Day 104--All inspections are done

The inspections went well. Actually, it was scary to see how fast the inspectors were in and out. So I guess it's not truly a safty check, but just another form of taxation.

We had some fun finishing up with our contractor. We added on some things, like the bookcase at the end of the island, so we knew there were some overages. However, it was far more than we expected.

Some of it was just silly of him to add on to a project of this size. I mean, the contract says setting matterials for the backsplash are included, but he charged us for the grout! When I sold tile many years ago, grout was considered setting materials. But since it was less than $15 we didn't make a big stink.

What did get us was a charge for the cabinet drawers. Couple months ago we (the contractor and us) discovered that the drawers were stapled instead of dove-tailed. We had said we wanted dove-tailed and he thought he ordered dove-tailed, but he actually ordered stapled drawers. Now he wanted us to pay for half since he figured we should have caught the error before they were ordered. That's the one item on the additional list that we fought. Luckily in the end he agreed to drop it.

Now the house is ours again.
...No more having someone walk in while I'm blasting music on my work at home days.
......No more having someone in the kitchen when Ken and the kids come downstairs in the mornings.
.........No more having someone in my kitchen when I need to make dinner.

WAIT! I got a lot of nights off with that one! Maybe it wasn't all bad.

Day 97--The contractor is all done

This has turned out SO beautiful. It feels more like a showroom in some ways than our house. I'm even able to put the things in my display cabinets that I've been picking out.

The counter won't stay this clean forever so I'm definitely enjoying it now!

Day 96--The backsplash and hood are in!

WOW!!! This is my kitchen??? Really?

Day 95--Our back splash goes in

After several different thoughts and budgets for the back splash, we finally found one we both agreed on AND didn't break the bank. I actually ordered too many of the silver accent tile, so on Friday Ken came up with this design. Luckily our contractor is loving the kitchen as much as we are and was happy to put in something...original...just like us!

Day 94--Ken's favorite appliance goes in

After 2 months without a TV to watch at the table, Ken was going through withdrawals. We finally figured out how to hang it nearly centered while still securing it to the studs.

The electrical contractor is going to move the plugs up so that they are hidden behind the TV.

Of course the kids also loved being able to eat tonight AND watch SpongeBob. (Ug...SpongeBob!)

You have to see this to beleive it

Only 2 days before this is fixed.

Now you see them...

Now you don't!!!

Day 91--Here's the foundation

Here's the start of the backsplash. The contractor wanted to let it dry so that it was easier to lay the other tile next week.

I pick up the metal tile Friday night, so I'm excited to see how it all looks.

Day 90--The day we've been waiting for

We've been wanting to see these lights installed. Our contractor finally worked out some glitches and now they're in! They cast a warm, red glow in the room and add light to the island. Plus, with the hand painted glass they are as pretty off as on.

DAy 89--Display cabinet lights

The display cabinet lights are in. I'm not going to put my special things in there though until we're completely safe. My fingers are itching to move things into them, but I would just hate seeing something broke.

Day 89--Well, at least they LOOK good...

Our contractor finished the microwave trim for us today. Ken searched hard to find this of Bosch microwave / oven set and it was worth it. They don't look like the combo units, but they blend so nicely together.

Now if only we could actually USE the oven. The replacement glass won't be in until the 10th.

Day 88--Light them up!

The above and below lighting is done! This photo is a little blurry, but I wanted to leave the flash off so you can see how nice the lighting is.

Day 86--The microwave goes in

After the horrible disappointment of the oven, we decided to put the microwave in ourselves. It still needs the face of the trim kit, but we're going to let the contractor do that since there's clips to attach to the oven cabinet.

But I'm beginning to feel like I'm living in a real kitchen. I have a cooktop, dishwasher, garbage disposal and a microwave all in the same room.

Well, there's an oven in there too, but it's to too sad to think about.

Day 86--The oven goes in...kind of

We were very excited on Friday to come home to an installed oven. Finally! Charlie has been asking for homemade cookies and I could finally do it!

So to celebrate (and since the contractor left so late), we picked up a couple of take-n-back pizzas. Only one problem...

While the oven was heating, there was a LOUD POP!

All of the interior glass in the oven door had shattered!

Fortunately we bought the extended warranty--a rare thing--and Sears will be here Wednesday AM to check it out.

Day 81--2 out of 3 ain't bad...

The electrical contractor did show up on Sunday as scheduled, which was a big improvement over what had been happening. There were some concerns and frustrations, but in the end he and his assistant worked all day.

Now half of our upper and lower cabinet lights are working. But best of all, my disposal and dishwasher are working finally!

