Appliance garage--yes or no?
Comments (13)
dianalo
12 years agoNatalieChantal
12 years agoRelated Discussions
Need to cut cost, will this help?
Comments (15)You are really opening a can of worms with your approach to your project. You don't have complete drawings and specifications from your architect (I hope it really is an experienced architect and not the local lumber yard drafter). Yet you have "bids" from 2 builders that aren't bids at all, only estimates of some sort, presumably from looking at your incomplete documents. "Estimates" for construction, of something involving as many regulations, permits, approvals, building trades, materials and equipment as a new house, are non-binding and essentially worthless. How does someone making an "estimate" know what you want, where, and how it's to be installed? Tear-downs and rebuilding have even more possible complications and surprises than new construction. Why don't you work with your architect to complete the construction drawings and specifications, together with bidding instructions, for competitive bids. You can work with your architect to either: 1) include some of your desired cost-savings into the final documents, and/or; 2) prepare a brief list of several "Alternates" describing construction or equipment for which you would like alternate bid prices for item X vs. item Y? Once you have selected your contractor, if you still need to reduce costs, you can work closely with her/him to identify work and equipment that would provide acceptable final construction at a desirable reduce price. Good luck on your build....See MoreNeighbor's Rundown House
Comments (43)Hi, I am new here, but I think I have found the right place to get advice for my problem neighbors.... I own a hous ein a neighborhood that is gentrifying, albeit slowly. The houses are mostly about 100 years old, small cottages built very, very close together- in some cases the roofs touch & my bedroom window is the property line. Most of the people on my street are either fixing up their houses or at least maintaining them- but immediately next door is a rent-to-own nightmare that has been a constant source of trouble for years. Currently there are 6 adults and 4 children (I think) living in what I know to be a one-bedroom house. There are an assortment of dogs as well, some chained, some loose, and the yard, front & back is full of garbage, dog poop, toys, seats from cars and just junk. There is a constant smell and constant screaming, usually obscenities at the kids who run around naked and play in the dog poop... They have poison ivy in their back yard which spills over the fence into mine. No matter what I do in my yard to combat it, they won't deal with it on their side so it keeps coming back. The house looks like it is falling into it's self- the roof is sagging, the walls appear to be caving in. The last time it was vacant, about 18 months ago, I looked inside and the ceiling was drooping down about 12 inches in the middle and the floor was all wavy.... And since there are kids in there, I worry about their safety. I'm wondering if any of you know what you would have to do to get a house condemned or if trying to do so is even a good idea... I've called the Health Department, Child Protective Services, the ASPCA and Code Compliance, but nothing seems to get done;. I'm at my wits end- and the rest of the block is too. If we could get the lot condemned, I might be willing to shell out the cash to have the house torn down- but I'd have to get it condemned first. Do any of you know anything about what makes a house condemnable and if it's able to be condemned while people are living in it? Once it's condemned, can it be un-condemned? A huge thank you!...See MoreLowes Lows, $1400 to tear out 9x16 kitchen???
Comments (20)Hi Dasistgut, You will be pleasantly surprised to tear them out yourself. If you have a good power drill that will be handy to do the demo. A hammer and a tire iron might be helpful too. When they are all out you will be on your way. It is such a good feeling to do it yourself and save some money. I think you are wise to get other estimates. Sometimes the big anchor stores charge more. You could still buy the cabinets but hire a contractor or handyman to help you install. As for the plumber. I would hire one. You want it done right. Best of luck and don't give up. You can do this! ~boxerpups...See MoreBuying Used or Retail--A Little Survey
Comments (20)This is fun, Red. THanks for starting the conversation. 1. Do you always buy new furniture for your home? (When I can find what I want, but I often can't. I'm in a small town with only a few furniture stores, and most of their stuff is either the wrong style or cheaply made and sold at ridiculous prices. My LR couch, LR chairs, DR set, DH's collapsing DIY-from-Target dresser, and kids' bunk bed were new: pretty much everything else is used.) 2. Do you Ever order furniture online? (Yes, but I've been burned. An Overstock chair described as aniline leather was actually bicast, and looks like vinyl. A Crate and Barrel chair needs constant tightening to keep the frame sturdy. I am especially wary of Ebay stuff, though I know other people have had good experiences...) 3. Do you Ever shop for used furniture through Ebay, Craigslist, The newspaper classifieds, Estate and garage sales? (Yes to all but Ebay. I agree with previous posters that if you don't get up with the birds, it's not worth the bother. And I have definitely gone on some wild goose chases. But I've also had some real luck with the classifieds and Craigslist, also our local Habitat Restore.) 4. A. In your area, Do you have good garage & estate sales? (No -- they're an exception.) B. Good things attractively priced on Craigslist? (Feast or famine. Enough terrific MCM stuff of late to make Flyleft jealous. (: But not always.) C. Nice things available through classified ads or thrifty nickel papers? (Haven't pursued these in a while, thanks to Craiglist. I'm spoiled now: I want to see a pic with the listing!) 