A realtor I know put something up on Facebook about what not to do when
taking pics of home listings. This led me to some websites of ugly homes
and picture after picture of cabinets put in by the builder, John F. Long.
Apparently he died recently at age 87. He was a builder in the Phoenix AZ
area and he installed these cabinets during the 60's and 70's. Just looking
at them makes me feel depressed and unsettled. And I hadn't even thought of
this until I read a comment that someone had written, but just imagine how
much grease and dust those things would retain. Eek!

http://tinyurl.com/mecfv4k

https://www.google.com/search?q=john...w&ved=0CDIQsAQ

Please note that not all of the pics in that link are his stuff. His are
the ones with all of the little wooden panels and from what I have seen,
when first installed, they were mostly dark in hue. Such as black or
brownish black. All the more depressing.

Things like this actually make me feel a bit better because I don't have
them! I do feel sorry for anyone who has been saddled with these
eyesores in their house who can't afford to replace them. They don't like
quite as scary when painted white or blue but they still are not good.

Normally I like a retro look. Just not this one!

On Thu, 12 Feb 2015 02:35:10 -0800, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

> A realtor I know put something up on Facebook about what not to do when
> taking pics of home listings. This led me to some websites of ugly homes
> and picture after picture of cabinets put in by the builder, John F. Long.
> Apparently he died recently at age 87. He was a builder in the Phoenix AZ
> area and he installed these cabinets during the 60's and 70's. Just looking
> at them makes me feel depressed and unsettled. And I hadn't even thought of
> this until I read a comment that someone had written, but just imagine how
> much grease and dust those things would retain. Eek!
>
> http://tinyurl.com/mecfv4k
>
> https://www.google.com/search?q=john...w&ved=0CDIQsAQ
>
It seems like he is emulating divided light (glass) doors, but you're
right - it's a fail. I like looking at these, but I wouldn't install
them in my kitchen. Glass cabinet doors are not my thing. Glass
doors are a pain in the neck to keep clean no matter where they are.

> Please note that not all of the pics in that link are his stuff. His are
> the ones with all of the little wooden panels and from what I have seen,
> when first installed, they were mostly dark in hue. Such as black or
> brownish black. All the more depressing.
>
> Things like this actually make me feel a bit better because I don't have
> them! I do feel sorry for anyone who has been saddled with these
> eyesores in their house who can't afford to replace them. They don't like
> quite as scary when painted white or blue but they still are not good.
>
> Normally I like a retro look. Just not this one!
>
I hate raised panels too. My kitchen cabinets are flat front and they
are staying that way. The closest thing to a raised panel that I like
to *look* at is Shaker style cabinets, but I wouldn't have them in my
own kitchen because I want to cook, not spend my time cleaning those
surfaces. I hate kitchens that have been tiled too. Grout? Ugh.

--
A kitchen without a cook is just a room

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 12 Feb 2015 02:35:10 -0800, "Julie Bove"
> > wrote:
>
>> A realtor I know put something up on Facebook about what not to do when
>> taking pics of home listings. This led me to some websites of ugly homes
>> and picture after picture of cabinets put in by the builder, John F.
>> Long.
>> Apparently he died recently at age 87. He was a builder in the Phoenix
>> AZ
>> area and he installed these cabinets during the 60's and 70's. Just
>> looking
>> at them makes me feel depressed and unsettled. And I hadn't even thought
>> of
>> this until I read a comment that someone had written, but just imagine
>> how
>> much grease and dust those things would retain. Eek!
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/mecfv4k
>>
>> https://www.google.com/search?q=john...w&ved=0CDIQsAQ
>>
> It seems like he is emulating divided light (glass) doors, but you're
> right - it's a fail. I like looking at these, but I wouldn't install
> them in my kitchen. Glass cabinet doors are not my thing. Glass
> doors are a pain in the neck to keep clean no matter where they are.
>
>> Please note that not all of the pics in that link are his stuff. His are
>> the ones with all of the little wooden panels and from what I have seen,
>> when first installed, they were mostly dark in hue. Such as black or
>> brownish black. All the more depressing.
>>
>> Things like this actually make me feel a bit better because I don't have
>> them! I do feel sorry for anyone who has been saddled with these
>> eyesores in their house who can't afford to replace them. They don't
>> like
>> quite as scary when painted white or blue but they still are not good.
>>
>> Normally I like a retro look. Just not this one!
>>
> I hate raised panels too. My kitchen cabinets are flat front and they
> are staying that way. The closest thing to a raised panel that I like
> to *look* at is Shaker style cabinets, but I wouldn't have them in my
> own kitchen because I want to cook, not spend my time cleaning those
> surfaces. I hate kitchens that have been tiled too. Grout? Ugh.

