We’ve decided to stimulate the economy in a rather spectacular fashion this spring. A kitchen remodel has been in our long-range plan for the house since we moved in here. It got sidetracked a bit when we had to rebuild one whole side of our house in 2006, but it was on the schedule for this year, economy be damned. Those ugly grey plastic kitchen cabinets have been on my hit list since I first saw this place.
Our kitchen appliances started to bite the dust last fall, and when we had to replace the gas cooktop ahead of schedule due to the death of the old one, the new one required a little chainsaw action so it would fit in to the center island. This left a gaping hole in the middle of the island. Then the old refrigerator died, and we had to get a new one. We measured the space carefully, and went to buy a shiny new refrigerator. Of course, since this entire house apparently was built from stolen plans for a Halloween fun-house, the new refrigerator didn’t quite quite fit in the space that the old one came out of. One side of the cabinet above the fridge was a little lower than the other, so the whole cabinet got emergently ripped out, leaving a second gaping hole there. We’ve been living with the gaping holes for about six months, but it was clearly time to proceed with the rest of the remodel.
Our contractor started work this week. We’re getting new cabinets, replacing the oven and dishwasher that are on their last legs, and new granite countertops. Right now here’s what it looks like.
The only solution to that mess is to leave town. Fortunately the house has a tiny “kitchenette” in the basement, so we won’t starve during the couple months that this is projected to take to finish. We’re leaving this morning on our annual visit to Arizona to compete in the Great Mexican Train competition, AKA the Knitting Doctor’s family reunion. I might be able to post from the road, otherwise I’ll be back next week!
Wow…just…wow! I’m kinda speechless.
You look like you’re trying to be very brave in those pictures. Have fun at the family reunion!
Wow! Have a lovely time in Arizona and be glad you’re nowhere near the sawdust.
Ugh! I think I’d leave town, too, if I was having renovations. How exciting. I hope all goes well. Can’t wait to see the new digs. Bon voyage.
My goodness – when you remodel, you go whole hog, don’t you? Can’t wait to see the new kitchen – hope my favorite red chair will still be there! Where will the doggies go while you are gone??
Wow, you’ve been BUSY!!!
Can’t wait to see your new kitchen! I love seeing home redos.
It will be fun to see the finished project, but OMG, those huge, light-allowing WINDOWS I can see in the second picture!!! I envy you those.
Bon Voyage! Have a super time! Looking forward to the finished kitchen redo.
Oh I love remodeling pictures! Can’t wait to see the new kitchen. Have fun at the reunion!
You’re doing a great job holding up those walls. How will they stay up while you are away? 😉
We redid our kitchen in 2000-2001. A friend, after listening to all the problems we had, said that, if he decided he could no longer tolerate his kitchen, he’d sell his house & buy one that had a kitchen he liked. Of course, our house is almost 100 years old so nothing is standard & we removed a (weight bearing) wall. And, of course, the hard wood floors that we assumed were under the ugly no wax flooring weren’t there so we had to have new hard wood floors installed. We are thinking about either an addition or a craft room & bathroom in the basement but selling is starting to look good to me!
Kitchen remodel – always a fun time! Have a great trip.
Safe travels! You are a brave woman, but I understand necessity.
WOW! SO EXCITING!
My mom and I have been watching a lot of HGTV these days, so needless to say, we’re sure to have kitchen envy!! 🙂
It drives me crazy the way they have changed the dimensions of appliances. I think it’s a conspiracy between contractors and the appliance companies. We just replaced the washer and dryer in our B’Ham condo and the gymnastics to get the new ones in! We do it ourselves so now we have major wall patching to do.
Have a great trip.
I remember that whole rebuilding one wall episode! Yikes. Thankfully, this one is not such a surprise — and oh, won’t it be nice when it’s finished! Have a fun time in AZ.
Leaving town is the only way to handle that. I chickened out and went on a two-week work trip when I simply had to have my floors re-sanded. You cook such amazing things with your current kitchen, and I’ll look forward to seeing the remodeled version and the expansion of your cooking repertoire.
Have a great trip.
You’ve given me flashbacks of the remodeling of our kitchen. The pantry was put in the dining room, appliances in the carport and I was washing dishes in the bathtub. Smart move to go out of town!
Oh, what fun! What will be the first meal you make in the new kitchen?? Your description of dying, dead and death throes appliances sounds like out kitchen!! Our wall oven hasn’t worked or five months, after a year of suffering. And the cooktop has only three working burners. And the refrig makes serious noises and sucks electricity as if it’s on life support. Resulting in a half remodel–nevertheless, we are stimulating the economy well enough! All new appliances!! New cabinets for the refrig and the oven area and a new island with full extension 100lb roll out drawers!! And, new book shelves for recipe books, etc., etc. The new windows were installed a month ago. I’ll share photos. with you, although our work will begin when yours is done.
Is your family into dominoes???