Day 79--Strike 2! for the Electrical Contractor

All week long I've been looking forward to having the electrical contractor out today (Friday) so that I could have a working cook top, disposal and oven. It was bumped a day to Saturday but I was OK with that.

Then...

On the way home I got a call. It wasn't even from the contractor, but from the electrical contractor. As soon as I heard his voice I knew it was bad news. He has to work his main job Saturday, so now it'll be Sunday.

The funny thing is that as I left work I was saying that I'd just be happy if I had the cook top, disposal and oven working by Monday. So maybe I jinxed it.

The good news is that the contractor was able to hook up the cook top, so it's Pasta for dinner!

Just in case we change our minds...

...about going back to the appliance store where we bought the washer/dryer, we've had a refresher.

Just a little background. We had to buy a washer unexpectedly in June so we went to the same store where we found the great deal on our cooktop. We got a GREAT deal on a Bosch washer so we got the dryer too. (I've compared them to the Lowe's models and we've saved 30% off what we would have paid there.) The delivery went off great the next day and they were so quiet and wonderful! After a few days I noticed a dent in the side of the washer that I hadn't seen at the store but decided to let it go since after all we did buy from a "scratch and dent" type place.

Then about a month later, the washer started to shake...really shake. We went to level out the feet, only to find that we only had 3 feet! Next to the washer we found a paint stick, carefully broken into 5 pieces. We finally figured out that the delivery guys had taken and used the paint stick in place of a foot. When I called the store, I pretty much got the shake off for what the delivery man that they had recommended did. They were "nice" enough to order another foot for us...but when we came to get it, they couldn't find it! The manager ended up bringing it directly to our house when they did.

Fast forward to time to install the cooktop that we bought from the same place. Ken and I are novices when it's comes to buying major appliances except fridges, so we didn't notice that the wires on the bottom didn't look right. Come to find out that the cooktop has been previously installed and the wires had been cut. Instead of 3 feet of metal conduit with the wires in it, there's about 7 inches of just wires.

The store was very agreeable to helping us on this one. We went out last night to pick up the missing part. When we got home, I looked it over.

There's no wires! Just the metal conduit!

I'm just shaking my head at this point. Our contractor believes that he can get the wires to fix this, but now I'm wondering if this will hurt our warranty.

Day 77--Like molasses in winter...

The progress, if it can be called that, is excruciatingly slow. We're down to electrical work for the most part, but he's too busy to come to our house! ARG!

Our contractor did get the oven cabinet ready for the oven and microwave yesterday. But the oven won't go in until Saturday. That is if the electrician does come out.

We had planned to use him for our basement, but now we're reconsidering.

Day 72--The big let down

The plumber was out today and hooked up the sink, the drains and the dishwasher. But after Charlie and I left the house, he discovered that the cold/hot pipes are reversed, so cold water is going to the dishwasher.

He had to leave and couldn't get back into the house, so now we have a sink with reversed water. That's not so bad on the sink, but that means we can't use the dishwasher. Arg!

HOWEVER I had plans to use the dishwasher this weekend and I did! Ok, it was only as a dish drainer to dry the dishes I washed by hand, but I did use it!

Day 71--Faucet goes in

The faucet is in, but it's only for show at this point. The plumber is coming out tomorrow to hook it and the dishwasher up. No more dishes by hand just around the corner!

All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up...

I tried to take a picture so you can see the texture and this was the best I could do.

Day 70--Count down to counters over!

This is the big day! Our counters are in and they look beautiful!!

Of course the sink, dishwasher and cooktop are only in place, they aren't hooked up yet.

Day 67--Finally!!! Progress

We're finally seeing progress again. The dishwasher is in place, even if it's not hooked up. By the weekend we will be able to use it! I will be so glad to avoid the hand washing and to know that my dishes are really clean.

The display cabinets also have their doors now. My mom just sent her beautiful Mexican hand-blown water pitcher so I can display it in there.

By the way, all the post-its on the cabinets are so we could remember just where all the different sized handles go and to make it easier on the contractor.

Day 54

The last cabinet was finished off just before our contractor is going on vacation. We're happy to have the space between where the oven and fridge will go to be a little bigger.

And now we wait for the granite...

The Oven

Much to the relief of the kids, we finally found the deal that we've been looking for on the oven. We're going to go ahead with single convection oven, then use a trim kit to "build in" a separate microwave.

It's just a coincidence that we found the deal on a Bosh oven. That's the same brand as the dishwasher and cooktop (and washer/dryer, but they're in the laundry room and really don't count). So now we'll be looking for a Bosch microwave. That way when we sell the house in 50 years we can advertise that it's all antique Bosh appliances.

