Construction
This section covers the construction stage of our remodel—Present to Day 52.
For previous work see:
Day ? —Paint
January 14, 2009
I've lost track of time with the remodel. The downstairs is complete with a few minor outstanding items. The trash compactor panel and replacement bar doors are scheduled to be installed tomorrow. The bar backsplash tile is in and will be installed next week. We are waiting to make a decision on the fireplace once the bathroom is completed. That just leaves the granite top for the bookcase. Hopefully that will get done soon...
We want to make all the decisions on the bathroom before we start and with the holidays, that hasn't happened. I'm enjoying our kitchen too much to spend time on the bathroom right now. I just love cooking in our new kitchen! I'm making things I would have never attempted before and it seems like everything is turning out great! So many new favorites for dinner. I also need to spend some time focusing on business.
Here are some pictures of the new paint colors. We did the south wall, which includes the kitchen and family room, in teal. We then added terra cotta to the inside of the chase, the north wall of the stairs and the east wall of the hallway. Once we get upstairs, we are planning on using the terra cotta in the master bath. We will see if we add it anywhere else once we see how everything looks.
Day 88-92—Audio/Video, etc.
November 26-December 8, 2008
Okay, I've been really bad about updates lately. That will probably continue until we get going on the bathroom—hopefully at that point I'll get back into the swing of things and report regularly.
So, what has been happening. The day before Thanksgiving, DirecTV came out and installed their system. We had a really nice Thanksgiving with Jack's side of the family. The new kitchen was wonderful and so much more user friendly for the gathering. We did have one oversight—no tables in the family room! We pulled a folding table out of the RV to use. Since then we have purchased an ottoman for the couch that will work out well. We still need a side table for the chairs. Maybe we will find something before Christmas or maybe not...
We have a Matrix Switch so any input (dish or blu-ray for now) can be sent to any of the three TV's. Between that and the Sonos we can watch or listen to whatever we want in any area of the house. Jack picked out a blu-ray player and we got that last week. Frank was here three days the week after Thanksgiving, finishing up all the audio/video installation. I came home after the weekend to find two new shelves in the closet to hold all the equipment. It's very neat but crowded in there now. Everything is working well and looks and sounds great. I spent some time yesterday programming the Logitech Harmony remote to control everything. Still have a bit more to do, but the TV's, DirecTV dish and Blu-Ray all appear to be working correctly. I may need to make some minor adjustments for the Matrix Switch as occasionally the timing seems a bit off. But we will see if that is really necessary when we start using everything.
The ceiling fan has been installed and the holes in the garage patched. Frank will probably install the new door into the garage tomorrow. We hate how the current one opens into the laundry room—it's such a claustrophobic space as it is. So we are replacing it so the door opens into the garage. No more trying to open the door into the dryer door while I'm doing laundry.
The inside of the chase and the post still need another coat of paint. We are debating between the faux glaze or adding a new color—terra cotta. If we do the terra cotta, we'll probably use it in the hall as well. We are meeting with Julie this weekend to go over the plans for the bathroom. We need to pick out materials and finalize everything soon so we can get started.
Day 68—The Fireplace
October 20, 2008
Also see the section on the family room.
Frank also installed the trash compactor. We still need the wood panel for the front of it, but it is nice having it where it belongs.
Our backsplash tile is finally ready to be picked up. Julie will be doing that tomorrow and then meeting with me in the afternoon to discuss the fireplace options.
Day 66—Upper Cabinet Lights
October 14, 2008
The wire arrived so Frank was able to install the upper cabinet lights today. He also installed the molding at the bottom of the cabinets.
I talked to Julie and the backsplash tile is probably in, she will confirm tomorrow and pick it up Thursday if everything is okay. There are just a few items remaining in the kitchen besides the backsplash. I started unpacking and moving in. Now to decide where everything will go...
Frank should be back on Thursday to start demolishing the fireplace in the family room.
Day 65—Cabinet Hardware
October 13, 2008
Frank was back and accomplished a lot today. He started by installing the cabinet pulls. Of course the hardware we selected did not match any of the templates he had. He was able to drill an extra hole in one of his templates to use with the finger pulls, but manually did the drilling for the 17 larger drawer pulls.
Julie showed up in the afternoon with some of the missing shelves and the microwave pantry doors. Unfortunately some of the shelves didn't seem to be exactly the correct size. So we will have to wait a bit longer... Julie cleaned out the drawers while Frank finished the cabinet hardware and installed the doors. Then he installed the soap dispenser. I'm looking forward to getting the soap bottle off the counter.
Then Frank installed the under cabinet lights. They look nice! The wire was backordered for the above cabinet lights, so they will be installed later.
