A fully functional kitchen!

Can you believe it!  The sink and plumbing work, I have a garbage disposer that works, the cook top works, the dishwasher is hooked up and I have a microwave and oven!

There is a lot of work left to be done but we have a functional kitchen!  Plumber finished Tuesday afternoon with his part.  Herbie worked Wed and Thurs finishing up the hookups to the plumbing and gas.  Had a glitch with the electricity to the cook top for the gas starter but he got that fixed this morning.  We were able to use the cook top last night with a lighter for the gas.  I also ran a load of dishes in the dishwasher.

This morning he got the electricity fixed and now the stove lights as it should.

Yesterday afternoon, he called the next door neighbor teenager (Micahel Gibby) over to help him put the oven in place.  Oops!  Seems the electrical box was too low and the oven wouldn't go in.  So, today he moved it up and our another neighbors relative (John Pennington) helped him put the oven in.  It fit!  Took a little while to get the trim on but then we had the next issue.  The display worked so we turned the oven on.  No heat.  The display, lights, fan all work but no heat.  It was time for the game so we had to stop.  At halftime, he went down to the breaker box and figure out that due to the location, it was only getting 110 to the oven.  He switched it to get 220 and the oven works!

I washed dishes this morning and I love the touch faucet!  I'm so glad we got it.  I also started moving things into to 'permanant' locations although I know we'll rearrange as we use things.  But, I got rid of the paper plates and plastic utensils.  We may have to go back to them when the dishwasher is disconnected for the floor installation but for now, we're good.  Had a minor panic when I couldn't remember what I did with the silverware but I located it.  Trying to figure out what goes where will be an ongoing process.

We are so excited about everything coming together.  We still have to order the heated floor mats before we can install the tile.  The extra sink is not hooked up yet.  The vent hood has to be installed.  The ceiling lighting, above counter lighting, and back splash are yet to come.  But, we can cook and wash so we're good to go.

Water hopefully tomorrow

Plumber couldn't come until this afternoon so I'm still without a kitchen sink.  He's working on the connections and running the gas line for the stove top.  Herbie promises I'll be hooked up tomorrow.

Other work has continued.  Herbie got the faucets, garbage disposers, soap dispensers and water filters installed.

We decided on the 'touch' faucets so we'll see how we like that.  I always a little leary about getting some new technology but it was just too cool to pass up.

Electricity has been run and Herbie is working on getting the first oven installed.

I'm very hopeful that tomorrow we'll have the sink hooked up and get the dishwasher installed.  I'm going to have to wash everything before I start putting things in their final spots. 

We Have Granite!

Busy week since last post.  Herbie has been running electricity and drilling holes in our new cabinets (Karen shudders).  He ran the icemaker line also.  Trying to get under the counter things done before the granite was installed. 

Yesterday Sherry from A-1 Granite Man called to ask about our sinks which she had ordered for us.  One was not as expected and after discussion she did indeed have the wrong one.  Thankful that she was on top of it before they cut the holes!  We got that clarifed and were set for installation today.

The island was the biggest piece, 5 X 8, 40 SF.  There was a lot of talk and grunting going on with this!  We were amazed they only had 3 guys.  Here they are moving it from the truck.

Bringing it thru the door into the kitchen

And here it is installed!

Then they cut the holes for the range top, faucet, water filter, and soap dispenser.  Herbie put the range top in place although he will have to cut out some spots to make it fit.

It is so amazing the transformation of our kitchen!  We are thrilled.  Of course, we have a long way to go but the major part is done.  I spent the afternoon vacuuming out the cabinets and drawers and cleaning the outsides of the cabinets with my new ecloth dusting cloths which I am so far in love with.  I also adjusted some shelves and moved a few glasses to their new spots.  It's going to take a while to figure out where everything will go and I'll have to wash everything before putting it in the cabinets.  I've given Herbie notice that the dishwasher needs to be installed soon!

Plumber is supposed to be here tomorrow but he's so busy, we'll see.  I need a sink really bad!

Progress Continues

The granite folks came out yesterday to do the templetes for the rest of the countertops.  I was thrilled that they're pretty sure they can do the island with no seams.  I cannot wait to see our granite island top!  It will be next week before they can install the granite. 

Herbie has been running electricity to hook up the ovens.  Fortunately, it can all come from underneath the floor from his workshop.  He has a great friend who works for an electric contractor who has been helping him out by talking him thru what he's thinking. 

He got the microwave installed!  First appliance actually installed!

Yesteday afternoon, the guy came to put in the supports for the granite overhang.  The granite people wouldn't install a 12 inch overhang without supports.  We've heard various people tell us it wasn't necessary but better safe than sorry.

Painting has continued.  In spite of the prior painting, there's a lot of touchup after installation.  It's an ongoing process. 

Plumber was scheduled for today but Herbie called to reschedule because of a conflict and hasn't hear back.  Water lines for the sink in the island for the gas for the stove top need to be run. 

We're (I use the 'we' loosely) are focusing on what needs to happen before the granite is put in.  We got excited about having all the cabinets in and started to put a few things in the new cabinets trying to figure out what will go where.  After the Granite guys were  here, we realized they cut the sink and stove cutouts on site so we're backing off on moving anything.  It looks like everything we own will be washed before it finds a new home.

Cabinet Installation Complete

We had a setback in the completion of Cabinet installation.  The installer broke his toe Thursday night after he was here so he didn't come back until today.  But he worked on it all day and got them finished.  We're missing some trim and he'll have to come back after the floor is done to do the floor trim.

The cabinets beside the pantry.  Microwave goes on top and oven underneath.  Cabinets above have dividers for cooking sheets and flat pans.

 Island from the side where the overhang will be.  The granite will overhand 12 inches and we'll have barstools to sit at here.

 Island from the other side where the cook top and the second oven will be

Island from the end where the small sink will be.

It's amazing how different the room is from just a couple of months ago!  We're hoping the granite guys can come out tomorrow to do their templates.  Plumber will be here Thursday to run the gas and water lines to the bar.  Herbie has been working on the crown molding and has about got it done.  Still have a lot to do but this is a huge step!

Cabinet Installation in Progress

I finished the painting Wed. morning and Herbie got the crown molding.  We got started on cutting and painting  the crown molding but ran out of time in getting it all put up.  Herbie's 3 trips to Home Depot that day took time out of the project and  that paint drying thing take's time!  The cabinets were delivered late Wed.  Here's what our garage looked like.  There were more boxes in the kitchen.

We expected the cabinet installers this morning by 9:00.  After that didn't happen we found out that he was finishing up another job and he no longer has a helper.  He got here around noon and worked until almost 7:00 PM.  So far we have the sink/diswasher/frig and the desk installed.

He'll be back tomorrow 'mid-morning' so we don't expect him until noon again.  Hoping he can finish tomorrow but we delayed the granite cut-out to next week just in case. 

Herbie was able to finish the crown molding this morning waiting on the cabinet installer.  He enjoyed watching someone else work for a change.

We decided to get the Delta 'touch' faucets for the 2 kitchen sinks.  Herbie ordered them online and got such a good deal on the one for the large sink, we were really surprised.  Turns out the one we got wasn't the 'touch' one.  But we got it worked out and exchanged and paid the extra money so all is well.

Really excited to see the rest of the cabinets installed and see what the room will look like with the island!