We did have a panic moment last night when we measured the cabinet and then the oven. (Little late now that we paid for the oven!!!) The oven is bigger than the pre-cut opening but according to our contractor it will be fine. The cabinet is made for 3 different sized ovens and to make bigger ones fit you have to do a little cutting.

I hate painting ceilings...

...or at least white ones.

I painted Katie's ceiling with a blue sky and clouds (including a heart one over where I thought she'd want her bed) before we moved into the house. She's always loved it.

Before Charlie was born, I painted an evening sky on his ceiling. There's a moon, the Little Dipper and a shooting star.

But when we had to touch up the ceiling on Sunday in the kitchen, it was miserable. We tried turning out the lights and I tried to direct Ken (with his wonderfully long arms) where to paint. I finally just grabbed his arm and used it like a paint brush extension!

Still, I hope we don't need to do any more touch-ups.

Knobs and pulls

I found a great place to buy the cabinet pulls and knobs on the web. It's called Cool Knobs and Pulls. We got our order yesterday and these are nice, heavy pulls for a cheaper than Home Depot price.



We ordered a couple long handles for the pantry, a lot of 4" pulls for the majority of the cabinets and 10 T-shaped knobs for the small doors. Can't wait to see them on the cabinets!

Sink and Faucet

Monday I had to rush out to get the faucet before the templating was done. This is the what we ended up with more or less. The sink actually has more angles instead of the curves, but does have one really deep side that will be nice for the big pans.

Day 47--It's the waiting game now

All the cabinets are in and the counters have been templated. Now it's time to wait... patiently... HA!!! I'll wait but I don't have to be patient!

Day 46--The last cabinet

This is the one detail we added on after we started. This little bookshelf will add a neat detail to our island.

The shelves are closer together than I expected, but that can be good. I won't be as tempted to put all of my cookbooks on there and clutter it up.

After all, we need a place for "do-dad's" and "what-you-ma-call-it's". :-)

Day 42

Part of the refrigerator cabinet was installed. It made for an interesting little "low bridge" for Ken over the weekend.

The side panel is missing so that's being shipped now, but until the floors are done and we can move the fridge back it doesn't really matter.

Day 41--The Coronation begins!

I know, bad joke. But the crown molding is very cool. In the middle is a little rope detail.

It changes our somewhat plain cabinets into nice classic cabinets.

Day 40--The kitchen starts to take shape

Every day it's like coming home to Christmas! What new "presents" are under the tree? Of course we're paying for these presents so it' not quite a good as Santa's presents.

We're now getting a feel for what our new kitchen is going to be like. After using our little "kitchenette" for over a month now, this is going to be very pampering.

A few of my favorite things

Thanks to a friend mentioning the Sound of Music last week, "A Few of My Favorite Things" has been floating through my head. So, here's a few of my favorite cabinet things...

There will be 2 display cabinets, one on each side of the window. With an interior light, glass shelves and glass doors, they will be a fun place to keep a couple of pretty things.

Even though Ken is too tall for his own good, he hates using those long arms down low and somehow actually having to crawl into the cabinet to get to the far corner is just creepy to me, so we usually don't use the corner cabinets too much. With this lazy susan we'll get great storage!

These shelves are actually drawers. So no more crawling on the floor to get to the back. The down side is that I guess I'll actually have to learn to stack my pots and pans. In my old cabinets I stacked them and shut the door really quick. If I leaned against the door they would stop shifting in a minute...and even stay in the cabinet!

Last, but far from least, is the trash can cabinet. No more canned goods falling into the trash or the can sitting out looking just beautiful. The second can is perfect for recyclables too. I had the huge recycle bin in the kitchen so now I'll have the best of both worlds. (Sorry, that's Hannah Montana--wrong musical reference!)

Day 39--If you liked the tops, you'll love the bottoms...hehehe...

It's really beginning to take shape. The kids (including Ken and me!) are having fun discovering cool things about the cabinets and figuring where all the stuff in the dinning room will go.

As I was going out to the deck to grill, I could see just how easy that will be with all the cabinets in too. We used to have to walk around the end of our cabinets to get out the door. Now it'll be a straight shoot.

Day 38--Here they come!

This was the big day where the cabinets start going in. They are maple, but have a natural cherry color.

Plus the area at the top of the cabinets has just enough space for our above cabinet lighting. Ken had wanted to have some of the cabinets go to the ceiling, but now agrees that it might have looked too busy.

It's a Rorschach Inkblot Test!

