1970 kitchen renovation | faucet, sink & counters

by | Mar 29, 2023 | 1970 home renovation, Kitchen, My House | 80 comments

This post may contain affiliate links.

Yesterday, I ordered the kitchen cabinets!  Whew, that was a big check and a big thing checked off the kitchen to-do list.  Jeff hadn’t seen the cabinets I selected in person and, to his credit, he trusted me completely and didn’t even ask to see them, but I asked if he would meet me at the showroom just so he could put his hands on them and confirm that he liked them.  I trust him completely to buy our vehicles and he trusts me completely to buy our cabinets, but we both like a little reassurance on purchases that are big-ticket items.  He gave his approval, so I placed the order.  If you missed the cabinets I selected, you can see them HERE.

1970 kitchen renovation | miss mustard seed

With the cabinets set, I can now focus on some of the other elements of the kitchen.  Those have, of course, been in the periphery of my mind, but I’m trying to just take this renovation one step at a time and only nail down decisions when I have to.  This gives me the flexibility to continue to think through my options and to spread out the costs.  I’ve learned that if I have to make too many choices at one time, it starts to stress me out.  When I space it out, it’s a lot more fun and I think I make better choices.

So, I’ve been thinking about the faucet for a while and I’ve been torn between two options.  First of all, we loved our Delta faucets with the touch feature that we had in our last kitchen and laundry room.  The boys have mentioned several times how much they miss having a touch faucet and, I must admit, it was super convenient.

I was considering the Broderick faucet we had in our laundry room for our new kitchen, but as pretty as it is and as awesome as the touch feature is, there was a faucet I just couldn’t get out of my mind.

Broderick Touch2O Delta Faucet | miss mustard seed

Oh, I just love an unlacquered brass bridge faucet.  I always stop and admire them when I see them in kitchens.  If I want a house full of favorites, I felt like this faucet would be the right choice.

@annleefuller kitchen

photo via @annleefuller

Now, I’m not going to poll my teenage boys to see if they approve of my kitchen faucet choice, but I wanted to make sure Jeff would be okay with it.  I showed him the faucet and explained that he would have to be okay with turning two handles to adjust the temperature and made sure he could live with that.  It’s not a touch faucet, it’s not lever-operated.  It’s an old-fashioned faucet.  It does have a side sprayer, which is a nice modern feature.  Ultimately, he would probably prefer a lever faucet, but he felt my preference had more weight in this instance.

So, I did a lot of searches and price comparisons, and I kept coming back to THIS handmade unlacquered brass bridge faucet I found on Etsy.

I like that it’s classic and simple.  It feels like a faucet that will be timeless and I’m excited to see how it ages over time.  I also liked the details on the sprayer better than other similarly styled faucets I’ve seen.  And, I liked that the price tag wasn’t as high as some of the other solid brass faucets I looked at.  When I looked at more expensive faucets, they looked so similar, almost like they were made by the same artisans.  This faucet comes directly from Marrakech, so it made me wonder if I was ordering directly from the source instead of through a US brand/store.  I don’t know that without a doubt, but it’s just a guess.

It felt a little risky buying an unbranded faucet, which was one reason why I mulled it over for a few weeks, but this one is pretty straightforward and the shop’s reviews are good, so I took the leap.  The faucet was just shipped earlier this week, so I’ll let you know how it looks when it arrives.  I ordered it on the early side because it’s being shipped from Marrakech and so we can have the faucet in hand when holes need to be cut in the counters.  With a handmade item, that seemed like a smart idea in case there are variations.

Now, the sink.  I needed to decide the style of sink I wanted before we ordered the cabinets, so I had to start there – under-mount or apron front?  I looked around online and considered the sinks I’ve had in the past, what I liked about them, and what I didn’t like.  I also looked at the different sink cabinets to help me decide.  I initially thought I would go with an apron front sink, but I really didn’t like the farmhouse-style sink cabinet in the line I selected.  That made the decision easier and I decided on an under mount sink.  When I thought about the material for the sink, I like the look of a white sink, but I really had to baby the enameled sink in our last kitchen.  You really don’t want to have to baby a kitchen sink.  At least, I don’t want to baby a kitchen sink.  I want it to be a workhorse that will take a beating and clean up beautifully.  I know from experience that stainless steel will do that time and again.

