I would add one more thing. Make sure you bring your kitchen electrical work up to current code. Especially in an older home. It could be a safety issue at worse, but is one of the few things that at inspection at time of home sales offer, that could cause renegotiation.
I just tore my whole kitchen out and now have to put it back together. Making my own cabinets that will not fall apart like the overpriced box store garbage. Putting white shiplap on the walls makes the room look huge but it is 15 x 15 .
Every job I had (fixing eaves, cutting down trees, roof, installing a shower etc) I have drinks, snacks and a proper hot lunch for the workers. A boxed sandwich is not going to do the job for the hard work I can’t do. The appreciation is wonderful and they usually (though not asked or expected) do a little extra
A lot of this is helpful for new builds, too. I have been looking at cabinet pulls (no knobs, though!) and appreciate the suggestion to make sure it’s a standard size in case we ever want to change them. Also, unless you are 20, it makes sense to consider accessibility issues. We coughed up for slide out drawers in the cabinets so there’s no trying to get to the back to get things. No upper cabinets for the same reason, and a small walk-in pantry of sorts (one wall of the laundry room will be closeted off with shelves).
Thanks for the 96mm handle tip. I also would veto handles in the same style as the long ones you showed - the extended part will catch your clothing as you walk by it. Must remember pizza for our crew when we get to that stage. Perhaps homemade cookies will be in the freezer. Once we bought a case of beer for our movers as a tip on a hot summer day.
Your videos are so helpful! I am planning a remodel that I will be doing the majority of the work on (minus electrical) - so really want to get the planning part right. I how swung from a full year out and moving all the appliance locations- back towards turning the wall with the sink (galley kitchen) into an island and leave the sink there without needing to move plumbing.
Hey! Thanks for watching and saying Hi!. I'm glad my videos are helpful. In my experience, moving electrical is much easier than moving plumbing, so good call on leaving the sink in location. Good luck on the project!
Our contractors suggested making our window bigger and we decided to make it as big as structurally possible. Agree on the grids, but some HOAs might require them. Will also not have any wall cabinets above the range wall. Can't wait for our kitchen to be installed! The only point I don't agree with is long handles. I think they look a lot better for wide drawers
I brought fresh doughnuts and Starbucks for our installers every morning. Our contractor polished all our old knobs and made them look brand new. We reused them on our brand new upper cabinets. They looked great and saved us $. We replaced the lower cabinets with drawers. I think the best advice for buying hardware is “How does it feel in your hand?” For the lower drawers we spent around $700 at rejuvenation for brass handles. They felt great to my hand, heavy and substantial. We went with the longer handle because it was more comfortable when I gripped it. When I can afford it I like buying great quality and then never replacing anything unless it breaks. I don’t plan on getting “bored” with my $ splurge rejuvenation hardware.
I have been watching your channel these past couple of months. My husband and I will be renovating our kitchen this year. We will be knocking down a wall and putting a large island. Can you make a video about pull out microwaves? You influenced me to NOT have a over the stove microwave. Keep up the content. You have been a great resource.
Hello Mark, I discovered your channel yesterday and have watched a couple of your videos (this one and "Bad kitchen trends". Great stuff! I embarked on an unusual project last week. I decided to dream and design the "ultimate" kitchen with no constraints. Of course the ultimate kitchen will always be determined by a set of requirements so my ultimate may not satisfy many others. Why dream? Our family has grown and over 30 years, we've grown from a family of my wife and I and two daughters to eleven. The same "ultimate" kitchen which was totally adequate for two cooks and a max of four in the space is now up to seven cooks and eleven in the space. Island is too small; 36" between it and counters too tight; not enough recipe prep space; not enough sinks, cook tops, ovens, microwaves, storage, and on and on. But I acknowledge that there is a sweet spot between too small and so big it's an hour's journey across it. My initial approach it to design task centers in isolation and then marry them together in a workable arrangement. For example putting all the cooking appliances in a "cooking center." (Is this crazy?) I've also watched tons of videos on the subject, ranging from awful to fabulous. I tire easily by those that are a constant "I just love my (fill in the blank). Yours is the best resource I've found and I plan to watch everything you've produced. You have excellent advice - always considering form follows function. I use SketchUp in my woodworking. Is that by chance your design tool? Now on to your next video!
Hi Alan! Thank so much for the many kind words. I appreciate you watching! Sounds like you are embarking on an awesome kitchen journey, but 7 cooks...yikes lol. I hope I can continue to be helpful along the way. The software I use is called ProKitchen. It's specifically for. kitchen design. But I have seen some really nice renderings with Sketchup and this program will integrate with it as well. Thanks again Alan.
