Set in stone. Caesarstone.

The kitchen designer from Freedom kitchens, Beata, just left, and the ink on the contract is drying.  In six to eight weeks I should be able to post pictures of a spanking gastronomic heart: white, glossy, functional, fabulous.


And all for marginally less than the cost of a 2010 Fiat 500 Lounge.

...but you can make toast in our kitchen.

You've got to wonder when you sign up for these things how much you've been played.  And I'm cynically playing aspects of the process back in my head wondering how much of it was designed to seal the deal.


Our kitchen will be constructed of 
- seven linear metres of Organic White Caesarstone 

Looks white en masse,
but also a bit marbly for some interest,
movement and warmth.

- 17 cabinets of white Alaskan Gloss Cabinets:  manufactured and produced in Europe, 19mm moisture resistant, cold pressed MDF board with a deep gloss finish and mirror reflection. It doesn't scratch and won’t chip, peel or fade in natural light and is easy to clean.

From the Freedom Kitchen catalogue,
this is the Alaskan Gloss finish.
Shiny and nice.

The price of the cabinetry is discounted by 40% (apparently).


- Freedom are also providing a double undermounted Oliveri sink and we've already got the tap from the online auction and the other appliances we bought weeks ago waiting in the garage.


Ultimately, the proof of the pudding will be in the cooking, eating and cleaning up; how the kitchen works and how it wears.  And all that can only be known down the track.


In the meantime, I can cross kitchen off my list of things to think about, at least until the technical plans and elevations arrive next week.  And after the whole lot's in, I'll let myself begin again to ponder glass tiles.

I'm dreaming of a white kitchen...

White - Blue

White - Blue - Dark Grey

White - Blue - Black

White - Blue

White

We've now leaning towards the all white kitchen.  We're imbuing the house with all different textures of white, to complement the existing timber, and glossy white cupboards, white benches and white glass tiles for the splashback now seem to make more sense than anything.  (Please universe, don't talk me out of the glass tiles.)


The main reason for ditching the blue, and the dark benchtops is the kitchen floor.  The immovable kitchen floor.  We've considered removing and replacing it (too costly) and ignoring it (too mustard) but really, the only way to go is incorporating and embracing it.  Visitors keep saying its neutral, not mustard, so maybe if I called it "sandy", it'd help.


Anyway, the all white kitchen is our way of working WITH the floor rather than against it.  After all, the main issue with the space isn't with the floor.  It's the symphony of brown and beige that the existing structure embodies.  


And it'll be ok because we LOVE the white. 

The emperor, the stone and the porn star.

If I was appearing in an opera about dream kitchen bench tops, I'd be performing the aria about polished Caesarstone with a double bullnose edge.  It's only the colour I don't know about at this time.


The whitest white would be nice.  But then every stray crumb would drive me nuts.  (I do have a four year old, and a seventy-two year old, remember).

Something with a bit of movement and distraction might be more relaxed.

And not forgetting, our favourite, the porn princess and marble-like,

We must remember too that since the existing laminate bench tops are about a quarter the weight of caesarstone, the structure of the cabinetry will most likely have to be reinforced (or worst case scenario replaced) to support the additional weight.  (All those acursed hidden dollars.)


And I can't talk about any of this without touching on the cupboard doors.  I like shiny.  I like white.  I'm very very picky about handles.  I like pull out shelves and clever use of every available space.  


And the final element to consider, and throw some logistical complication into the mix, is the reality that the older folks have their aversion to bending, and I (with my spinal injury) have trouble storing things overhead, so the configuration is going to have to be nothing short of genius.


Ah me!  This kitchen.


And don't get me started on stools...