Cabinets and Hardware

Most major kitchen renovations require the skills of a “cabinet guy” if you are going the custom route.  Because we require some specific cabinetry due to awkward corners/walls and working around appliances already in place this is the way we are going.  Our cabinet guy, Stan, requested that I send along images of cabinets I like.   I actually struggled with this task for some reason but managed to find a couple that could at least act as a starting place.  I knew I wanted something clean and simple; nothing too decorative as little fingers have a knack for getting food in the hardest to clean places!

Here are a couple of the kitchen cabinet ideas I sent along to Stan:

I was also toying with the idea of white top cabinets and a color on the bottom, either in navy or gray.  I’m not sure if I will tire of a two toned color scheme sooner than I would an all white one so I think im going to go in the all white direction – seems almost cleaner to me to have everything streamlined in one color (but is that boring?).

Here are a few two toned kitchen images that pull it off:

I love the tiled floor from that last image – so beautiful.

As for what KIND of white paint I should choose I only know I am in favor of a low or no VOC option, Stan has conveyed to me that the low VOC options are more dull than your standard paint but I think a strong paint odor lingering for months will bother me more than a dull finish.  Any opinions here?  Has anyone worked with low/no VOC paints?

For hardware, as of right now, I’m going with these knobs/pulls from Restoration Hardware:

Do any of you have refrigerator drawers (in addition to your standard upright)?  I found a floor model on sale and was thinking it could be a great addition.  I love cooking and am already envisioning storing baby #3′s homemade baby food in there!  Speaking of cooking – has anyone picked up a copy of Gwyneth Paltrows new cookbook “It’s All Good” – I personally love it and my kids love her chicken meatballs – I highly rec if you are looking for healthy dinner ideas for  yourself and/or your family.