Mark - your ProKitchen renderings look awesome. I expect there are lots more models in the warehouse than SketchUp provides. OK I must explain the "seven cooks". We have a family tradition of making breakfast tacos as a family. One "cook" at each of the following assembly line stations: 1) prepare and roll the tortilla dough balls 2) operate the press to produce the raw, flat tortilla 3) flip the tortillas, three at a time, on the griddle until done 4) measure sausage on a gram scale and place it on the tortilla 5) measure and add the scrambled eggs 6) add the grated cheese and finally 7) roll the finished tacos in aluminum foil and stack them. According to our grandkids, "we have to do this every time we are together." We also make preparing Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners family affairs, and usually have 5 or 6 adults in the kitchen, each preparing one or more of the dishes. Are we unusual? I don't know.
I’m planning a kitchen remodel for our kitchen. In a previous house remodel I did knobs on cabinet doors and handles on drawers. I may still do that but will consider your input on all handles as I’m planning.
I didn’t put grids in my windows on back of my house. They obstruct the view. The other three sides did get grids. Clear view of backyard from kitchen sink.
I always make the refrigerator opening 36" by 71" or 70" if I can. I talk my customer into having that size even if they are using a smaller frig. There have been only a few times that we had no choice but to use a smaller opening for the frig. I still like knobs on doors, though I may be biased, it was easier drilling one-hole instead of two😁 but now may be different.
it's always safe to refer to the fridge manual just in case too. But, your approach is great because if you get a larger fridge later on, you already have room for it. I've done this in the past a few times as well.
Have to ask...why should I care if it looks trendy if I'm planning on living in the same house for the next 50 years? I've never been much into trends. Function is a definite must, yes, and I look forward to your lighting video. But why trendy?
Hi Cindy! You're right! I'm not one for trends either. It's more of a lead in to another video and I'm being a little facetious about it. lol. Thanks for watching!
I agree with you about trendy. Trends come and go so quickly and we have no plans of selling anytime in the foreseeable future so our kitchen will be to OUR liking.
I have a 1950’s home with solid wood cabinets (boring flat, painted doors with rounded edge). Someone who has done renovations before told me not to replace them (even though they’re ugly) b/c solid wood is better quality. Thoughts?
Well, it depends on whether or not the layout is optimized for function, or at least workable for you. You could still update your doors with solid wood doors of a different style. So it's a toss up. You can still get solid wood cabinets just as easily today, but because of the price and availability of lower quality cabinets, it can seem like that's all that's available (at least to a degree). But I'll circle back to function. If the kitchen is working for you then maybe it's not worth changing anything. Sorry, a little long winded. lol
I agreed with everything (except I was a little confused by your knob disdain), but at your last point, there was a screech of brakes in my head! Wait, wait, wait...you think I'll be disappointed if my kitchen isn't TRENDY? I'll be disappointed if it isn't CLASSIC! If in 5 years I'm wishing I could redo it again, THAT'S what I'll regret! Maybe we have different understandings of "trendy". I think of a trend as similar to a fad. The bright brass of the 90's, the over-the-top florals and dusty blue and mauve of the 80's. But stainless appliances and brushed nickel faucets? Despite what those who make a living out of making us feel like our house is outdated would like us to believe, I don't think stainless appliances are going anywhere! I like them just as much today as I did 10 years ago. And I liked my white 2-panel doors with dark (almost black) hinges and levers just as much when I moved out of my house as I did when we picked them out 15 years ago. Wished I could take them with me, in fact! THAT'S what I want in my house. Granite that I love so much, I wish I could get another slab of it for my next house. Sigh. Granite...
Yeah not a fan of knobs. lol. Don't know why really. That's just me. Did I really say you'd be disappointed if your kitchen wasn't trendy? You'd be disappointed if it wasn't functional. Only people who care about trends will be disappointed that they keep having to change things.
Just to add. The 96mm handle is the most common, but it can look a little small on larger doors and drawers. My go to are 128 or 160's. Still standard size and heaps of options, but the sizing looks better balanced, even on smaller drawer fronts. Agree, the larger ones are dated.