The backsplash tile still hasn't arrived. So while Frank waits for materials to finish the kitchen, he is going to get started on the family room. Jack and I spent the evening clearing out the family room in preparation. I had hoped to get started moving into the kitchen, but that can wait a little longer. Plus I had decided to wash everything before putting it away, so I started the first dishwasher load tonight.
Here is a photo of the backsplash sample. We are actually going with random sized tiles instead of the same sized square tiles shown, but the colors and mixed glass and slate are the ones we selected.
Day 64—Cabinets
October 9, 2008
The cabinet finisher was out today to finish the island carcass that had to be rebuilt and to do some touch up. They took some of the doors with them to refinish at their shop. They also dropped off the shoe molding that Frank will be installing. They are supposed to be back tomorrow with the finished doors.
Frank will be back out on Monday to install the pulls. I can hardly wait as we are ready to really move in once that happens. We have been using some of the drawers for awhile, but I didn't want to really move in until everything was done and the pulls were on.
Day 63—Final Inspection
October 8, 2008
The inspector came out to do the final inspection on the kitchen. Our regular inspector was on vacation, so we had a new guy. I overheard him saying he liked the kitchen and hood to Julie. We got the final sign-off, no problem. Julie even showed him the soft close hinges on our cabinets. He was very impressed and hadn't seen them before. After talking about them to Julie, he said he was going to go home and count his cabinet doors and order some.
While waiting for the inspector, Julie started painting. Not too much to show in a picture as most of it was painting over the original color in the living room, but she did do a bit more of the teal in the breakfast nook and the "white" post got a coat of paint. Now the post doesn't stand out quite so much so that is nice.
October 6, 2008
Our little "vacation" from the remodel will last a little longer than originally planned. The home show is over, but Frank's Grandmother passed away. She was 92. He will be away until later in the week. Our condolences to the family.
Julie will be here on Wednesday to paint and meet with the inspector. The tentivate plan is for the cabinet guy to be out either Thursday or Friday to touch up the cabinets and finish the island.
Day 62—Carpet
October 1, 2008
Frank and Julie had other things to do yesterday. They won't be back until next Tuesday as they will be getting ready for and then participating in the Home Show this weekend at Ontario Mills. It's good timing as the kitchen is very close and it'll be nice to have some peace and quiet for a few days and enjoy the beautiful kitchen.
Today they had the carpet people out. Julie and Frank recommended that we have the living room carpet power stretched while they were here finishing off the edge of the carpet to the tile. We also decided to replace the thin pad with a better, thicker bad. It was a bit of work having to deal with all the electronics and my desk, but it was worth it. The carpet feels better with the thicker pad and it gave me a good opportunity to dust and reorganize my desk. Amazing how much dust accumulates behind closed doors and drawers in the desk! It also motivated me to swap out the short USB cable with the longer one I had purchased months ago. It's routed behind the filing drawers, etc. and not easy to access.
Julie and Frank worked on the baseboards, caulking and painting and cutting, etc. Frank also worked on plugs, electrical and the phone line in the kitchen. It all looks much better, but nothing that will really show up well in photos. We are waiting on the materials for the cabinet lights as well as the backsplash. With luck they will be here next week. Julie is planning on more painting next week and the final inspection will probably be scheduled for Wednesday.
Day 61—Beverage Center, etc.
September 29, 2008
It was really nice to be able to use the kitchen this weekend. Especially when my Dad and Jeanie stopped by Sunday afternoon to see the place. We had a pleasant lunch at the island counter.
Frank and Julie both came today. The cabinet hardware arrived and Julie brought them with her. They look really nice. We can't wait to get them installed. It's difficult to open the doors and drawers without them. But it will still be a little while as they need to do some touchup on the cabinets first. I showed them to Jack tonight and he was pleased. He had only seen pictures before.
Frank and Julie didn't like the way the refrigerator stuck out. It was supposed to fit back farther in the cabinet. They pulled it and and discussed it and Frank is going to do something with the waterline to get it to fit better.
While Frank worked on baseboards, reinstalled the ledge for the resized window and installed light switches, Julie painted the stucco around the resized window. Then Frank installed the beverage refrigerator and Julie cleaned and polished the hood. It really looks good without all the fingerprints!
Day 60—More Appliances
September 26, 2008
It was a busy day today and there was a lot of progress.
Frank finished grouting the old tiles and then installed the dishwasher. While Frank was working on the dishwasher, Julie cleaned a lot of the cabinets and marked spots that need touching up. Frank was going to install the trash compactor as well, but the space is a little larger than needed and we'll need a spacer to fill it in.
While Frank was busy, I borrowed Julie and their truck to go out to Lowe's and pick up a chest freezer and Costco to pick up some barstools.
