Kitchen Remodel Day 24 - FINISHED!!!

Wow!  The kitchen if FINISHED!

Well, let's say Saul and Saul Jr. are finished.

9:00 this morning they were here (in the rain) working like crazy. 

Trash can.  Done!

Threshold for bathroom.  Done!

I'm standing in the bathroom.  I can't get this picture to rotate, I've tried 4 times.  Put your right ear toward your shoulder and it makes more sense.

They were out of here by 11.

 I'm working on a curtain.  I only got one row done today.

Did I mention that one row is 489 stitches?

It says Eat Well, Pray Often, Love Always with forks and spoons.

This is an example of one of the "little things" Saul did.

Notice the way the molding butts up to the window opening?

He didn't plan it that way, but rounded it off and it looks great.

We went to Penney's last night to look at throw rugs.  I want a 2 x 6' oval braided rug runner for in front of the sink.

Good News:  They carried the brand and a color I liked.

Bad News:  Penney's didn't carry the size I need.  The label on the rug they had said go to the website for additional sizes.

Good News:  I found the website.

Bad News:  They didn't have anything with that style name or color name.

Good News:  I found something with another name that looked like it.

Bad News:  The content wasn't the same.  The one I liked was 65% Polypropylene 35% Nylon.  The one I found online was 55% Polypropylene, 35% Nylon, 10% Polyester.  And described as Chenille.

Good News:  OK.  I'm flexible.  I'll order it anyway.

Bad News:  Estimated Shipping Date says "Call Customer Service".

So I sent them an email asking them what the deal was.

So what do you do when your kitchen is finally finished?

First I took a nap.

Then I start cleaning the appliances.  The toaster oven.  The toaster.  The oven.  Ooops, that turned into an all day chore.  I thoroughly cleaned it before we started, but I found places I never even knew existed.  Did you know there is a place for old meatballs under the broiler drawer?  Or a place for spiders if you take off the bottom kick panel and look under there?

My new insta hot is really fun for melting gunk off oven parts.

Kitchen Remodel Day 23 - So Close!!!

Saul and Saul Jr. really came through today.

1.  Ground outlet.  Done.

220V fuse installed outside.
HOWEVER, there doesn't seem to be any power to it inside...

2.  Outlet covers?  Check

 And check

3.  Install granite shelf on little cupboard by stove.

This was no small feat.  A lot of work had to be done to that door molding to get the cabinet to fit.

Bird does an incredible reciprocating saw impression.  The challenge is to get her to turn it off! 

I actually put a cardboard box over her head.  That worked for about 30 seconds.

We went for a nice walk in the sunshine instead.

4.  Install last drawer knob.
Also, adjust drawer to slide smoothly. (Item 19)

5.  Install doors for Lazy Susan.

And knob.

Looks nice.

Not too sure about the contraption it takes to close it...



6.  Install Trash can under sink is slated for 8:30 a.m. tomorrow.

7.  Install baseboards.  

Well, some got installed.  Two seem to be missing...

9.  Threshold for bathroom got left back at the shop.  Slated for 8:30 a.m. installation

 10:  Threshold and weatherstripping for back door.  Complete.

Except the wall isn't straight, so the door doesn't swing straight, and rubs on the bottom in the fully open position...

13.  Finish last cupboard with moldings and light covers.

Looks fantastic!

21.  Ooops!  Wiring over top of window shows.

Install clock.

Not sure how this got on the list, but it got done.

I still need to install the rest of the wallpaper border.

Oh, did I mention they had to go underneath the house to install the little cabinet next to the stove?  Somehow the trap door got left open, with a nice view of the light installed under there.

The guys packed up all their tools into the back of their Suburban.  Not a pretty sight.  I asked how long before the van is finished, and Saul Jr. said 2 weeks.  I smiled and said, oh, we know about 2 weeks!

But the kitchen is almost done.  I can almost taste it!

Install trash can, bathroom threshold, 2 pieces of baseboard, piece of cake!

We'll see.

The stove is lit.  The guys are invited for garbanzo omelette first thing in the morning.  Their eyes didn't exactly light up...

I didn't quite get 2 rows done on my curtain today.  I had to adjust my pattern.  Now there are 71 rows instead of 40.  I'm on row 9.   At 2 rows per day, that's, um, awhile.  :)

Kitchen Remodel Day 22 - Officially 3 months elapsed time!

So let's start with the punch list.

1.  Electrical outlet not grounded.

220V outlet finished.

2.  Need 2 outlet covers.

3.  Install granite on little cabinet to the left of the stove.
Update:  Turns out cabinet needs to be bolted to the floor from underneath.

4.  Install last drawer face and knob.
Update:  1/8 drawer face installed.  Still need knob.

5.  Install doors on lazy susan cabinet.
Update:  Need different hinges.

6.  Install trash can holder under sink.
1/8  framework showed up

7.  Install baseboards.

8.  Magnets on doors.  Done 1/8

9.  Install threshold for bathroom.
Update:  Saul has decided to use the threshold Jerry got at Home Depot for raw material.

10.  Install threshold for back door.
Update:  Door was shortened.  Aluminum threshold purchased.  Weather strip cut to length.  Still needs installation.