Hi Mark, I have a question for you…our new kitchen was completed in mid December. The upper cabinets were to the ceiling and the contractor lowered them an inch to, I think, make it easier for him to level them due to our uneven ceiling. I’m pretty sure that everything was measured properly and that was not necessary (he had a cabinet company come out, measure and make everything for him) but after he had the first one hung he just showed my husband and in a matter of fact way, just said, “we have 18 inches rough here”. My husband thought he was just showing him and didn’t even realize that they weren’t where they were supposed to be. Nobody told me and I was the one who made all those decisions. Long story short my question is: How hard do you think it would be for them to come out now that everything is done and take off the crown molding and move them all up that inch? I mean is this a really difficult thing to do or relatively easy? I would think that now that the quartz counters are on, it might be easier having that leverage and maybe put some kind of support there while they take out the screws and such. I don’t know I am just speculating. Am I being crazy or does this sound not so bad? Thanks in advance for any advice you might have. Theresa Leskinen
Hi Theresa. I would want clarification from the contractor as to why he lowered them. I'm assuming you do not have a pantry cabinet or a cabinet over your fridge? These would be a fixed height. To answer your question, it is certainly possible to raise them, just costs time and the crown may have to be re-ordered in case it is damaged when removed. There's probably a good reason why he lowered them, but it would be nice to know.
@@rocknral hi, that is nice of you to ask and care about my insignificant problem. I guess I got myself so worked up because I didn’t have a designer person to work with and help me. So the burden was all on me to figure everything out. I spent a year on google🥴Well, the standard space is 18 inches according to….everyone. As you can tell, I became tunnel vision obsessed. I am ok now. The space is a little less than 17 inches. I don’t think anyone would ever think a thing about it, including me,(if I hadn’t known). It’s just that it cost 53K and was custom cabinets. (When he came out to look at our kitchen, he told us it would be 35 to 40K) So that is what makes me kind of mad. It should have been done exact. But things don’t always work out, especially now. I should really be so thankful to have a nice kitchen. I wish I could send you a picture on here. Thanks again for asking.
@@theresaleskinen6433 Ok. The 18 inch size didn't really compute... I am in Australia we we work in millimetres. Yeah, that is a bit low. Here, a standard overhead cabinet is 24" (600mm) above the benchtops. Maybe the installer decided because of the unlevel ceiling, it would be less noticeable if there was more carcass showing between the doors and crown moulding? Anyway, a day from an installer would well and truly cover the removal and reinstallation, as long as pantry and fridge height are not an issue as Mark suggested. Having the benchtops there is no problem. Just protect them with cardboard. Most installers have special jacks for supporting and adjusting overhead cabinets.
Can and should I do an undermount sink with laminate? My kitchen cabinet guy is pretty against it.. My heart is set on being able to sweep crumbs in to sink and not the edge of the sink... :)
There is a way to do it, however, if your cabinet guy has never done it, I wouldn't want him to try it first on yours. If a fabricator is experienced with how to do it, then sure. I have a client (who also comes on the live stream most weeks) who had it done. To be honest, I didn't even believe her at first. But after seeing the fabrication process I was impressed. It's just not something a lot of people know about and you should probably stay clear of it otherwise.
@@MTKDofficial That makes sense. So the sink is a Kraus drop-in or undermout… if I change my counter top later on I can still do the undermount. Thank you!!! Love your videos!
Great channel. Can't afford to entire remodel 1953 kitchen, bad layout, if you can even call it that. Only have countertop on one wall with sink. Stove is on wall by itself. The frig is on the adjacent wall with a pantry cabinet in the corner facing the stove. Working with 2 doors/doorways, also. The question, should or could you redo the oven/ frig side only and try to match old slab style cabinets of that decade???? Dealing with soffits, too. Help Vicki
I think my kitchen window is smaller than yours. I'd love to put in a wider one. However, our house is brick and that's a lot to deal with. There really isn't anything to look at out the window since is just the side of our house. Our window is recessed about 8" deep around the perimeter, so I thought about making the area around the window recessed wider. Homestud studio window is this way. This may be an alternate way if I cant put in a new window.
So when moving funds around to maximize the budget, is it good to shift from appliances to the cabinets and lighting as well or are the appliances about as important as cabinets because it is a large expense item that is long lasting?
Good question. I think it's important to purchase quality appliances as well as good quality cabinets and most of the budget should probably go in this direction.
@@MTKDofficial thanks for the reply - had a few follow up questions...sorry if it's a lot at once... I was initially planning on doing a full Wolf and Subzero build out with a 36" fridge column and 24" freezer column, with 2 separate ovens and a 36" induction cooktop with a built in speed oven or microwave. We went this route since we wanted to go away from the range setups we have had in the past and go in a different direction... However, due to some unforseen and significant structural and foundation issues that have decimated my budget, I need to now scale back my finish and appliance selections or come up with a lot more money. If I had to chose one, it is better to sacrifice on appliances than the cabinets and its organization correct? If so, my current thinking is do two 30" induction ranges and eliminate the built-in ovens and speed oven can be replaced with a Breville 3in1 in an appliance cabinet. The subzero columns would remain for now - if still more cuts are needed, I would replace with a cheaper alternative - considering Electrolux or Monogram for this eventuality...these options would not be panel faced either - again to save on cost. All this would hopefully reduce my overall spend on appliances by atleast half if not more, depending on the ranges and cold storage I pick but does that feel like too much of a compromise? It is a major deviation in style that we had envisioned at the start but we feel we can now live with it... The cabinets are semi customs by Demetra - I guess we could look for an alternative to those as well that are about as good with a "cheaper" price point... We should have used a designer to figure all this out I guess...