So, this is the sink we selected from the showroom, except our sink will be divided equally into two sinks.

stainless steel kitchen sink | miss mustard seed

I’ve never bought a sink from a kitchen showroom before, so I was a little hesitant about not knowing the price.  So, I asked flat out if the sink was comparably priced.  If not, I would source a sink online.  But, the sink was right in line with the price of other sinks I was looking at and I really loved the depth and the fact that the corners were pretty sharp and not rounded.  It felt like this design made the most of every inch.  Right now, our sink is only about five inches deep, so I am very excited about having a deep sink!  A shallow sink will force you to keep dirty dishes in check, but they can pile up to a ridiculous height just from cooking dinner.

One reason I selected this Ilve Nostalgie stainless range with brass trim was so I could mix brass and stainless steel in a way that was repeated and felt intentional.  If I used another stainless appliance, it would work.  If I wanted a stainless sink with a brass faucet, it would work.  That’s not to say that a white sink wouldn’t work, but I like that the decisions will feel tied together.

stainless steel and brass Nostalgie range by Ilve | miss mustard seed

Kitchen counters are still under consideration, but we’re getting closer.  I really loved the Hanstone Monterey counters we had in our MN kitchen.  They were the perfect color and pattern for me and I loved how easy they were to maintain.

painted white kitchen cabinets | miss mustard seed

It has an overall gray/white tone with subtle gray and white marbling.

dried orange slices | hanstone quartz monterey counter | miss mustard seed

I initially looked at three different quartz lines – Cambria, MSI, and Silestone and I found some that were lovely and close to what I was looking for, but I felt like I wasn’t done looking for other options.  When I went into the showroom to order the cabinets, I realized I had completely overlooked the Corian Quartz.  I actually found two samples that I liked.

kitchen makeover | corian quartz counter samples | miss mustard seed

Corian Quartz patterns Neve and Ashen Gray had that cool grayish/white look I want and both have subtle veining.

kitchen makeover | corian quartz counter samples | miss mustard seed

Here is Neve with my cabinets…

kitchen makeover | corian quartz counter samples | miss mustard seed

And Ashen Gray…

kitchen makeover | corian quartz counter samples | miss mustard seed

I was able to find a slab of Ashen Gray and that is the one I’m leaning towards.  It has nice variation without having too much contrast or being too busy.

Corian Quartz Counter slab Ashen Gray

While the kitchen design company I’m working with does not carry Hanstone, the designer said they might be able to special order it for me.  She is looking into it and will provide price comparisons for the different quartz options so I can nail down what I want.  I have plenty of time, though, because the counters can’t be fabricated until the cabinets are installed and an accurate template can be made.

Next up is shopping for cabinet hardware…

 

Receive a Daily Dose of Encouragement and Inspiration!

Stay Inspired with Marian's Daily Blog Posts

Sign up to receive uplifting blog posts directly in your inbox! Join our community of like-minded individuals and start your day with a burst of creativity, motivation, and positivity. Whether you’re seeking decorating tips, DIY projects, or simply a dose of inspiration, Marian’s daily posts are sure to brighten your day and ignite your creativity. Don’t miss out on your daily dose of encouragement – subscribe now!

    80 Comments

    1. Lee Ann

      These look great. You have the eye, Marian. If I had to remodel a kitchen, I think I would be completely overwhelmed with the decisions required! In a previous home, I put off remodeling the kitchen for 15 years because every time I thought I was ready to remodel, I’d see something that looked better than everything I’d seen to that point. I kept feeling like I was making “forever” decisions, and I didn’t want to spend money on something that I wouldn’t like in 10 years. Finally, I sold the house without ever having updated the kitchen. Wonder what it looks like now???

      • Marian Parsons

        I love the honesty in this comment because I think a lot of people feel this way and hesitate to make decisions on things that are built-in. That caution is a good thing so you really think through costly renovation decisions, but I wish you had redone that kitchen so you could’ve enjoyed it. While I try to make decisions that feel timeless, I am sure there are things I’ll be tired of in 10-15 years. By that time, things might need to be replaced or updated anyway. I really appreciate that the current kitchen in our home has lasted for 50 years! Original cabinets, flooring, counters, and sink. That’s pretty impressive, but I don’t think the cabinets of today are meant to last quite that long.

