7-Week Kitchen Remodel Revealed

9 years ago

My kitchen remodel is complete! Thanks to everyone who responded to my inquiries and all of you who just participate on this board. I learned so much for hear others opinions and experiences!

The remodel began with interviewing contractors in the fall. We signed a contract in January. We agreed to use a custom cabinetmaker because of some of the strange configurations in our kitchen. We had seen his work and knew it was good. We also knew he was slow and had several projects in the works. So, we didnÃ¯Â¿Â½t start the tear down until the cabinetmaker was close to done. The time from the tear down to the last day the contractor worked here was 8 weeks. One week we were on vacation so the work itself took 7 weeks. I did a LOT of grilling during that time!

I don't know how to attach multiple photos but you can go here and see them and more details:

http://www.gormish.org/denise/kitchen-remodel/

Denise

Here is a link that might be useful: Additional Photos Here!

This post was edited by dgormish on Sat, Aug 9, 14 at 22:24

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Comments (19)

speaktodeek
9 years ago
THE LIGHT!!! THE LIGHT!!! I would die for that skylight plunked in the middle of my kitchen! Wow is that huge swath of daylight terrific in your space.

LOVE the backsplash, so pretty and unique and not cookie-cutter, and the granite is so perfect to pick up the colors and tones and sparkle in the rest of the elements of the room, too. It all pulls together so nicely, great job!

Is it my imagination, or did you have a significant challenge of unlevel floor to deal with?
countryatheart
9 years ago
Absolutely love the tile- it is perfect!
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First, Shicksal, great news. You're coming along really fast. Today is an odd day. At 6:30 this morning I went to Wal-Mart to put money on my debit card and buy a little hotdog roller for this job. My friend who is an electrician is here. I've got my two pendants over the peninsula hung, but learned somehow, the switch to them isn't powered, but the outlets next to them is. He's replaced two dimmers with regular switches. One of the benefits of doing this alone is the onus being off changing my mind. These dimmers just kinda made me crazy, so regular switches they're becoming. I gotta tell you. I'm a walking posterboard for Lutron. Now 15 dimmers, 12 motion sensors, and other fun stuff. Love 'em. He's also going to put in some outlets. Sad. I'll have to find other places to hang my laundry. He and another friend put a kitchen cabinet on the wall for me. I can hang 'em, but lifting these two onto cleats is way beyond my balance. Remember, I have to stand on the counter, press my head against the ceiling and screw things in. Lifting over a cleat and not falling off the counter backwards is something I don't want to attempt. But, getting this on the wall frees up a bunch of space. I can load it full of crap, then make doors. While he's working, I've put 4 handles on cabinets in my MBR. Got about 30 to go. I primed the two shelves for the cleat cabinets. They're an odd shape, W3624s. Custom, of course, from H4H and S.O.L.I.D. 3/4" maple. Minus shelves, so I cut those out of 3/4" MDF and will probably paint them a coral BM color I love. I've remudded the chewed up MBR wall. I've sanded and mudded yet again. I've gotten rid of 4 medium sized boxes of lighting materials, and a box of thrift store drawers I bought for their hardware and Blum release switches still attached. $2.00 a drawer box. Yeah man! I emptied the DW. Like to load it, hate to unload it. This was probably the greatest accomplishment of the day. Did a load of laundry/uniforms and got them into the dryer. Changed the cat litter. They're all happy with me. Arranged the MBR furniture and will bring the cabinets still in the kitchen back, since to paint I took a bunch down. I'm making room all over the place. I'll tell you. Lethargy, thy name is Christine. I hate this heat and incessant sun. This is more than I've accomplished all darned week, and it's only to kill time while someone else is working! Keep up the great work, all! You encourage me. Greenhaven, have a FUN time! Happy 4th, all!
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Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! For your words of encouragement and advice on dealing with contractor. It seems to have worked. I met with contractor today to discuss all the issues I have been fuming over. In terms of the back door, we are all culpable - architect, me and contractor. Architect listed a glass/composite door in the door schedule. I didn't ask any questions because I thought that was builders code language for a glass/wood door. I should have questioned architect and contractor should have checked in with me before ordering the door. So, we've decided to move forward with installing the door, especially because I now can't afford the wood/glass door which is 4 times as expensive as the composite one after the unexpected roof repair. The word "composite" will forever be seared into my brain. I might try painting it to spruce it up. But if I can't stand it, I'll pinch pennies to buy the wood door and contractor will install it for free. And for good measure, contractor is going to throw in a coat closet under the stairs for free. Contractor was agreeable to reframing the bump out by the stairs, making the powder room smaller and changing the darn doorbell chime. Here's a picture of the bump out: But I did have to use some of your lines when he told me he already installed the basement apt shower/tub faucet without consulting me. He tried to bully me into accepting his choice. I told him he had to remove it. That it was my house and I make the decisions about what goes in it. Thanks to everyone for making me feel more empowered and in control of this process. I'm taking everyone's advice and will document everything and will send him a recap of our conversations. Tracie.erin and Angie DIY - what headers are you referring to? I want to bring this up with my architect. Have a good evening, everyone!
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dgormish
Original Author
9 years ago
We have a slab foundation and yes, it wasn't level. We didn't realize this until the cabinet maker started putting in the cabinets and he had to do a lot of shimming. So, the floor people put in a leveler but it didn't stick. It cracked and came up in large chunks. As it turned out we also had moisture issues. So, the applied a moisture barrier to the floor. We also had them grind the floor to get it level. The floor issues added 1 1/2 weeks to the project and the most unexpected costs. We put in luxury vinyl and so far it looks great!
eam44
9 years ago
The kitchen is lovely, but I really admire your timeline!! I don't even remember when I started...
malabacat_gw
9 years ago
What a happy, bright and beautiful space!
greenhaven
9 years ago
That tile! It literally took my breath away when I saw it...how wonderful your kitchen is!
lannegreene
9 years ago
Yep the tile. Your coffered ceiling is pretty awsome too.
vdinli
9 years ago
So bright and cheerful! Love the tile and granite combination. Enjoy your new space!
gr8daygw
9 years ago
Gorgeous!
mgmum
9 years ago
Pretty! Love the choice of backsplash and the coffered ceiling and skylight!

