This Spray Paint Is a Perfect Match for Delta Champagne Bronze

The plumber was coming to do all the hookups, and I still hadn't found a drinking faucet that matched the shape and finish of our sink faucet, the Delta Trinsic in "champagne bronze." While purchasing the sink on Wayfair, I saw this inexpensive Kingston Brass Continental drinking faucet that matched the shape. I decided to snap it up and just hope for the best with the finishes. When the fixtures came in, however, it was clear they were not even close—golden bronze vs. yellow gold. You won't believe what I did next.

Renovation Diary: Trouble-Shooting the Integrated Paneled Liebherr Refrigerator

Some elements in this kitchen design have to be just right, and integrating the paneled refrigerator is one. The kitchen will be open to the living room and dining room, and I didn't want the look and feel of the rooms to be dominated by hulking appliances. Now that the fridge is in, you can see the paneled appliances make all the difference. This installation went fairly smoothly. At least, it did after the guys realized the Liebherr fridge vents in front! But if you're considering a fully integrated refrigerator, here are just a few things I wish I'd known in advance about the Liebherr HC2080.

Renovation Diary: Why I Went With Drawers in All My Base Cabinets

Designing this kitchen for maximum functionality and efficient use of space, I specced drawers in ALL the base cabinets. The utility, functionality, and efficient use of space simply can't be beat. And no more kneeling on the floor to search for small appliances. More than this, I just love the symmetry in my design. I'll store heavy items like small appliances in the bottom drawers and flatware, utensils, and spices in the top "hidden" drawers.

Renovation Diary: IKEA + Scherr's Pantries, Toe-Kicks, and Trim

And we have pantries, and moldings, and toe kicks today! I never know exactly what I’ll see when I get home after work each night this week. Yesterday the carpenter had finished up the top trim, installed the toe-kicks, and placed the pantry doors. The quality of the Scherr's woodwork is excellent so far. I'm really happy with our decision to go with them to create the custom doors for our IKEA cabinets.

Renovation Diary: Custom Doors on IKEA Cabinets

And we have doors!

Things are really coming together now. The sink has been repositioned and fixes made to the length of the sink run. Some of doors are up, and gosh they’re beautiful. Scherr’s did this bit of custom work. They’re solid maple in shaker style painted Sherwin Williams Extra White with a durable factory style finish. They came pre-drilled for the IKEA Blum hinges and scaled to fit my IKEA layout.

Renovation Diary: Why Liebherr Is the Only Paneled Refrigerator for Me

More renovation drama! We had a moment yesterday morning when the carpenter said he thought the fridge couldn’t be flush. I was about to have a nervous breakdown. I had done so much research that I knew this integrated model can be absolutely flush and “disappear” behind the panels. Meldown averted; it turned out he thought that he had to leave space in the back, as you do on some models. You don’t with this one. The Liebherr refrigerator ventilates at the front, in space hidden beneath the front drawer panel.
 

Renovation Diary: Choosing My Paonazzo Marble Slabs

This weekend I chose my marble slabs — the ones I'm standing in front of here are mine. When you're renovating a kitchen you have to count yourself lucky to live in a city with proximity to stone yards with optimal selection. This is my fourth kitchen renovation, and ABS Stone in Long Island City, NY, is without exaggeration, the best stone yard I've ever visited.

Renovation Diary: Mistakes Happen, or, the Sink-Run Issue

Today was a tough day on the renovation front. I discovered the sink run was longer than I'd specified in the design. How did this happen?