Thursday, March 20, 2014

The Secret Kitchen

The Kitchen Cabinet Saga: The End


Well, hello there! So, you've come back. I'm so happy you have.

See, I thought you might stop by, so I prepared some tea for you.

Comme c'est gentil à vous de passer par là! J'espérais que vous reviendriez et j'ai donc fait du thé.


I even brought some spring coloured macaroons from the most famous macaroon shop in Brittany. Help yourself. Don't you think they are even better than the ones made in Paris? Yes, I think so too. 

J'ai même ramené des macarons de la meilleure boutique de Bretagne. Qu'en pensez-vous? Ils sont meilleurs que ceux de Paris? Ah, je pense comme vous!


What do you mean you don't care that much about tea today? I'm so disappointed! It took me at least ten minutes to buy the macaroons! 

Comment ça mes macarons et mon thé ne vous intéressent pas aujourd'hui? Quelle déception!


So what is it you are here for? The kitchen? Again?

Mais alors, pourquoi êtes-vous là? La cuisine? Encore?


Ok, let's hop in my small car - some of you may have to sit on the roof, it's only a small car - and drive to the kitchenist (that's how we call people who build kitchens in France).

Eh bien, entassons-nous donc tous dans ma petite voiture, direction la boutique du cuisiniste où vous trouverez le même genre de cuisines modernes que l'on trouve partout en ce moment... Mais aussi une autre qui me convient beaucoup mieux.

So here's what you can find in kitchenists' shops in France these days.


From the beginning, this was NOT what I wanted for my cottage.

And then, one day, while driving to work, the road not far from the cottage was on one lane only because they were adding some brand new signs warning you there was a roundabout (that wasn't new at all). Of course, this slowed traffic down, and there, I noticed the kitchenist shop window off the road: I had never bothered to go because I had done all the others and none had my dream kitchen... But there, wasn't it a WHITE kitchen that wasn't looking too modern? I might have slowed the lane a little more to look at it.


Un jour, j'étais en route (et sûrement en retard comme d'habitude) pour un collège et la quatre voies près de chez moi était bouchée car on installait de nouveaux panneaux pour indiquer qu'il y avait là un rond-point (pas nouveau du tout, lui)... Comme j'étais ralentie, j'ai eu le temps de regarder la vitrine du cuisiniste sur cette route. Je n'étais jamais rentrée dans la boutique, un peu désespérée de voir la même chose chez tous... Mais là, que vois-je? N'était-ce pas une cuisine blanche? J'ai peut-être fait empirer le bouchon en ralentissant un peu plus!
 

Now, don't get all your hopes up. I won't be able to pay for all the fancy stuff they are showing in the shop: neither crown moulding for me, nor granite countertop... But I'll have those white cabinets in their basic form, and I'll pay for custom made ones (with the same doors) to hide my boiler and my electrical board. 

Bon, avant que vous vous imaginiez que l'on va transférer cette cuisine telle quelle dans mon cottage, je dois vous avouer que je ne vais pas payer pour les belles corniches, les petites moulures et tous ces petits suppléments, pas plus que je ne peux m'offrir ce plan de travail. Mais les meubles ressembleront à ça et deux seront faits sur mesure avec les mêmes façades pour cacher la chaudière et le tableau électrique.


The kitchen is called "Cottage". How perfect is that? It's very simple and as I'm not paying for any trim (above or under the cabinets), it'll be my job to add my personality to it.

Le modèle s'apppelle "Cottage"... Cela semble prédestiné, non? 

There are many reasons I chose these cabinets. One of the white they offer (the one pictured above) works nicely with Farrow and Ball's All White I used on my ceiling and window. The other whites they have were ugly in my kitchen: one was too white and the other too yellow. The cabinets are made in France and mostly Brittany and they are formaldehyde-free.

Il y a de nombreuses raisons pour lesquelles j'ai arrêté mon choix sur cette cuisine. L'un des blancs qu'ils proposent se marie bien avec mon plafond et ma fenêtre peints avec la teinte All White de Farrow & Ball. Et elle est fabriquée en France, essentiellement en Bretagne, sans formaldéhyde.