        • Lee Ann

          Marian, I think you’ve “hit the nail on the head” with that last sentence. I don’t think many things made today are built to last even 10-15 years, so I should feel okay with making a decision that works “now” … and worry about what I may want later 10 years from now! Thank you.

          • maryanne gillooly

            When we built our house 6 years ago …. I had to make design choices fairly quickly and wished I had planned our kitchen better. Your design and thought process is so good. !
            One of the things that has not worked for me is the stainless square edge kitchen sink.
            It has a rack in it that I thought I would love but it ended up just being one more thing to clean.
            The sink scratches very easily and dirt gets into the square corners and edges and you need a brush to clean it good.
            I feel like you …. That I want a sink that’s a workhorse but this sink
            is not it !
            Hope yours proves to be a good one.
            Love reading of all your creative ventures.
            Love that you share your talents.
            Thank you.

    2. Teresa

      You have some beautiful choices, and I was unaware that Corian had a quartz line as I thought they only offered solid surface countertops. My only concern is the choice you made on the faucet. Because it’s not manufactured in the US, it might be harder to get any replacement parts or fixtures if repairs are needed in the future. I still hope you will consider installing a pot filler over your range as it appears from your plans the kitchen sink is a good distance away from your range and I would just move the pot/pan holder over further. I can’t wait to see it all come together!

      • Marian Parsons

        I am a little bit nervous about some of the custom choices like the panel-ready fridge, the 48″ range, and a handmade faucet, but I am trying not to dissuade myself from what I want just because of what-ifs. I do want to be mindful that those pieces might be difficult and/or costly to replace in the future, though. The faucet is 8″ on center, which is a standard US size, so unless there is a large variation, I think escutcheons could cover any differences. I’ll double-check to make sure!

        • julie

          Marion,
          We ordered faucets from Morocco as well and we LOVE them. They arrived quickly packed beautifully in wooden boxes. You can usually communicate directly with your seller and they usually respond within the hour. We noticed a small leak in the tub faucet; reported it to our seller; he replied with a solution (“add another washer”) and it was fixed in 5 minutes. Just be sure that a “conversion piece” to accomodate US thread count is included (if required) with your faucet.

          • Marian Parsons

            Thank you for sharing your positive experience. 🙂

      • Emily

        Personally, I think pot fillers are over-rated. One still has to carry a pot of boiling water and pats over to the sink to drain it.

        • Patty Kasparian

          I agree. I prefer decorating that spot as it’s a focal
          point.

    3. Susan

      Like the Ashen Gray!

    4. Kris

      So many pretty choices! I’m with you on the deep stainless steel sinks and I think you’ll love having one. Thanks for taking us along for the ride, Marian.

    5. TAG

      Faucets are the jewelry of the kitchen and such a personal decision. Once I fall in love with a style my mind is set! Some things to keep in mind, though, …make sure the holes for the particular faucet you decide on are standard size. The faucet will be something that you may need to replace one day. Also, I would compare your selection to some of the pricier brands in terms of technical specifications. There are components used on some brands that are better and the faucet will last a lot longer. The initial investment will pay off. I had my “pricy” faucet almost 20 years and it still worked perfect when I replaced it!
      Deep sinks are a must. Another personal preference, but I have had both and now prefer my deep single sink over the divided one.
      Looking forward to following along with your kitchen renovation. Any decisions you make will be right if it’s right for you.

    6. Kristin Gaughan

      I am curious about your rationale for a divided sink instead of a single large one. I have always had the divided sink and disliked it but perhaps I have an idealistic perception of a single sink. Love watching your renovations; thanks for sharing the details.

      • Marian Parsons

        I have had a double sink in most of the homes and apartments I’ve lived in and we have the habit of using one side for washing and the other side for draining. I actually set a dish drainer in one side of the sink and it keeps the hand-washed dishes a little more tucked away.

        • Babs

          Exactly! We do the same and it’s keeps the kitchen looking less cluttered.

      • Janice

        I agree with the sentiments above. I have a large single ceramic sink at our vacation property and double integrated with counter sinks at home and I think I prefer the large size of the single sink for big items that don’t go in the dishwasher.

