Remember…..

           when the kitchen looked like this?

no counter space.

Screams 70’s,doesn’t it?

 

Now,it looks like this….

and this….

and this…

and this….

The antique lights were an eBay find.

 

The new laundry room looks like this….

One of my favorite things,

a print from Erich,the Younger,

that he brought back from his recent trip to England….

and this….

things still needed to be done,in red…The cabinets were put together by #1 grandson,Kyle…..

 

A few of my favorite things……

 

the new window sill…

 

Display space…..

The new sink and faucet….

And this….

the door! from a salvage yard,the hardware was bought on line.

and this….

A tempered glass cutting board.A gift from a friend….

 

Some thoughts on kitchen renovation…

~ it will take longer than the contractor says.

~ no one shows up when they say they will…….

~ be prepared for bumps in the road.We had quite a few.Broken pipes,floods,etc.….

~ doing dishes in the bathroom is not fun….

~ just keep thinking how great it will be when all the trades are out of your hair,and gone

~ the yard and garden will be torn up,too.Trades have a habit of walking right straight through your garden….

~ have everything ready before they start the renovation.To avoid delays,our contractor had me order the appliances,lighting,sink and faucet,drawer hardware,etc. before they even started working on the kitchen.Of course,everything was stored all over the house,but it did help avoid delays.

~ dust,dust,dust everywhere!It’s unavoidable.Just do what you can.

 

Sooo…

 

now,

I need to get to work on the yard………

Finally,……

We have cabinets!

.It’s been a looong,sad saga regarding the cabinets.

They were lost,

not on the truck,

”Oh.They’re in Miami.”

But----

Finally

they are here!

However….

the cabinet guy measured wrong…..figures….

Sooooo,they had to be re-worked…..

there was no way I was gonna go thru this again!

But,they are here….

and installed…

Today,they templated for the granite…took 3 hours…

The counters should be installed next week.

Getting there……………

Kitchen Reno Update~~~~~

The past 3 months the garden has taken a back seat to the kitchen renovation,which I posted about here.

Sooooo,after a few times of hair pulling,temper tantrums(oh yeah-I have lost my temper quite a few times….),

blah-blah-blah…

This is where we are,today.

The dining room is finally finished,and back together….….

Walls had to be torn out to install 2 new laminated beams.One in the kitchen(between the old kitchen/laundry area),and one between the living room/dining room.

My favorite thing(besides the open feeling),in the dining area….

a photo of the grand kiddoes feet, I took, and then had enlarged.

It hangs  over my Uncle’s

(my Uncle Dewey-

-who deserves his own post,by the way-

Every  kid should have an Uncle Dewey,

-but I digress)

  antique desk,which has become command central.Where the laptop,iPad,and phone are plugged in.

I will share the new laundry room in another post.

But I’m loving it!

Still waiting on the kitchen cabinets……….

Don’t ask about the kitchen cabinets……

On a Mission….

to find a door…..

like this…..

via Pinterest

for here….

What will be the new doorway to the new laundry room/pantry…

   Convinced bribed Erich,the Younger,to go with me.

In case I found the perfect door,I needed someone to do the heavy stuff,so I had to take him to lunch.

We went here.Best burgers ever!

just sayin’

Any who,

we went here….

and I found it!!!

The perfect door.

The perfect size.

42” x 84”

I seriously love the room numbers!

The owner threw in the dummy door knobs and hardware,too.

Because I was too eager to see what was under the paint and tarnish,on these,I neglected to take a photo.

But they cleaned up like a dream.

Just some Brasso and steel wool did the trick.They  still need a protective coat of lacquer.

All for $60 !

                              

                            Edited to add:

       All cleaned up!

I think I’m going to leave it just as it is now.I kind of like the rough,time worn look.It should make for a nice contrast to a sleek,modern kitchen.

Now,I just need to find barn door hardware.

I’ll be at the feedstore…..

While……

….this

and this….

……and this

were going on…

walls go up,tomorrow,

and kitchen is due to be gutted,including a wall coming down.by the end of the week.

I love demo! 

Especially when it’s my 70's style kitchen that’s being ripped out.

The old laundry room has been emptied,and all of the kitchen cabinets have been emptied.

It’s time to start cooking on the grill,
and in the microwave,

and doing dishes in the bathroom.

