Hi Mortar and all my other gw friends-

Here are some facts taken from Mortar's posts, I hope.

Mortar and his wife have remodeled/renovated the old slab floored porch which connected to the old and still existing kitchen. The new room was planned to, at a minimum, host the laundry. The laundry facilities later moved upstairs. This new room is about 20.5' x 11+'.

The first posted drawing shows the stove and fridge in, what will be or already are, brick alcoves. The sink is placed. The much used pantry, the old/existing kitchen, is right next to the new fridge and stove location. Mortar said that the elec and plumbing are in. A plumbing stub, at a minimum, exists in the new room.

There is no question that Mortar's wife has been planning the new kitchen. Among other things, she has created and saved many folders of kitchen pictures. 34 pics are on flickr. She has verbally made her wishes known.

We do not know of the existence or absence of any other drawings or lists or any other things committed to paper. Mortar shared with us a copy of the undated drawing SHE made of the old kitchen and her detailed comments. She knows what she wants and doesn't want. Mortar said the comments are to show us how his wife thinks. I think the comments were either/or sarcastic or funny and critical in very specific terms. I don't believe the comments were to be taken literally e.g., move the stairway to Japan, put a curtain over the ugly fridge.

Among the flicker pics, are several showing brick arches around a stove. Mortar has built or will build brick arches.

The inspiration flickr pics are of luxurious kitchens- not one is anything near to a paint-it yourself cabinet. What do you think of the inspiration pics? Habitat for Humanity/Restore or $$$ luxury??

Do you believe that the intellingentwoman who knows what she wants and doesn't want, and who lives in that house and passes thru or is in that new room does not know that the newly built room will contain the family's new kitchen?

I also guess that Mr. and Ms. Mortar have had a zillion conversations about the functionality and layout of the new k-room.

She and I certainly understand the necessity of getting the 3 babies out of the house so that all the stuff can be installed.

We have been given a descriptive scenario of one man's efforts at finalizing his kitchen journey. We have been told of the thrift of the family, the early poverty of husband and wife, the six figure savings account, the amount he saves from his paycheck. We know about his wife's fear of flying and which relatives she will visit on her 10 day vacation. We know his wife is reluctant to spending money for her kitchen(who isn't?). We know Mr. will do the kitchen over if his wife doesn't like it. (Altho---do you think she will, in view of her frugality, want a do-over?)
Most of all, we learned that many gardenwebbers think that Mortarmixer is one great, sensitive, thoughtful,...

Wow, I am all for being honest but there needs to be a tact factor. The negative comments on this post . . . I guess when you are faceless, you can let it fly?

Yeah, we all don't see the world through rose colored glasses and, yes, for some of us, not having the input would kill us and there may be a chance we would not be happy, but fortunately, the world is not made up of indentical clones who all think the same and thank goodness most of us are individuals.

I think Mortar asked for help, not if it was a good idea. No one but Mortar would know what would work for his wife, their relationship and family.

Mortar, good luck with your kitchen! It's the thought that counts but I'm sure with all that you have put into it, it will be great and MUCH appreciated, unlike some of the comments here.

Wowzers, Mortarmixer. I have this really big lump in my throat that you would plan this wonderful surprise for your wife--the admiration and love for her really shows in your writing about her. I love how you have been watching how she works in the kitchen, and that you have surprised her in the past. It sounds as if you have really done your homework and truly know your wife.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take lots of photos and share them with us. Friends of mine, who are not kitchen-obsessed like me, would think this was the most amazing thing ever. They would LOVE it if their husbands were to do something so thoughtful, so meaningful, and so *THEM*. I had one recently tell me that she wished she could just wave a magic wand and get the kitchen of her dreams. In a way, you are waving that wand for your wife.

Bless you.

10 days is definitely a reasonable time frame to put in a new kitchen, assuming you're not just part-timing it in the evenings. Mr. Weedy and I DIY-ed one a few years ago in a week of 12 hour days, including demo, moving of plumbing & electrical, painting, tile with radiant heat, cabinet install (except for crown and light rail), and appliance install. We had to wait for granite, and I tiled the backsplash over a weekend after the granite was in. But I don't think it's anywhere close to crazy to expect to do it in 10 days.

Good luck!

I think and hope that Mrs. mortar will be happy that her kitchen is done. I think Mr. Mortar has taken good care of his wife's ideas, generally, and has tried to incorporate them in the new kitchen.

I do not think she will be surprised, but also think that the surprise factor is way down on the list of importance. The important thing is to do the kitchen as she wishes, but since that ship has sailed, to do it with her wishes in mind.