      • Chris

        I second having an undivided sink. It saves so much time and water to be able to scrub a large pan without having to twist and turn it to fit undder the faucet. For everday dish cleaning, I use a basin of soapy water along one side. When I need the full sink, I can remove the basin. You can’t do that with a double sink.

    7. Kim

      Oh yes, deep stainless steel sinks are the best! Undermount, however, are not, due to their propensity to build up mold under the lip of the undermount. I can highly recommend a large single bowl stainless sink; they are a joy to use and clean and are superior in functionality to a double bowl sink.

      It is nice to have some excellent choice materials for your countertops. So far your narrowed down choices all look great.

      I hope that your faucet will be standard sizes and parts so that you won’t have any troubles there.

      • Marian Parsons

        I haven’t really had problems with my under mount sinks and I’ve had them in both of our previous houses. I just make sure to clean them well. I prefer that over having the lip to clean around.

        • beverlee lyons

          I agree, and while it is a small thing, the lip on the front side of a sink is more usable with the undermount. For me, big enough to hold a coffee cup without falling into the sink. (or floor)
          I know that kitchen wiil be your dream, and thank you for sharing it with us.

    8. Betsy

      You’ve made some great choices and the faucet stole my heart. I wonder if you were able to get any information on how to clean your sink choice. I have a similar sink and I could use some guidance. My stainless steel sink shows everything! I’m constantly cleaning up water spots and coffee stains stick to the sink and rack. I purchased several types of cleaners with no success. Sometimes I wish I had gone with the Kohler white porcelain. Any suggestions?

      • Marian Parsons

        I have always used Bar Keeper’s Friend (the paste) to clean my stainless steel sinks, faucets, appliances, and cookware and it works so well! I would just scrub the sink down with it a couple of times each week and it looked shiny and new. The issue I had with white enamel is it showed scratches from metal cookware and it would hold stains from dark liquids like coffee and grape juice. I could scrub them out pretty well, but it was never as pretty as it was new and I had to use grates to protect the sink bottom from getting too bad. I haven’t had a porcelain sink, so maybe that doesn’t have the same issues.

      • Alena

        After you clean it as Marion suggested, rub Hemp Oil into it. Stainless Steel is porous so it takes the oil well! It keeps grime from building up. Good luck.

        • Susan

          I also use olive oil on a paper towel to polish my stainless sink. We had a white porcelain sink before and it always looked stained and “used” no matter how well I cleaned it. When we got new counters I swapped the sink for stainless steel and zero regrets. 100% easier to clean and maintain. I now use Bon Ami powdered cleanser because it’s just castile soap and feldspar clay so it saves my hands. I do have bar keepers friend also on hand which has an acid in it so it’s perfect for polishing the copper on my pans.

    9. Sandy Gardner

      The faucet y’all chose is gorgeous and will look so lovely with the other kitchen fixtures. Love seeing what y’all are choosing and hearing about the thought process.

    10. Jennifer Cundiff

      We recently got a new sink with those sharp corners. I love the look but I have to say it’s harder to clean. A film or whatnot builds up in those corners quite easily. Just something to think about.

      • Marian Parsons

        Were the corners even sharper than the one photographed? I saw this in person and the corners are gently rounded. It looked to me like a sponge would easily fit in there to clean it out.

        • Kim

          I had a stainless sink with the sharp corners such as Jennifer mentioned and it was a cleaning issue. The next time we replaced a sink I avoided that style. Your sink choice has a nice curve in the corners. All good.

          • Marian Parsons

            Thanks! That is sort of what I thought. If the corners are a tight 90 degrees, I can see that being problematic.

          • Jennifer Cundiff

            I think you’re right-that sink pictures does have softer corners I guess.

            • Marian Parsons

              Yes, it sounds like the people who warned against the sink had true 90-degree angles where crud built up.

    11. Susan Fenton

      Oh I love everything! We put in a very small kitchen in a small cottage where we live in Maui, and I feel like I was a bit too safe with my choices-albeit it was during the pandemic and we had to deal with supply chain issues and sometimes only having a couple choices. I’m so glad you are choosing what you love. I can’t wait to see the finished space. ❤️

    12. Colleen C.

      I have had a stainless sink for about 2 years now and I love the size and depth but it is scratched like crazy. I am getting ready to move and probably won’t get stainless again.

