t have a good read on any of these brands except for Broan and Kobe, but the Kobe doesn’t seem to be a “real” Kobe. I can’t afford a real Kobe.
Anyway, does anyone know if any of these brands or models are pure junk or are the real winner? Anecdotal evidence would be great. I know these are not the glamour work horses that are so often talked about on this board. If there are any other brands I should consider, please let me know.
Zephyr ZAN-E30A
Zephyr ZSA-E30B (I like this one)
Zephyr BVE-E30AS
Windster RA-14L30
Windster RA-7730
Windster RA-77B30
Broan EW5830
XO Ventilation XOS30S
XO Ventilation XOB30S
Cavaliere-Euro AP238-PSF-30
Cavaliere-Euro SV218B2-30
Cavaliere-Euro AP238-PS29-30
Brillia by Kobe RAX9430SF-1
Air King GRAN30SS
Do I strike the tone of holding on to sanity by my fingernails?
Thanks for the help.
The insulation was blown in and almost immediately the room felt warmer and quieter. I wish I could do this to the bedrooms. I can't but good to remember for future projects. The blowing in was very quick although Ed prepared for it for hours. It did smell, not awful but a definite chemical smell. The windows stayed open for the rest of the day until we went to sleep, and the next day, and by the third day, the smell was gone. 
So, now this ceiling corner where the wasps' nest was gets a special picture. This is the last picture with the exposed beams. Yahoo!
Kohler Verse Self-Rimming Stainless Steel 22": 33" Kitchen Sink K-3373-4-NA
Door leading to the dining room.
Door leading to the back hall.
Cam lights and a new fan mounting.
The corner where the wasps' nest was.
About of third of this insulation was a mouse nesting grounds. More evidence of mice was found in the insulation in the basement. Uck! And I am happy to be rid of it. It was old and no longer smelled. 
Here is the old wasp's nest that was in one corner of the room. Empty now, but impressive.
The kitchen without cabinets and appliances. I didn't take pictures of the painting that was done during the summer renovation. The lighter green is going back on the new walls.
| I no longer remember the revision number on my kitchen design. When I first started reading this forum, I wondered about people posting design after design. I never thought I would do more than two or three. Well, I tweaked it so many times, I lost count. But I am getting closer. Close enough that I want to order cabinets within the next month. So does my contractor. If I was sure of everything, I would be more excited. This is nail bitting time! Any general comments on the design are very welcomed. (Pictures of the kitchen as it is can be found here: http://acrosstherubricon.blogspot.com/2010/02/kitchen-as-it-is.html) Layout: Three of the four walls of the room: The stove wall. I wanted all the appliances that could be off the countertop to be sort of built in. The 15 inch box will house the microwave. Design: I am thrilled to finally arrive at this version with the shelves along part of one wall and turning the corner. What are anyone’s experiences with this much shelving? Any negatives? I figure that this is a very cheap part of my design and I could always put in cabinets later. The windows are not going to change and I’ve designed cabinets/shelve units over and over and know my options.) I was thinking of painting the shelves the Creekside Green, the wall they are on is Soft Fern. I am insecure on the long, china cabinet-like cabinet on the other end of the sink wall. Any thoughts? I need some sort of appliance garage (I hate that term) and that is the 18†cabinet underneath. Anyone have pictures of something like this. Color, Color, Color: I still teeter between white or wood! When will it stop??! The floors are newly refinished oak, blond with nice wood graining. Three walls are Benjamin Moore’s Soft Fern; the fourth wall is Creekside Green. The molding and trim on the whole first floor is Martha Stewart’s Glass of Milk. My question is whether I should try to match the Milk color for the cabinets or go with a clear maple. The style will be a shaker door with slab drawers.
Soft Fern: wall color for three walls in kitchen.
Lighting: I have been dreaming of great lighting in a kitchen for a long time. The lighting I have now is awful -- a central light in the middle of the room attached to the ceiling fan and a very small light over the sink. The shadows and glare compete for dominance. Ok, I can see what I am doing, but really I want good light. I also dreamed about under cabinet lighting but as I’ve switched to a wall of shelves, I don’t know if that is an option. I need some suggestions for overall lighting, task lighting, and something pretty for mood. Missing Element: One of things I wanted to have in the new kitchen was a place that my daughter could eat her breakfast. No matter how organized I try to be, in the mornings before school, she is eating in the dining room and I am rushing around the kitchen getting her lunch ready. There is no room in the kitchen as it is now designed for a table and I don’t see any way to rearrange cabinets and appliances to fit one in without sacrificing a lot of storage space which I also cannot do without. I was wondering whether a hinged table right behind the door to the back hall would be possible. The dining room has a simple chair rail, so a similar rail in the kitchen on one wall would not be out of place. I was thinking (very vaguely at this point) that a small table behind the door and two collapsable stools hung on the part of the wall near the frig. Whadda’ ya’ think? Any ideas about this or about any other place that an eating space might be carved out? And I’d love to see any pictures of a hinged table that is snuck into a space. Finally, these are two inspiration photos: I do like the white cabinets and the green walls and shelves, but I am not sure whether to commit to white cabinets. Help! And this was the original picture I cut out of a paint book and hung by my stove three years ago. I still like the feeling of the colors and textures. |
