My Cozy Kitchen

When I last posted, we had installed the stove. I have the functional part of the kitchen finished. Now it is time for the finish details and make it pretty!

 I have a corner that is looking pretty darn good. My beautiful Chicago Cutlery knives/ block and bamboo cutting board are not only functional but they look nice too! I have  a command hook mounted on the side of the cabinet (above the knife block) to hang this cutting board when not in use, since it is rather large. I used the 5 lb heavy duty hook and it holding just fine. 

We still need to touch up the wall-meets-ceiling paint, add the painted trim around the window and finish installing the cabinet hardware. But this little corner? I LOVE it!

The shelves turned out better than I had envisioned. Of course, I am certain I will probably rearrange stuff a few (dozen) or more times, until I find just the right look.  Ha   

I had just enough space above the cabinets to display a few favorite things...It is interesting to see a vintage (large jar) Ball blue jar next to the reproduction (small jar); My thrift store find wooden dough tray; The rusty metal basket with vintage and reproduction milk bottles, as well as,  the stoneware crock.

The wooden recipe box was the hubb's woodshop project when he was in 6th grade. The birdcage "recipe" holder is actually a repurposed memo/ picture holder. I think I may give this a light rub of teal or vintage green paint for added interest. And I am super excited to have my glass jars out for storage. Functional and pretty!

The one new accessory is the cookbook holder. I bought it at Tractor Supply almost 2 years ago. It is a chicken wire mesh and with a wooden rolling pin on the front.

I even managed to tuck in my bakers rack next to the pantry cabinet. Then hung some artwork on the side of the pantry. No more big, blank expanse of white. I ended up swapping the artwork out for the Coffee and Tea canvas prints. I am telling y'all, command hooks are the best invention ever!


This weekend the hardware goes in, the paint gets touched up and fingers crossed the center light fixture will be installed.

Oh Yeah, I almost forgot to mention but I am working on my DIY art project and it is sooo cute! It involves scrapbook paper and modge-podge. Here is a sneak peek of the patterns/ colors.


What are you working on?

To see the original list  click here 

• REPAIR THE EXTERIOR WALL FROM INSTALLING A SMALLER WINDOW--IN PROGRESS On hold due to budget and weather. This is now moved to Spring.
• Install sink (part of the counter top fabrication) DONE!!
• Plumbing! DONE!!
• Install garbage disposal DONE!!
• Paint and install the new entry door On hold due to weather. This is now moved to Spring.
• Purchase door hardware--DONE!!
• Install door hardware, including kick plate On hold due to weather. This is now moved to Spring.
• Add a peephole to the door since it is windowless On hold due to weather. This is now moved to Spring.
• Trim work (doors, the window, baseboards, crown molding and cabinet toe molding)
• Purchase  additional tile for back splash--expanded project (aka scope creep), now need to tile sink aside and food prep/ cook side On hold due to budget
• Purchase shelves for open shelving storage between wall cabinet and pantry, as well as, above the sink. DONE!
• Install tile back splash On hold 
• Install shelves DONE!
• Install the refrigerator DONE!
• Install the stove DONE!
• Purchase end panel for dishwasher installation--DONE!!
• Purchase and install a dishwasher--DONE!
• Purchase and install cabinet hardware--IN PROGRESS
• Purchase ceiling medallion--DONE!
• Install the ceiling medallion and chandelier
• Decide on window treatment--DONE!!
• Order and SEW fabric for window valance/ curtains/ shade--IN PROGRESS
• Paint  mobile island/ cart and purchase/ DIY 1 or 2 kitchen stools Sadly there will be no island or bar stools due to space constraints
• DIY some wall art --IN PROGRESS
• Accessorize--IN PROGRESS
• Cook, bake and ENJOY the finished kitchen!

Now you're cooking!

Well actually, I am cooking with electric, not gas. That is ok because NO MORE single burner hotplate!

When I posted the last update on the kitchen remodel- I was waiting on the hubbs to install the stove.  I wasn't home when the hubbs drilled through my floor and ran the line for the stove. My daughter harassed me into going shopping. I am pretty sure this was a diversionary tactic to control my neurotic impulses regarding this project. Either that or the hubbs bribed the kid to keep me away from making him crazy, haha!