    13. Debbie

      It fun to watch along your kitchen remodel! I’ve been stuck with indecision about mine forever.
      However, one thing I know is that I’ll definitely get another single bowl sink. It so nice that a jelly roll pan and other large items fit flat into the sink. I always had double bowls before but now that I’ve had the big single bowl I’m sold!

    14. Debbie

      It fun to watch your kitchen remodel! I’ve been stuck with indecision about mine forever.
      However, one thing I know is that I’ll definitely get another single bowl sink. It so nice that a jelly roll pan and other large items fit flat into the sink. I always had double bowls before but now that I’ve had the big single bowl I’m sold!
      Thanks for taking us along on your creative projects!

    15. Stephanie

      I have an unlacquered brass faucet from DeVol in my kitchen, and I have no regrets! It was a big change from what I had previously, but it hasn’t bothered me at all having to turn both levers to adjust temperature. I also ordered unlacquered brass faucets for my bathroom from a company in Morocco and they have been great. I think our plumbers had some frustrations installing everything, but they look and work beautifully.

      • Marian Parsons

        Yep, I’m expecting it might be a little fiddly for my plumber to install, but I’m sure he can handle it!

    16. Jo Ann

      When designing my current kitchen I was able to “correct@ two mistakes with the previous one I had designed. I strongly disliked the sharp corners to which you referred. Those sharp corners were a cleaning nightmare. I had to take a sharp knife on a rag to get into those corners.
      The second mistake I had made was choosing a designer sink that had a divider the same height as the sink. Wow! That too was a nightmare.

    17. Meredith

      I was shocked at the low cost of your faucet! It’s beautiful and I like that you always just go with your gut instead of concerning yourself about trends. I think your choices will hold up so beautifully over time, and I am excited to see it all come together. We re-did our kitchen about 8 years ago, even building our own cabinets. I followed the same instincts, went with what I loved and bought quality pieces so they would stand the rest of time. The only thing I’m looking to change is the colour of our island, and it isn’t for any other reason than I love to change things up now and then. I also have a very square sink, which I love for the looks of it… very clean. One thing to note is that a lot of gunk builds up in the corners because they aren’t rounded, but I saw you comment that you use Barkeepers regularly, which is exactly how I keep mine shiny and new looking! Enjoy the process… I also waited through a couple of houses before I could renovate my dream kitchen, and it was so worth the wait!

    18. Sandy

      Oh, you are so full of surprises! The one choice I cannot understand or agree with is the faucet. I can appreciate you want a nostalgic look. But is it really not possible to find some thing that combines a beautiful brass look with the convenience of modern convenience? Maybe put the Antique style in the laundry room and a more convenient one in the kitchen. The kitchen will be used by everyone in the family not just yourself. I hope you will reconsider this important decision.

      • Marian Parsons

        We have had two-handle faucets in our kitchen before (in PA) and in our bathrooms in both houses. I don’t find them difficult at all. Maybe less convenient than a lever, but I do think they are a little easier to find a nice warm mix. With our current lever faucet, it goes from cold to steaming hot with the smallest of tilt.

    19. Rhonda Roark

      My friend has the sink with the squared corners and she hates it! She says everything gets stuck in the corners and she has to use toothbrushes and toothpicks to keep it clean.

    20. Lynne

      Like you, I love a deep kitchen sink. The previous owners of our home built a nice kitchen onto the back of the house about 7 years ago. The sink is stainless, 14 inches deep, and split 60/40. I’d not seen that before and now it’s one of my favorite parts of the kitchen. There were some foundation issues from this newly built kitchen not being tied in right, we wound up with an $8000 repair bill. And, the granite cracked on the narrow part in front of and in back of the sink faucet from the foundation issues. Being so far out, it was hard to get someone out here for a measely little repair, and it wound up cracking all the way through. I have wonderful counterspace, but knew we were going to have to bite the bullet and get new countertops. We went with a Cambria quartz and I love them. Easy to maintain, and while the granite was very dark I chose a lighter quartz and it really brightened up the whole space. Sometimes you just have to make the best decision at the time, and for the wallet, and move forward.