I've never had glass so don't know how they are. What I have now is what
seems to be standard for the 80's for this area. Mine are like those in the
second picture down, minus the knobs. My brother has the exact same ones
and his house was built around the same time period.

http://www.bhg.com/kitchen/cabinets/...-oak-cabinets/

I hate them although it could be worse. I really prefer what I think is the
kind that you have. I believe they are called "slab". I have read that
they are not as common because they are not as sturdy although I can't see
why that would be. I also hate that oak color. I would prefer plain white
or even a dark or bright color.

On Thu, 12 Feb 2015 08:52:21 -0800, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

> I really prefer what I think is the
> kind that you have. I believe they are called "slab". I have read that
> they are not as common because they are not as sturdy although I can't see
> why that would be.

Mine are very sturdy - they're 50-60 years old and still going strong.

> I also hate that oak color. I would prefer plain white
> or even a dark or bright color.

Type of wood and shade preference comes and goes, we painted our white
a few years ago. This kitchen is fine for us, but the next owner of
the house will gut it to update it into some sort of great room.
Hopefully they will leave the dining room intact as much as possible
because of the real, not faux, gumwood panels that would be very
expensive to replace. http://oi61.tinypic.com/9veij6.jpg



--
A kitchen without a cook is just a room

On Thu, 12 Feb 2015 09:37:54 -0800, sf > wrote:

>On Thu, 12 Feb 2015 08:52:21 -0800, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:
>
>> I really prefer what I think is the
>> kind that you have. I believe they are called "slab". I have read that
>> they are not as common because they are not as sturdy although I can't see
>> why that would be.
>
>Mine are very sturdy - they're 50-60 years old and still going strong.
>
>> I also hate that oak color. I would prefer plain white
>> or even a dark or bright color.
>
>Type of wood and shade preference comes and goes, we painted our white
>a few years ago. This kitchen is fine for us, but the next owner of
>the house will gut it to update it into some sort of great room.
>Hopefully they will leave the dining room intact as much as possible
>because of the real, not faux, gumwood panels that would be very
>expensive to replace. http://oi61.tinypic.com/9veij6.jpg

I had the bathroom renovated last year and all of the cabinets have
solid wood flat doors finished by the cabinet company. Would love
to do the same for the kitchen but that would take forever with no
place to cook.
--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral,
48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)

On 2015-02-12 3:41 PM, The Cook wrote:

> I had the bathroom renovated last year and all of the cabinets have
> solid wood flat doors finished by the cabinet company. Would love
> to do the same for the kitchen but that would take forever with no
> place to cook.
>

If the cupboards and shelves are otherwise serviceable you could simply
replace the doors. You could leave the old doors on until the new ones
are ready and installation would take only a couple hours.

On Thu, 12 Feb 2015 15:41:49 -0500, The Cook >
wrote:

> I had the bathroom renovated last year and all of the cabinets have
> solid wood flat doors finished by the cabinet company. Would love
> to do the same for the kitchen but that would take forever with no
> place to cook.

I've only lived in one house, so I don't have a lot of experience
remodeling various kitchens - but I know you can replace just the
cabinet doors (if your cabinet "box" is worth keeping) and it's quick.
http://www.homedepot.com/c/IS_Cabine...redAB=A&NCNI-5
If you're replacing the entire cabinet, then you're getting into time
and money.

--
A kitchen without a cook is just a room

So many kitchens on the DIYARBAKIR and HGTV networks have not only glass inserts in
cabinet doors, but totally open shelving for dishware and glassware. I don't get it. Yeah,
floating open shelves are a lot cheaper than enclosed cupboards, but it makes me tired
just to think of how much dust and grease would collect on the lesser-used stuff on the shelves.
What a pain to clean!

N.

Duh, I should have proofed my post...it should read, DIY and HGTV networks....

N.

On Thu, 12 Feb 2015 09:37:54 -0800, sf > wrote:

>On Thu, 12 Feb 2015 08:52:21 -0800, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:
>
>> I really prefer what I think is the
>> kind that you have. I believe they are called "slab". I have read that
>> they are not as common because they are not as sturdy although I can't see
>> why that would be.
>
>Mine are very sturdy - they're 50-60 years old and still going strong.
>
>> I also hate that oak color. I would prefer plain white
>> or even a dark or bright color.
>
>Type of wood and shade preference comes and goes, we painted our white
>a few years ago. This kitchen is fine for us, but the next owner of
>the house will gut it to update it into some sort of great room.
>Hopefully they will leave the dining room intact as much as possible
>because of the real, not faux, gumwood panels that would be very
>expensive to replace. http://oi61.tinypic.com/9veij6.jpg

That is one beautiful dining room, sf. I particularly like the arched
entrance.

