All about that base

...cabinet. But I am a big girl and can appreciate all the right junk in all the right places. As long as it is neatly organized and color coded, hehe.  

Now I now y'all were singing and dancing to this song--don't even try to deny it!

So yup, we finally made it the base cabinet installation. Sorta. We have the cabinets temporarily in place and found a couple issues. Of course we did! And by we...I mean me!

What you can't see here is the cabinet on the far left, when the door is open, extends 3-4 inches overlapping the entry door.  This was an easy fix, by simply switching the cabinets. Sorta. By switching them, they no longer match the symmetry of the upper cabinets (i.e 24 then 18 inch left to right) Scroll down to picture #3, to see what I am talking about. 

Entry view. Notice anything?

How about now? Apparently, unbeknownst to me, the cabinets do not include finished toe kicks. So that is a small extra cost to purchase the toe kick molding.

Notice anything else?  We have a 6 inch gap which will be on the right side of the stove.

 Unfortunately this line of cabinets does NOT include 6 inch base cabinets. DOH!! What to do? I have 6 options...

1. I have reached out to the manufacturer because maybe--just maybe--I can custom order the cabinet or at the very least, order the door before we attempt a DIY  match project in option #2. 

2. I found a tutorial on how to build a base cabinet, courtesy of Ana White. So yeah, somebody is gonna be putting their carpentry skills to the test. I can purchase the cabinet skin thats matches my line of cabinets to finish the sides. I have found some doors with a similar profile (WHY oh why didn't I choose flat panel doors?) and I would need to match the paint. Oh joy! 

3. Contact a custom cabinet maker for a build and match.

4. Space either of the cabinets left of the lazy susan to accommodate the filler attached via a hidden piano hinge and a pressure latch. I would still need a base spacer frame.This would be the least amount of construction and would still allow me use of the space for a compact step ladder or baking sheets. Given  time and budget constraints this may very well be the best solution. My only concern would be scratching the the sides of cabinets by not building a full skeleton cabinet and finishing it with the cabinet laminate.

5. Install filler strips between 2 of the cabinets to close the gap. This would be the cheapest and easiest fix, but I can't  stand the the thought of all that wasted space. It is bad enough there is so much wasted space behind the lazy susan cabinet.

6. Build the base spacer and install a pre-built organizer like one offered from Rev-A-Shelf. I could then attach a door to the slide out frame. Again this leads me back to needing a custom door.

Next problem (or two)

I LOST my drawing of the kitchen layout. Yes, somehow I misplaced it and this is what happened... The 2 extra  (12 inch wall and base) cabinets we THOUGHT we didn't need (and already returned) were suppose to go here (As shown by the white rectangles). So now I will have very little counter space on the right hand side of my sink. The bigger problem-as indicated by the red arrow--is a bow in my cabinet. We don't know if the warping happened due to manufacturing process or if this was a cabinet that was in the garage for a year. This is gonna have to come down. It is making me crazy. We can't take the cabinet back because it has holes from securing it to the wall. SO it will be recycled into the laundry room makeover. Maybe both problems can be fixed on this  side somewhat easily--just not cheaply.

So as far as cabinets go--fix the gap, the bow, the missing cabinets issue, shim, level and secure the cabinets. Once these steps are finished the measurements will be taken to order the counter tops. 

1 step forward and 2 steps back. Siiighhh...Things could be worse. I am just so anxious to see the project completed. Anyone else working on some troublesome projects?