He asked for ideas and opinions of last minute things. Specifically, last minute things. The layout is done, the cabinets were purchased, re=using existing appliances, floors are done, etc. So all the good work, fine intentions, time spent by Buehl, rhome, remodelfla, and all the other wonderfully generous and kind members, was not what he had in mind.

At the outset, it was not very clear that all of the major decisions were already made-but it was not unclear. Just muddled with a lot of information and emotions and descriptions. It became clearer after several posts, and much picky reading.

Yes, in most marriages, partners have private stashes. But if you sneak out money and dont tell your partner, it is still a sneaky act.

As Liriodendron and Quiltgirl have said, kitchens are a big deal. No matter how rich, a kitchen remodel or build is a big deal.

Mortar,
I definitely think your wife would love a paneled fridge. That's what I'm doing in my next kitchen because I too hate the look of a fridge. Maybe you could keep stashing and give that to her on her next Mother's Day!

'I am really looking forward to hearing the rest of this story and seeing photos of the completed kitchen if you want to share them! '

me too - but i wanna see the steps to get there also - lol! the process in photos. Will make a great few pages in a scrapbook of what dh here did for his wife. Him working at it, his friends working at it... take turns taking some pics of you all in action making that kitchen into her space.

thx colorfast! couldn't remember if he'd been hanging out here to see pics of how many here make use of drawers (pull outs in a sense), so thought I'd post a few of them to give him ideas (if needed). They're ways of using drawers I'd never considered until reading here and seeing drawers gw'ers put in their kitchens.

I'd be mighty pissed if this happened to me.

Angie---ditto

Angie and Red, me too. As we all have discovered, there are a million little things you didn't think of and need to make decisions on that never appeared in the grand plans. Maybe it's just me, but I think the surprise factor can backfire.

Hmmmm. Does anyone else wonder why he posted here? See any inconsistencies? Discrepancies?

It sure took a bit of work to pull this off, Mr. Mortarmixer.

This is certainly a "to each his own thing". I think it's either terribly exciting and romantic or controlling. It depends on your frame of reference. I had read some of the posts to DH the other day and told him..."don't you ever ever ever consider doing anything like this please". My DH laughed like crazy. But I'm closer to 60 then 30, my boys are grown and on their own self supporting (mostly), and for the most part, I've been completely independent almost my entire adult life raising and supporting my boys on my own from the time they were 3 and 7 through and beyond college. So even though I am now a couple... pretty much everything I have I worked for and earned on my own. I would hate the reality of this for me though I would be touched my romantic notion. Then I'd be ridden with guilt for perhaps not loving whatever work DH had done.

Thankfully in a way, my DH doesn't have a romantic bone in his body and would never ever think of doing something this so I'm safe!!

I don't understand why there is a sudden attack on me for my choice. But needless to say I won't be posting here anymore. I would like to thank all of those with kind words and advice and pictures to help. Your time was not wasted and I will print out the ideas to show my wife.

I think you should go ahead and surprise her, it sounds like something you want to do and have been planning for some time and I think she'll like it. It will be a much better kitchen than she has now and since she's said she could be happy with a 2-cabinet kitchen she should be thrilled with this one!

But you need to grow a pair and not take criticism so personally. You did come to a forum largely populated by women obsessed with the esoterica of kitchen design, after all. If I went to a forum of woodworking enthusiasts and announced that that I was going to surprise my husband with my female-designed complete shop makeover in his absence, I'd expect at least the same reaction, and ten times probably worse, from the guys there. :)

Doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. Just don't take the feedback so personally. Enjoy the good parts, let the rest of it roll off. That's all.

It's a shame some just can't drop it with the negative and suspicious posts...and continue to do so, as if they are baiting the OP who seems like a thoughtful and resourceful person who wants to do something nice for his family.

Good luck Mortarmixer -- I hope you will return and give us updates.

