Hello

[alene]

Hi everyone,
This is a great site!! I want to get some great ideas for my kitchen and bath remodel. I love the cottage style...I guess some call it shabby chic?:)
Happy to have found this site.
Cheers~
Alene

[shabbychick]

Welcome, Alene. Tell us a little more about where you are in the planning process. Do you have colors selected? Are you trying to do this on the cheap with vintage and thrift store finds in true shabby chic style? I do a sort of shabby chic decorating as well, though I use brighter colors than Ashwell would approve of. It's a fun style. Welcome to the forum.

[alene]

Thank you for the welcome:)
I have had three contractors come and take a look at my kitchen. I live in a 1955 house that needs serious updating. My problem is that the designers and contractors have no style or vision. I keep hearing whats so popular with the same looking kitchens. Blah....cookie cutter kitchens I call them..;)
I have an old okeef and merrit stove that was refurbished last year and it's my baby. I think a vintage country style kitchen with light colors. Apron farm sink would be nice:D

[shabbychick]

Where are you in LA? I grew up in Pacoima in a little stucco house built in the late 40s. When I was a kid I thought it wasn't much, but now that I am grown, I appreciate its style. I wish I could pick it up and move it up here to the Seattle area where I live now.

Maybe someone else on the forum can recommend a contractor that "gets" your style. Do you have an inspiration board and all that to show them when they come out? Don't you hate when people tell you what they think you should get instead of asking you what you want?

I think your idea of an apron front sink and light colors would be great. And because it's sunny, I'll bet you get lots of natural light into your kitchen. Feel free to post pictures. We'd love to see what you're dealing with. The contractors may not be able to share your vision, but I'll bet we can, and you might get some great ideas and links here.

[vintage girl]

Welcome!!! I live in Norco in Riverside County, CA. I also have a vintage stove which I just love. It is a 1950 Wedgewood. My hubs and I redid our kitchen just about a year or so ago. I have a vintage kitchen and love it. I look forward to seeing some pics of your kitchen and your ideas. Everyone here is wonderful, you will really like this forum.

[RoseMary]

Hi alene~welcome to the forum. How lucky you are (and vintagegirl:)) to have an older stove. I'd love to have an old one someday.

I'm looking forward to hearing more about you and your home.

:)R~Mary

[alene]

Thank You everyone, for your gracious welcomes:)
I live in the west San Fernando Valley.(Valley Girl)hehe. I am so excited and thrilled to have found this site. Yipee!! I have found so many helpful hints and tips already :)
I guess, my style is a combo of shabby chic-vintage-English garden-pottery barnish type..I am sure you all get the idea. If anyone can recommend an interior decorator/contractor with like minded style..please let me know.
I will be sure to update you all with before and after photos as this process begins.
My wish list for the kitchen goes like this~(mostly white)windows in the above cubboards, beadboard below cubboards,two pantries, big farmhouse apron sink with no devider in the middle. counters are still questionable...poss quartz. and floors a mixed grey or mixed light brownish stone (depends on the color of the counters). Also, I have a small window above my kitchen sink. I want to open it up and get a really big garden window to grow herbs and plants. That's what I used to do in my old house. I miss growing plants in my garden window. My kitchen is an L shape with no room for an island..waaaa...I love to bake and I have so much wasted space right now, that I can double the counter space. (which is really cool)
Well, that's about it. And Thank You all again for the wonderful welcomes:)
Alene

[Gigi]

Welcome Alene! This forum is so nice, and friendly with some amazing ideas from everyone.

[Hillary Black]

Welcome, Alene! We are glad to have you here.

How did you find us? (Always fun to know.)

Best wishes,
Hillary

[shabbychick]

Alene,

Have you done much retrofitting of your house for earthquakes? The house I grew up in in Pacoima went through the Sylmar quake in 1971 with no damage except for a couple of hairline cracks in the plaster...those were some sturdy little homes considering how close we were to the epicenter. Still, everything's even older now than it was then. Up here in Seattle we have a lot of old homes, too, that aren't as well retrofitted as they ought to be, including not being tied down to their foundations. I'm a big believer in being prepared for the big one.

[alene]

Hi :)
How I found this site....well, I was surfing the web and googeling cottage kitchens and happened to find, "Cottages and Bungalows"!!:D Lucky me.
As for earthquakes, no the house is not retrofitted, but went through the 94 Northridge quake just fine. I live about 7 miles from the center. whew... Next week I will be obtaining earthquake Ins. The homeowners ins I have, has a special 10% deductable right now. Thanks for reminding me about that ;)

[memmey]

Welcome Alene. Nice to meet you:)