@@MTKDofficial lighting ideas besides what I always see, the ‘wire frame’ with a lighting feature in the center. When do use multiple hanging lights vs 1 large fixture? Should the lighting fixture match the handle color? Plumbing fixture color? How many lights are optimal for a space? Is it ok to have Recessed lighting with a big lighting feature? What lighting temperature is best for a kitchen? Under cabinet lighting, yay or nay?
Yes, please do make a video on this! I would love to know how many lumens one needs for square foot of kitchen, and where is the best placement for recessed can lights?
Very helpful video, as usual! Thank you! I’d love to hear your opinion on a backslash made from huge tiles size 60x120cm that look like imitation of granite or onyx. I’ve seen so many Pinterest images of kitchen that has the wow factor and indeed many of them use this kind of backslash. It’s cheaper than using real granite, easy to clean, looks great… But I’m not sure if it’s really a good idea? Please share your professional view on this trend. Thank you 🙏🏻
Hi Hana! Thanks for watching. Yes, I've seen those tiles and I like them. They definitely do have a WOW factor. I am a fan of full slab backsplashes, and while this isn't quite the same it is a very cost effective way to get a similar look. Go for it!
Love these tips....BIG WINDOWS I HAVE❣️... AND PLENTY OF LIGHTS YES!!! HIT THE LIKE BUTTON PEOPLE THIS IS GOOD STUFF👍👍👍👍👍 keep them taters coming....🤣🤣🤣
Yes! The enlarged window idea is crucial. I was shocked when one of my GF said she was ripping out the upper cabs to make room for three big windows, like ten years ago. Now I’m doing the same in a smaller space. No one regrets having a view or even just light!
Thanks for watching! Check out my online design solution if a kitchen renovation is in your future - www.mtkd.ca
I would add one more thing. Make sure you bring your kitchen electrical work up to current code. Especially in an older home. It could be a safety issue at worse, but is one of the few things that at inspection at time of home sales offer, that could cause renegotiation.
Very good point!
I just tore my whole kitchen out and now have to put it back together. Making my own cabinets that will not fall apart like the overpriced box store garbage. Putting white shiplap on the walls makes the room look huge but it is 15 x 15 .
Every job I had (fixing eaves, cutting down trees, roof, installing a shower etc) I have drinks, snacks and a proper hot lunch for the workers. A boxed sandwich is not going to do the job for the hard work I can’t do. The appreciation is wonderful and they usually (though not asked or expected) do a little extra
A lot of this is helpful for new builds, too. I have been looking at cabinet pulls (no knobs, though!) and appreciate the suggestion to make sure it’s a standard size in case we ever want to change them. Also, unless you are 20, it makes sense to consider accessibility issues. We coughed up for slide out drawers in the cabinets so there’s no trying to get to the back to get things. No upper cabinets for the same reason, and a small walk-in pantry of sorts (one wall of the laundry room will be closeted off with shelves).
Thanks for the 96mm handle tip. I also would veto handles in the same style as the long ones you showed - the extended part will catch your clothing as you walk by it.
Must remember pizza for our crew when we get to that stage. Perhaps homemade cookies will be in the freezer. Once we bought a case of beer for our movers as a tip on a hot summer day.
Thanks for watching Valerie! Stock up that fridge!
@@MTKDofficial Yep. "drinks in the fridge; help yourself guys!"
I hate when handles grab you! El Pollo Loco has meals too. Protein for the Win!
True.
@@AndreaShink I do too
Your videos are so helpful! I am planning a remodel that I will be doing the majority of the work on (minus electrical) - so really want to get the planning part right.
I how swung from a full year out and moving all the appliance locations- back towards turning the wall with the sink (galley kitchen) into an island and leave the sink there without needing to move plumbing.
Hey! Thanks for watching and saying Hi!. I'm glad my videos are helpful.
In my experience, moving electrical is much easier than moving plumbing, so good call on leaving the sink in location. Good luck on the project!
Nice shout out for the installers!!
Thanks! Yeah they don't get enough credit!
Awesome advise. Excited to start my kitchen during the summer. Be well.
Fun times! Hope is goes awesome Millie. You'll have to keep me posted.
