Kitchen Remodeling -- Weeks 11 & 12

Well, I think we've crossed the finish line on our 12-week kitchen renovation. Check it out!

BEFORE (of the south wall and old island):
AFTER:
BEFORE (of west wall):
AFTER:
Week 11 started with a flurry of activity as the countertops and appliances went in. We rolled from one crisis to the next and didn't escort the last of the help out until after 8:30 p.m.

Then we escaped. We headed out for three nights in our trailer to clear our heads and reconnect as a family. We came home and have since been moving into our new kitchen, organizing and reorganizing. We've trimmed, puttied, caulked, and hung lights. We still need the dishwasher panels and a second pendant light but we're feeling pretty good about how the project turned out.

Now, to get to the serious business of cooking! Ah, my first New Year's Resolution.

Kitchen Remodeling -- Weeks 9 & 10

This was supposed to be the big reveal post. You know the one showing the before and the after. The one where you, my loyal audience, ooohs and aaahs and marvels at our clever design and industriousness. Alas, you'll have to wait another week.

We were moving along right on schedule. The cabinet install got done. The electrical work got done. The holes in the wall got patched...twice. The template was done for the granite. The appliances were scheduled for delivery. Of course all these things required at least five phone calls and being home as much as possible in case someone stopped by to do something.

We built out the pantry last weekend. It came out great, don't you think? I can't wait to move into it. I've never had so much food storage space. Until I can start canning, I think I'm going to need to make a huge Costco run to fill it.
This Wednesday we hit the snag. The granite folks called to tell us that the machine that performs the final process on the stone BROKE! The message was that the part would be in tomorrow because they would certainly have us installed by Friday (only one day late). OK. We could still keep our plans to go camping on Monday. Then, the part was delayed another day but they would surely install Saturday because that's what they do when they inconvenience folks. On Friday, the plan changed yet again and the new plan is to install Monday morning. The excuse: Our island rock weighs 1,000 pounds and they couldn't get enough installers together to bring it Saturday.

Of course, for every push in schedule from the granite folks comes a push in schedule with the appliance folks. We've daily been begging to get on the schedule and that's gotten harder as we've gotten closer to Christmas when apparently EVERYONE wants their appliances delivered. Ugh!

So now we're attempting to make the most of our wait. You know, take lots of Tylenol, put up the Christmas tree, take cues from our kids that Christmas is around the corner and is a reason to celebrate.

We're on the schedule to have granite installed Monday morning and the appliances Monday afternoon. We're leaving Tuesday for a much needed escape from this craziness and frustration. Well, at least that's the plan today.

Kitchen Remodeling -- Week 6 thru 8

The pace of our kitchen remodeling really picked up in Week 6. We had electrical work done...
And plumbing...
And sheetrocking...
And we had the wood on the ceiling sandblasted. The sandblasting gave the kitchen a major face lift. Our kitchen actually felt like new construction. Of course the dirt and sand that filled the rest of the house reminded us otherwise. But it really served as the turning point from the depression of demo to the excitement of what's to come.

We spent Week 7, also known as Thanksgiving week, starting to put things back together. The walls were textured. I stained the ceiling in one very long, very stinky day. Mark laid the tile and I painted.
Mark grouted and the girls helped clean. That's always such a drag. It takes so many passes with the sponge to get that 'new tile' feel. By Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend we were exhausted and sore, but we were ready for Week 8.
Week 8 brought cabinets! Yes, cabinets. It took us nine months to decide on which cabinets to buy and it was so worth it. They are beautiful!
After the first day of installation, it's starting to look like we have a kitchen again.
Week 9 will bring the rest of the cabinet install, drywall patching, electrical finish work and hopefully the beginning of a pantry. We're getting near the end. This whole kitchen remodel has been a taxing process to be sure but one we hope our family will enjoy for years to come.