There is hole in my new vinyl flooring...sniffle

The hubbs scrubbed the stove inside and out for me prior to moving it back in the house. Hello, my old friend how I have missed you...

Would it be weird if I hugged my stove?

My stove is  oooollldddd!  It was used when it became "new to us" 5 years ago. Based on the serial number/ id plate it was manufactured in 1998.  We know we need to update it sooner vs. later because the storage drawer is rusting out, the enamel is chipped in a few spots  and definitely shows it's age. Fortunately I have the hubbs to replace oven elements, terminal blocks, and stovetop burners to keep it going.

As you can see there is a black and white appliance mish mash. While I am not overly fond of it, the overall effect isn't horrible.

When the microwave needs to be replaced it will be changed to white. Also when we upgrade the stove, fridge and dishwasher those will be white as well. I know, I know--I am probably one of only a  handful of people that doesn't like stainless steel appliances. But I do like-no-LOVE the Whirlpool Ice Collection, which is white with stainless steel accents/ handles. Seeexxxyyy!

This is what I hope to upgrade to by the end of 2015.

Whirlpool White Ice Collection

Still moving forward and checking items off the list. How about you? Do you have any lists you are slowly checking items off?

To see the original list  click here 

• REPAIR THE EXTERIOR WALL FROM INSTALLING A SMALLER WINDOW--IN PROGRESS On hold due to budget and weather. This is now moved to Spring.
• Install sink (part of the counter top fabrication) DONE!!
• Plumbing! DONE!!
• Install garbage disposal DONE!!
• Paint and install the new entry door On hold due to weather. This is now moved to Spring.
• Purchase door hardware--DONE!!
• Install door hardware, including kick plate On hold due to weather. This is now moved to Spring.
• Add a peephole to the door since it is windowless On hold due to weather. This is now moved to Spring.
• Trim work (doors, the window, baseboards, crown molding and cabinet toe molding)
• Purchase  additional tile for back splash--expanded project (aka scope creep), now need to tile sink aside and food prep/ cook side On hold due to budget
• Purchase shelves for open shelving storage between wall cabinet and pantry, as well as, above the sink. DONE!
• Install tile back splash On hold 
• Install shelves
• Install the refrigerator DONE!
• Install the stove DONE!
• Purchase end panel for dishwasher installation--DONE!!
• Purchase and install a dishwasher--DONE!
• Purchase and install cabinet hardware--IN PROGRESS
• Purchase ceiling medallion--DONE!
• Install the ceiling medallion and chandelier
• Decide on window treatment--DONE!!
• Order and SEW fabric for window valance/ curtains/ shade--IN PROGRESS
• Paint  mobile island/ cart and purchase/ DIY 1 or 2 kitchen stools Sadly there will be no island or bar stools due to space constraints
• DIY some wall art
• Accessorize
• Cook, bake and ENJOY the finished kitchen!

450 days

That is the sum total of days between the beginning of the kitchen remodel to the point at which my kitchen was functional (although not completely finished). I wanted to finish EVERYTHING and post all the pretty, shiny pictures. Guess what? It is not gonna happen. We still need to install the baseboard and crown molding but it can wait. We need to install the fancy light fixture but it can wait. We need to tile the back splash but it too can wait along with all the other little projects on the list. Why? Because y'all I am just plumb tuckered out.


All these other projects can be managed with me having a functional kitchen. For now, we ran a bead of caulk around the back edge of the counters. I have a few tiny places to fix on the walls from scuffs and gouges due to the counter top install. The hubbs asked me what I wanted hooked up first. The stove or the sink?  I said sink. I am sick of washing dishes in the bathtub.  

 We--and by we, I mean the hubbs-- had to do a little revised plumbing work to move the drain, as well as, extend the lines for the sink and dishwasher. Why? Because of the "false wall" behind the sink. The false wall was the only way to have the walls to be true to square, level and plumb in order to install the cabinetry. I am so thankful he knows how to do this type of work. Eventually an additional water line will ran when we upgrade our fridge (for the ice maker), The nice thing is the access is relatively easy from the cellar/ dungeon/basement stairs. Well easy for the hubbs because I am certainly not spending anytime in that space...shudders...

He has to demolish some plaster and lathe to make room for the new pipes. The plumbing came through the floor previously. The hubbs extended the pipes, came up and through the wall.