    21. Betty M Bashaw

      Your choices are beautiful! I’m learning from you, just in case I should endeaver a kitchen redo someday. Mostly, I am loving your range! This is what I would like to some time in the future. Not too far in the future, I hope. Have fun!

    22. Claire

      Marian, I follow TinyHouseOnTenby on Instagram and she had terrible trouble with an unlacquered faucet she bought through an Etsy seller based in Morocco. The faucet came without parts, the stems were too short for a standard thickness countertop and the threads were broken and it leaked. The seller would not work to help her resolve the problems and ignored her emails. Perhaps you can check and see what seller she used.

      • Marian Parsons

        I went to check it out. Yes, mine is a different style of faucet from a different seller and it is 8″ on center, which is a standard size, but that doesn’t mean I won’t have issues with missing parts or things not fitting together properly. I’ll give it a good look over when it arrives and hopefully it’ll all be good! What I was encouraged by is that if people had issues with defective products, Etsy does offer buyer protection and they did make it right.

    23. Alice

      I love my Caesarstone Empira White counters if you’re looking for something marble-like. Can’t wait to see the direction you go in for your kitchen knobs/hardware!

      • Marian Parsons

        I might be wrong, but I think the Caesarstone ran more expensive than the other counters I was looking at. I just learned this afternoon that the Corian quartz I liked is being discontinued (as was the MSI quartz I liked!) So, I might be heading back to look again…

    24. Lola

      Hi Marian, your colour choices for your cabinets are dreamy!! They are so complimentary with the faucet and counters! I have to agree with the other comments about the sharp cornered sink. Lots of build up and bacteria gets stuck in those corners. I believe the rounded corners will be easier to clean and are timeless. Thanks for taking us on your exciting kitchen reno! I will be in your shoes soon enough with my own kitchen redo!!

      • Marian Parsons

        I saw this sink in person and the corners aren’t a sharp 90 degree, but gently rounded. It seemed like I’d be able to get a sponge in there without a problem. Maybe I’m missing something, though?

    25. Kara

      I cannot believe no one has commented on the TWO TAPS needed to adjust water temperature. When I’m cooking, I cannot imagine having both hands full and having to stop to adjust water temperature with both hands! YIKES! I need the ability to nudge the faucet to the ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ without having to stop everything to get the water temperature right.

      I recently stayed in an historic ’boutique’ hotel where the bathroom sink faucets were separate for hot and cold. It took forever to adjust to get the water temperature right! Just sayin’! However, I DO love the LOOK of the primitive brass fittings.

    26. Rosie

      Everyone has an opinion when it comes to choices in a kitchen. I have a paler green on my upper cabinets, dark bronze metal on my lower cabinets and drawers. I do like most of your choices. I have remodeled 3 kitchens. An undercount single sink is the way to go. Easier to wash big pots and pans. I have had a Rohle bridge style faucet that has lasted over 20 years. There are life time replacement parts for free. An expensive faucet, but you do get what you pay for especially something that is used multiple times per day by every one.

    27. Linda LM

      I know you have selected your sink, and it’s great. But I would put in a vote for my black/charcoal granite (I think it’s called silgranite) under mount sink. It cleans like a dream, and it looks super elegant with an unlaquered gold faucet and veined quartz countertops. In fact, it looks like the day it was installed, and it’s been there 8 years! We do wipe it with baby oil occasionally, but we just use a nylon scrubber and a squirt of dish soap for daily cleaning.

    28. CathyR

      I’m 100% jealous of your kitchen redo. Especially the part where you get to make nearly all the decisions!! What a joy that would be.
      I put a beautiful Koehler white porcelain sink in my Ohio house and aside from a bottom mat and one for the divider, I had no problems with it. Periodically is fill the sink and bleach it out, and routinely I’d scour it with Comet or Ajax. The one thing I didn’t like was the thick lip, so now I’m loving the under mount stainless one that came with our current house. The granite counters, not so much but I guess that’s a first world problem. Did you consider an induction stove/oven? I’m currently researching them as adding a tie-in gas line is unbelievably expensive. I’m not a fan of electric but trying to make do.