mortarmixer, the comments made are not attacks., but merely people's opinions. I think for the most part those posting here are just trying to make you aware of possible scenarios. For you to read the comments as "attacks" is defensive, at best. I hope the surprise for your wife goes well. I hope she likes every detail and is delighted. If by remote possibility she is not, you have run the risk of putting her in a very uncomfortable position. She may have to shut down her feelings and comments in order to protect yours. If that be the case, let me assure you that they will be there, a thorn in her side, festering. When I was in my 20's and 30's my husband did "surprises" for me as well. At first I was flattered, but as time went on and I was left out of decision making at levels which I felt were important, I came to resent it. I began to feel like I was just the babysitter, housekeeper, maid, gardener etc. The message being sent was I was not important enough, worthy enough (fill in the blank) to have input into important decisions. The last straw was when he bought a farm and then took me to show me the "surprise". That is when I saw the lawyer. Projects, major decisions, etc. without input, can have a cumulative effect. I, like remodelfla am past 60 so my experience is tempered by time. My view is certainly based on my personal experience.
It seems to me you had your mind made up to do this project no matter what others may have suggested. I feel you really were not expecting to get a "mixed bag" of comments when you posted. In the spirit of generosity you took her folders and her ideas and are in the process of putting them into place for her. That is a nice thing to do. However, she will not be there to oversee it, give input, and yes, permission for the project. Because some individuals here can envision how they would feel under those circumstances does not mean they are attacking you. They are simply giving you a "woman's perspective". (I am assuming they were all women, but who knows!) I wish you well and as others have said, you know your wife. I hope when the surprise is received, you will let us know her honest reaction and delight. Good luck.

Mortar--
There will always be gatekeepers and naysayers in life. You have decided to go for it, so ignore them.

Please post back with pictures and how it went. I at least want to see them!

BTW didn't understand about the brick in the corner but think that will be great especially given how she hates dark corners. Like the idea of room for the cast iron. Somewhere it would also be great to have room for vertical tray/cookie sheet storage. This can be dividers in a lower or upper cupboard with a door or a pullout like the pictures posted above. If no room for it on the stove side, consider it for the island, which I believe you're holding off on 'til later.

Mort, come on, don't let a couple of spoilsports ruin this for all of us!
Only two more days 'till liftoff!
P.S. Paneled is the way to go for the refrigerator, she will never know it's there!

Seriously, you can't stop posting now due to the inconsideration of a few:) There will always be people who will critize your choices. No need to leave us hanging!

I feel that if someone continues to return just to have negative comments, it goes beyond opinions and turns to an attack. I wouldn't cruise the internet to find ways to post negative things to anyone, but that's the type of person I am. I guess I didn't understand the kitchen obsession and maybe this wasn't the correct place to come, but it looked as though it was a fairly busy place and I might be able to find help quickly, and I did.

I don't feel as though my wife will be the least bit hesitant to tell me if she hates something. She can be brutally honest, and I expect that. I would never choose her granite, paint color, lighting, etc without her. The walnut had been talked about numerous times and the cabinets were the cabinets she was going to order. The layout can change if she doesn't like it, as it's pretty easy to move around cabinets and appliances. I just know that she would not ever ask for a new kitchen, just convincing her to buy new cabinets was not easy. There was only one drawer base on her order form, again for the old kitchen, but I could only assume that's because she didn't want them, or hadn't seen the ways that people had used their drawers. Maybe seeing some of these ideas will give her a reason to opt for drawers instead of doors and maybe she will want to keep the corner cabinet in the pantry until we replace those cabinets as well.

Mortamixer - count me as another that hopes you come back so we can follow the journey with you. Everyone has opinions - keep the ones that make sense to your remodel, and let the others go. It is not a question of "if" you should do this for your wife, but rather how can you make the most of the present FOR your wife. Good luck and get your sleep while you can before she leaves.

Mortar, even though the thought of a surprise kitchen ups my anxiety level, I'm hoping you can pull it off. Please please put us out of our misery and post some Before, During and After shots. Oh, and the one of your wife when she walks in the door after her trip. :)

Mortar,
I really enjoyed the process of watching my new kitchen emerge from the mess. Might your wife want to see the process? That would be my only concern. This is not a criticism, just a question.

mortarmixer,

would you marry me? ok, granted i am a total urban girl that knows nothing about pole barns, would get lost in a hay field and i really do not like the smell of manure but still, you sound darling! your wife is a very lucky lady. go for it!

:)

hi Mortar,

They need to rename this place the Caveat Emptorium. ;-)

Some quick thoughts since I'm late to the game:

-definitely consider paneling the fridge! I too hate to look at the fridge, and this worked really well for me in my remodel. Give the beast a new walnut party dress in conjunction with recessing it into the wall, and your wife might not have to curtain it off.

-would she like a pullout trash bin? Love mine and if it hadn't been included in the cabs I was recycling, would never have thought of it.

-I really like your wife's take on things, insofar as one can tell from random kitchen notes on the internet, and share her complete loathing of all things revolving and Susan-y. What I did: put a prep sink smack into that corner. That showed it who's boss! Other options would be to open the back of that cupboard to another room, to just put shelves in there or leave it open for big items, or (if it's not too late?) to try to replan around it and avoid a corner altogether.

