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Wow, that is gorgeous. Nice work, and so fast! (Week two here and we're still down to the studs).
That floating buffet... mmm, so mod, so lovely.
I love your solution to the old fluorescent fixture. Can I ask a question about that particular light fitting, since I was ogling it tonight at the local Ikea? How far back from the wall is it positioned, does it cast any significant shadows when you're working on the countertop, and does it feel like it gives you enough light to function by?
Your kitchen is fantastic! Love everything and especially love that you did that much work in a matter of days. That is amazing. I too LOVE the beluga (my fave is the green version) and it among my stacks of laminate samples. The bamboo is georgous and those stools are fab.
Bring on the Hallarum! The more I see of it, the more I love it. And it looks wonderful with the bamboo floor.
Emily, do you know if bamboo can be installed over concrete? If we do Hallarum, I love the light floor with it, but since we are going to extend the kitchen into part of the laundry room, it has concrete under that area. I know we can't do hardwood.
I'm so envious of your wide open space and I love the buffet!
Laurie, why can't you do hardwood over concrete? Unless you're below grade, you can certainly get hardwood that will be fine. We're on slab and we have oak parquet almost everywhere.
Laurie, I'm not sure about the bamboo over concrete. I know that the stuff i read about it mentions it, but to be honest, i skipped right over those parts, since it didn't pertain to me! Usually though, the constraints on the bamboo were similar to the constraints on hardwood.
kakapo, i'm very happy with the light provided by the halogen fixture. I haven't noticed any shadows, and the light it provides is great when combined with the island pendants (which are all on the same switch, so i've never had one on without the other). But, to be honest, the bulk of the food prep that i do is on the island, so i probably haven't done enough on the other stretch of countertop to evaluate the shadow problem thoroughly. The good thing is that each individual light on the fixture is adjustable, so i imagine that would help with any potential shadow problem.
Thanks for all the compliments on the buffet, everyone! I realized i didn't put a good picture of the whole thing now that i put the long LANSA handles on it. I'm kind of regretting that i did that, because i really like the look of the long, handleless expanse of the Hallarum doors. Now i'm wishing that i had put on those very minimalist tab-like handles (i can't think of the name, but do you know what i mean?). Oh well. I've decided i need to live with it, since it will look bad to fill the holes, and i'm not going to pay to replace the doors. I know i'm being overly picky and particular, too. :?
You can put hardwood and for that matter, bamboo over concrete if you use an engineered wood flooring product. I'm not talking about plastic laminate here. For those of you who don't know, engineered wood flooring has the species of wood or bamboo that you choose on the top most wear layer (the part you see and walk on). Attached on the bottom of the wear layer is typically a plywood type structure that gives the flooring stability and substance. The wear layer is usually between 1 and 5 milimeters thick and gives the appearance of a solid wood floor but without many of its limitations.
As an added benefit, many species of EWF can be had as a no glue, click flooring that is easier and cheaperfor the DIYer to install
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The next thing I say to you will be true. The last thing I said was false. -Devo
I'm late in here but your kitchen is gorgeous! WOW, from blah to beautiful is an absolute understatement!
Congratulations!
__________________ Never discourage anyone... who continually makes progress, no matter how slow. ~ Plato Craig and Stacy - Slowly making progress since 2005 Need help posting photos to Ikeafans? Check out the Gallery Tutorial
Emily - don't mean to take your wonderful progress post and turn it into my flooring situation. I think I was thinking that I wasn't able to install it in the basement, but that is below grade. So, should be fine on grade! It really does look beautiful with the Hallarum.
I know what you're talking about with the handles. They're "tab-like" at the top of the door. Don't know what they're called either.
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I know we can't do hardwood.