Our contractors suggested making our window bigger and we decided to make it as big as structurally possible. Agree on the grids, but some HOAs might require them. Will also not have any wall cabinets above the range wall. Can't wait for our kitchen to be installed!
The only point I don't agree with is long handles. I think they look a lot better for wide drawers
Hey Philipp. Thanks for the input and for watching. Appreciate it!
You break my heart. First corner cabinets, now window grilles?
I brought fresh doughnuts and Starbucks for our installers every morning. Our contractor polished all our old knobs and made them look brand new. We reused them on our brand new upper cabinets. They looked great and saved us $. We replaced the lower cabinets with drawers. I think the best advice for buying hardware is “How does it feel in your hand?” For the lower drawers we spent around $700 at rejuvenation for brass handles. They felt great to my hand, heavy and substantial. We went with the longer handle because it was more comfortable when I gripped it. When I can afford it I like buying great quality and then never replacing anything unless it breaks. I don’t plan on getting “bored” with my $ splurge rejuvenation hardware.
Great advice on buying hardware. It needs to feel right! Great way to go about it.
I have been watching your channel these past couple of months. My husband and I will be renovating our kitchen this year. We will be knocking down a wall and putting a large island. Can you make a video about pull out microwaves? You influenced me to NOT have a over the stove microwave. Keep up the content. You have been a great resource.
Hi Eiryn. Thanks so much for watching. I love knocking out walls to put in islands. Sounds awesome.
Love your videos! Super fun, practical and real. Especially love the part of treating installers well. Kudos
Hey! Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it!!
👍 In full agreement about the handles!
I cover all my big wide kitchen windows with heavy curtains. My favorite splurge in my remodel is my quartz counters and beautiful backsplash.
Sounds great Teresa!
Hello Mark, I discovered your channel yesterday and have watched a couple of your videos (this one and "Bad kitchen trends". Great stuff! I embarked on an unusual project last week. I decided to dream and design the "ultimate" kitchen with no constraints. Of course the ultimate kitchen will always be determined by a set of requirements so my ultimate may not satisfy many others. Why dream? Our family has grown and over 30 years, we've grown from a family of my wife and I and two daughters to eleven. The same "ultimate" kitchen which was totally adequate for two cooks and a max of four in the space is now up to seven cooks and eleven in the space. Island is too small; 36" between it and counters too tight; not enough recipe prep space; not enough sinks, cook tops, ovens, microwaves, storage, and on and on. But I acknowledge that there is a sweet spot between too small and so big it's an hour's journey across it. My initial approach it to design task centers in isolation and then marry them together in a workable arrangement. For example putting all the cooking appliances in a "cooking center." (Is this crazy?) I've also watched tons of videos on the subject, ranging from awful to fabulous. I tire easily by those that are a constant "I just love my (fill in the blank). Yours is the best resource I've found and I plan to watch everything you've produced. You have excellent advice - always considering form follows function. I use SketchUp in my woodworking. Is that by chance your design tool? Now on to your next video!
Hi Alan! Thank so much for the many kind words. I appreciate you watching! Sounds like you are embarking on an awesome kitchen journey, but 7 cooks...yikes lol. I hope I can continue to be helpful along the way. The software I use is called ProKitchen. It's specifically for. kitchen design. But I have seen some really nice renderings with Sketchup and this program will integrate with it as well. Thanks again Alan.
Mark - your ProKitchen renderings look awesome. I expect there are lots more models in the warehouse than SketchUp provides. OK I must explain the "seven cooks". We have a family tradition of making breakfast tacos as a family. One "cook" at each of the following assembly line stations: 1) prepare and roll the tortilla dough balls 2) operate the press to produce the raw, flat tortilla 3) flip the tortillas, three at a time, on the griddle until done 4) measure sausage on a gram scale and place it on the tortilla 5) measure and add the scrambled eggs 6) add the grated cheese and finally 7) roll the finished tacos in aluminum foil and stack them. According to our grandkids, "we have to do this every time we are together." We also make preparing Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners family affairs, and usually have 5 or 6 adults in the kitchen, each preparing one or more of the dishes. Are we unusual? I don't know.
I scaled the handles to the size of the drawer or cabinet. No knobs. Helps the elderly and height challenged get a better grip on things.
Great idea! Function first.
I’m planning a kitchen remodel for our kitchen. In a previous house remodel I did knobs on cabinet doors and handles on drawers. I may still do that but will consider your input on all handles as I’m planning.
Hey Julie. Thanks for watching! Yeah, it comes down to personal preference for sure, with handles and knobs.
So true - a little kindness and encouragement goes a long way. Pizza for the win! 🍕
Definitely! Thanks for watching Megan!