-for canning area: counter, counter, counter, can never have too much when canning. Are there drawers or cabs in there that take the various sizes of glass jars into account, or do you keep those elsewhere in the house? And make sure there are no wooden cabs or shelves over the stove; they would not profit from long-term steam baths.

Where are you at right this minute in terms of construction progress? Hang tight!

"They need to rename this place the Caveat Emptorium."

Truer words were never spoken.

I will second the pullout trash bin, I love mine!

Right now, construction wise, we have drywall, electrical, plumbing, and subfloor. Really, not much. I will have to pull up some of the subfloor to run plumbing and electrical to where the island will go, and probably will leave the walnut flooring off until she returns. It won't look nearly as finished, but would prevent a lot of extra work. When she talked about the trash pullout, she mentioned having it to the right of the stove in the old kitchen. Where most of her prep was done, but I would almost imagine that she would prefer to have it in the island, so the few island cabinets I have made, one has a trash pullout. I believe it is 15 or 18". I know she was a bit concerned with having the trash in a cabinet. Do you have any issues with smell? I don't think she would put the food scraps in there and would insist on having the compost bucket in the kitchen, but she might hide it in there when we have a rare visitor.

I'm hopeful there will be sufficient space for canning in the old kitchen since there won't be any need to have counters cleared for meals. There isn't a lot of space to add more. She typically keeps canned goods in the pantry on shelves that I made with dividers and a small lip to keep the jars from sliding off the front, but still makes putting the jars up and taking them out easy. She had 400 jars with food and another 300 or so empty jars in there when I counted. So I figured space for twice that many when I built them.

I am totally not understanding how this man could possibly fail to delight his wife with this project. He even remembers the trash pullout and asks if it will smell.

I think this is a neat project - hope to see how it comes out. While some of the concerns people raised are valid - they've been stated - no need to repeat endlessly. I like the stairway to japan - maybe the fridge can go to japan too. I have a tiny camp fridge and small house. I really am looking forward to a larger fridge but not looking forward to looking at it.

I like that you are using wood from your own land. I have a pile of logs outside waiting to be milled from a huge pine and some sugar maples I had cut this spring. More sunlight in my house, lots of firewood and lumber. Also my butternut trim and cherry stairs are from lumber my dad harvested.

Good luck on your project!

I too think that you should ignore the attacks and count the yeses. In other words, I like that you're doing for your wife, with much forethought and planning. I'm enjoying your journey and would like to continue to see/read more from you. In my comments I didn't mean for you to not do it, just to leave room in your design for changes, which it sounds like you are doing. I, myself, am very sensitive to criticism, in general, but do try to do what I think is right for me, and my family, in spite of it. I'm glad you are not completely opposed to opinions, and kindly take the time to answer our many questions and concerns. This kind of discourse is good, and yet difficult, as we don't look one another in the eye for honest, and yet caring responses.

Yeona

I have not had a problem with the trash pullout smelling, and we do *YIKES* put food scraps in there and quite often, if I am going to be honest. It does get emptied often. We produce a lot of trash and recycling in our little home. It probably helps that our garbage can has a cover. The recycling does not, but we do rinse out the cans and jars, etc.

my pull out trash does smell sometimes. But only when I fall behind on composting and put food in it; or if I don't clean the container. But I don't think it is a function of it being a pull out.

interesting about the lid, shelayne. I've found my recycle/trash/compost more likely to smell when covered. Climate differences??

With the size of our family, the trash pullout has to be emptied quite often, so maybe that's why we don't have an odor problem, but we don't. Something might smell when we open it, but not when the cabinet is closed (the door is attached to the unit, so it pulls out all together).

I think you're right that she'll love it best handy to where she preps. Ours is in our island.. It pulls toward the main sink for when we scrape plates, but is also on the corner nearest the stove. So easy to sweep things off the island and right in.

FWIW - My cabinet guy boxed off the trash portion of the pull out completely from the drawer above it. That way it helps contain any smell (I have a lid on my can as well) and keeps the things in the drawer more sanitary.

GO, MORTARMIXER, GO!

hi,
just finding this thread for the first time... haven't read many of the comments but just wanted to say that I hope your wife will love it. Could you post any progress pictures? Good Luck! I am sure this gesture will result in years of stories about the time she went away and came back to a new kitchen... that's what life it about isn't it?! You are very sweet!

We had one pull out trash can with recycle in the former house. This one will have two. Only the two of us in the house, but we recycle and compost. No smells for us unless we don't dump the garbage in a timely fashion.

