Bookcases!

I've dreamed of this moment! Floor to ceiling built ins on either side of my fireplace. Today was the day!

Here's how the fireplace used to look just 8 short weeks ago:



Here it is after the guys left today:



Here's a close up of the right side. The subwoofer (whatever that does) will be installed into the wall underneath.



Here's the left side. There is a drawer beneath the shelves. The open space below will house a custom bench on both sides for extra pull out seating when we have lots of guests.



I can hear my books calling to me from boxes in the garage! We're getting close!

We're getting there...

Today saw a few more big progress points...the oven and microwave!

This is what you used to see as you stood at the hall doorway:



Here's the same view:



The template for the granite slab was created today. Here you can see the steel rods that were set to make the granite more stable. And notice the under cabinet lights. I love them!




The microwave!



And the new double oven! This was a non-negotiable for my new kitchen. I said I didn't care about anything else but I had to have a double oven!



I think the next step is to begin working on the bookcases flanking the fireplace!

More progress!

It looks like a kitchen!

Here's a view from the office/school room area.



Looking over the island and out towards the living room. All of those stacked boxes will become the floor to ceiling built ins with the LED TV nicely mounted above the fireplace.




Here I'm standing in front of what will be the kitchen sink looking out into the living room.




The view from the living room into the kitchen.




Here's the view from the dining room. Remember that my laundry used to be right where that door is!




Tomorrow they are scheduled to set the double oven and, maybe, the fridge. The granite will also be measured for tomorrow. Can't wait!

I'm Giddy!

Apparently I'm incapable of taking non-blurry pictures today. Or maybe it's my eyes since I've hardly slept the last three days. At any rate, here are some photos of today's progress!

The new French Door out to the backyard:




Look! Just look at those cabinets! I can almost see myself cooking on that stovetop...well...when the stovetop actually goes in.



Here's part of the island. On the right is a pull out drawer with two trash cans. On the left is a corner cabinet with a built in lazy susan.




Here's where the sink will be in the island. There are some narrow drawers to the left for towels, dishrags, etc. The empty space in between the two parts of the island is where the dishwasher will go.




And here's the "butler's pantry." Guess who the butler is? Me! :-) The microwave will be built into the empty space and there will be a granite countertop where I can put the toaster and coffee pot.




Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Can it be? Cabinets?

The heavens have opened up and shined down upon my kitchen! I have seen a glimpse of the cabinets and breathed a contented sigh of relief.

Up until now there has been the promise of an eventual room where I can invite family and friends to share our lives. But, until now, I've just had to have faith that it will come into reality.

But yesterday...yesterday I saw the first signs of hope.

It took nearly two hours but the guys got my apparently very heavy refrigerator from the patio into the house. It was quite a process involving removing the sliding glass door but they were strong and creative and it's in the house. Right now it's sitting only a few feet from it's permanent home. The double wall oven is sitting next to it.





The majority of the cabinets are stacked in the living room or what will become the living room. The wires hanging down are where the in ceiling speakers will be.




And, here they are! My storage space has just quadrupled! Soon they will be set and I will be able to fill them with whatever I want!



A close up of the doors...



The new pantry! Isn't it just perfect? The upper cabinet closer to the door has vertical slats for storing cookie sheets, muffin tins, cutting boards, etc. The large empty space will hold the double oven with the open space above will be for display.



It was a good day! :-)

Starting to take shape!

In the world of kitchen remodeling I think this project is moving along at a quick pace. When you're living without a kitchen sink and you have a 4 year old who claims he's 20 and doesn't have to listen to you because he's a "breaker" (eg someone who works on houses) and breakers don't have moms and wants to be in the middle of the action every moment of every day...well...it's slow going!

But, it is starting to take shape and this will be a milestone week! Drywall is going up! No more looking at open frame and insulation. Not that I have anything against 2 X 4's and pink cotton candy looking stuff.

On demo morning, I took a picture from this spot:




After demo was complete, it looked like this:



And Friday morning? Hey! What'd they do with my washer and dryer? Is this some sort of magic trick? We need clean clothes!





This is what my dining room looked like for the past 30 years:



And here it is in progress:



So, see, it is changing! It will be done soon and it will be beautiful!

Oh...excuse me for talking to myself. ;-)

Progress

It sure is a lot faster to tear things out than it is to build them back up. That's true with our words and our tools apparently.

We're a week into our remodel and progress is slow but sure.

We've had trouble with our laundry line for years. I'm pretty sure this is why (Mom, all those years of the washer overflowing...this is it):



And here's the open trench that is in the middle of my kitchen. Envision a nice, new, clean, hole-free pipe here to feed the kitchen sink!



Ahhh...the sound of a jackhammer early in the morning. The laundry which used to sit right here is being moved to the other side of that wall. Uh...what wall? Well, there used to be a wall right there. It will be a door for direct access to the garage.



The makings of a new wall. Interesting how this pile of wood will become someplace to house the microwave and showcase a cedar chest inherited from my great-grandmother.



Here's Matt starting the process of building the new entry wall.



On the Loose? Well, he's in heaven! Our future "great room" is his living classroom for now! Notice the helmet, the goggles and the backpack (which is holding his drill because it kept falling out of his pocket). In this shot he is "jackhammering the floor to break it."



Next up...framing the new walls!