Paper plates have been bought.

 It’s gonna be blue solo cups,
instead of red…..

            The garden was enjoying the return of Spring weather…..

Daylilies have started to bloom…

 Sun loving Hostas have returned.

I’d had fears they were a one-note wonder,but they have returned.I guess they’re keepers.

 Irises are blooming…..

 

Vitex - Vitex agnus-castus - is putting out new growth.

I can’t wait until this is blooming.It reminds me of Lilacs.

The Jasmine has started to bloom….

a little later than last year,for some reason

and the orchids are still going strong…

Now…

I must go,

and do some dishes in the bathtub……

:: Patience ::

Here we go….

………………on the kitchen/house remodel…..

The first (of many) delivery of supplies…..

Yard art?

Let’s get this party started…..

it’s gonna be a long 3 months….

or so…..

TheGreatWall is moving…..

….not really….

Just to a different part of the garden….

 

Due to new expansion of the HQ (the house),a portion of TheGreatWall has to be relocated…

A new raised bed was created…..

plantings include Wendy’s Wish Salvia,Giant Liriope,African Iris,and Italian Curled Parsley for a border.

Some green bean and Swiss Chard seeds were added for good measure,too.

Making use of the sunny space….

 

…but I had company….

this time,I made sure I had the new camera with me….

lovin’ this camera!

….of course,my ADHD kicked in….

African Iris

 

Alyssum

 

something self-seeded from the bird feeder (sunflower,perhaps?)

Cosmos and Kale,in the veggie garden

yep! I love this camera!

 

Only 3 more rows of block and 40 pavers to move….

 

Wanna help?

 

I thought that would be your answer….

:: sigh ::

Here we go……

Plans have been drawn up.

And agreed upon.

Notice of commencement has been signed and duly notarized.

Permits are being pulled.

For the new kitchen….

Lights for  the island have been purchased….

Three of ‘em.

An eBay score!

I heart eBay!

 I still found time to garden

the weeds are over whelming….

and take photos …..

you had to know I’d take photos…..

Camellia

African Iris

Pink Knock-out rose

Dwarf bottle Brush

Oh!

and the first Lubber hatching has been seen…..

ACK!!!!!!!

Here We Go Again….

Yep-it’s time for more renovation….

 

                      This afternoon,the builder and his architect were here.

 

To see what could be done about this ugly space…..

Screams 70’s, doesn’t it?

Measurements were taken,

 

ideas bandied about,

 

men crawling about in the attic,

 

seeing what was load bearing,

etc.

etc.

etc.

 

The plan,for now:

-raise the roof ceiling.

-add a room off of the laundry room.

-Move the laundry room there.

-Along with a butler’s pantry,

- and real cabinets for real storage.

-And a sink for a gardener to wash their hands!

-Remove the wall between the old kitchen and old laundry room.

Making one large kick-ass kitchen!

be still my heart….

With a real island!

 

and decent cabinetry.

 

Stay tuned…..

Apologies to the neighbors……

I’m really,really sorry that the front garden looks like this,
these days….

….even I don’t consider a dumpster,on the front lawn,yard art….

….and my side garden looks like this….

….but….

this house has issues.

Issues that need to be dealt with….

….Soooo…..

….deal with them I shall….

The gutters are off,and new soffit,fascia,
and larger gutters are going up.

The old siding will be coming off,and the whole house will be stuccoed.

….The living room looks like this….

The beam will be faux painted to look like pickled wood.And a new,bigger fan will be installed.

…and this…

The stair case is coming out and will be rebuilt with wrought iron.And new carpet will be installed….

….The dining room….

The window on the left will be replaced with a solid sheet of glass.Never used that window,anyways.

….The office….

New commercial grade carpet will be installed,here.

….And the master bedroom looks like this….

The window will be replaced with glass doors,to lead out to the lanai…

All the furniture is in storage,or in the upstairs bedrooms,but all the electronics are being stored here.

….Gotta remember to be careful in the middle of the night….

So….

neighbors,please don’t talk about the trashy people that live here….

….or how they let the house go….

In due time,it is gonna look better than ever!

I pinky swear I will clean up and replant, the front garden.

Promise.

Plus,the fall veggie garden is in,

and if you want me to share,

you’ll be nice.

or vague…