Finally!

The doors are painted and installed at last.  It took some trial and error to find door catches that had the right feel, but after the third try we're happy with the result.  (Now if only people would remember to close them)

Some shots of the drawer organizing we've done.  After some research online, it seemed there was nothing off the shelf that would fit our specific drawer sizes.  Therefore, we ordered one organizer from Rev-A-Shelf.com and customized it to fit our needs.  After customizing the one we bought, I decided it was easier just to build the rest from start to finish.  I built the knife organizer after looking at various commercially available designs.  We ordered spice jars in a size that would stand in the drawer and a grid keeps them from sliding around when the drawer moves.

 We decided to rebuild the fireplace mantle with a more traditional/period appropriate style and get rid of all the brass that was on the old fireplace.  All that's left is to fix the baseboard around the mantle and the kitchen/great room is done.

We don't have good picture of the fireplace before, but in this photo you can see the 1980's tile and brass in all it's glory.

The end is in sight...

I've finally finished the rough doors and fit them each to their respective opening.  The doors will have the same applied moulding as the drawer fronts, so that's next.  Then I'll need to finish sanding and paint. Hopefully within another 2 weeks or so the kitchen will finally be ready for the final inspection.

                                                                                                                                                                   

 

     

It's been a very long time since our last update.  Here are new pictures showing the current state of things.  You can see that the crown moulding is in, all of the painting (in the kitchen) is finished, and the tile work is done.  Three long days of tiling, but we like how it turned out.

 

The bakeware drawer is in and holds quite a bit.  It does make the upper oven a little high for the vertically challenged in the house; but we can live with it.

 

  The half bath that is just off the kitchen:  Before on the left, now on the right.  We still need to change the light fixture and probably the mirror.

 

Longer shots to show the moulding a little better.  Over 25 corners for the trim to turn and neither the ceiling or floor are level.  Two pieces of trim at the ceiling and two at the floor.  Two cuts for each miter at each corner.  That adds up to ... a hell of a lot of cutting and fitting.  Again though, we like how it has turned out.

 

 

Obviously still have to make the drawer fronts and doors.  That's next....

Jewelry

This week the countertops and plumbing were completed.  The last step for the contractor is the final finish on the floors which will be done next week.  After that's done, it's all on us to do the finish trim, paint, and tile.

 

 

Cast iron sink, which weighs a ton, and polished nickel fixtures.  The instant hot water spigot on the left side puts out water at 210 degrees! Seems there may no longer be any need for a teapot.

 

Once you've lived with a dishwasher, it's hard to live without.  So it was great to get our dishwasher in and working.

 

We are most likely going to use white subway tile.  We are playing with a few styles and the plain subway looks the best to us.  With the movement in the grain of the granite, any tile detail seems too busy.

 

There are a couple of blemishes in the granite which Paxton Countertops is working hard to remedy.  We really appreciate their professionalism and friendliness.

Let there be light

This week the measurements for the counters were taken.  For the templates, we had to place the range top.  Seeing it sitting there was too tempting, so we hooked it up.  It does boil water a wee bit faster than the electric hot plate we've been using.

Today the finish lighting, the oven, and the exhaust hood were installed.  Unfortunately, we didn't have the right fitting to get the hood vented to the outside, so it will be a couple of days before the hood is actually functional.

Progress

 

We've been pretty spoiled with our temporary kitchen compared to horror stories we've heard from others going through a kitchen remodel, so Jennifer wanted to include some pictures of it before we took the cabinetry out to begin installation in their permanent locations.

The windows have been moved up and two can lights had to move as well.  They were placed too close to the cabinetry as you can see.

 

All of the base cabinets are installed and the counter templates will be made tomorrow.  We still have to finish the wall where the oven will go, and a pantry on either side of the arched entry to the kitchen.

The arch detail and end caps to support the island bar turned out well.  Once the rest of the trim on the curved wall is in place, it will be ready for paint.

 

Our appliances were delivered this past week.  The oven had to come out of the box to make it into the kitchen.  They should be installed in about a week, but we couldn't help but go ahead and install the microwave.

 

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back.

The stain went on the new hardwood floor today.  The match to the existing floor is perfect.  Tomorrow a seal coat will go on.

 

When I was beginning to lay out cabinet location/finding the high point of the room, it became apparent that the kitchen is out of level by almost an inch from one end to the other.  Because of this, the receptacles in the island are out of level when compared to where the countertop will be.  Also, the windows are equidistant from the ceiling, but not level.  I feel that the out of level will show most dramatically in the grout lines of the backsplash tile and the distance from the receptacles and windows to the counter, so things have to move.  Thanks to the Palmer team for being understanding with my pickiness.  In a few days the receptacles and windows will be level and the cabinet install will begin. It will take some trickery with the trim work to hide the difference at the ceiling and floor, but it should be worth it in the end.