When we got back, I pulled open the dishwasher door to check it out and realized it was running! Wow—the dishwasher sure is quiet! We used to wait until we went to bed to start the old one and even then we could hear it upstairs.
Then Cagles came out this afternoon and delivered the beverage fridge and installed the refrigerator. The kitchen is really coming together and it's going to be really nice having everything accessible from the kitchen. It will still be awhile before we move in as the cabinets still need some touching up and refinishing before the pulls go on. Without the pulls, most of the drawers and cupboards are not that easy to open and I want all the mess to be done before I move in.
Day 59—The Floor is basically done!
September 25, 2008
Frank did the grout in the new floor. It looks great! Just enough grout to show the pattern and no more—perfect! He still has the other type of grout to do where the two floors meet as well as a few places were there are old tiles like were the beverage refrigerator goes.
Cagles delivered the refrigerator and dishwasher today. There was some confusion about the beverage fridge and it wasn't on the truck. They will bring it tomorrow and install the kitchen refrigerator while they are out now that the floor will be ready. Frank will install the dishwasher after he finishes the grouting.
Next week will probably be slow. Frank will only be here a couple of days as they will be getting ready for their display at the Home Show at Ontario Mills over the weekend.
Hopefully Alpine Cabinets will be able to come out and finish up the final touches on the cabinets and Frank is going to see if the carpet people can come out and take care of the carpet.
Day 58—Another day of tiling
September 24, 2008
Frank installed all the tile he cut yesterday. Now he needs to grout. Hopefully that will happen tomorrow.
The remaining appliances are being delivered in the morning—the refrigerator, dishwasher and the beverage refrigerator. It will be really nice to have a dishwasher again! I can hardly wait to move in! It looks so close, but it will still be a while.
Day 57—Flooring Continues again
September 23, 2008
Frank cut all the tile for the floor and it's in place. Tomorrow he will start installing the tiles he cut today.
Day 56—Flooring Continues
September 22, 2008
It was a short day today, Frank finished putting in the whole tiles. Tomorrow he will start cutting and installing the cut pieces. Nothing much to show with a picture.
Day 55—More Flooring
September 19, 2008
Frank laid out most of the remaining whole tiles today. Monday he will start cutting and installing around the cabinets and in the spaces for the appliances. Julie helped for awhile in the morning. She will be at the Goodings on Monday installing wallpaper. The blue spots on picture are pieces of tape showing which tiles we can walk on tonight. We need to stay off the other ones until tomorrow afternoon.
Day 54—Flooring
September 18, 2008
Julie brought over the floor tiles and then Frank came out and started laying out the new floor. It's been one of the more difficult decisions with having to work with our existing flooring and the lack of choices trying to match it. We decided in the end to forgo the border and just butt the new tiles up against the old floor. We also decided to minimize the grout lines. We will be off-setting the new tiles to minimize the differences between the two floor tile sizes and give us some variety since the more random pattern using 3 different sizes we wanted wasn't a financially practical option.
Julie, Jack and I went on a field trip to Ed Pawlack Tile in Brea and then over to Expo Design Center to look at backsplash options. Julie and I had found some samples we liked, but needed Jack's thoughts and input. Jack had something in mind and Julie was able to help us find something that should look really nice with our colors and materials. Now we just have to decide on the designs and then which of the materials to use. It was a very useful excursion.
Day 53—Main Sink
September 17, 2008
Frank set up the main kitchen sink today. The hands-free Pascal faucet is nice! I think it will be really convenient. This sink also has the new garbage disposal as well as the hot water recirculating pump.
Hot water has always been an issue in the kitchen. It's so far from the water heater that a lot of water is wasted waiting for hot water to do the dishes. Then I have to keep the hot water running or it will be cold when I go to rinse the dishes. The recirculating pump will eliminate the need to run the water to get hot water at the tap and should keep it hot while I'm doing the dishes. We could have easily purchased one with a timer, but had to do a bit of research to find one with a button as our schedule is too erratic to use one on a timer.
I really like the Silgranite sinks and the grey color is perfect. I'm actually looking forward to giving the large sink a try tonight. The prep sink has worked out better than I expected—especially considering it didn't look that much bigger than our old wetbar sink, but it will be good to use a more normal sized bowl for the dishes.
Day 52—Lights
September 16, 2008
Frank came by and installed the lights. We like the eyeball lights a lot better than the chrome cans. It's really nice having so much light in the living room and kitchen areas! The living room has always been especially dark. The other issue has been that we had table lamps on timers and they would either be on too late (not often an issue) or more frequently they would turn off while I was still working. It'll be great having nice lights controlled by a convenient wall switch.
