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generic IKEA overwhelms - too much white, looks like a showroom kitchen.

Gorgeous in its utter simplicity! Love the tiles and love the clean, almost sterile, look. Nice job!

As a big fan on minimalist yet functional Kitchens, I think that this has great potential, but its needs some personal touches to mitigate the IKEA-ness. Perhaps some unique drawer pulls to start.

Also, you seem to be going to the simple stark look, but the existence of the soap bottle, dish cloth/sponge and drying rack take away from the look. I suggest storing them under the sink when not in use. Or consider replacing the soap container with something unique to further 'personalize' the kitchen.

Perhaps it's just the photograph, but this looks so unremittingly _white_ and almost excruciatingly bright.

The tiles are pretty, but I think everything looks so washed out. I always think of the kitchen being one of the most warm and lived in looking rooms of a home and this feels too stark and sterile for me. Sorry.

I'd also go with stainless steel sink accessories rather than plastic to better match the cabinet above the sink.

It looks very clean and I like the glass tile, but overall it feels too "clinical" to me. The white cabinets are overwhelming, although I do envy all your storage space.

It needs some color. Flowers, interesting drawer pulls, art leaning against the wall, whatever, but something

I sometimes do like clean design, but I agree with chiffonade-- this looks like a place I might go to get some sort of examination by a man in a coat that matches the kitchen. With that said, I think it has some potential-- it just seems sort of stark and impersonal right now.

How are the Silestone counters working out? I noticed that you repeated the Silestone in the bottom of the backsplash -- was that becasue you didn't want the class tile to break or is it a cleaning thing?

At first I was a little overwhelmed by the shiny white and the glass tile. But, after revisiting I remembered this kitchen is in Puerto Rico. With San Juan being tropical I believe this kitchen really works. I would be interested to see photos of the rest of the apartment to put things into context.

Personally, I would put in some stainless appliances to complement the kitchen but overall this is a great look and feel for a tropical environment. I'm curious is there an integrated dishwasher? If so, how difficult was it to accomodate an Ikea panel to fit it? Also, what color and material is the floor?

I love the tile backsplash. The kitchen seems a bit sterile, though. Maybe some pops of color would make it seem a little less like an exam room?

Whoa. This is the exact configuration of the kitchen in my rental except where you have an opening on the right in the photos I have another wall. It certainly makes me pine for what might have been if the person who installed my kitchen had better taste.

Anyone one know of a cheap fix for bad faux walnut cabinets? I'd paint them but I've seen what that looks like in a couple of the other apartments in my building. Not a pretty sight. ;-)

OOOOOOkkk, I thought that I was the only PRican in AT and related websites. I'm not alone! HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO SHIP THIS?!!!!!!!!!!

i really like this! although i can appreciate the sleek aesthetic, i would love to see what a bright blue kitchen aid would look like in this space.

Insta Finalist! I love this kitchen. Strange but I've seen so many other white kitchens on A.T. that aren't even located on a tropical island and the positive response has been overwhelming. Go figure. Anyway, Manolo I love the sea green tiles they blend in beautifully against the high gloss cabinets. I'm glad you stuck with a white stove and fridge - I'm starting to get sick of stainless!

Too sterile for my taste; looks like a hospital, not home.

love the tile but that's it.
It is nice to have an organized clean space but this doesn't have any life to it,sorry.JMO

I think the only color you need is whatever is in your food!

It's a great layout, I like the shiny-ness and I can even go with a certain amount of white - but this is too bland and lifeless for me.

It could use more contrast. There's nothing for the eye to rest on. Nothing stands out.

That said, it's a stellar job. Kudos on your design. Did you install everything yourself?

I am at once jealous and yet--so not jealous--of how frequent you must have to wipe stains/drips/yuckiness off all that glossy white!

This is an awesome kitchen. I love all the clean white surfaces and cool green tile. It is a nice change from all that tacky granite-maple-stainless that has been floating around lately.


definitely an instafinalist

I have never gasped at a picture on AT before. Amazing.
It looks so easy to clean. I would be honored to eat anything that came out of that kitchen.

ok. I love this kitchen including the soap bottle, sponge, and dish drainer. The blue liquid soap echos the blue bowls in the cabinet above the sink. It also look as if the green tile references the glassware in the same cabinet. As for the sponge and the towel: people! it's not a catalog! I, for one, really like white and the beautiful green tile gives it a dreamy, beachy look that I truly grok.

Love the design, hate the color.

Love the tile, but overall effect is antiseptic. The lines above the microwave break the white in such a way as to imply dirt.

MANOLO YOU ROCK AND SO DOES YOUR KITCHEN. THE GREEN AND WHITE IS AWESOME! NO ONE ON THIS SITE CAN THINK OF ANYTHING BETTER THAN TO COPY OFF EACH OTHER! :)
Good Job!

too white for me

It looks like you haven't even moved in yet. There's practically nothing in the kitchen. Looks like no one ever cooks in there!

Thanks for all your comments!! A couple of answers about this kitchen:
1. Integrated dishwasher – There is no dishwasher in this kitchen. It saves energy! That being electric energy, not MY energy.
2. Silestone rocks! – It is unstainable, nearly indestructible and one of the most hygienic materials for a countertop. Silestone at the bottom of the backsplash makes cleaning easier.
3. Cleaning – This came as a surprise. It is a fairly used kitchen but does not get any more dirty than the previous earth tone kitchen. The undermount sink and having a ceramic cooktop are great cleaning aids!
4. Shipping and installation – The kitchen was purchased in Paramus, NJ. A week later the flat packs were delivered to my sister’s home in Short Hills, NJ, where another week went by before a moving company picked up the stuff and shipped it to PR. About 3 weeks later the kitchen was here. The installation feat was accomplished by yours truly and a kitchen installer who works for a designer friend.
5. About the choice of white – It was a very deliberate choice. As opposed to more temperate climates, where shades of brown and grey predominate, the milieu of a sunny tropical island is saturated in color!! The minute I step out of my door the eye is exposed to every conceivable shade and combination of color. Hence, white or the near absence of color in this kitchen gives the eye a much needed rest from the elements outside. Isn’t that what home is all about?

Can you move this kitchen to my apartment?

Thx.

Except add a dishwasher. I'm lazy.

Hi Manolo

Great job! I do understand your choice of white. White works much better in the tropics than it does in the northern climes. Fresh and clean down there - rather lifeless up here in the north. Go figure.

Did you find looking back on your purchase, (both style and costs), that you could have used some local vendors for a similar result? For instance -Are there pre-made cabinets available from Home Depot?

I intend to send Ikea kitchen items to Puerto Rico as well.

What shipping company did you use? Do you have an idea of the cubic feet and cost? I will be shipping from Connecticut – so the costs may be very close and your input very helpful.

I am also curious about the cost of the counter top. Do you have an idea of cost per square foot or running foot?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Carlos