So what do you see? A bridge? Or the classic profile of a lady?

I see $$$. Yep. We have mold on our kitchen ceiling from the floor in the kid's bath. Our contractor is going to tear it out, clean it up and put up new drywall. But we all know what that means...more $$$. :-)

Day 35

Our first "dead" day. No major work happening today, just letting the floors cure. Our contractor is catching up on some small jobs for other clients, so even he's not there.

But that will all change on Monday. The cabinets start going in!!! Ken (who is much worse about not opening Christmas presents early than I am) started peeking into the boxes last night. We saw one of the display cabinets that are going above the sink and they are so cool.

The counters are going to be templated the following Monday, the 21st. Shortly after that we'll be able to view the granite before they cut it (we especially want to do this since we changed the color) and set the install date. Some where about then I'll begin to have a functional kitchen back, even if the work isn't all done.

...and I'm now realizing that probably won't be until September. Sigh.

How to make a PBJ in 21 easy steps

1. Stretch into the butler's pantry to retrieve the bread without stepping on the stained floor.

2. Look for a clean, open area to make the sandwich.

3. Settle for an open area with a paper towel on top of it.

4. Realize that the peanut butter is in the butler's pantry--at the far end.

5. Have hubby stretch to reach peanut butter.

6. Grab hubby to keep him from falling on the stained floor. (This is a PG blog--I grabbed his waist! And if he had fallen on his face on the floor, would that have counted as walking on the floor???)

7. Put peanut butter on bread.

8. Look around for THE lid to the container that goes with the new lunchbox for Katie.

9. Give up looking for THE lid and use another Rubbermaid container and lid.

10. Gather lunchbox, container, few other goodies for her lunch, table knife, door keys AND garage remote while telling hubby that I'm going outside to the fridge.

11. Close front door quickly to keep the moth invasion outside.

12. Open garage and fumble for the garage light.

13. Go back into the house, quickly close the door and try turning on the laundry room light.

14. Cuss because the laundry room light has burnt out since the last time I made the trip.

15. Ignore hubby while he LHAO at you being in the dark. (The plastic covered doorway just doesn't do enough to muffle his laughter!)

16. Find a place on the new washer to set down everything in your hands.

17. Find the grape jelly in the fridge and say to heck with it--leave the fridge door open for a light source.

18. Unpack the half-made sandwich to add the jelly. You know how well THAT works with peanut butter.

19. Finish sandwich and pack it away.

20. Close fridge, leave house, turn off garage light so it doesn't burn out, go out of garage--making sure to close the garage door behind you.

21. Walk back into the front door and hit hubby with a Time magazine for laughing so hard.

Now, was that so bad???

Day 33--DO NOT ENTER!!!

This is the real crunch time. No more sneaking across the kitchen floor tonight...or tomorrow...or how long???

But I can steal a peek around the corner and see that the results are worth waiting for!

I found my kitchen!

I came home to find my kitchen--in my garage! The cabinets are still in the boxes, so it's kind of like having presents under the Chritmas tree. I want to peek inside the boxes, but I know better.

Oh, and it's a good thing we weren't expecting to park in the garage!

Day 32--No more holes in the floor

Our floor guy has made wonderful progress. The floor is whole and it has been sanded. Next comes the stain.

Granite Do Over!

We struggled so hard trying to get a paint to match the granite we picked out. It had a green tint and the green colors just weren't what we wanted. So Ken finally suggested the most common sense thing to do--change the granite. Fortunately since it hasn't actually been ordered and the new one we picked is the same price it was no big deal.

This one has smaller specs of silver, no bigger than 1". It does have a definite blue tint, but I'm sure that in different light it will change. We've seen the green version of this installed at Lowe's and it's beautiful.

The view that's been hidding from us

We pulled down the faux wood blinds to find this great view. I don't think the blinds are going back up, but we do need to do something. Privacy isn't a problem--even in winter you can't see into the houses across the woods--but the windows will just look unfinished without something.

Hmm... maybe something with a hint of red to play off those cool lights.

By the way, this means another addition to what was formally known as our budget!

The island lights

The lights for the island came in late last week. These are so cool! They are hand-blown, hand-painted glass that look decorative both when on and off. The specs are silver, so they'll fit in wonderfully with our appliances.

Day 31

The hole in our floor is quickly filling in. He should be sanding it tomorrow. I can still sneak through to the butler's pantry for another day or so, but then we will have to be off the floor for over 24 hours. (Click on the picture to be able to see it better and to see our paint color.)

The cool thing is that we're getting the flush wood floor vents. No more stubbed toes!