Kitchen Remodel: Almost Done Edition!

OMG you guys! We have back splash!!!

It wasn't nearly as hard as we thought it was going to be to pick it out. And it wasn't nearly as expensive as we thought it was going to be to have it professionally installed. And it didn't take anywhere as long as we thought it might take! 

We debated about getting a stainless back splash here above the stove, but it was as expensive as we though it might be, so we went with tile. I really like the way it looks, and it's all sealed so it should be stain proof. 

Oh, and some where along the way (like waaaaaay back two whole weeks ago when we were getting ready for our florida trip) our upper cabinets got installed, too! I finally got to put my dishes away and clear off my dining room table, HOO-fucking-RAY!

Some final painting will be done next week (see that bulkhead between the ceiling and the cabinets? THAT) and that hole in the ceiling you see in the top right there needs patched, but we have the tiles cut to the size of the hole. Scaredy cat tile guy wouldn't put them up for us because of liability, but he was nice enough to cut them for us, saving us from having to buy a wet saw. SOB was a little disappointed, I think. He always loves adding to his saw collection.

The floor, which is hardly ever pictured, will be professionally done sometime soon, but not in the next few weeks. SOB is going to install some under cabinet lighting and fix the ceiling hole, and we're just about finished! Which is perfect timing since we're having a big birthday party for Fred on the 10th. I love giving myself a reason to get shit done.

Speaking of getting shit done, I need to order a cake!

Kitchen Remodel: The Counters Are Here!

We used to have these really super cool custom counter tops. They were made of a cool composite consisting mostly of pieces of dry wall...

And reclaimed cabinet doors. They were really quite stunning. 

However, they were a bear to keep clean, and the dry wall wasn't staying too dry, which was making it lumpy. So we finally caved and got some new counter tops.

These ones wipe clean, and don't have peeling contact paper on top, which is a real plus if you ask me!

Plus our sink is a new and permanent fixture now, instead of a random piece of particle board counter with a recycled (read: trash picked) sink. I like that.

Next week the rest of the cabinets arrive, which means we're in the home stretch! Now we just (really) have to figure out that to do with that damn back splash...

Kitchen Remodel: Appliance Edition

Yesterday morning we had a hole where a refrigerator should be...

By yesterday afternoon the hole was filled!

Yesterday morning, we had a hole where a stove should be...

And by yesterday afternoon the hole was filled! 

And then we cooked dinner! We made the kids home made mac and cheese last night, and we had some juicy steaks, potatoes and lovely a mushroom sauce. 

Now if we could just decide on a backsplash...

Kitchen Remodel: Day Five-ish?

Yesterday we got the new ventilation hood installed! I'm quite giddy, because the appliance come TOMORROW! Until then, don't let small children walk too closely to this thing while it's on, or else they might get sucked in...

Next up, figuring out back splash. Since our cabinet guys were awesome about preserving the tiles they removed, part of me wants to try and use them again, despite the fact that it would probably be a terrific pain in the ass. For SOB. I don't know the first thing about tiling. That's probably why he wants to go with option two: ANYTHING ELSE. I'll let you know what I we decide. 

Kitchen Remodel: Day Two

There isn't much to look at today, because it's mostly just drywall. However, it is a whole lot nicer looking than the black plaster with big holes in it, like you see further down. Today they are actually putting in cabinetry, so the next installment should be more interesting to look at. In the meantime, we're headed to Lowe's for new light fixtures and a garbage disposal! YAY! You never truly realize how useful a garbage disposal is until you don't have one.

This is where the sink will be...

And this is where the range is going...

The newly drywall'ed bulkhead...

And the yet to be drywall'ed wall...

Looks much better on this end, doesn't it???

Kitchen Remodel: Day 1

Well, we spent all day on January first emptying out the kitchen. It looked almost nice when it was all cleaned out, see: 

However nice it looked, the appliance still didn't work for shit, so bright and early Tuesday morning some men arrived with crow bars.

And just like that! It was all gone. Naturally, not even one day into the project and we have already encountered some significant problems. For starters, the cabinets that were ordered are too small. Now, the kitchen was measured by professionals, who told us what to order. And the guys who are installing the cabinets are the same guys that did all of the measuring. BUT since we signed the papers to submit the order it's all our fault, of course. So everything that goes above the counters has to be sent back and new, bigger ones have to be made. Not a huge deal, but we will have to pay for the difference on the larger cabinets.

The other main issue is that the bulkhead you see up by the ceiling basically fell apart in several places, so it's currently being re-built. AND! Since the old wall tiles were applied with some sort of crazy epoxy, most of the wall came off with the tiles, which means everything has to get new drywall. Plus a ton of electrical work has to be done. And the hole for the new hood has to be cut. And and and.

Prior to Tuesday we were debating having the floors done at the same time, but now we're really glad we're not. The floor money has now been spent! Here's hoping for not too many more surprise expenses!