      • Marian Parsons

        I really didn’t consider induction. I know people rave about it, but I really love a gas range. It’s what I’m used to cooking with and I like their classic look as well.

    29. Chrystal Younger

      Just a suggestion, but if you can I would make the window in the kitchen just slightly bigger, when redoing my kitchen I worked with a designer and they wanted a 60″ window, but I insisted on a 70″ and it has become one of my favorite things in the Kitchen, believe it or not. It looks like in your plan you have room for it and just those 10″ will make a huge difference. Good luck on your kitchen reno!

      • Marian Parsons

        Well, the window is already ordered! But, we did select this size based on the exterior and interior and how it would best fit. It really wouldn’t have worked on the outside to go any larger. There will be a lot more light in this room from the larger window, removing the soffits, and removing the mudroom walls (letting light in from the door) and moving the staircase.

    30. Anne

      Be aware that Corian easily scratches . I know from personal experience. IWe chose quartz in our bathroom makeover recently. The cost of the 2 products is comparable .

      • Marian Parsons

        What I’m looking at is quartz by Corian as opposed to their solid surface, but I just heard from my designer that they are pulling their display because Corian is retiring their quartz line. Everything I’ve picked so far as been discontinued! 😭

    31. Valeri Johnson

      It’s going to be gorgeous! I have the same sink. Corners are not an issue at all. My favorite part of the sink is the rack in the bottom. The rack keeps things off the bottom so it allows me to fill my my non submersible tea kettle without holding it the whole time. I would suggest trying the threads and getting the exact diameter on that faucet as soon as you get it to make sure it’s compatible with American pipes. That way you have time to get another one if necessary or find a plumber that will thread his own pipes.

    32. Mary M Zeilinger

      Woohoo, Marion!! The excitement is mounting. Your faucet choice is beautiful. I totaly agree with everything in reguards to the sink. Stainless. Deep. Divided. Undermount. Dish draining. Bar Keepers Friend. It is all going to be stunning when done.

    33. Jeannie

      I just adore your selections. You have such beautiful taste! We are in the process of updating our 80’s kitchen and I’m stuck with our countertops..quartz seems to be the best option for us but I’m curious what finish you will go with on your countertops. Polished or honed? I have a traditional home, I like to think of it as an English cottage so I’m afraid a polished quartz will be too shiny. I’m getting a gentle push back with designer and quartz person, now I’m doubting myself, maybe they know better? I know you and your family will love your new kitchen!

      • Marian Parsons

        I prefer polished stone, but that’s just what I like. I know a lot of people love honed, so I would suggest going with what you’re drawn to. When I’m looking at a display, I’ll make note of my favorites, walk away, come back again, and pick out my favorites with fresh eyes. I find I go for the same ones over and over again. This is your kitchen, so don’t let a designer or salesperson push you in a direction you’re not sure about.

        • sandi m

          Comment I’ve had my Elkay double bowl deep sink for 7 years with few scratches because of how I take of of it. I believe it is the Harmony style. Can have it installed under or over mount. I love the curve of the equal sized bowls but more importantly love, love the ‘perfect drains’. You don’t have those ugly metal collars around the drain openings. The sink bottom is just all beautifully smooth. The plumber loved installing it.
          I would ask your plumber to look at the faucet to be on the safe side since it’s not an American brand. Metal fabrication can vary so much from country to country.
          Hope you can get the Hanstone, it was sooo pretty in MN.
          Since you did such a great job on the LR fireplace stone in MN, have you thought about painting the dishwasher door front to match the cabinets?
          So fun to this coming to see this coming together….

    34. monique

      So many good choices, your kitchen will be fantastic. You may like it better than your studio, just joking. I can compare the stainless steel versus the porcelain sinks. In New York it is stainless steel and I have no problem with
      it aging well and so easy to clean. In France we opted for a porcelain white kitchen sink, and it is sure much more fragile as big cast iron pots and other
      things have already scratched the surface. Now and then I pour a little bit a chlorine with some warm water, after an hour it is perfectly white. Both the sinks are very deep and spacious. Because the French house is so ancient, we had all our faucets dechromed to fit the style of the home. They seem to have existed for ever. I do not care for the big modern ones, simple is better for me. And I would never want to have a conversation with my faucet or anything robotic. That freaks me out. I did not know it existed.

