[chabuchie]

That looks great! I really wanted to use Beluga in my bath, but it didn't work out. It's my absolute favorite laminate. (is it strange to have a favorite laminate?) Anyway, I love your kitchen, and I'm so glad you took progress shots. It looks beautiful.

[Lisa]

Now I know how good my original vision would have looked ::eyes Susan::

Wow. Very nice. People talked me out of the Beluga Beige, but it looks really great with the Hallarum.

[Brodysmom]

Congratulatlions, it looks great. I love your laminate. Whocould look at this kitchen (and all the other great ones on this website) and not love Ikea?

[Liz H]

Looks great! You guys really made quick work.

[GardenOfDarwin]

Wow! (are you getting tired of hearing WOW, yet?) That looks great! Very clean -- hard to believe it's the same as the before shots. Your island shot with all the handles is wonderful...looks like a magazine! congrats!

Lisa -- I didn't talk you out of your vision, did I? (hangs head)

Susan

[Shadowkat]

It is wonderful. It is so great to see another Hallarum kitchen. Mine is in boxes and I get more excited about getting it installed with every picture. Question -- I have read the posts about problems with doors not matching, what was your experience?

Funny about Beluga, we are using Silestone for our countertops but needed a laminate for the booth table. I had originally picked out the greener version of Beluga, but DH vetoed it. Can't wait to show him your pictures and how great it would have looked!

[emilymch]

Oh goodness! Thank you, everyone, you're so kind!

Shadowkat, I have noticed quite a bit of variance in the color of the Hallarum doors. I think it all depends on how much things like that bother you. I got a few of our doors in the as-is department, and one of those happens to be very different from the others (the door directly to the right of the microwave). It bothered me a little at first, but it looks fine to me now. I know that other people on the site have exchanged the unmatching doors for new ones, so if it bothers you on your kitchen, i'm sure you could do that. For me, once all the cabinets and cover panels were in, it just started to look normal. Of course, i could see how it would bother someone.

Susan, i'm pretty sure i won't ever get tired of hearing the wows!

Chabuchie, it is totally not strange to have a favorite laminate. If we had had an unlimited budget, i would have gotten a different countertop material (i didn't even research them, since i knew they were out of reach for us, so i have no idea what i would have chosen), but as far as laminate goes, i think beluga is great. I've never really been into the laminate that tries to look like granite or marble or other natural things. But those patterns are good for their crumb-hiding properties (what, you mean i have to clean the kitchen too?!). So the beluga is the best of both worlds (to me) - patterned, but not trying to be something it isn't.

Its very cool to hear about all the interest in the beluga laminate! Now i really need to get to work on that backsplash, so i can post totally finished photos!

[lanstan]

I am amazed at the transformation. You are such an inspiration! It could be in any magazine and I would never know it wasnt a top dollar kitchen. You did great work!

[emilymch]

ps - i must say, you are all amazing for your ability to look past the green and blue sponge-painted backsplash () and see the beauty.

[kmcg]

Emily - I absolutely love it! I have a mid-century house, and seeing your Hallarum with the perfectly complementarybamboo floors makes me want to re-do my kitchen again, in a modern vein. At least I got to put Hallarum in my bedroom! I actually like the variation in door color - it has character. The formica is very cool. Your ceiling fan is like an airplane propeller, or one of the giant windmills that surround Palm Springs. Also very cool.

Reading about your moving day made me feel panic by proxy; you must be either very brave or extremely organized. Thanks for posting this.

Kathy