Kitchen Remodel - Update

The painters are coming this weekend and we have a final walk through to clean up the little things, but the remodel is effectively over.

I'm going to hold off posting any more pictures until Saturday night or Sunday after the painting is done. Check back then for final pictures of the completed kitchen.

After that, posting and viewership of this blog can return to normal. In other words, I'll go back to infrequently posting unfunny things that nobody will read.

Kitchen Remodel - Day 15

We've reached the three week mark in the remodeling project. The delay on the backsplash prevented us from finishing on the original schedule, but only by a day. The tile is now laid, but they have to wait until Monday to fill in the grout.

We have someone coming in tomorrow for an estimate to paint the walls and ceiling. I'm hopeful that we'll have the painting done within a week, but I'm not optimistic. It's been months and we still need to hire a plumber to come out and finish our last project (the basement bathroom).

Backsplash by fridge

Backsplash by wine rack

Backsplash by stove & microwave

Looking across the island

View from the other side of the island

Kitchen Remodel - Day 14

Although we've clearly entered the homestrech of the remodel, the backsplash is slowing things down considerably. The person we talked to yesterday went home sick, and the guy who came in today did not finish much. I'm guessing we spill over to Monday at this point.

View of today's progress

Close up of backsplash

Plenty of supplies

Comforting shot of wet saw on top of new glass-top stove

Kitchen Remodel - Day 13

Despite spending time this morning explaining the pattern to someone, they didn't actually put in the backsplash today. Not really sure what the deal was with that, but at least all the appliances are now in and working. The electrician also finished all the lights, including those under the cabinets, as well all outlets not effected by the lack of backsplash. Several of the minor issues we had pointed out this morning were also cleaned up (missing screw, new threshold, door stop, etc). Not sure of the timing on the remaining items, but there can't be much left at this point.

View from former family room

Close up of island & sink. Dishwasher is the far panel in the island.

Stove & microwave (and cheap radio)

Refrigerator and cabinets

Kitchen Remodel - Day 12

Apparently kitchen remodelers and lawyers treat President's Day differently, with one group getting the day off and the other working...I'll leave it to the reader to figure out which group is which.

They were back to work today, however, installing the silestone. The appliances were moved into the kitchen, but not actually installed. The combination makes the room feel much smaller than it is. Also, today's pictures don't do a good job of reflecting the color of the counters. It's a little lighter than what the sample seemed to suggest, but not as light as it appears in the pictures. Once the appliances and some black accessories are added, it should seem darker.

The plumber & electrician are coming tomorrow to finish installing the appliances and under-cabinet lights. The backsplash is also getting installed tomorrow. After that, we should be done except for some minor details.

View from old family room

Opposite view

View of the Island & Table

Another shot of the Island

Sink with holes for faucet and soap dispenser

Closeup of counter, cabinets and dusty stove

Kitchen Remodel - Day 10

We're two full weeks into the project and things are really coming together. Here are pictures that will look just like yesterday, except to the die hard followers of this remodel who can now see the grout. Also, the island table was removed for the tile installation, but will be attached to the rest of island on Tuesday.

View from former family room

Spot for the fridge

Closeup of tile & grout

Fully paneled dishwasher just waiting to be installed

Kitchen Remodel - Day 9

After the minor setback yesterday, we're back on track. The floor went in today, with the grout getting applied tomorrow. Nothing is set to happen after that until Tuesday when the countertops go in.

We weren't allowed to walk on the floors tonight so the pictures are somewhat limited.

View from the Dining Room

View from the hallway

Closeup of Tile

Closeup of hardware

Apparently refrigerators also go well in the living room

Kitchen Remodel - Day 8

We had our first real setback today. Because of freezing rain this morning, the tile guys had no place to cut the tile and couldn't put in the floor. Fortunately, tomorrow's forecast is for sun, which means the floor can be set tomorrow and grout applied on Friday.

Given that all the other work is on hold until the countertops arrive on Tuesday, this won't throw the overall schedule off, but does make it so there are no new photos to share (sorry Christine).

Kitchen Remodel - Day 6

Once again, they're back to minor, but important, details that don't warrant new photos. Today they finished the trim work on the cabinets and put on the door pulls. More exciting than today's progress is the overall schedule, which is on pace to finish in less than 15 working days.

Here's the remaining line-up of projects:

Tuesday - Measure for Silestone
Wednesday - Tile guy arrives and puts in the floor
Thursday - Tile guy grouts and finishes the floor
Friday - Finishing touches on wood work
Monday - Likely off
Tuesday - Countertops installed
Wednesday - Backsplash installed, appliances installed
Thursday - Final details
Friday - Done!!!

Kitchen Remodel - Day 5

What a difference a few days can make. When I left on a business trip Wednesday, the space was empty and they were just putting in the lights. Now, all the cabinets are installed and there's an island. The only significant screw-up so far was that the island table showed up with damaged table legs and had to be sent back, thus the plywood mockup in the photos.

Cabinets & Island (with faux table)

Pantry and cut-out for fridge

Cabinets on other side of fridge

Custom cabinet to hide pipes and house TV

Kitchen Remodel - Day 4

Apparently it doesn't take very long to get things inspected in Arlington. Courtesy of the wife, here are the most recent photos of the remodel.

Island & Cabinets over stove

Close up of Wall Cabinets

Part of Island & Pantry

Pantry (much better here than in the living room)

Kitchen Remodel: The Slow Days

I'm not going to post much for the next few days because they're doing the "behind the scenes" electrical and plumbing work that isn't very obvious. Well, that and the fact I can't take any pictures because they took out all the lights to install the new recessed lighting.

After the electrical work is done, we have to wait for the inspector to approve it before anything else happens.

Kitchen Remodel: Day 1

Or as I like to think of it..."How much damage can 4 guys with crowbars do in 8 hours?"

The answer is readily apparent in the following photos: a whole lot.

Main Kitchen Area

Pretty sure there used to be a wall there

Yep, definitely no more wall

It's most likely in the truck-full of trash

Worry not, those pipes will be covered again


Probably with one of these cabinets

Pantries go well in living rooms

Pre-Remodel Photos

With the workers showing up at 7:30 AM, it's too late to be witty (assuming I ever am). Here are some shots of the kitchen as it looked tonight. If you can't tell why we're remodeling, just look closer.

Main Kitchen Area

Refrigerator Without a Freezer


Disgusting Painted Ceiling Wallpaper

Alleged "Family Room" set to become part of new kitchen

Been Awhile...Now It's Kitchen Time!

So I haven't posted much at all, despite figuring out how to do so via the Blackberry surgically attached to me. For at least the next month, this will change.

On Monday, February 4th, we start a kitchen remodel some 10 months in the making (even longer if you count the fact we knew we'd need to remodel when we bought the place in 2006). We signed the contract with Cameo Kitchens back in April of 2007, but the first available slot wasn't until February 2008. As you can imagine, it's difficult to wait that long and we're excited to finally get started.

Anyway, my plan is to post pictures of the progress on a fairly regular basis for the 3 people that might actually want to following along. Tomorrow I'll post some shots of the empty, 70s-tastic disaster that prompted the remodel. Surprisingly, we're not going to keep the mustard colored appliances and painted ceiling wallpaper scheme in the new design.