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Project Update - Getting There!

13 years ago

Hi folks, longtime lurker here who has been gathering ideas and inspiration from you guys for quite some time. Well my wife and I had been dissatisfied with a number of things about our home for some time and finally sold it and bought an older home earlier this year. We've been involved in an extensive 4100 sq ft reno for several months now (including electrical upgrade to 400 amp service, change over from hot water radiation heat to forced air and central AC via heat pump, complete plumbing upgrade, sun room addition, all trims and fixtures). We have invaded the in-laws with our little 3 year old daughter, our 80 lb Lab, and 20 lb house cat while this work has been going on - things have actually gone pretty smooth, but we are pretty anxious to get back into a place of our own.

I know that I've loved looking at finished kitchens here over the years, and I have to admit that reading in-progress updates has been almost as fulfilling. So here's a look at what we've done so far.

We've combined the existing 17 x 10 kitchen and adjacent family room to create a fairly large (400 sq ft) space. We removed walls, stripped everything back to studs, installed structural beams, and have installed new windows, flooring, lighting, cabinets, appliances, etc. A total transformation.

We're still completing the cabinets, awaiting quartz counters to replace the temporary tops, and then it's on to finishing items such as second sink & faucet, backsplash, table/chairs/stools, and window treatments. We hope to move in within a couple of weeks, and to have the whole thing finished by Christmas. I look forward to posting finished pics early in the new year, along with before and demolition pics.

Thanks everyone for your knowledge, your discussions, tips, and insights. Very few, if any, in my neck of the woods has a GW kitchen and this one will keep us cozy, content, and well fed for quite awhile! We can't wait to enjoy this!

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Comments (18)

dianalo
13 years ago
That looks like it will be an awesome kitchen ;)
Is the open pocketbook symbolic of how much this is setting you back? lol
breezygirl
13 years ago
LOL Dianalo. I noticed the same thing!

Your kitchen looks beautiful and so big! I have oven envy! I love that gorgeous chandy! Who makes it? The windows flanking the range are very clever. The space is very warm and yummy with the creamy cabs and toasty yellow walls.

What will be stored in the corner ceiling to counter cab b/w cooktop and sink?
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allblack
Original Author
13 years ago
Heheh, by the time this reno is complete we may no longer have even the pocketbook, let alone whatever $$ was once inside! I promise to leave all miscellaneous items out of the finished pics!

Chandeliers are Trillium and Avalon by Glow Lighting.

Corner cab: bottom is an appliance garage with parallel vertical lift up door (toaster, kitchenaid mixer, etc) and above that is conventional cupboard space.
grneyesct
13 years ago
Just beautiful! I cannot wait to see the completed room :)
What color Quartz are you going with?

~ D ~
User
13 years ago
My - that's so gorgeous, I'd be ready to move in now!
doonie
13 years ago
I love the colors you have in there! It's looking spectacular. I am very excited to see the finished product. Great job!
joan2121
13 years ago
WOW! Looks great! Love the windows by the stove- love to see pictures of the rest of your house too. It looks gorgeous!
We are doing a similar reno- just bought the house in Jan and added windows and doors. Tore down walls to open the kitchen/dining area/den. Right now we have a 48 x 17 foot bowling alley! Can't wait to finish!!!
homechef
13 years ago
Beautiful!
lisa_a
13 years ago
I love your creamy cabinets! Who made them and what color are they painted? I'd also love to know your wall color. You've chosen a soothing overall color scheme. TIA!
ptyles
13 years ago
oh wow, that is just beautiful!! I'm drooling over the chandelier. It will be an absolute stunner when it is completed.
chicagoans
13 years ago
Gorgeous! Love that light!
allblack
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks so much for the kind words. As many of you who have been through an extensive reno surely understand, the home stretch can be trying indeed. We are so anxious to see this finished!

DW and I have essentially shared in the design of this kitchen. She has taken "form" while I have taken "function". Kitchen layout, ergonomics, technical/structural, gadgets/gizmos, appliance selection, etc have been my responsibility. Being a guy and an engineer, this kind of research "stuff" is pretty cool to me, however if left to my own devices I'd have a functional space with cool things and absolutely no style. This is where DW comes in. She has some fabulous plans that will finish this space nicely, and I agree that her choice of lighting is beautiful.

lisa a: The cabinets were custom built by a local cabinet maker and painted in BM OC-88. The walls are BM CC-190 (Summer Harvest).

grneyesct: Perimeter tops will be DuPont Zodiac Giallo Michelangelo

and the island top will be DuPont Zodiac Saddle Brown

Joan2121: Quite a project to open three rooms into one. Your new wide open space is taking shape nicely, can't wait to see the finished product! Be sure to keep us updated with progress pics.

Thanks again everyone, time now to focus on completing this project! DW, an avid baker, hasn't baked a single thing in months and Christmas is just around the corner. Something tells me these new ovens will get quite a workout!
doonie
13 years ago
Yeah!! I am excited to be able to see the DuPont Zodiac Giallo Michelangelo used. The tone wasn't the correct hue for my kitchen,
but I thought it was very pretty. I couldn't find any good pictures of it used in a kitchen. I is going to look wonderful! I
love the Saddle Brown with it. I can hardly wait to see the completed project!
joan2121
13 years ago
Love your counter choices! I am looking now, and was considering giallo ornamental granite for perimeter and wondered what to do on the island- I think you just showed me. Can't wait to see yours finished.
I noticed you uppers of the hutches are on the wall- will they slide the granite under? We were thinking we wouldn't attach the uppers until the granite goes in.
juniork
13 years ago
Gorgeous kitchen! Love the warm, welcoming colors...exactly the thing to counteract the dark dreary wet winter days!

Joan, thanks for pointing that out...I'm a complete neophyte and I love reading GW to pick up tips like this. They must have measured pretty precisely to ensure that the countertop would fit.
ladyamity
13 years ago
WOW!

The cabinet jewelry, the windows on the sides of the hood, even down to the paint color....Beautiful!
lisa_a
13 years ago
Thanks, allblack!
flwrs_n_co
13 years ago
Your new kitchen is shaping up to be a beautiful & extremely functional space! Count me as a fan of the windows flanking the range, bank of storage cabs, chandys, and the creamy, dreamy color scheme. What kind of glass did you use on your cabs? Can't wait to see it finished with those great quartz countertops! Thanks for sharing your progress pics! Hang in there, you and your family are going to have a great Christmas with that fabulous kitchen!

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