We have Backsplash!

We could not be happier about our backsplash!  The lady at Emser tile was extremely helpful in helping us select it and the grout.  She has a wonderful eye for color.  Herbie has put it up this week and today put on the sealer/enhancer.

It reaaly worked out wonderfully.  Putting it up was quite the puzzle.  I came in the other day and here is what I found

Herbie was looking at this puzzle and trying to figure out what to do.  But, he figured it out and is looks wonderful.  We could not be more pleased. 

He is now working on the baseboards and quarterround.  We're also trying to decorate for Christmas so we have to clean up the outside which I'm sure the neighbors will be thrilled about. 

I gave Herbie a deadline so we could have a Christmas open house.  We've agreed on what will and will not be finished before then.  So for now, we have what we have and we're getting the house and yard cleaned and decorated.  It'll all get finished eventually:)

Behind the scenes progress

Herbie has been making progress althought not picture-worthy.  He has grouted the tile, got the tile under the dishwasher (although we still have the pantry to do), made great progress on the quarter round and baseboards.  The curent problem is the heated flooring thermostat.  We're in thinking mode on that.

We do have a plan and a goal.  We're having an open house while we have our Christmas decorations up.  We may not be finished completely but we'll celebrat what we have.

Quick update

Floor was coming along nicely until we ran out of tile!  Went to reorder and they're trying to find some out of the same lot.  The good news is that we have 6 tiles left which can finish out what you can see around the refrgerator and the dishwaher.  If the new tiles are slightly off color, they'll be going in the pantry and under the frig so it won't matter. 

We also ordered the backsplash.  We've been looking on and off for months and finally found something we really like. 

We're trying to get things washed and put in the cabinets so we can get the dining room cleaned up for Thanksgiving.  We won't have everything complete by then which was our hope.  There's always Christmas!

Floor and doors!

We've had a lot of progress and I've been remiss in posting.  Vacation was wonderful and I've been buried since then.  But, Herbie has been working diligently and has made tons of progress.

We have new doors to the outside and to the garage.  We also have new locks and hinges.

This is the heated flooring elements which will be under the tile.  This has been a difficult planning thing.  We have a therostat and 2 coils so they both have to start in the same location.  Herbie spent many hours planning this out.  We think the dogs will love it this winter!  We have to cover this with cardboad to keep the coils safe.  The dogs are so confused!

And finally, the tile floor is being laid!  We love it and are very excited.  The dogs are confused about all the barriers.  They have to be blocked off while the tile is being laid.  We have to be blocked off during and for a while afterward so the thinset can set (we can't have the tile moving around).  Good thing we have all that cardboard from the appliances.

Herbie thinks the floor will be finished by the end of the week.  Grouting will come next.  Will we make it by Thanksgiving?

Floor & Misc

We've had a lot going on so I've been remiss in posting.  Herbie's been working on the floor.  He did a lot of reading about tiling even though he's done it multiple times and became convinced that he needed to put thin-set under the hardy backer.  (Yes, David Murray, we are doing hardy backer because it made Herbie feel more secure).  After much debate with others he was convinced that the thin-set was not necessary.  So hardy-backer and 950 screws later, we have the laying of the floor.

Here we see the ever helpful Sunny surpervising the process.

The original plan for me to take the dogs to the resort while Herbie laid the radiant flooring didn't happen.  We ran out of time.  We are headed for a week in Florida tomorrow and we just didn't have time to get it all worked in.  Herbie spent this week once the hardy-backer was laid to do the door trim.

He got most of it done.  When we get back from vacation, he will finish the floor.  We'll attempt to do it with the dogs here and trying to block off parts of the kitchen.  We'll see how it works.

On a personal note:  I took a tumble Sunday night just before bed and ended up in the emergency room.  I got 2 staples and have a huge bruise on the back of my head.  Got the staples removed today.  Headed for our time share in Floriday in the mornning.  Sister Linda Bullard is here to dog/house sit for us.  I'm sure the sun will help me heal and help Herbie recoup for the final kitchen effort.

Range Hood installed

Range Hood was installed yesterday.  Herbie had to change from the flexible pipe to a solid pipe.  That flexible thing started tearing the minute we started trying to put it thru the ceiling.  Solid pipe worked out better anyway since the hole was smaller.  The insalling part was rather scary.  We both got up on the island and had to juggle holding the thing and getting the screws installed.  Too bad we don't have pictures of that!

Herbie caught me offguard when I was cleaning the range hood.  Mother always got on to me for getting on the counter!

Today he finished the job by getting the vent and electricity hooked up in the attic.  It works and it's still hanging up there so we're good. 

We also found a light to go over the sink that matches the glass and stainless look of the range hood.

Onward to the floor!

Still Progressing

I can't believe it's been so long since I've made an update.  We have been moving forward but a little slower.  We had to take care of some things that got put on the back burner.

Herbie's had a lot of plumbing work.  He got the garbage disposal installed but then had to take it out to put the water filter faucet in.  There were some persistent leaks.  He finally found some 'shark bite' parts that were helpful so I think we're ok now.  We did install some stick down vinyl floor tiles under the sink.  One tiny leak will bubble up that wood which we've learned on rental property.  We almost always install stick down tiles under sinks in our rentals.  It certainly has saved us in our own kitchen.

Heated flooring has been received.  Herbie spent a lot of time studying the products and installation.  He ordered from Thermosoft (http://www.thermosoft.com/).  Robert was extemely helpful.  He looked at our floorplan on the blog and made helpful suggestions on how to put it down and the layout.  We ordered it last Thursday and received it Tuesday.  And today, Herbie got a new issue of Handyman Magazine and there is an article about heated flooring and how to install it and they mention Thermosoft.

The Island Vent Hood is the next project.  Of course, that means a hole in the ceiling.  Getting it centered has been a real pain.  We've measured every which way to get it centered.  Then, when we finally get it right, there's a beam up there where the hole needs to go.

So the vent hood sits on the island while Herbie works on the solution up above.  Attic crawling, Herbie's least favorite task had to happen.  Hoping the flexible tube will fit thru the hole we have.

The floor is the next big task.  Herbie had previously tried to level sections that needed it resulting in doggie and people prints.  Today he blocked off one area from all traffic and worked on leveling that area.

Yesterday, we got windows installed on the front of the house.  We really want the whole house done but that will have to wait.  We really couldn't consider the kitchen finished without a new window and a new mini-blind in the kitchen.

We also ordered new doors for the outside access to the kitchen and the garage entry.

Next step is the floor.  There's some work Herbie can do over the weekend but then I'm taking the dogs to the 'Resort' so he can install the heated floor.  That will have to be covered with leveler and allowed to dry before the tile can be put on.  Doggie feet will not mix with that so we'll go away until the coast is clear. 

We're hoping we'll be all done by Thanksgiving!  Work continues....