It was possible to change them a little (for a price). For example, I won't have those handles... But I haven't chosen mine yet! Also, I'll have less coats of paint on my doors, so that it does appear they are wood... I think the ones showed in the shop looks like plastic.

Il est aussi possible de la personnaliser. Cela a un coût, donc je vais donc me contenter de quelques petits détails: je choisirai d'autres poignées, par exemple, et je vais demander moins de couches de peinture sur les portes pour que l'on se rende compte qu'elles sont en bois (une des rares options qui fait baisser le prix de la cuisine).

So, what do you think? 

Alors, qu'en pensez-vous?

There are still tons of things to decide once the cabinets are chosen, so see you soon!

Il reste plein de décisions à prendre et de détails à régler, alors, à bientôt!






PS1: I'm terribly sorry if I don't have time to comment as usual on your blogs... Will be back to normal in a few days, hopefully.


PS2: I'm sharing my cabinets at some of my favourite parties.

 FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE                                                            Rooted In Thyme            Linky Party        

42 comments:

  1. I think 'thank goodness you've found some cabinets at last'. I really like the style of them, nice and simple and cottage-y. Are you going to have any glazed units, or is that a secret ??

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is going to be so lovely when everything is done. I also love your header!

    ReplyDelete
  3. FABULOUS!!! Love the coloured macaroons too. Can't wait to see when it's finished!
    Hugs,
    FABBY

    ReplyDelete
  4. Simple, classic and oh, so cottage! Great choice. Back to the macaroons - what flavor? My favorite are lavender/basil ones.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 1st, I am one of a few sitting on top of you car, so please drive slow and carefully! I likey, I likey, I agree they look a little plasticy and I like your idea of putting less paint on yours! So enjoying "our" journey of fixing up your kitchen.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the white cabinets, and it was an excellent choice! ♡ It seems like it was a quite an ordeal to get to this point!

    One can always choose handles later, or from somewhere else. They are not that hard to put on with a jig and a drill if you are handy with a drill and measure twice. I purchased the handles and my spouse put them on the refrigerator side "cabinets", and the cabinet guy did the sink side cabinets, and didn't charge me.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am so very happy that you found the cabinets that you want for your cottage. They look terrific and I think they will be perfect in your home. You can always pick the pulls later, but I think you will be so happy with this kitchen. I can hardly wait to see the finished product. Congratulation!!!!
    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  8. The white cabinet looks so simple, but I like it. You give me inspiration more and more.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your cottage and I had an email conversation and the cottage said how much it liked those cabinets, so I am thinking you made the right choice!! Gorgeous!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful!But I just hope that your countertop won't be black!AriadnefromGreece!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Excellent choice! I'm so happy you've decided, but I'm also happy you took your time to make the right decision. Your cottage will be very happy!

    -andi

    ReplyDelete
  12. can't wait to see I'm sure you will do a fabulous job

    ReplyDelete
  13. Glad you found the perfect one Magali! In your kitchen, I think it can look more cottage-y than what's there in the showroom which is more contemporary.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Those will be beautiful. And I love that you won't be going with that look exactly but adding to it yourself to make it fit your cottage. Perfection!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Dear Magali,
    those kitchen cabinets are most beautiful and I am shure, that you will be able to do the most good-looking and tasty macaroons all on your own, inspired by this cottage-kitchen (and if it takes more than 10 minutes, never mind, the longer you bake, the longer you can stay in your heavenly kitchen!) Have a nice weekend! Yours Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  16. I agree with a little DIY you could add crown molding if you want! It's fun adding your own touches. Please, those macaroons are so tempting, it's not fair, can't find any here in North Western Washington State, USA! Have a lovely evening!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm going to wait and see how the cabinets look once they are here: I'm not sure crown molding will look any good with my beamed ceiling... Thanks for visiting, taking the time to write a comment: help yourself of a macaroon.

      Delete
  17. I like the cabinets very much, Magali. Your kitchen will be so charming. The macaroons are lovely. They remind me of spring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always choose my macaroons depending on their colour, rather than their taste! Those were chosen for spring.

      Delete
  18. C'est un choix qui me plaît, mais j'adore aussi les poignées!