    35. Norma

      I loved the ashen gray. I think it looks better. It brightens up things

      • sandi m

        Comment I’ve had my Elkay double bowl deep sink for 7 years with few scratches because of how I take of of it. I believe it is the Harmony style. Can have it installed under or over mount. I love the curve of the equal sized bowls but more importantly love, love the ‘perfect drains’. You don’t have those ugly metal collars around the drain openings. The sink bottom is just all beautifully smooth. The plumber loved installing it.
        I would ask your plumber to look at the faucet to be on the safe side since it’s not an American brand. Metal fabrication can vary so much from country to country.
        Hope you can get the Hanstone, it was sooo pretty in MN.
        Since you did such a great job on the LR fireplace stone in MN, have you thought about painting the dishwasher door front to match the cabinets?
        So fun to this coming to see this coming together….

    36. Sharon W

      I’d trust you to design my kitchen! Everything is beautiful!

    37. Addie

      This is all so amazing!!! I can’t wait to see the finish. I LOVED your MN home kitchen….well, really the whole house!!! Loved those counter tops…you said you loved them too…why not get the same? I could never do a complete gut…it would drive me nuts making all those choices and I would be second guessing myself constantly.
      LOVE that new stove/oven….WOW!!!……….she’s a beauty!!!

    38. KathieB

      This is an exciting project. I love your choices for faucet and sink. I am interested by the warm white of your upper cabinets and the potential cool white/ grey of your counter tops. I’ve never really mixed warm and cool but trust that you know colour more than anyone. Looking forward to seeing the outcome.

      • Marian Parsons

        Yeah, I really like the play of warm and cool. I agree it can look a little off, but it can also look very interesting visually. I think it just has to work for your aesthetic. I put a warm countertop with it and it looks nice, but I feel like the grayish counter sings a bit more.

    39. Holly

      Hi Marion!
      Former kitchen dealer here and I love your choices! I would hands down go with any product made by DuPont. We built our business on Corian products and expanded from there. DuPont stands behind their product and I will be using them when I renovate my own kitchen in due time (hurry up and grow stock market!). Your choices are timeless and suit YOU. Built and renovated serval homes and know that I will always decorate for myself and no one else. Your choice to go slow and renovate when you have the funds is very smart.
      Best wishes as you settle into your new home and thanks for sharing your adventures.

      • Marian Parsons

        Thanks so much for the information and feedback! I agree about making choices that suit you and not worrying about trends or what other people like. Sharing online and getting feedback has helped me refine and defend what I like, which has really helped me find my aesthetic voice.

    40. Gail Bobel

      I love your style. My question is about the copper. Did you thrift your pieces or did you order them? I have started a small collection, all of it thrifted. I would love a few skillets and pots. I can’t wait to see the finished kitchen.

      • Marian Parsons

        I have bought copper pieces from a little bit of everywhere. I bought a few out and about at yard sales, flea markets, and antique stores, I bought a few when I was in France and Italy (one from Julia Child’s favorite shop in Paris), and some of them were given to me by a friend. Etsy and eBay are good places to find copper as well. I had several of my vintage and antique pieces retinned and polished and they look good as new.

      • Marian Parsons

        Oh, TJMaxx and HomeGoods can also be good places to find new copper. They aren’t super special pieces, but I’ve found some neat saucepans in those stores for really good prices. It’s a way you can beef up your collection a bit.

    41. Cheri

      I am drooling over your faucet selection! Stunning!

    42. Patty

      I absolutely love every choice you’ve made! This kitchen is really going to be lovely!

    43. Dani

      I love the green kitchen cabinets. Can you tell me what color they are?

    Hello!

    Marian Parsons - Miss Mustard Seed

    I’m Marian, aka Miss Mustard Seed, a wife, mother, paint enthusiast, lover of all things home and an entrepreneur, author, artist, designer, freelance writer & photographer.  READ MORE to learn more about me, my blog and my business…

    Let's Connect

    WATCH ON YOUTUBE

    decorating, projects, and recipes for spring

    Categories

    Articles by Date

     

    our sponsors

     

     

    Bliss and Tell Branding Company

     

    Pin It on Pinterest

    Share This