The kitchen is the heart of a home. It’s the room I’ve spent the most time planning for, and it’s the part of the house I’m most eager to see come to fruition. It’s also where I’ll probably spend most of my time.

A while ago I shared my plans for the layout, but today I can share some of the decisions we’ve made and a few of the details we are hoping to acheive.

We are going with a classic looking inframe kitchen from Cash & Carry kitchens. It will come primed, and I’m planning to paint it Little Greene’s Hick’s Blue.

I really want marble countertops, but most likely we will go for the more durable Santa Margherita Victoria quartz countertops.

The Sweetest Digs has a blog about selecting their Victoria countertops, and it was incredibly helpful in making our decision. (photo below from The Sweetest Digs)

Lately, I’ve been trying to firm up which appliances we’ll be buying. The range cooker has been the hardest decision. Paint color, wallpaper and backsplash tiles have been selected. Mood Board images (clockwise):

1. Lyndale Inframe Kitchen
2. Hick’s Blue
3. Smeg’s Victoria Range Cooker in light blue is on sale this month, putting it in our price range!
4. Graham & Brown Wallpaper for either side of the chimney breast
5. Terracotta tiles (We just decided to tile the floor this week. The reclaimed convent flooring will now go in the library, as doing parquet in there is probably outside our budget). I’m having a hard time finding affordable hex tiles in Ireland, but a place here actually makes beautiful square ones.
6. Morrocan style cement tiles for the backspalsh

Ideas and inspiration (clockwise-ish):

1. I’m planning to use the copper pipes that came out of the bathroom to make pot racks.
2. Ikea pendant lights for over the island.
3. We’re planning to pick up this gamekeeper sink from Centurion Stone.
4. The pie safe chicken wire doors might be a cheap alternative to glass for the press (closet) in the kitchen.
5. Thinking about the Waterford Stanley Fionn multi-fuel stove. I love the long legs and that it has a hotplate on top.
6. We discovered a big arch behind the ugly fireplace. We’re hoping to expose the chimney breast and fix up the brick (fingers crossed) and then place the stove inside.
7. I love the rustic plank shelving used in this kitchen and would like to do similar in ours.
8. I will feel so fancy with an “American Fridge/Freezer” as they call them here.
9. I have two mid-century chairs (similar to this one) to refurbish that will go next to the wood stove.
10. Looking forward to displaying my blue mason jars on our open shelving.
11. I couldn’t part with a little red handled rolling pin when we moved, and now I have the perfect use for it as a towel bar attached to the island.

Here’s the layout again:

It sounds corny, but this kitchen is seriously going to feel like a dream come true. Especially with the french doors opening out to the river.