Counter tops

We are now under a week to being completed - the next phase is the counter top installation. Here is a picture of the counter top we chose...



and the Cambria USA site's page with how it looks in a kitchen.

The pantry

As promised, here is a look at one of the key changes in the new kitchen... the pantry. Before it was just a closet like space with wire shelving, now it is a functional area with great access due to the pull out shelves. Of course, we 'technically' lost some actual square footage in the transition, but we gained so much more functional space that I think we are leaps and bounds ahead.

Here's a better look at the pantry, before it gets loaded!

Ready for counter tops...

Yesterday, the cabinet installation was completed with the addition of door and drawer pulls along with crown and base molding. Today the team from Fine-Line Pacific will be here to create the templates for the new solid surface counter tops. Carolyn and I selected a product called 'Cambria', a man-made solid surface product with the look of quartz without the periodic maintenance required for granite. After today, work slows down quite drastically as we wait for the counters to be fabricated. During this slow period, we'll be busy painting and installing the base molding around the walls and pocket door frame, cleaning and loading the upper cabinets, and having new blinds installed.

Here's the look of the new kitchen with the protective paper removed...








Here's a look at the new 'pantry'. I'll focus a post on it and the other specialty cabinets separately tomorrow or Saturday.

Cabinet Installation - Day 2

Today brought a flurry of activity as the cabinet installation progressed along with the plumbing of the new gas line to the island. Jim and Robert worked to finish placing the base cabinets and then hung the upper cabinets with precision to insure an exact amount of workspace in between. Jim also worked on placing the island, coordinating with John so the new gas line would be in the proper position based on the range installation requirements. Of course, the range arrived today in the midst of the fun and thankfully John and Scott checked the gas line with 'smoke' and found a leak that needed to be addressed. The gas line was a bit more difficult to add than originally planned and John assisted Scott in getting over the challenges. All in all, a lot of work was completed - as evidenced in the pictures below.

Cabinet installation - Day 1

Wow! The cabinets look great and the excitement is building to get this project complete. Of course, I know the most difficult part is yet to come - waiting the 10 days for the counter tops to be fabricated, but this is exciting nonetheless. Anyway, it seems like things are on track - no major surprises yet - and the gas line will be run today while Jim and his team (of one!) finish the cabinet installation.

Naturally, the pictures show the utter chaos currently consuming the house and as those of you that know Carolyn and I, it is a bit daunting. Yes, I will admit we are 'neatniks' - those people with Felix Unger tendencies (without the outrageous compulsion he displayed) so the 'displacement' is taking a toll on our nerves - especially me as I have been working from home most of this time. To say I have a bit of cabin fever is an understatement. Heck, I was overjoyed to cruise to Home Depot this morning to pick up a few new drawer handles as the ones we purchased wouldn't fit the narrow drawers in the island...

So without further ado, here's today's pictures!

Wooohooo - The cabinets arrive!!!

As scheduled, the Superior Cabinets truck backed into the driveway around 7:30, ready to unload the cabinetry. After showing the guys kitchen layout, they decided to deliver them all inside, rather than the garage. Works for me and I know Jim the installer will be happy to not have to move them in from there.

It's a cover up!

That's right - cover up the floors that is! After the nice flooring job was completed, we spent Sunday night covering them up to protect them during the cabinet delivery and install. Believe me, it was not exactly easy work being on my hands and knees (no wise cracks from the peanut gallery!) taping and cutting and getting the job done after 10PM.

But here is the end result...






Carolyn said this looks like a bowling alley. Funny, because I felt like a 7-10 split afterwards!

Flooring finished

This morning the carpet guy showed up to finish the flooring job by stretching and affixing the carpet to the tack strip along the new hardwood floor. It took all of 30 minutes - he and his helper were fast and efficient.

New flooring installed!

We have now turned a corner. Along with the painting Carolyn and I did last night, iFloor.com's team arrived this morning to install the new maple flooring. We are officially done with demo and tear out and are now completing tasks toward the remodel. The guys arrived early (before 9) and left close to 5 and knocked this out of the park!

Take a look for yourselves...

The entry way from above...


The entry way from the pool room...


The powder room...


The kitchen...


Remember how I mentioned the transition between the entry way and the kitchen/family room? Well, I had no reason to worry - this was the solution they implemented to my request. I have to admit this is better than I suggested.

From the sliding door in the breakfast nook...


Detail of the transition...

Painting until almost midnight

I masked the kitchen the evening of the 14th and Carolyn and I painted it this evening. We really hit it hard after a nice dinner of delivered Pizza Hut pizza compliments of Carolyn. :-) Now we are ready for the flooring to be installed tomorrow - it was nice to be able to paint without drop cloths! And in case you are wondering, the color is Lis Creme and it compliments the color in the entertainment room fabulously and the cabinets are going to look great against it.

It's gone!

Jim and his helped arrived at 9AM promptly and made short work of removing the cabinets (thanks to being installed with screws and not nails!) and the vinyl flooring and underlayment. Just a bit of sub-floor work remains and everything will be ready for me to mask and Carolyn and I to paint prior to the new floor being installed. I feel some long evenings ahead!

This is what the kitchen looks like after the tear out.

Empty as the day I moved in

Carolyn and I had moved all the kitchen stuff into the dining room and are now on a 'frozen food' diet as we only have a microwave to work with. This could be the most challenging aspect of this remodel - I love to cook... and eat, of course!

Wine cellar

I ordered the wine cellar today from King and Bunny's - King himself was there to take the order and remembered me. I really appreciate the great service and good humor of the group there, especially King. This unit holds 46 bottles and has 2 zones for storing whites and reds and matches the other appliances perfectly. Finally, I can keep a stock of my favorite Gloria Ferrar for champagne cocktails, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc for cooking (and drinking), and reds for pasta night and not fill up the refrigerator!

The project starts!

The iFloor team (of 2) arrived today to deliver the new maple flooring and remove the existing oak flooring. While I discussed the installation with one guy, the other stacked all the new flooring in the pool room. They made short work of the removal and gave me some ideas on the transition from entry way to kitchen. More decisions to be made, but luckily not until it is time to install the new floor.

Looking down on the entry from the upper landing...


Looking from the pool room towards the laundry room and family (entertainment) room archway...


The powder room...

The big lift

My brother Roger stopped by yesterday to help me move the refrigerator into the garage and take my old wine cabinet. Little did he know he would go home with a nice portion of my red wine stash as a thanks for his help. Besides, I had to put a dent into the emptiness of the wine cabinet when he got it home to his new house!

Shopping for the extras

Carolyn and I have been doing some shopping for the extras - specifically the cabinet hardware and the under counter wine cellar. We decided to go with cabinet hardware that mimics the handles on the new appliances and came across numerous wine cellars. On a lark, I checked the Jenn-Air website and wouldn't you know, they have a wine cellar that matches the other appliances. A bit pricier than other ones we have seen, but there is something about having everything match that appeases my sense of completion. I guess some might consider it a disorder. Oh well, another trip to King and Bunny's is in my near future as well as tracking down the cabinet hardware once we get a door and drawer count from Steve.