Making the pilots holes for the water lines and shut off valves. There are 3 shuts off valves for the kitchen sink. 1 for each water line (cold and hot) then the main line under the floor. 

Fitting the pipe

The bigger hole around the pipe will be covered with a spring clasp escutcheons. Um yeah, I was a scientist and I can't pronounce that. I think it may also be called a smitty plate. THAT I can pronounce.  Depending on the diameter and metal these vary in price from $2-$6 each.

I was freaking out the entire time he was soldering. I was worried he was going to catch something on fire. I may have been a tad annoying as I stood by with the fire extinguisher at the ready...

All I can say is the flux and soldering stinks!

What a mess!

I am not sure if anyone recalls the original post when I selected the sink but it is acrylic. It is 10 inches deep, which is deep enough for canning pots. My favorite moment is having the sink (and dishwasher). Having running water in the kitchen. Having all (well most all--still not sure where few totes of stuff stored in the garage are in that mess) of my stuff in the kitchen. Having the ease  and CONVENIENCE of everything at hand. It is truly a relief. I am still really bummed about the whole missing cabinet fiasco, which you can read about here.  I will say my sink didn't look quite so big in the store. It looks positively ginormous installed. This is further illustrated by the whopping 3 inches of counter space on the right side of sink (where the fridge will be installed). siiigghh. 

Snafu's aside, running water is a beautiful thing!

At least there is plenty of counter space to the left, which now houses the dishwasher. So no more washing the dishes in the tub or even the sink. I haven't had a dishwasher for at least 10 years or more! All I know is the dishwasher is gonna get a workout for days to come as I unpack and wash all the dishes in storage from the last 450 days. The best part is this dishwasher was FREE! Yep-- you read that correctly-FREE!! A friend of a friend was upgrading from this 2012 model. It was all black but the hubbs swapped the  black panel for a white panel from an old dishwasher his work was going to scrap. While I am not overly fond of the black/white look of the dishwasher it does match my stove which is also black/white and of course my white refrigerator. So until we have the money to upgrade this will be perfectly fine.

We moved the fridge tonight.  The kitchen suddenly feels much smaller now. Ignore the mess, I haven't had time to pretty things up.

We left room for a future upgrade to a counter depth french door refrigerator. So SOMEDAY it will look like this

My cabinets ARE level, I just took a crappy picture--sorry!

The  stove will be installed later this weekend. The hubbs still needs to drill a hole in the floor (which makes me cringe thinking about deliberately cutting the vinyl floor) and pull the line through to hook to a new 220 plug.

So there you have it. My almost finished--but functional--kitchen. I know it seems almost anti-climatic given the all the issues. There will be more posts about the kitchen as we finish the list (see below).  Phew, almost there!

To see the original list  click here 

• REPAIR THE EXTERIOR WALL FROM INSTALLING A SMALLER WINDOW--IN PROGRESS On hold due to budget and weather. This is now moved to Spring.
• Install sink (part of the counter top fabrication) DONE!!
• Plumbing! DONE!!
• Install garbage disposal DONE!!
• Paint and install the new entry door On hold due to weather. This is now moved to Spring.
• Purchase door hardware--DONE!!
• Install door hardware, including kick plate On hold due to weather. This is now moved to Spring.
• Add a peephole to the door since it is windowless On hold due to weather. This is now moved to Spring.
• Trim work (doors, the window, baseboards, crown molding and cabinet toe molding)
• Purchase  additional tile for back splash--expanded project (aka scope creep), now need to tile sink aside and food prep/ cook side On hold due to budget
• Purchase shelves for open shelving storage between wall cabinet and pantry, as well as, above the sink. DONE!
• Install tile back splash On hold 
• Install shelves
• Install the refrigerator DONE!
• Install the stove
• Purchase end panel for dishwasher installation--DONE!!
• Purchase and install a dishwasher--DONE!
• Purchase and install cabinet hardware--IN PROGRESS
• Purchase ceiling medallion--DONE!
• Install the ceiling medallion and chandelier
• Decide on window treatment--DONE!!
• Order and SEW fabric for window valance/ curtains/ shade--IN PROGRESS
• Paint  mobile island/ cart and purchase/ DIY 1 or 2 kitchen stools Sadly there will be no island or stools due to space constraints
• DIY some wall art
• Accessorize
• Cook, bake and ENJOY the finished kitchen!