Hi Cathy, these are exciting times. I'm planning my new kitchen by the beach at the moment. With an install date the first week in July.

i have decided to go with white 2pac cabinetry mostly very contemporary with no handles( I find the air here is very corrosive my 3 year old laundry handles need replacing already & they were, I was told stainless steel)

I'm having heaps of upgraded soft close draws.

One end of my kitchen will have Hampton style cabinetry to a top bifold larder section with 4 glass fronted cabinets with lights to run across the top. For these I am just going to have small knobs (they can be simply changed).

I have chosen "Moak Black" stone for the outside L shaped bench tops and a reclaimed timber bench top to the island. I love the Moak Black it is non shiney, glossy surfaces drive me insane and I'm not real keen on anything speckled or marble.

The cabinet maker is going to mirror the timber island by placing the same timber on the ceiling dropping it down about 150-200mm (a bit like a floating ceiling). to which I will put down lights, once again something that won't go rusty !

im still a little torn on splashback as I really don't like subway tiles, there way to ordinary, grout is grubby stuff. Might just go for glass as it will reflect the water and stunning view out front.

i just want to quickly add one of the lovely houzzers recommended I watch the movie "Something's Gotta Give". Apart from being a great Jack Nicholson film it has a stunning beach kitchen. Check it out, and please keep me updated with your plans !

thank you so much for your feedback, your kitchen sounds wonderful, I know it will look fabulous Cathy

Hi there Debbie, leased to hear that you enjoyed Jack and just loved that house and
kitchen, We have done owner builder in the past hard work but very
satisfying, one of our kitchens had a large island which housed the
cooktop, we built a white box approx 250 x800 x 1.6 which was suspended from the ceiling, this had a built in range
hood and extra down lights installed into it, very simple uncluttered
Look and worked really well, cabinets were white with timber benchtops, any photos Cathy

Have you looked at any of the images on Houzz?

Love the idea of the Matte Black features but it needs to be paired well with the cabinetry, etc.

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This image is a very "beachy" style home which incorporates the black and white well. This may not be the layout of your kitchen, however the timber on the floors is incorporated nicely yet subtly. I would really think a lot about having a timber bench top close to the beach - swelling, weather conditions, salt air, etc... Engineered Stone is cheaper & a lot easier to clean - plus it also has a wide range of styles to suit.

Were happy to assist you in coming up with a design! Let us know.

My reclaimed timber bench top is Australian Beech. I am looking forward to the added texture and unique Eco friendly warmth it will bring to the space. It should be a great contrast against the hard stone common surface. I have asked that the top be mounted so it is easily detached to be taken away for resurfacing or replacing in years to come. It is also coming in far cheaper than my already selected stone tops

Hi Siriuskey, I sent you a couple of pics, did you get them ?

yes just now I have sent you a message,

thank you, you are right and that is what I have been struggling with ; what are your feeling about a peacock blue in the overhead cupboards, ( instead of the black and white subway tiles as the splash back or a photo on glass??? would that be too much , Cathy.

Hi Cathy, I think a photo on glass may in time get tiring. A pattern or even just a plane colour personally I think would look nicer. If there is a photo you really like by all means go with it. When standing against your bench, glass can be very reflective so will pic up images from behind.

There is a website called Shutterstock that has thousands of splashback images to choose from check it out.

I think your black tapware will be an eye catcher as well. They will look lovely.

I think having your cabinetry and tops as a feature is probably enough, then you could have just a selected couple of items on your bench. Like flowers, book, bowl. I have thought I might look for a lovely glass sculpture tropical fish for my bench. All bench top items are simple to update/move.

I did find this pic on houzz I think the tile colour beautifully reflects our beachy location the glass tiles are stunning but I might just steal the colours and find a benchtop item of similar colours rather than the full splashback.

Just some food for thought....

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