Countertops

Here they are!

Installed but not without some difficulty. Had to remove broom closet so they could fit the corner piece in. When moving the broom closet back in place the back leg twisted so we had to take closet back out, replace leg and then reinstall. Also a problem with the sink install. Some damage to the false sink drawer which they will replace. Such is life and building.

But it looks good and everything I hoped for. Love the wide countertop. Richard is taking care of plumbing the sink this afternoon. Plumber might be here this afternoon to take care of the stove.

Away in the Drawers

Away in the drawers, we’re finding good homes
For plates and the fry pans, and fine cooking tomes.
The whisks and the flour are all put away.
Soon boxes will not be the job of the day.

Drawer pulls and door pulls are now screwed in tight,
A functioning kitchen is coming to light.
Toe kicks and moldings are next to be seen,
Then tile backsplashes to look so pristine.

On Tuesday the counter tops are to be laid,
On cabinets that Richard’s so carefully made.
An arctic white sink is included too;
How good life will be in our kitchen so new.

Progress hasn’t been real visible this week – with the exception of pulls on drawers and doors.If you were to open those drawers and doors you’d see I spent the week filling them. The box of boxes helped me remember I WAS making progress.

This cabinet is wonderful BUT I think every drawer glide was screwed in at least twice. We didn’t account for the door hinges the first time we placed the glides. Time for plan B. Plan B was great except we hadn’t allowed for the hinge part that attaches to the door to clear the drawers. Three drawers had to be moved. Third time was the charm.

We had a pot luck family dinner at our house last night. Even with temporary sink and counters and retrieving knives from the storage shed and without the cook top, the kitchen was comfortably up to the task. I think I’m going to enjoy our new kitchen as much as I hoped.

Abby and Marshall helped assemble an ice cream sandwich cake.
It was fun but licking the spoons was the best part.

You CAN have too much of a good thing!

Deck the Kitchen

Deck the kitchen with cabinet hardware,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
“Tis what gives the kitchen flair,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Though it’s been a lengthy process
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Now we can see daily progress
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

The to-do list grows much shorter
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tile the backsplash for the baker
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Add the trim to make it look fine
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Oh the lights do add their own shine
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

YES! the counter is on order
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Now’s the time to stash the clutter.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sing we joyous, all together.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
This new kitchen’ll be a winner.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.

Here’s Some Pix!

Oh the weather outside is broiling,

But the kitchen’s still not cooking,

And since we’ve no fancy tricks,

Here’s some pix! Here’s some pix! Here’s some pix!

Looking south. Note the temporary kitchen sink – YEAH!

The oven & serving storage area – and the pantry & dishes cupboard

Baking and prep areas (from family room looking southwest)

Think light over baking was up in last pictures but light over peninsula was just put up tonight. Now to find the light we took down from the old breakfast area and want to put up in the pantry/oven area. No doubt it’s in one of my infamous “safe” places!

Progress Not Pictured

Countertop selected and ordered – measurements for template will be taken Friday morning.

Cardboard boxes removed from family room – some in recycle, some waiting for empty recycle bin, and some in garage to use to protect floors when they install the counter.

Majority of drawers lined and some things have found a home – though perhaps temporary.

Finished electrical wiring for peninsula area.

Family room floor cleaned and chairs back in family room.

It’s beginning to look a lot like a kitchen

It’s beginning to look a lot like a kitchen,
Ev’rywhere you turn
Take a look at the cabinet drawers, as empty as can be
But soon they’ll have the tools a cook must use.

It’s beginning to look a lot like a kitchen
Cabinets ev’rywhere
But the prettiest sight to see is the cooking that will be
Done in our own place.

I AM a Shaw descendent. The first ingredient to find a home was the container of cocoa. :)

How Many Butterflies Do You See?

There were over a dozen butterflies visiting this bush this afternoon – too hot to stick around to count more.

Perhaps the following close up makes them a little easier to see.

See I’m not entirely obsessed with the kitchen.

The Last Shall Be First

Sometimes it seems like we are working hard and not getting very far. Then all of a sudden it’s looking like a kitchen!

The original plan was to finish the sink/peninsula area first and then the west wall and then the south wall. Guess what got done first!

From the family room looking south. The broom closet is on the left (and it has broom, mop etc. already in it). This is the baking/snacking area. Waiting on countertops before we put in all the drawers or doors. But have to get ALL the cabinets installed first.

From family room looking west. Note the two tall cabinets on each side of the picture. They are waiting the installation of the ovens so they can be put in place. The one on the right goes next to the oven cabinet and completes the west wall. The one on the left is the first cabinet on the sink/peninsula run.

From family room looking northwest. The cooktop cabinet is in the center. The tall cabinet on the right will house the ovens which are sitting on the floor in front of the cabinet. The installation of the last three cabinets and the oven is waiting on the electrician who should be coming this morning to complete the wiring he started several weeks ago and waiting until we got to this point to come back and finish the job.

(That’s Richard – the master builder - in the bottom left corner.)

Last night we purchased tile for the back splash. Even found most of it on clearance! Now we can get the accent pieces I fell in love with.

Off to build another cabinet or two.

Do You See What I See?

Said Grammy to her friends everywhere,
Do you see what I see?
Off in the corner over there,
Do you see what I see?
A BOX, a Box!
Assembly makes us glad;
For a kitchen’s soon to be had
For a kitchen’s soon to be had.

TILED!

Richard has been very hard at work getting the tile laid.
What doesn't show up well in the picture is all the careful cuts he made where the floor meets the wall.
We did a diagonal pattern in the "alley" part of the kitchen (it will have 24" deep floor cabinets on each side leaving about 40" of floor space) as it was felt the brick pattern would emphasis how long and narrow the room is.
Grouting should be completed Monday. We are getting there.

He finished just in time for him to shower and get ready for the stake youth dance tonight, for which we were two of the chaperones from our ward. He took me out to dinner after the dance because there wasn't time before the dance.