Babushka Cat's Finished Kitchen!
Better late than never? This forum was a tremendous help when remodeling my kitchen. I thoroughly enjoyed the kitchen for 4 years and just sold the house. Since I finally had pictures taken I felt I had to post the final reveal, see below. And the good news - I purchased a new (vintage) home and have another kitchen to remodel - Babushka Cat 2.0! Not ready for that now but maybe in a year or two. On a very sad note: My beloved Babushka Cat passed away last year due to sudden heart failure. Total heart breaker. He was the best feline GC ever. A few pics below.
Details:
1942 cottage,
original kitchen, 11’x13’, full gut, no change to footprint
All systems updated:
knob and tube wiring, plumbing, tankless water heater
Range: Wolf
30” AG R304
Hood:
Vent-a-hood 30” PRH9 series
Marble
Countertop: Honed Calacatta Cremo Delicato - unusual caramel color
Shaw farm
sink model 3018
Rohl Country
Faucet A1459 in polished nickel
Rohl Soap
dispenser LS850PN
Dishwasher
Miele with fully integrated door panel
Cabinets: Custom
cabinetry by local cabinet maker, BM Simply White, Advance paint in satin
Wall Paint
Color: Benjamin Moore Putnam Ivory
Cabinet
Hardware: RH 4” Gilmore Pulls and Rejuvenation small oval latches, polished nickel
Backsplash
tile: Melange by Grazia, Color: Butter Blend, 2.5x5 inches, grout color: Antique
White
Floors: Quarter-sawn
red oak random plank hardwood floors to match adjacent dining room
Breakfast
Nook Bistro Table: Purchased on Craigslist
Breakfast
Nook Chairs: TK Collections, French Bistro Chairs, Style: Matignon # 3125
Windows –
Marvin
Lessons Learned:
GW is a
fabulous resource – thanks for all of your assistance!
Take your
time. I felt pressured to sign contracts by vendors. Sign when you are ready - it took the pressure off once I figured that
out.
Before buying
anything, make a budget spreadsheet. List every item down. Unless you have
unlimited funds, it will total more than you can spend. Think about trade offs and find alternatives. Remember to add at least 10% overrun for unexpected issues.
The design
process is iterative and I found it could not be rushed. Build a good collection of inspiration
pictures and live with your decisions before committing.
Get organized: build a project notebook and use a digital
camera for documenting issues and to capture progress. Agree on communication
method with your GC up front.
Request
samples / mock up ideas and study carefully in your home before placing
order. Ex: paint color swatches, cabinet
door samples, countertop material samples, edge dimensions, layouts etc.
I learned it
is critical to be at the job site when any new activity is kicking off.
Inevitably there are questions that arise and catching them early before the
work progresses is key.
Be realistic
on what you can DIY. Do you have the skills, the necessary tools and the free
time to complete the work? Some things are better left to the pros.
Go with
custom cabinets if you can swing it. It was particularly helpful in my small
kitchen where I was trying to squeeze in a 30” sink, 30” fridge, trash drawer
and 24” dishwasher along a very short run. I was also able to get the feet
details and finished panel sides that I wanted. It cost more than semi-custom
but the additional functionality was worth it.
Don’t forget
about lighting. I did not pay enough attention to my lighting selections as I
should have.
Be prepared
for decision fatigue: try to make as many of your choices up front, before
construction begins. Once the fur starts flying, the decisions come fast and
furious.
Trust your
gut. If something does not feel right it probably isn’t. The cabinetmaker did
not work out and when I think back on it I couldn’t put my finger on it but
sensed there was something off about him.
Mentally
prepare for timeline delays just in case and it is a bonus if they do not
occur!
Keep the
amount of vendors involved to a minimum. Helps avoid finger pointing when
inevitable issues arise.
Just because
they tell you something is fixed, it does not always mean it is fixed. Test it out
before the vendor leaves the job; verify it is fixed to your satisfaction
before signing off and paying for it.
Things will
go wrong. Count on it and plan for it in your budget.
Surprises I encountered:
- Had to buy a new water heater due
to flue removal in kitchen - HVAC duct diameter required wider
boot to meet floor, had to relocate the vent to fit - Range and associated vent hood I
chose required larger diameter duct through attic - Code changes from initial quote
to when work was completed. New lead abatement laws went into effect which
increased demo costs - Major error in finishing cabinet
doors required a complete re-build of doors. Not sure what we could have
done differently as GC and I reviewed sample and end result did not look
anything like approved sample. Cabinetmaker was fired, got credit back and
a new cab maker was hired. Major schedule delay and incurred extra costs
even with credit back. - The GC’s fabricator did not have
enough experience with marble. While I asked and was assured he did, he
blew the job which required a complete re-do and associated schedule
delays. - Because I did not pay enough
attention to lighting I had to approve a CO to get the LED bulbs in a
lower Kelvin. Had I done my research I might have specified this up front
when ordering. - Make sure to understand depth
needed to fully conceal under cabinet lighting (standing and when seated
if applicable). Mine were concealed when standing but were visible from
dining room table and living room and it looked bad so had to devise a
creative trim solution to mask the problem.
