1) Integrated Refrigerator with custom wood panels – It makes me bonkers how expensive refrigerators have gotten! Even Liebherr (who used to be a fraction of the price of Sub Zero) has gotten prohibitively expensive. I am sorry, but I can not justify breaking my kitchen budget with either of these. Instead, we’re going for a Kitchen Aid. No one will know the difference since we’re covering it with a custom panel anyway!

2) Glass front doors – How I love them! Unfortunately, the house arrived in our hands abundant with open front, doorless, built-in shelves. I’m dying to find enough places to hide the ugly stuff in our house, so I am keeping the glass upper cabinets in the kitchen to a minimum.

3) Integrated Dishwasher with custom wood panels. You know me, I adore a Fisher Paykel Two Drawer Dishwasher – I’d use it in every kitchen renovation I do. Love, love, L-O-V-E!

4) Apron Front, White Ceramic, 36in, Single Bowl Sink If it were in the budget, I’d get a carrara marble apron front sink. Now THAT would be gorgeous, don’t you agree?

5) Recycling Center I am had them put two garbage cabinets with roll-out pales in the design. Each separate cabinet holds two garbage cans, for a total of four containers. One will be used for wet garbage and three additional cans will allow me to pre-sort my recycling. YAY! It’s so funny how sometimes it’s the little details that make my heart happy.

6) Pièce de résistance! Miele Built-In Coffee System I know. I realize it is quite extravagant. We put one into our 2006 kitchen renovation and we drink so much coffee that it paid for itself within months. I’d install one in every kitchen, over, and over again – just like I would do a Fisher Paykel Two Drawer Dishwasher. For us, a built in coffee system is a must-have kitchen luxury.

1) Tons of open Counter Top Just look at all that cookie baking space – it’s prime for some serious dough rolling! It’s also great for dinner served up buffet style.

2) Gleaming White Tile This wall is currently covered with white subway tile. My thought: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The bright-white open wall covered in tile will keep the space feeling open and full of light. While subway tile may be falling out of favor with interior designers – I think it will always remain a timeless look. Besides, the fact that it covers the entire wall makes it a very impressive statement.

3) Viking 6-burner with griddle and two ovens I know I said I’d install an AGA cooker (of the 6/4) variety in my next kitchen renovation. the bummer of the fact is that it’s only 39 inches long. It might look too small on that huge wall! Not to mention, the AGA 6/4 runs about the same price as the Viking I have specked out. I will have to buy an additional 10 inches of cabinetry and countertop to fill the void. Ugh! It all adds up. Don’t get me wrong, I love a Viking Range – it’s just I flip over the look of an Aga.

4) A Mantle I love the look of a mantle over the range. I like to be able to change out the accessories I use to adorn my kitchen. The mantle over the range is a great focal point to work with. No holes need to be drilled, you simply prop decorator items (artwork, plates, Christmas decor, etc.) up on the mantle and switch them out once you tire of your display or as seasons change.

5) All Bottom Cabinets are Drawers I happen to like a lot of drawers in a kitchen. The bottom drawers are extra deep for pots, pans and bakery supplies. The middle drawers will hold bowls and dishes. The top drawers are reserved for cutlery, spices, cooking utensils, and hot-mits or hand towels.

You all know my feelings about stainless steel appliances. After last week’s Interior Designer Chat on Twitter - I have *proof* that stainless is on it’s way out of vogue. Take a look at the Transcript of the #IntDesignerChat from last week. I tell you what, @LaVeuve isn’t the only one who agreed that the hype for Stainless Steel is fading. All I want to say on that is thank goodness and good riddance!
If you’d like to take part in Interior Designer Chat, simply log onto Twitter at 6 pm Eastern on Tuesday nights and search the hashtag #IntDesignerChat. The chat runs for one hour and is open to the trade. Each week they select a new topic to explore ~ it’s informative and a lot of fun.

***If you like this post, you might like to check out my Notes for the ABCD Design File series.***

Posted by Amy Beth Cupp Dragoo / The Country House and Uncategorized