11.  Install magnets on doors.  Done

12.  Touch up paint on cabinet where truck was rear-ended during transport.

13.  Install under cabinet finish board over lighting on far left cabinet.

14.  Install crown molding.  1/8 some molding installed.

15.  Caulk between window and cabinet.  1/8 done.

16.  Install molding over light board on bottom of cabinet.  1/8 some molding installed.

17.  Install longer gas hose for stove.
Update:  New hose doesn't fit gas valve or stove.  No parts fit old old stove.  Need to upgrade valve and fittings on stove to new versions.

18.  Get gas hooked up.

Good news:  Saul and Saul Jr. showed up today.

The new crown molding and molding on the bottom of the cabinet looks really nice.

The last drawer front got installed, but not the knob.  ???

The frame for the trash can showed up.

You know, I was thinking today.  When you choose a contractor, you need to keep in mind that they will become like family.  Coming, going, there through thick (the cabinetry went well) and thin (that OLD stove!).  Maybe a little quirky.  I'm glad we picked the one we did.

All in all, things are getting back to normal.

The toaster oven, toaster and Vitamix all found their new homes.

I'm crocheting a new valance for the window.

I think I've located new rugs for in front of the sink and coming in and out of the kitchen.

Maybe tomorrow it will be done?

In the meantime...

A lot of progress has been made, even without Saul.

First off, Grape Vine Sally called and said the stove parts were ready.  Jerry and I drove up to Pasadena and picked up new porcelained burners, new chrome oven vent and oven handle, and a new oven knob!

Woohoo!

Now if I just had a gas hookup so I could use it!

I've started moving things into the kitchen. 

I emptied the hutch in the living room, and put all it's contents away.  That way the hutch could be dismantled and taken downstairs. 

All the kitchen stuff moved out of the living room back to the kitchen. 

The big tubs downstairs got unloaded. 

A lot of stuff just went back into the old cupboards where it belonged, but since I don't have the storage in the rolling cart anymore, all that stuff had to find new homes. 

As I was putting things away, it seemed easier to put things in the give away pile rather than the where to put them pile. 

The last tub has doo-dahs that I don't want to hang on the wall yet (there still is construction going on, maybe), and one drawer that doesn't have a drawer front or a knob. 

All the stuff off the bed found a new home. 

The rolling cart is now a temporary work bench in the back yard.

It was a challenge finding a place for all the cleaning equipment and solutions that used to live under the kitchen sink.  Now half that space is garbage can, the other half is mostly insta-hot and water filter. 

I LOVE the new cabinet to the left of the sink.  Great place for lots of things that used to live in the windowsill, including salt and pepper and olive oil (Dr. McDougall, close your eyes).

Kitchen Remodel Day 21

And the answer is...

Yes! 

All the china fits in the glass cabinet.  

Saul land Saul Jr. installed the new cabinet to the left of the sink.

And the new little cabinet to the left of the stove!

See you next year!!!

Kitchen Remodel Day 20

Call it persistence.



Five phone calls to the "floor guy" explaining that the seam in the flooring isn't right.

AND, there's a new lump on the bathroom threshold.

Oh, by the way, we're leaving in 3 days.

All I do is leave a message.

The store opens at 10.  I left a message there.

Or I can call his cell phone direct.  And leave a message there.

Well, I'd just decided it was WAY past lunchtime, when I hear a rap, rap, rap, rap at the front door.

It's the floor guys!

Now the seam is fixed.

Notice the pile of "things to be installed" in the corner is getting smaller.

And the quarter round is installed.

They used a lot more glue, and the bathroom threshold seems to be fixed.

They were here about a half hour.

Amazing.

Maybe I should track "elapsed days".

I haven't heard from the stove guy.

This is the way I cook on my stovetop because my burner grates are getting new porcelain.

Since October 11th.

Good thing I've learned how to cook rice in the microwave!

My oven doesn't work because the oven knob is getting refurbished.

Hence the toaster oven in the pass through.

Notice the pineapple/mandarin orange arrangement in the window.

My wonderful neighbor brought it over as a gluten-free Christmas gift!

To be eaten immediately, as the pineapple was very ripe.

Merry Christmas!

Kitchen Remodel Day 19

A productive day!

 Saul and Saul Jr. were here before 10! 

Saul got Jr. going, and then he left to go do some errands.  But he came back, and they both worked til 5!

Jr. seems to be the cabinet lights guy.  Aren't they pretty! 

They are all finished underneath with a board, so one more piece of molding is necessary to finish them off.



Jr. also installed the glass in the far cabinet doors, and glass shelves in that unit.

Regular shelves were installed in the closer unit.


We don't like the latches he installed on the cupboard, so he is going to replace them with magnets. 
 
These require a real tug to get them open.

Jr. worked a long time installing the slides for the 3 drawers.  There is still one drawer not installed.

They slide really nice, and close themselves the last 3 inches or so.

The silverware drawer is so huge we had to go get a new drawer organizer!

When Saul showed back up, he worked and worked on the doors under the sink. 

He was very upset with how they fit. 

Can you see what he was upset about?

He says it's because the walls aren't square. 

Personally, I don't think it's a big deal.  (The gap isn't even all the way around.)

One more receptacle got a cover plate and is activated, so now there is a microwave AND a coffee maker!

Time to start moving things back into the cupboards!