Doris

On Thu, 12 Feb 2015 17:37:35 -0800 (PST), Nancy2
> wrote:

> Duh, I should have proofed my post...it should read, DIY and HGTV networks....
>
> N.

What did I miss? Can't find you in the headers.

--
A kitchen without a cook is just a room

On Thu, 12 Feb 2015 22:12:41 -0500, Doris Night
> wrote:

> On Thu, 12 Feb 2015 09:37:54 -0800, sf > wrote:
>
> >
> >Type of wood and shade preference comes and goes, we painted our white
> >a few years ago. This kitchen is fine for us, but the next owner of
> >the house will gut it to update it into some sort of great room.
> >Hopefully they will leave the dining room intact as much as possible
> >because of the real, not faux, gumwood panels that would be very
> >expensive to replace. http://oi61.tinypic.com/9veij6.jpg
>
> That is one beautiful dining room, sf. I particularly like the arched
> entrance.
>
Thanks! Truth be told, it's the reason why we bought the house. The
rest of it was in gawd awful shape - but we fell in love with that
room and have been "fixing it up" the rest of the house ever since.



--
A kitchen without a cook is just a room

On Thu, 12 Feb 2015 17:34:54 -0800 (PST), Nancy2
> wrote:

> So many kitchens on the DIYARBAKIR and HGTV networks have not only glass inserts in
> cabinet doors, but totally open shelving for dishware and glassware. I don't get it. Yeah,
> floating open shelves are a lot cheaper than enclosed cupboards, but it makes me tired
> just to think of how much dust and grease would collect on the lesser-used stuff on the shelves.
> What a pain to clean!

Agree!

--
A kitchen without a cook is just a room

On Thursday, February 12, 2015 at 7:34:57 PM UTC-6, Nancy2 wrote:
>
> So many kitchens on the DIYARBAKIR and HGTV networks have not only glass inserts in
> cabinet doors, but totally open shelving for dishware and glassware. I don't get it. Yeah,
> floating open shelves are a lot cheaper than enclosed cupboards, but it makes me tired
> just to think of how much dust and grease would collect on the lesser-used stuff on the shelves.
> What a pain to clean!
>
> N.
>
>
Here, here! I agree 100%!!

"sf" > wrote in message
news
> On Thu, 12 Feb 2015 22:12:41 -0500, Doris Night
> > wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 12 Feb 2015 09:37:54 -0800, sf > wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >Type of wood and shade preference comes and goes, we painted our white
>> >a few years ago. This kitchen is fine for us, but the next owner of
>> >the house will gut it to update it into some sort of great room.
>> >Hopefully they will leave the dining room intact as much as possible
>> >because of the real, not faux, gumwood panels that would be very
>> >expensive to replace. http://oi61.tinypic.com/9veij6.jpg
>>
>> That is one beautiful dining room, sf. I particularly like the arched
>> entrance.
>>
> Thanks! Truth be told, it's the reason why we bought the house. The
> rest of it was in gawd awful shape - but we fell in love with that
> room and have been "fixing it up" the rest of the house ever since.
>

I wanted a house with wood floors. Alas, there was nothing in my price
range but this one does have a wood floor in the dining room. That's about
its only saving grace.

On Thursday, February 12, 2015 at 8:34:57 PM UTC-5, Nancy2 wrote:
> So many kitchens on the DIYARBAKIR and HGTV networks have not only glass inserts in
> cabinet doors, but totally open shelving for dishware and glassware. I don't get it. Yeah,
> floating open shelves are a lot cheaper than enclosed cupboards, but it makes me tired
> just to think of how much dust and grease would collect on the lesser-used stuff on the shelves.
> What a pain to clean!
>
> N.

Last week on This Old House, they showed that some of the kitchen
cabinet doors in the current project would have mirrored inserts
covered with metal grillwork. Looked like the openings in the
grillwork were about 1 x 2 inches.

I laughed myself sick thinking about the homeowner cleaning
those mirrors.

Cindy Hamilton

On Fri, 13 Feb 2015 06:23:14 -0800 (PST), Cindy Hamilton
> wrote:
>
> Last week on This Old House, they showed that some of the kitchen
> cabinet doors in the current project would have mirrored inserts
> covered with metal grillwork. Looked like the openings in the
> grillwork were about 1 x 2 inches.
>
> I laughed myself sick thinking about the homeowner cleaning
> those mirrors.
>
Modern grillwork is removable. Take it off, clean the glass/mirror,
put it back. There are times when a mirrored surface is necessary,
like behind a sink that faces a wall or to catch and reflect light in
a dark corner. I might change my mind if I never cooked or paid a
cleaning service to keep the kitchen spotless, but do it yourself
polishing of all those glass fronts? No thanks! I'd rather focus on
cooking than cleaning.