5. Do you see other's estate sale finds or CL purchases and wish you could find stuff like that or have the courage and time to look for used? (Yes: I never have enough time. That, and I'm unwilling to get up and out early on the weekends.) 6. Does worry over not being able to return things purchased used or not being able to do layaway or credit deter you from looking in those areas? (No, not really.) 7. Are you uncomfortable buying used or antique? Do you worry about 'other people's stuff' or negotiating prices? (Not at all, esp after your wise words about dealing with cat dander, Red. In fact, I just scored a great upholstered chair at the Restore yesterday!) 8. Has this board and it's great stories/photos/threads inspired you to take the leap and look at used stuff, try Craigslist for the first time, or bid at Ebay for furniture or decor? (No, I was already into it. I do get good reminders here. I'm wary of my Ebay karma, so while I applaud lucky buyers who've posted here, I'll never go that route.) 9. Have you ever bought something at retail that you felt 'stuck with' because of the amount you spent? (Yes, my heinous, oversized, cheap-looking Flexsteel couch. It wasn't one of the floor models; we found it in the store's Flexsteel catalogue, and I persuaded DH it would be OK. Was I ever wrong. I hate the damn thing more each time I look at it. I am thinking of entirely remaking the back and side cushions to make it more bearable. Plus it's too big for the room, and makes rearranging furniture really hard. I will never buy another couch without giving it the tush test, and will measure many, many more times.) 10. If you've Mostly bought furniture and decorative items at retail stores, what antique or used venue would you most like to try right now? (I wish we had a really good antiques mall here, with more furniture and art.) 11. How much time does it usually take YOU to find what you want.... A. At a local or national retailer? (We don't have many of them here: a few weeks, but I usually don't find what I want.) B. Through Craigslist ad? (I don't really time these finds, because they're so random. I've been looking for a nice bed for several years: just found a solid-wood classic-lined bed from NC for $150, so my patience paid off!) C. Through Classified listing? (using these infrequently of late) D. Garage or Estate sales? (like Craigslist, these are chancy. I'd say I stumble across a good one a few times a year.) All in all, the more I read here and at the Furniture Forum, the more interested I am in used furniture. I like the hunt and the creativity involved in remaking it; it's in my price range; and I think it's a better value than today's laminated frames and polyfill cushions. I'm about to embark on my first experience with reupholstering an old chair. Wish me luck!...See Morejudydel
12 years agoI have three. I find them convenient and I like the look. I plug and unplug my appliances anyway, so I don't see that as an issue. Yes, you slide it out and slide it back in. Big deal. Or is some cases, use it in place. In my town it's okay to have an outlet in garage.
I opted for a cabinet like this with a garage instead of a corner cabinet (right side of kitchen on refrigerator wall). I had a corner cabinet there in my last kitchen and found they can be a cavern.
If cabinets that extend to the counter become "2010" in future years, I'll bet they say, "ah that was a really good year".
abundantblessings
12 years agokawh707
12 years agonursetammi
12 years agoI have one and love it but it does not look like one when the doors are closed. I do have a plug in there too so I leave my toaster oven plugged in and just slide the drawer out to use it. I can leave it open all day long and just close it when company comes :) It's the 2 door cabinet below the microwave
suzanne_sl
12 years agocolorfast
12 years agojudydel
12 years ago
lowspark
12 years agoI absolutely love my appliance garage. I don't think it will say 2010 in 5 years. Heck, if anything, I guess it will say 2004! LOL - that's when I did my remodel. Anyway, they've been around forever and will be for a lot longer, I venture to guess.
When I was planning my kitchen, an appliance garage was one of my prime requirements. Not a tambour door though, which I have to say, I'm not a fan of. They stick (IME) and I don't feel that they blend in well with the look of most cabinets.
Mine is a lift-up pocket door. It's on the back corner of my peninsula, so using up a space that would probably be sitting fallow otherwise.
I do have plugs (plugmold actually) so that all the appliances that live there are always plugged in. I slide stuff out to the counter to use them and slide them back in when done. Then I close the door and my counters are clean and uncluttered.
Before the garage, I had all those appliances sitting out on the counter. I don't care how pretty they might be individually, they are not so nice looking when you have five of them sitting there, wires getting tangled.
Now, if all I had was a KA mixer or coffee maker maybe, then OK, it would look fine sitting there on the counter. But I cook a lot and I use several appliances a lot. And I'm NOT going to get them out of a cabinet and put them away every time. So... this solves that problem without adding clutter.
It's definitely a matter of personal preference of course, according to what you think looks good and how you work in your own kitchen. I wouldn't want to be without mine now that I've got it!
Garage when it is closed:
Opened so you can see the appliances:
View from far away. This shows where the garage sits in reference to the peninsula which is my main work area.
View from the other direction:
vickevette
12 years agoUser
12 years ago
blfenton