GO MORTARMIXER!!!

Mortarmixer, I haven't posted on this thread, but I have been watching. Like many others, my initial reaction was that you were embarking on dangerous waters. My DH could not pull off the work in 10 months, much less 10 days, and I know he wouldn't have the vision to have changed the layout and come up with what we have now. I had to have drawings and get out colored pencils to talk to him about ideas. Everything required pictures.

You are in a different skill set and a different situation. Sounds like you are executing a plan you pretty much had together and are making some decisions based on her ideas and comments. You won me over. I wish you great success and much happiness for both of you.

We do have a trash pullout and generally have no bad smells, however, it can occur if something like meat packaging or trimmings wind up in the bottom of a recently changed bag. The drawer above is completely closed, so even then, no smells escape anywhere else, and when I notice any unpleasant odors when I open the pullout, I just take it out before it gets full. Once that happens, you think about your dinner plans and take the trash out after dinner instead of before.

I'm glad to know that there is no huge problems with odor. I'm sure she will be happy to hear that as well. She leaves in just a couple days, and after all of the concerns, I will admit I'm a bit nervous. Hopefully all goes smoothly and she will love it. I'm 99% sure she will. I plan on taking pictures through the entire process, but I can be forgetful, and I might not have time to take a lot or get on here, but I will at least update when we get to a good stopping point. The next couple days will be hectic I'm sure, so if you don't hear from me, you will know why.

mortarmixer, I say full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes! Deep down you know what she likes, so use your instinct and do what you know she'll like. I'm guessing she'll have a suprise for you when she see's what you've done, even it isn't exact to the gnat's ass.
Good luck! Love to hear how it turns out!

I couldn't read all the comments but wanted to add something.

When we remodeled our three bathrooms, which was not planned but sort of happened (long story), DH was out the country and I had to deal with everything for ~2 weeks. It was very painful, trust me. :-)

I am dreading the kitchen remodel. I WISH he could send me off and take care of the entire thing, provided he could implement most (but not necessarily all) my wishes. I would definitely "forgive" a few "mishaps".

After all, no matter how important, a kitchen is just a kitchen. We have moved a lot and I have cooked in some better-designed and some not-so-well designed kitchens. Unless it was totally dysfunctional, it did not bother me much and did not impact my cooking. What did impact was old and bad cookware. The rest I could adopt to.

I would have really appreciated avoiding the pain of remodeling - especially if I had 3 small children. Even with the one and only we have, I have no energy for remodeling! :-(

I'd say "go for it", I am sure your DW will find a way to forgive you, LOL.

I don't post often but Mortarmixer you are the best - cheering you on from down here in the Virgin Islands :)

Piaa

You know, no matter how much you plan, how much you think of everything you possibly can, I'd say being 99% sure it will be great is better than average. There are surprises and headaches along the way that make you wonder if it will be worth it, but I'm not sure that anyone who doesn't go through it can appreciate what a gift it would be to avoid all that.

First time poster on this thread.

I'm imagining a little video montage of the kitchen remodel and big reveal, sprinkled with some of the posts here...it would make a great memory book!

GO MORTARMIXER! :-)

Btw, we have a 3-can lazy susan trash cabinet. No smell if we do as above posters recommend - empty regularly. Often, after I empty, I leave the door open to air out overnight. On trash and recycle day, I take out all 3 bins and wipe up the bottom, sides, underside of counter with the h2o / alcohol spray and paper towel. Easy Peezy.

Good Luck! I am really looking forward to the pictures and to hear your wife's reaction. It sounds as though you are such a thoughtful husband and she is a lucky woman. Your daughters will be hard-pressed finding any man that can compare to Dad. Cheering you on.....

bumpin' for Mort

I've been working hard from the time she left yesterday. I'm expecting brick to be done. All wiring to the island has been done as well as a water line, the drain is not going so well and it going to require some work tomorrow. I'm expecting the brick wall to be done as well. It's going up quickly and haven't had any issues at all with it. I can only go a few feet before I have to call it a day, so it works out pretty well. I will post some pictures tomorrow if I get it done.

Mortar, glad you are still with us and I hope you will share the experience and final result with us. There have been strong reactions on the positive and negative sides, but those of us who are just rabidly curious are grateful that you didn't leave entirely because of the negative remarks!

OUTSTANDING! I'm pullin for ya, we're all in this together, as the immortal Red Green would say!

Ok - this thread is too long :) time to start a new Belated mothers day construction thread!

Can't wait to see the first set of pictures!!!!