Layout:
Home > Asking for advice!

Asking for advice!

February 20th, 2008 at 04:26 pm

We are building a big fancy house! Most of the spec homes we have built were cute little homes, except for the last one.
We get to pick everything out,which is the fun part. Pick stuff out with someone else's money!!
This house is their spec house, so we are trying to save money. But it is a high end house, so we have to make it nice. (Price is $799,000)
What would you all reccommend that we use on the countertops in the kitchen?
In the bathrooms?
(I like tile, but have been told that tile is OUT)

24 Responses to “Asking for advice!”

  1. compulsive debtor Says:
    1203524963

    Granite is the way to go in the kitchen these days, Julie.

  2. Nancy Says:
    1203526888

    I watch the home shows on HGTV and they always use granite. I personally do not like the way granite looks One of my kitchen counters (the one opposite the sink, so it does not have any water-using devices around it such as dishwasher or sink or even the stove) is made of wood; it is a long wood counter and I love it. Next to that, it is a built in desk, also made of wood, and shelves.

    Anyway -- people like granite.

  3. Nika Says:
    1203526947

    I like dark (almost black) granite with little blue dots. Like starry night sky.

  4. KellyB Says:
    1203527137

    Granite is definitely the high end choice.

  5. monkeymama Says:
    1203527521

    Granite all the way! Big Grin

  6. Ima saver Says:
    1203527785

    That is what I thought, too bad I don't like it. Would you use it in the bathrooms too? I am having a man made marble shower made for the master bath. also a jetted tub will go in there.

  7. merch Says:
    1203528823

    Travertine tile, granite or marble in bathroom.

    Where I live outside Boston, 800k is not a mansion, but everyone expects granite countertops, travertine tiles, real wood floors, real marble or granite, big tub and fancy shower in master bedroom.

    Of course if it's outside NYC, I would expect a 1950's ranch on a half acre.

  8. Ima saver Says:
    1203529707

    This is 4600 square feet, on a creek, with a mountain and lake view. My husband will do the entire interior, completely by himself! That way it will be perfect!

  9. mom-from-missouri Says:
    1203531632

    If the lady of the kitchen bakes, a counter top of marble is nice--it is recommended for rolling out pastries and crusts on.

    I also love my faucents--they pull away to fill pots. One at the kitchen sink, and another at the stove to refill pots at the stove.

  10. gruntina Says:
    1203532106

    Your husband is going to need several large strong men to assist in order to carry in all that granite if you go with that. That is HEAVY!! Another alternative is quartz or slate. If it is a mountain home, I would keep it more of an earthly neutral tone colors depending on the type of wood cabinets and if using stainless steel appliances.

    Myself, I do not like granite either. I more into the 'green' materials and more the durable the material and the easiest to clean, the better for me. I live in a 1900's cabin/cottage and granite would sure look funny in that house. I love the butcher top wood but that is mighty expensive too.

  11. littlemama Says:
    1203532577

    Yes, most definately dark granite. Just beautiful.

  12. Nika Says:
    1203532669

    In Manhattan that money could buy us a modest 2 bedroom co-op in an old walk-up with a closet-sized bathroom and above 1K monthly maintenance.

  13. Ima saver Says:
    1203536631

    This house will have a large foyer with a waterfall. A very large great room and large formal dining room with a marble fireplace in the great room.
    The kitchen is huge with an island. There is a breakfast room also. Right off the kitchen is a computer/office and also a large pantry.
    The Master bedroom is large with a seperate sitting room with marble fireplace. The walk in closet is as big as a bedroom as is the bathroom with shower and jetted tub.
    Downstairs are 3 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths.
    There is a large rec room with a full kitchen and a wine cellar.
    There is a stone fireplace in the rec room and built in barbque pit outside.
    There is a large laundry room off of the double car garage.
    The house has 12 foot ceilings, many of them treyed ceiling. The doors are all 8 feet tall inside, with an 8 foot front door with cut glass.
    There will be lots of fancy trim and moldings!
    It will be a very nice house with great views from almost every room! p.s., I meant to say a computer/office room.

  14. scfr Says:
    1203539668

    Granite, marble, or quartz seem to be standard in higher end homes (and even middle) these days. Personally, I think granite is so overdone that it must be verging on becoming passe.

    Another option that I'm partial to is terrazzo counters, especially in kitchens. They seem to be popular with the slightly younger and/or environmentally-conscious crowd. They also seem to appear in more modern homes, but I think they have quite a traditional flair to them. It's less conventional than granite, so you may want to ask the buyers what they would like!

  15. Nika Says:
    1203541134

    Ima, you are putting salt on my wounds!
    We just looked at a 500sf 1 br for 380K. (in reality a studio with a wall in the middle)
    It only has 2 windows in one room and no windows in the living room, kitchen, bathroom and everything is old. Counterops are tiny and of some kind of yellowish plastic. And the montly maintenance is around $600. The worst thing is - it is the best deal I've seen, so we are thinking about it.

  16. Ima saver Says:
    1203544661

    Nika, I am sorry. You can get a lot of house around here for 380K. This house has many huge windows (to see all the views) and they are anderson. I had never heard of terrazo countertops. I will look into that!

  17. rob62521 Says:
    1203549357

    I know all the home improvement shows on HGTV are always putting granite in, but even if I wanted it (I don't), it doesn't really thrill me if I have to seal it twice a year. What if you did a professional kitchen and had stainless steel countertops? I saw that on one of the kitchen shows. It really looked nice.

  18. nance Says:
    1203555633

    If you don't want to spend thousands on a granite slab, you could consider granite tiles (12x12) and edge it in a nice hardwood. Lots of people are doing that. In a house that pricey, though, people will want a granite slab.

  19. compulsive debtor Says:
    1203561310

    I've also seen some interesting things done with concrete in bathrooms on high-end homes. I don't know the first thing about how they do it, though. I wonder if anyone's seen it on HGTV. No TV means no HGTV for me....

  20. koppur Says:
    1203593163

    I'm weeping with jealousy! Smile
    I personally love marble counter tops. That white with gray/black swirls in it. That way you can do either dark or light colors and they both go well. Pair that with a nicematching marble floor..gorgeous! Of course, my ultimate dream house is one like my aunts: a 1970's farm house completely restored to the original structure and time. Hidden rooms and all. *sigh*

  21. luxlivingfrugalis Says:
    1203597960

    Julie - why don't you take a realtor out and go looking at some other homes???

    Do you have a local realtor magazine that is for free in the foyers of most grocers these days? Could you look in there and see what others have done in that price-range.

    I know that media rooms are popular in my neck of the woods - meaning that there is one dark room w/fancy seating and room for the technology to screen movies.

  22. Ima saver Says:
    1203612504

    This is a realtor that we are building the house for; her spec house. She wants us to pick everything out!

  23. aevans1206 Says:
    1204132072

    I've heard some people put in concrete countertops. Pictures I've seen look pretty nice. Just an idea...

  24. gruntina Says:
    1204143832

    I wanted to say the same for the concrete countertops. There are some sophisticated designs where the faucet comes out of the wall keeping the countertop very clean and dry with a simple look. After my husband showed this to me, it is definitely something I want for my future kitchen remodel.

    Concrete can be smoothed down to where it is shiny and it can be colored as well.

Leave a Reply

(Note: If you were logged in, we could automatically fill in these fields for you.)
*
Will not be published.
   

* Please spell out the number 4.  [ Why? ]

vB Code: You can use these tags: [b] [i] [u] [url] [email]