Week 27
The last official work weekend has come and gone, the Foreman is sad, so sad that he has convinced Mom Socie, that a kitchen remodel at 4528 is a bad idea. Apparently the last 6 months of our kitchen remodel shenanigans have taught them a lesson, contract the kitchen out to professionals.
A whirlwind of finishing touches and trim were put up this weekend. The window has been stained, after a very scientific stain customization of Red Oak, Satin Pecan and a touch of Red Mahogany. The trim has been put up around the doors and toe kicks in place. The router is still warm with the cuts to match the profile on the cupboard doors. I would like to say that the finish nailer is still warm from the trim, but its final job this weekend was nailing trim pieces to the outside of the shed at the house of Horst, the temperature, 45 degrees with light rain.
We ate our first real cooked meal from scratch in the kitchen with guests. We may have imported a chef and we may have ate dinner at 9pm, but it still counts. Amy may have also tried to cook some plastic ware in the oven first, before the squash. At the end of the day it is a functioning kitchen.
We also had a visit from our missing contractor of choice, John and his Nascar driver wife, Speedy Sara. We have not seen the likes of John since drywall. He has been busy working on his shed, aka second home, in his backyard. So the finish nailer has been like our child of divorced parents, spending alternate weekends at each projects house. Though I am sure that Paslode likes the interior conditioned spaces better than at his dad's house.
Week 26- 6 Month Milestone
Gas to Lowes: $4.65
Plumbing parts: 30.00
detergent: 3.50
HD plumbing reference book: 19.95
functioning Dishwasher: Priceless
After a week's worth of struggling and mopping up water off the floor, Saturday brought 3 trips to Lowes and a working dishwasher. Each attempt to hook up the dishwasher prompted a new means and methods applied to the number of parts involved and the amount of water left on the floor. We were finally left with one braided stainless steel bendable water supply line and not a drop of water. Since then about 6 loads of dishes have made it successfully through the dishwasher.
This week also brought the first test of actually using a kitchen as a kitchen, for making food. A total of 3 cakes, 1 crock-pot of mac n cheese, 1 Veggie Pizza and 1 batch of corn dogs were all made using all the modern marvels of hot water, functioning stove, microwave and counters. A marathon cake making and decorating session was completed on the new spacious work station, under adequate foot candles at the wee hours of the morning for Moira's First birthday party on Sunday afternoon. (Still note
the Minwax next to the pink sugar, almost an entirely remodel free zone)
This afternoon we also added another modern marvel to the addition of the kitchen, a tv. So now we will have the complete "Yuppie Kitchen" as one of my co-workers (Steve M.) pointed out. This is my belated birthday present from Joe, and I can't wait for installation this weekend. The sounds of a TV will be much better company late at night cake making marathons than snoring Joes and kitties.
Upcoming is the remainder of the trim work. Another visit from the foreman and family. We are on target for Party time Nov. 11th!
Week 25
Kitchen Remodel Day 172, God created granite countertops and put them in our kitchen. The day finally came, after 2 field measures, 3 installers and a big check, the counters are installed. They look fantastic, the bar is perfect to sit at and take in the view of the nearly completed kitchen.
This weekend Foreman Dad came down to help with some of the remainder of the punch list. Mainly the installation of the dishwasher and related plumbing, trim work, window staining and crown molding. Some of these items have been rescheduled due to the procurement of Box Seats for the Buckeye game on Saturday. Priorities.
On Day 174, God also provided running water to the kitchen. It may be fickle at this time, due to some plumbing shenanigans and mini floods. As long as the locust don't come out, we should be able to complete the remainder of the dishwasher hook up this week. While Joe was knee deep in water, Foreman and I, hung the crown molding in the dining room. Once we figured out the layout shortcuts the crown practically hung itself, all with the help of M.I.A. subcontractor John's Automatic Finish Nailer. Despite the instant high from the power cartridge, by far my favorite borrowed tool so far. And since John acknowledged his living will on Wednesday while flying in a prop plane through a tornado, I get to keep it. Sucka.
Also, Happy 1st Birthday to Moira!!!
Week 24
Over the past two weeks there have been subtle and not so subtle progress in the kitchen remodel. There has been a lot of behind the scenes work with Joe and the Countertop man, mainly the word is that our countertops are actually fabricated, though no one has seen them. There were 2 visits by "Tom" the Countertop guy to field measure the kitchen, which lead to another change order for Electrician foreman Dad.
This weekend, Mom, Dad and Amy Socie came down to work on the change order dictated by Tom. With some creative electric re-wiring and some equally creating drywall patch, we should be prepared for countertop installation this week. Wednesday is the target day, but it apparently has yet to be finalized between Joe and Tom. The dining room has been repainted and crown molding has been purchased and painted. Finish side panels to the cabinets is starting to go up, the rest waits for the counters to be in.
Still no plumbing, getting closer but again no counters, no plumbing. The trim has been fitted around the window, some finish detailing remains, but again this is contingent with the installation of the countertops. We strive for having a completed kitchen by Mid November for the official "810 Open House- Kitchen Dedication 2006" extravaganza. Keep the weekend of November11 open as the tenetive date, again this is contingent of the installation of the countertops.
Week 23
Week 23- Out of the Kitchen in Windsor for bachelorette Party.