    ReplyDelete
  19. These are lovely, Magali--brava! Also, what beautiful macaroons!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh I wish I could take a bite of a macaroon! I've mentioned it before and I'll say it again, I love how you are being true to the "cottage" style of your cottage and resisting the modern look that would be so out of place! I'm sure it will be beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I begin to fear that, by the time I finally decide to relocate my kitchen to the conservatory, I will have to face the same long calvary road of decisions to make, ! O help, it is both frighting and exciting ! But I see you are getting there, you don't rush things and you take one step at a time ! Which is great, thank you for learning from you :-) Marcy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Creating a kitchen from scratch is only a dream when you don't actually have to do it. Finding cabinets I didn't hate in my budget was more of a nightmare... And once you find the cabinets, comes the floorplan nightmare! I hoe you'll find what you dream of for your conservatory.
      Magali

      Delete
  22. Those are beautiful! Perfect for your cozy kitchen. Can't wait to see them in place.

    ReplyDelete
  23. PERFECT. I think they will fit into your lovely home beautifully. As you say, you will add in all your personal touches to complete the space. These will be the perfect "canvas" for that to happen.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh they're going to look beautiful in your cottage.
    And it'll be fun to see you add some Magali to them!
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  25. Well if you ask me, they are the cats 'meow'! Just the look I went for in my basement kitchen. I wish it was my upstairs kitchen, but let's not even go there. You will add your special touches and it's going to be the best cottage kitchen yet! Must say, love, love the color of those macaroons. Tried so very hard to eat one. Wish I could find some here!
    hugs,
    Jann

    ReplyDelete
  26. Bientôt les travaux pour cette belle cuisine! Emmanuelle

    ReplyDelete
  27. Beautiful choice! Ikea has the best knobs for the lowest price anyway. Can't wait to see you put your special touches on those cabinets!!!

    xoxox

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh these are perfect..out of what I know you love and your options...you made the perfect 'Cottage' pick..so excited to see what happens next :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Could these be any more perfect?! I think not! Well done, now I can't wait to see what 'Magali's Magic' will do.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I really like these cabinets. The style is so versatile – I think you can do what you like with them in many decors. Et merci beaucoup pour le thé – les macarons … je ne suis pas trop macarons, plutôt le genre sablé de Bretagne, mais le thé, oui!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi Magali, I would love to have tea with you, thank you so much! And, I can’t wait to go with you to the “kitchenist” to see all the kitchens you’ve had to choose from. I do remember how beautiful Brittany is and I will enjoy the drive. I think your choice is “cottage” perfect and will look awesome in your home. I know you will add your special finishing touches and I can’t wait to see. Love the macaroons............
    Have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Yeah!! The mystery is solved! I am longing to see the final project - so much fun in all of this anticipation you have given to us.
    The tea and macaroons look wonderful - I will be right over - lol!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. They'll look fantastic! Can't wait to see it finished! Thanks for sharing at Simple & Sweet Fridays. The macaroons look delicious!
    Hugs,
    Jody

    ReplyDelete
  34. I think that you found the perfect cabinets, Magali! I would really love to taste those macaroons, especially since they are better than the ones in Paris. I couldn't help thinking they were your inspiration for accent colors in you kitchen!

    ReplyDelete
  35. They're perfect!!! I can't wait to see it all progressing. And thank you for the pretty macaron! Mmmm.... ~Angela~

    ReplyDelete
  36. They are going to be beautiful in your little cottage. You can always add the trim later yourself. Thanks for the tea!

    ReplyDelete
  37. First, thanks for the tea and macaroons. I've always wanted to try a macaroon and this was my first. I think the cabinets you chose are perfect for your kitchen. I agree lesser coats of paint. You don't need them to look too slick. Can't wait to see how you finish them off!

    ReplyDelete
  38. This kitchen is beautiful and will be beautiful in the little white house. 'Cottage', I think it was meant to be!!

    ReplyDelete

It makes me so happy to read your comments! Let me know you stopped by!
J'adore lire vos commentaires. N'hésitez pas à vous joindre à cette discussion multi-lingue.