I didn’t put grids in my windows on back of my house. They obstruct the view. The other three sides did get grids. Clear view of backyard from kitchen sink.
I always make the refrigerator opening 36" by 71" or 70" if I can. I talk my customer into having that size even if they are using a smaller frig. There have been only a few times that we had no choice but to use a smaller opening for the frig. I still like knobs on doors, though I may be biased, it was easier drilling one-hole instead of two😁 but now may be different.
it's always safe to refer to the fridge manual just in case too. But, your approach is great because if you get a larger fridge later on, you already have room for it. I've done this in the past a few times as well.
Awesome tips!! Thank you 😊
Have to ask...why should I care if it looks trendy if I'm planning on living in the same house for the next 50 years? I've never been much into trends. Function is a definite must, yes, and I look forward to your lighting video. But why trendy?
Hi Cindy! You're right! I'm not one for trends either. It's more of a lead in to another video and I'm being a little facetious about it. lol. Thanks for watching!
I agree with you about trendy. Trends come and go so quickly and we have no plans of selling anytime in the foreseeable future so our kitchen will be to OUR liking.
I have a 1950’s home with solid wood cabinets (boring flat, painted doors with rounded edge). Someone who has done renovations before told me not to replace them (even though they’re ugly) b/c solid wood is better quality. Thoughts?
Well, it depends on whether or not the layout is optimized for function, or at least workable for you. You could still update your doors with solid wood doors of a different style. So it's a toss up. You can still get solid wood cabinets just as easily today, but because of the price and availability of lower quality cabinets, it can seem like that's all that's available (at least to a degree). But I'll circle back to function. If the kitchen is working for you then maybe it's not worth changing anything. Sorry, a little long winded. lol
Thanks for this ! Currently doing our kitchen from scratch. But why shouldn’t there be a combination of knobs and handles?
Hi Emmie! Thanks for watching, and yes, there can be a combination. It's just me lol. Knobs are easy to replace as well!
I agreed with everything (except I was a little confused by your knob disdain), but at your last point, there was a screech of brakes in my head! Wait, wait, wait...you think I'll be disappointed if my kitchen isn't TRENDY? I'll be disappointed if it isn't CLASSIC! If in 5 years I'm wishing I could redo it again, THAT'S what I'll regret! Maybe we have different understandings of "trendy". I think of a trend as similar to a fad. The bright brass of the 90's, the over-the-top florals and dusty blue and mauve of the 80's. But stainless appliances and brushed nickel faucets? Despite what those who make a living out of making us feel like our house is outdated would like us to believe, I don't think stainless appliances are going anywhere! I like them just as much today as I did 10 years ago. And I liked my white 2-panel doors with dark (almost black) hinges and levers just as much when I moved out of my house as I did when we picked them out 15 years ago. Wished I could take them with me, in fact! THAT'S what I want in my house. Granite that I love so much, I wish I could get another slab of it for my next house. Sigh. Granite...
Yeah not a fan of knobs. lol. Don't know why really. That's just me. Did I really say you'd be disappointed if your kitchen wasn't trendy? You'd be disappointed if it wasn't functional. Only people who care about trends will be disappointed that they keep having to change things.
Just to add. The 96mm handle is the most common, but it can look a little small on larger doors and drawers. My go to are 128 or 160's. Still standard size and heaps of options, but the sizing looks better balanced, even on smaller drawer fronts. Agree, the larger ones are dated.
Great advise. Thank you.
How long does it take for you to prepare an ikea 10x10x10 design..
An hour I guess. But maybe depends on the design elements, it could be longer.
I love your vids! tysm! what is 96mm for us Yanks? 4"?
Thanks so much Andrea. It's 3 3/4" . Even though we are in North America handles will normally have the mm designation on the package.
@@MTKDofficial I didn't realize there was a 3 3/4"; I thought only 3 or 4" options. Good tip, especially since th long ones are VERY expensive.
Hi Mark, I have a question for you…our new kitchen was completed in mid December. The upper cabinets were to the ceiling and the contractor lowered them an inch to, I think, make it easier for him to level them due to our uneven ceiling. I’m pretty sure that everything was measured properly and that was not necessary (he had a cabinet company come out, measure and make everything for him) but after he had the first one hung he just showed my husband and in a matter of fact way, just said, “we have 18 inches rough here”. My husband thought he was just showing him and didn’t even realize that they weren’t where they were supposed to be. Nobody told me and I was the one who made all those decisions. Long story short my question is: How hard do you think it would be for them to come out now that everything is done and take off the crown molding and move them all up that inch? I mean is this a really difficult thing to do or relatively easy? I would think that now that the quartz counters are on, it might be easier having that leverage and maybe put some kind of support there while they take out the screws and such. I don’t know I am just speculating. Am I being crazy or does this sound not so bad? Thanks in advance for any advice you might have. Theresa Leskinen
Hi Theresa. I would want clarification from the contractor as to why he lowered them. I'm assuming you do not have a pantry cabinet or a cabinet over your fridge? These would be a fixed height. To answer your question, it is certainly possible to raise them, just costs time and the crown may have to be re-ordered in case it is damaged when removed. There's probably a good reason why he lowered them, but it would be nice to know.