But, that's it for photos? There must be more!
missymoo12
9 years ago
Great peninsula with all those drawers! The ceiling with the light in that kitchen; WOW.
Great job and 7 weeks?!?! I'm so jealous.
dgormish
Original Author
9 years ago
Cut and paste the link above to see more details and photos.
bellsmom
9 years ago
Another A++ from me. A beautiful job.
The new ceiling treatment is wonderful. In this small space, the decorative tile and dark countertops with the white cabs and trim are perfect. You must be delighted.

A suggestion:
You can go back to your original post and choose "New: Edit post" in the upper right corner of the page.
Then scroll down to near the bottom of the page and paste the url you typed for your new pictures into the box below the Message box where you type your original entry. The box is labeled "Optional link URL:")
Then, in the box below it (Labeled "Name of Link") type the name --Maybe just "More Pictures Here".

It is really easy to do and makes it much easier for viewers to look at your pictures. And yes, we'd like more pictures!
romy718
9 years ago
Love your backsplash! What is the name if the Pratt & Larson silver field tile? It looks perfect with the blue flower motif.
Such a cute dog & I was so relieved to read that you have gold in your countertops cuz your dog does match your kitchen afterall.
Enjoy your beautiful new kitchen!
Mags438
9 years ago
Love your kitchen! And the tile - wow. The box beam ceiling and additional natural light. Just wow. All the things I could only wish for, you implemented.
merrygardener
9 years ago
What a cheery kitchen! I also love that tile.
cani
9 years ago
What is that creamy wall color you used? I'm looking for a color like that to use for the rooms adjacent to the kitchen.
dgormish
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks everyone! I love my space!

I added the link up above. It is below the photo.

The wall color is Sherwin Williams Crisp Linen.

Some one asked about the tile backsplash. The 6X6 flower tiles are Pratt and Larsen Motif H. Those tiles are crackle watercolor. The other tiles (field 1X6 and 6X6) are also Pratt and Larsen but from the regular line. The 6X6 field tiles are actually a light blue with a tint of purple. The color number is r355.

The floor tile is a little darker than that photo shows so my dog does match it well with his lighter hair colors. :-)
a2gemini
9 years ago
Dgoormish great looking kitchen and I think a GW record! I love your skylight and tiles. What a fun kitchen!
Congrats

7-Week Kitchen Remodel Revealed

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