--
A kitchen without a cook is just a room

In article >,
says...
>
> So many kitchens on the DIYARBAKIR and HGTV networks have not only glass inserts in
> cabinet doors, but totally open shelving for dishware and glassware. I don't get it. Yeah,
> floating open shelves are a lot cheaper than enclosed cupboards, but it makes me tired
> just to think of how much dust and grease would collect on the lesser-used stuff on the shelves.

You let grease and dust accumulate in your kitchen? Faugh :-(

> What a pain to clean!

On the contrary, where the kitchen is efficiently run, open shelf
storage of cookware is more efficiently hygienic which is why all
commercial kitchens use it.

I have no above-counter wall cabinets at all. All frequent-use plates
mugs and glassware are on open shelves within safe easy reach. The
frequent-use pans are also on open shelves, below counter level.

Because they are all in such frequent use they get washed frequently.
The shelves get cleaned often (whenever their contents are off the
shelf, being used or cleaned).

Janet UK

I said the lesser used items. I don't cook much anymore for various reasons, but I would
have a hard time using everything in my enclosed cupboards on a regular basis. I don't
"let" grease and dust accumulate anywhere...even with a new stove exhaust fan, particles
exist in the air, and land somewhere. I am not alone in my opinion, it seems. You keep
all your kitchenware on open shelves, I do not.

Being condescending isn't attractive. I stated my opinion of open shelving, and that is all it was.
I didn't think it would invite a personal attack.

N.

On Fri, 13 Feb 2015 15:26:00 -0000, Janet > wrote:

> I have no above-counter wall cabinets at all. All frequent-use plates
> mugs and glassware are on open shelves within safe easy reach. The
> frequent-use pans are also on open shelves, below counter level.
>
> Because they are all in such frequent use they get washed frequently.
> The shelves get cleaned often (whenever their contents are off the
> shelf, being used or cleaned).

That's her entire point. The open shelving we see on TV take the
place of cabinet storage. There's no way one or even two people are
going to keep a set of 12 in constant rotation and the shelf itself is
never empty, which means taking everything off them just to clean. NO
THANKS.

--
A kitchen without a cook is just a room

On Fri, 13 Feb 2015 07:37:18 -0800 (PST), Nancy2
> wrote:

> I said the lesser used items. I don't cook much anymore for various reasons, but I would
> have a hard time using everything in my enclosed cupboards on a regular basis. I don't
> "let" grease and dust accumulate anywhere...even with a new stove exhaust fan, particles
> exist in the air, and land somewhere. I am not alone in my opinion, it seems. You keep
> all your kitchenware on open shelves, I do not.
>
> Being condescending isn't attractive. I stated my opinion of open shelving, and that is all it was.
> I didn't think it would invite a personal attack.
>

FWIW, I agree with you and absolutely HATE the concept of open
shelving and I don't like the look. I don't like (clear) glass front
cabinets either.


--
A kitchen without a cook is just a room

On 2/12/2015 11:37 AM, sf wrote:

> Hopefully they will leave the dining room intact as much as possible
> because of the real, not faux, gumwood panels that would be very
> expensive to replace. http://oi61.tinypic.com/9veij6.jpg

What a beautiful room!! We live in a home that's 100 years old, but
there has been so much "updating" over the years that it's lost the
charm of yours.

--
DreadfulBitch

I'm a nobody, nobody is perfect, therefore I'm perfect.

On 2/12/2015 10:12 PM, Doris Night wrote:
> On Thu, 12 Feb 2015 09:37:54 -0800, sf > wrote:
>
>> Type of wood and shade preference comes and goes, we painted our white
>> a few years ago. This kitchen is fine for us, but the next owner of
>> the house will gut it to update it into some sort of great room.
>> Hopefully they will leave the dining room intact as much as possible
>> because of the real, not faux, gumwood panels that would be very
>> expensive to replace. http://oi61.tinypic.com/9veij6.jpg
>
> That is one beautiful dining room, sf. I particularly like the arched
> entrance.
>
> Doris
>
Yes, it's a very pretty dining room. It reminds me a bit of my paternal
grandmother's dining room.

Jill

On Fri, 13 Feb 2015 16:22:40 -0600, DreadfulBitch
> wrote:

> On 2/12/2015 11:37 AM, sf wrote:
>
> > Hopefully they will leave the dining room intact as much as possible
> > because of the real, not faux, gumwood panels that would be very
> > expensive to replace. http://oi61.tinypic.com/9veij6.jpg
>
> What a beautiful room!! We live in a home that's 100 years old, but
> there has been so much "updating" over the years that it's lost the
> charm of yours.

Thank you!

--
A kitchen without a cook is just a room