Why are you set on raising them ?
@@rocknral hi, that is nice of you to ask and care about my insignificant problem. I guess I got myself so worked up because I didn’t have a designer person to work with and help me. So the burden was all on me to figure everything out. I spent a year on google🥴Well, the standard space is 18 inches according to….everyone. As you can tell, I became tunnel vision obsessed. I am ok now. The space is a little less than 17 inches. I don’t think anyone would ever think a thing about it, including me,(if I hadn’t known). It’s just that it cost 53K and was custom cabinets. (When he came out to look at our kitchen, he told us it would be 35 to 40K) So that is what makes me kind of mad. It should have been done exact. But things don’t always work out, especially now. I should really be so thankful to have a nice kitchen. I wish I could send you a picture on here. Thanks again for asking.
@@rocknral the idea behind the 18 inch space is just bigger work area and fitting taller things under cabinets.
@@theresaleskinen6433 Ok. The 18 inch size didn't really compute... I am in Australia we we work in millimetres. Yeah, that is a bit low. Here, a standard overhead cabinet is 24" (600mm) above the benchtops.
Maybe the installer decided because of the unlevel ceiling, it would be less noticeable if there was more carcass showing between the doors and crown moulding?
Anyway, a day from an installer would well and truly cover the removal and reinstallation, as long as pantry and fridge height are not an issue as Mark suggested. Having the benchtops there is no problem. Just protect them with cardboard. Most installers have special jacks for supporting and adjusting overhead cabinets.
Great video Mark! So true about the handles and buying pizza!! Can't wait for your next video!!
Thanks for watching Rob! Appreciate you. Though if you were the installer, I'd have to buy nachos haha
Agreed. That’s the best advice of all.
@@MTKDofficial Rob surely likes nachos!
Can and should I do an undermount sink with laminate? My kitchen cabinet guy is pretty against it.. My heart is set on being able to sweep crumbs in to sink and not the edge of the sink... :)
There is a way to do it, however, if your cabinet guy has never done it, I wouldn't want him to try it first on yours. If a fabricator is experienced with how to do it, then sure. I have a client (who also comes on the live stream most weeks) who had it done. To be honest, I didn't even believe her at first. But after seeing the fabrication process I was impressed. It's just not something a lot of people know about and you should probably stay clear of it otherwise.
@@MTKDofficial That makes sense. So the sink is a Kraus drop-in or undermout… if I change my counter top later on I can still do the undermount. Thank you!!! Love your videos!
Our install starts on Valentine’s Day. Maybe I can get some heart shaped pizzas. Haha!
haha! Whatever it takes!
Great channel. Can't afford to entire remodel 1953 kitchen, bad layout, if you can even call it that. Only have countertop on one wall with sink. Stove is on wall by itself. The frig is on the adjacent wall with a pantry cabinet in the corner facing the stove. Working with 2 doors/doorways, also.
The question, should or could you redo the oven/ frig side only and try to match old slab style cabinets of that decade???? Dealing with soffits, too.
Help
Vicki
Hi Vicki! Thanks for watching. This is a hard call. Matching to the existing can be tricky. Not impossible, but those soffits are a different story.
I think my kitchen window is smaller than yours. I'd love to put in a wider one. However, our house is brick and that's a lot to deal with. There really isn't anything to look at out the window since is just the side of our house. Our window is recessed about 8" deep around the perimeter, so I thought about making the area around the window recessed wider. Homestud studio window is this way. This may be an alternate way if I cant put in a new window.
Agreed, building exteriors can be an issue when changing windows. And I guess if the view is no good, it doesn't matter so much. lol
So when moving funds around to maximize the budget, is it good to shift from appliances to the cabinets and lighting as well or are the appliances about as important as cabinets because it is a large expense item that is long lasting?
Good question. I think it's important to purchase quality appliances as well as good quality cabinets and most of the budget should probably go in this direction.
@@MTKDofficial thanks for the reply - had a few follow up questions...sorry if it's a lot at once...