Comments (34)
PROKaren Viscito Interiors
7 years ago
mama goose_gw zn6OH
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoRelated Discussions
3 Year Old Cat Female Cat Marking_What to do-long
Comments (28)I see there is interest in this so I'll link to my animal communicator's website. The communicator, Gayle Nastazi, has always been very helpful to me. I have used her services with many of my cats in various situations; from dire emergencies (missing animal- found after 3 weeks!), to behavioral issues, to intergration and rescue issues with feral and abandonned cats that come into my care. I always learn something from every session. Although I know the whole idea strikes some people as pretty far-fetched (and that's OK), I feel comfortable saying that it has worked very effectively for me, and that I think it makes resolution of some difficult issues much easier. One thing I can say for certain is that Gayle is completely legitimate. I have met her in person. I also have no financial interest in this referral - just a hope that my suggestion might be useful. Click on the clink below and look for the Animal Communication link at the top left of the page. Carry on from there if you are interested. RE: Various Animal pee cleaners/destinkes - I think many (most?) employ some kind of enzyme. My conclusion after using all of them is that after the bottles are opened and partly used that it's possible that exposure to air in the emptying bottle degrades the enzyme significantly. It always seems to me that they work like gangbusters at first and then less so, particularly if not used up in a short time. Then I try another brand and it seems to work better (even tested side by side), but eventually poops out, too. I have tried Odor-X, Nature's Miracle and Get Serious, along with scads of others. The pattern seems to hold for all, so now I only buy in quarts not gallons, even though it's 'way cheaper in big jugs. I haven't experimented with decanting a gallon into smaller jars and keeping them closed until I've used up the other portions. Also I find it's helpful to vigorously shake the plastic bottle before applying. The idea mentioned by olychik about using rags is v. interesting and I will keep it mind. I hope that my link may be useful to you. Here is a link that might be useful: Link to Gayle Nastazi, Animal Communicator's webpage...See Morecat_mom's finished kitchen (double posted from discussions)
Comments (23)Thank you so much nannymac! We did use a KD to design the kitchen (layout, cab/drawer locations, island/tabletop leg design), and he worked very closely with us to incorporate our "vision" for the space, which we (DH and I and our KD) tweaked along the way as needed or desired. The details were all chosen by us; e.g. the appliances, fixtures, granite, backsplash, cab hardware (even the cherry wood switchplates, which we ordered and then gave him to have the cab manuf stain to match the cabs). Those items (among others) we researched/found on our own. The bathrooms were "all us!" LOL. Of course, we were (and still are) extremely fortunate to have a great tile guy, and tile place(s), and plumber, to help and advise us when necessary, since we were our own GC's for the bathrooms (as well as the kitchen). Our bath/kitchen/hardware showroom salesperson was invaluable (literally) in helping us pick and choose fixtures, for function, price, quality, and style. He knew the look we were trying to create (and the price ranges of the different lines, and our budgetary constraints), and we bounced a lot of ideas off each other....See MoreFor Babushka_cat - finished kitchen?
Comments (2)hi christine- thanks so much for the follow up and enthusiasm for my project! i am close but not yet finished. took me a while to find my backsplash tile. i have found "the one" but of course the one i selected has a 6-7 week lead time and then need to have it installed along with finish electric and breakfast nook furnishings. will be another two months or so but am close! thanks again for the encouragement, much appreciated! GW has been a tremendous resource, i will be sure to post when complete. babushka cat...See MoreBabushka-what kind of screws did u buy for pull
Comments (3)Michelle--even in my small town, there are two large hardware stores with thousands of screws that should stock anything you need. It should be easy for a GC to find the correct screws for your pulls. I had to do this with some Hafele pulls on the MBR built-ins to save some time for my cab maker. He gave me the screws that came with the pulls and told me what needed to be different about them to make them work. I took them to the local hardware, handed the screw dept guy the sack, told him what I needed, and two minutes later I walked out with exactly the right product. Easy peasy. I wouldn't worry about finding someone to tell you which screw they used. Your cab maker will know the thickness of your specific drawer fronts and can offer guidance. Good luck!...See More
nini804
7 years agoUser
7 years agoblfenton
7 years ago
Bunny
7 years agotea4all
7 years agobeachem
7 years ago
rebunky
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
cat_mom
7 years agodesertsteph
7 years agopractigal
7 years agomgmum
7 years agolam702
7 years ago
barncatz
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
Wendy
7 years agoknancy1947
7 years ago
caligirl5
7 years ago
amykath
7 years ago
ediblekitchen
7 years ago
PROR G MILLER (YBC)
7 years agoUser
7 years ago
cpartist
7 years ago
PROJoseph Corlett, LLC
7 years agoAccording to his custom made PVC headstone near the pond in our local park, "Pinky" was "the best cat":
mabeldingeldine
7 years ago
enduring
7 years ago
romy718
7 years agoI also saved a couple of photos of Babushka Cat. I'm so sorry for your loss.
I remember the paint finish troubles but WOW, the end result is gorgeous. So serene with the prettiest cabinet feet I've ever seen.
babushka_cat
7 years agoThanks everyone! Although I am still recovering from selling the old house, buying new (vintage) house and moving, it is good to be back and I look forward to the future Babushka Cat 2.0 and all of your helpful insights! It was hard to leave my beautiful kitchen but the new location and house is much better - will be worth the hassle of the 2.0.
Thanks for the kind words about Babushka Cat. He was a love.....His sister (from the same litter but so far her heart checks out OK) is doing great, in fact she does not appear to miss her brother at all! Pic below of her demonstrating she matches an off the shelf pillow exactly. I did donate the stove - it needed a major renovation but hopefully it went to a good home. I took the bistro set with me, hope to find a place for it in my new home. I did not have to remove the flue in kitchen but decided to, to improve the layout of cabinetry. Thanks again!
babushka_cat
7 years agoUser
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agocpartist
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agopowermuffin
7 years agobeachem
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
cluelessincolorado