Wait - it's not that we didn't get a TON of stuff done, it's just that many things are started and nothing is finished. And that's frustrating. But that's how it goes with a whole house renovation. So in an attempt to make myself feel better about what we've accomplished, I'll share some things here.
First, let me introduce you to the original kitchen:
You may wince at the green floral linoleum right away, but trust me, this photo doesn't do justice to the aged counters or sagging cabinets, either. Take a closer look at that large appliance toward the back. That's not a microwave over the stove - it's a second oven. We do sometimes bake while on vacation, but I can't imagine needing two ovens.
What you can't see in this photo are a full-sized washer and dryer on the left side of the room, eating up about 25% of the total room space.
It's also tough to get an accurate perspective on size. You are looking through a 36 inch doorway (see the wood frame on the right?) To the immediate left is a refrigerator and a small counter, just big enough to fit a microwave. This leaves only the space over the dishwasher as usable counter surface. ugh!
For foodies who like to cook as much as we like to eat, this kitchen was not going to cut it.
In the last post I showed an initial demo pic of this space. After that visit, we had a contractor install a support beam where the kitchen entry wall had been, opening up the space into the dining area. What a huge difference that makes!
This week, we pulled out all the cabinets and appliances, removed the soffits (thankfully no wiring or duct work was inside - but we did manage to drop a hammer between the open walls!) and took down a partial wall which had divided the laundry area. We solved some electrical mysteries so Steve could move wiring where we needed it for the new appliances, outlets & lighting. We cut out & framed a new doorway into the storage closet, which had only been accessible from the master bedroom. The old flooring was removed and backerboard is now in place for a tile floor to be installed. Here's how the room looked as we left:
We had ordered new stainless appliances on a Black Friday sale, so those were delivered during our stay and are now sitting in the dining room until we can finish the prep and install new cabinets & counters. Our contractor found local neighbors who could use the old cabinets, fridge and washer & dryer. We were happy to pass these along instead of dumping them.
One of the biggest challenges in re-designing our kitchen was to find a new spot for the laundry. In a little house, there aren't many options. Last month we opened some walls in one of the bathrooms and a bedroom, converting two closets into a new laundry space and open linen shelving. New water & power lines were installed by pro's. During last week's trip, Steve built new walls and I tiled the bathroom floor with travertine. Our tight schedule - lay the tile on day day 1, seal the stone on day 2, apply grout on day 3 and then the final coat of sealer on day 5 - was thrown off when I ran out of mortar at 2:30 am with just two rows of tile remaining : ( So even though we have a new stackable washer & dryer set sitting in the hall, we could not put them in place before we left. Pics of that will come when complete!
The final project we started on this trip was painting. As rooms are finished I will show more, but for now, here's a sneak peak at some of our "beachy" color choices:
We have lots more to do and a short timeline to do it all. Our next long visit will not be until February. On that trip, we are hoping to have the kitchen in place & operational. It was not easy cooking all week with only a dorm-sized microwave and washing dishes in the bathroom sink, but hopefully we won't have to do that after the next trip!
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