I was initially planning on doing a full Wolf and Subzero build out with a 36" fridge column and 24" freezer column, with 2 separate ovens and a 36" induction cooktop with a built in speed oven or microwave. We went this route since we wanted to go away from the range setups we have had in the past and go in a different direction...
However, due to some unforseen and significant structural and foundation issues that have decimated my budget, I need to now scale back my finish and appliance selections or come up with a lot more money. If I had to chose one, it is better to sacrifice on appliances than the cabinets and its organization correct?
If so, my current thinking is do two 30" induction ranges and eliminate the built-in ovens and speed oven can be replaced with a Breville 3in1 in an appliance cabinet. The subzero columns would remain for now - if still more cuts are needed, I would replace with a cheaper alternative - considering Electrolux or Monogram for this eventuality...these options would not be panel faced either - again to save on cost.
All this would hopefully reduce my overall spend on appliances by atleast half if not more, depending on the ranges and cold storage I pick but does that feel like too much of a compromise? It is a major deviation in style that we had envisioned at the start but we feel we can now live with it...
The cabinets are semi customs by Demetra - I guess we could look for an alternative to those as well that are about as good with a "cheaper" price point...
We should have used a designer to figure all this out I guess...
trendy doesnt matter. if i like it for the next 30+ years, im fine with it.
I like knobs on doors. I’m okay with pulls on drawers.
Right! No knobs
haha. I had a little smirk going there.
@@MTKDofficial hahaha
Nice video
Oversized bar handles are still popular and I have no idea why 🤷♂️
Right?!! Me neither.
Great advice.
Thanks Gammy! (Mom)
I have food allergies, I can't have some food items in my home. I do my best to be polite and kind.
I don't understand the lunch thing. I don't ever get free lunch in my job and people expect me to do a good job!
Just be nice. That's all I'm saying.
I changed my window for a really big window... and I still regret not getting a HUGE window.
Can you make a video on lighting?
Hey Jason. It's a great topic. I'm planning on it. Is there anything in particular you think I should make sure I cover?
@@MTKDofficial lighting ideas besides what I always see, the ‘wire frame’ with a lighting feature in the center. When do use multiple hanging lights vs 1 large fixture? Should the lighting fixture match the handle color? Plumbing fixture color? How many lights are optimal for a space? Is it ok to have Recessed lighting with a big lighting feature? What lighting temperature is best for a kitchen? Under cabinet lighting, yay or nay?
Yes, please do make a video on this! I would love to know how many lumens one needs for square foot of kitchen, and where is the best placement for recessed can lights?
@@bulaclacj This is great! I will add these ideas to the content. Thanks!
You're the best
Well, you may just have offended the entire British Isles and their traditional wooden knobs. Hashtag internationalincident 🙂
Ooops. 🤦🏻♂️ I did say it was just my opinion. Thanks for the heads up.
Very helpful video, as usual! Thank you! I’d love to hear your opinion on a backslash made from huge tiles size 60x120cm that look like imitation of granite or onyx. I’ve seen so many Pinterest images of kitchen that has the wow factor and indeed many of them use this kind of backslash. It’s cheaper than using real granite, easy to clean, looks great… But I’m not sure if it’s really a good idea? Please share your professional view on this trend. Thank you 🙏🏻
Hi Hana! Thanks for watching. Yes, I've seen those tiles and I like them. They definitely do have a WOW factor. I am a fan of full slab backsplashes, and while this isn't quite the same it is a very cost effective way to get a similar look. Go for it!
@@MTKDofficial Thank you for your opinion Mark! Oh yes, full slab backsplashes are amazing and the best! 👍🏻 Have a wonderful day!
Love these tips....BIG WINDOWS I HAVE❣️... AND PLENTY OF LIGHTS YES!!! HIT THE LIKE BUTTON PEOPLE THIS IS GOOD STUFF👍👍👍👍👍 keep them taters coming....🤣🤣🤣
Thanks Darlene! I always appreciate your comments!
Yes! The enlarged window idea is crucial. I was shocked when one of my GF said she was ripping out the upper cabs to make room for three big windows, like ten years ago. Now I’m doing the same in a smaller space. No one regrets having a view or even just light!
I’m getting rid of ALL my upper cabinets and putting in a wall of windows in my country home. I would rather have less stuff and that VIEW.
Do t forget about when you get older and it hurts to bend over, those uppers are a life saver
long handles in kitchen are great and very funcional. What are you talking about
Glad you like them!
No windows in my kitchen.
Headlamps work better
Wall cabinets are a waste of time if you wife is five feet tall . No woman wants to drag out a stepladder every day.
Yeah, there is a big trend toward having no wall cabinets. I have lots of clients asking about this. They hard to access.
4:33 ❤❤❤