Finally.... Sweat Equity

Finally. The major work is done!
The cabinets are up, the trim work is all done, and the cabinet filler is installed. As of today, the cabinets now have pulls on them too! (well except one... that's for another day I suppose). To help make it feel more kitchen like, the window (with all new trim and casing) got a valance and artwork hung. Oh, and the TV is now installed on the kitchen wall, with no exposed wires.

The counter top template will be made this week, and in two weeks there will be new installed quarts counter tops. Thank God that includes professional installation and cutting - not sure I can take much more at the moment.

Again.... After the counter arrives, the tile wall behind the stove can go up, and the new hood. Then.... well, nothing.
Except a new to the laundry room/deck. I think a multi-lite french door is in store for later this summer.

The Tiny Stuff...

ok, so before the big update...

1. I'm impressed with the crown moulding joints' finished look. If you had been here during the many attempts to get the miter correct, you would appreciate this a little more. I invented new curse words while working on this part.













2. Awesome new fan in the living room. You seriously can't hear when it comes on, and those three blades throw down a tornado of wind!














3. During all of the renovation work, the poor dog has felt a little ignored. So, to bring her into the loop, she now has her own blanket for her day bed, which matches the living room decor.

...Brought to you by the color Red...

So, another little mini-project. Finishing the living room! Yeah, the stuff was all there, but the walls have been that hideous yellow/peach/jaundice color... until now. Yeah, I like bold colors. And I love monochromatic or minichromatic rooms. Such as the bew red and neutral living room. It actually does a great trick in the room... the dark walls on the ends draws the space in, so it doesn't feel as long as before. Previously the same furniture felt like it was in two rooms, now it all works together!



And don't even ask about the TV and sound wires. Pain in the tookus.

Also of note: The Laundry Room

Well, as you can see in the other posts, the kitchen is kind of boring lately. Rathen than waste time, the focus has shifted to other projects. First up: The previously dingy and cluttered laundry room! Now I am not interested in putting in custom cabinets and quartz counters in this space, but I want it to be organized and neat. A quick trip to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and then Home Depot fixed it right up. Refinished a few cabinets... some for the wall, some for the base. New counter tops (not bad looking for stock laminate). And then some creative use of boards/PVC/legs from Ikea.. and voila! A new laundry room. Even though technically there is more stuff on the room now, it feels SO MUCH bigger. And thers is plenty of workspace for folding, small house projects, etc. I still have to work on the trim where the cabinets meet the ceiling and floor. And of course, the ceiling and brick wall has to be painted at some point. But the sense of urgency is gone. That's an easy morning project for a summer Saturday.

I will be in Boston all week, and should return to find new cabinets waiting to be hung!

Update on the Kitchen

ok, so I haven't done any daily updates for the past week... but with good reason. Not much has changed, visually!!
The drywall sanding took forever (And isn't perfect - touch up will happen later). And the walls are now the purple color that will be behing the cabinets. There isn't much more to be done, until the cabinets arrive. Oh, the stove is here. And there is a new light where the sink will be located. Something that will match the rest of the kitchen:)

Day 5

Ahead of schedule! Slightly.
The drywall is up, the floors are level. AND the joints have their first coat of tape and mud.

Speaking of joints - ouch. I am starting to really feel the pain of manual labor.

The floors were incredibly easy. I was shocked. The drywall went up pretty well. Note that we left the old stuff up on two walls (it has been drywalled just 3 years ago). Those two walls only need patches, and then to be fixed around the stove area. The window wall was almost all in need of drywall. The wall of just cabinets is where we cheated a bit. Because the new cabinets will cover the lower and upper portions of the wall - the old plaster and board was left. But the exposed area will be a nice clean new drywall. I figure it's a bit of history if someone else decided to renovate the kitchen in a nother 75 years.

Things will wind down a little this week. Today I have several things to do around town, but will work on sanding and a 2nd coat of mud. Maybe Monday I can start priming and by Tuesday night have the priming and painting wrapped up. After that.... its wait for cabinets! Cabinets... then molding and waiting for counter tops. The last two things will be installing the tile over the stove, and then the stainless stell hood.

oh - note that the window is back in one piece. For a portion of the day, all of the molding was removed from the left side, and bottom. Now its back (with some wood putty repair needed). I also have to get creative and find a way to deal with that hold in the center of the window. If those wires still worked, I could take down the pendant light and put in a nice sconce.

Kitchen Days 3 & 4

Well, Day 3 and 4 are less exciting.
Day 3 was only an hour of work - taking down the crown molding on the remaining walls.

Day 4, was actually tidious - though you won't see much changed. Every single electrical box in the room had to be moved.
Becuase the new cabinets and counters will have a propper backsplase, the outlets are in the way. They had to be raised up about 4 inches each. NOT fun. Also, the new refrigerator location requires another outlet to be moved about 3 feet. That's me doing the work here (fun, eh?).

Oh, also ran new lines and a new switch for the garbage disposal. Briefly considered getting rid of the disposal and rerouting that power to under-cabinet lighting. But that involves more cabinet for the trim. And the kitchen already has task lighing. That's enough for me:)

The only noticable difference in the end will be the new cable box location.
Previously the TV hung from the ceiling in the corner. Now, a nice 15-inch flat panel will be mounted to the wall, just above the counter where the food prep station is. The cable and power will be right behind it, so it should work perfectly and look great.

Another big part of Day 4 was spent at Home Depot - purchasing plywood and more dryall.
Feel free to take this insider tip - buy Home Depot stock now. Their shares are sure to rise with the increased quarterly profits to which I am contributing. But don't rat me out like I'm Martha Stewart or anything.

I promise better pictures tomorrow. Hopefully the next post will show a leveled floor and fresh (unmudded) drywall!