Here's my list from my earlier kitchen remodel post with some additions/ modifications

• Finish tearing out the plaster and lathe on the North wall--DONE!!
• Tear out ceiling--DONE!!
• Cut out the wall boards in the sink area to remove mold. It appears to be contained in a few spots. Decided to do a complete tear out--DONE!!
• Patch/ repair the remaining 2 walls. Possibly skim coat. Decided to do a complete tear out
• Build temporary supports for new headers over door and window.--DONE!!
• Cut out a  2 foot by 8 foot floor section (sink area)--DONE!!
• Sister the joist beams and shim where the floor slopes--DONE!!
• Determine if sill plate needs repaired  Damage is minimal-yay!--DONE!!
• Install a floor jack on North-East corner--where the the sill plate is water damaged
• Move the stove outlet from floor to the wall and update to a new receptacle-DONE!!
• Build bump out wall (west wall/ kitchen sink side) to accommodate for out of plumb wall.DONE!!
• Lay a new subfloor--DONE!!
• Replace, update and attach the outlet to a stud on east wall--DONE!!
• Add 1-2 new receptacle(s) to the east wall (window wall)--DONE!!
• Add 1 new receptacle to west wall-DONE!!
• Purchase recessed light housing and trim kits
  

  DONE!!
• Order focal/ center light--DONE!!
• Move center junction box, DONE!!
• Install recessed lights perimeter of the kitchen (3 on each wall) and install dimmer switch. DONE!!
• Install/ wire in electric for stove exhaust hood--DONE!!
• Replace the window--DONE!!
• 
  

  Insulate and seal. Minimize any possible cracks, leaks or vermin/bug/ draft entry points-IN PROGRESS
• Electrician inspection--DONE!!
• Drywall, mud, tape, prime and paint --DONE!!
• REPAIR THE EXTERIOR WALL FROM INSTALLING A SMALLER WINDOW--IN PROGRESS
• Install the linoleum -- DONE!!
• Install plugs and light switches--DONE!!
• Final electric connection to the breaker--DONE!!
• Purchase additional corner cabinet DONE!!
• Install cabinets-- IN PROGRESS
• Figure a solution for the 6 inch gap in run of cabinets (stove side)--IN PROGRESS
• Order remaining counter top (stove side of the kitchen) Order NEW counter tops due to laminate being discontinued--14 days lead time
• Install counter tops
• Plumbing!
• Install sink
• Install garbage disposal
• On demand hot water? Maybe???
• Order and install stove exhaust hood--DONE!!
• Paint and install new door
• Purchase door hardware--DONE!!
• Install door hardware, including kickplate
• Add a peephole to the door since it is windowless
• Trim work (doors, the window, baseboards, crown molding)
• Purchase  tile for backsplash--DONE!!
• Install tile back splash (sink area), considering backsplash installation on stove side?
• Install stove and refrigerator
• Purchase end panel for dishwasher installation--DONE!!
• Purchase and install a dishwasher
• Purchase and install cabinet hardware
• Purchase ceiling medallion
• Install the ceiling medallion and chandelier
• Decide on window treatment
• Order and SEW fabric for window valance/ curtains/ shade
• Paint  mobile island/ cart
• DIY some wall art
• Purchase/ DIY 2 kitchen stools
• Accessorize
• Cook, bake and ENJOY the finished kitchen!

It's Electric!

Well- I for one-am happy to report our kitchen has been electrified! Shocking isn't it? hehe 

As I mentioned in earlier post, the hubbs wired the entire room a few months ago, then we had an inspection by a licensed electrician for safety and compliance purposes.  Now that the walls have been closed up and substantial progress has been made, it was time we finally ponied up the rest of moolah to finish the electrical job. The electrician made the final connections to the panel on Thursday.  Sorry no action shots, I didn't want to get in the way. Mr. electrician added three breakers to the box, expanding the load capacity of the kitchen from one 20 amp and one 15 amp breaker to a grand total of five breakers- two 20 amp and three15 amp breakers. No more  blowing the breakers when using more than one appliance at a time. Especially since I will now have a dishwasher--yay!

The hubbs wiring in the receptacles.

Something else I didn't have before, was a stove exhaust fan. I am using a non-vented with an activated charcoal filter, since we couldn't run the external vent.  This operates at 250 cfm and  4.5 sones at high speed. 250 cfm=250 cubic feet per minute is air volume moved and 4.5 sones is the noise measurement.  This is a moderate noise level.  I went with Broan because they offer a decent product and are actually Broan-Nutone. Interesting fact--Nutone was a Cincinnati based business for about 70 years. Even though they are no longer local, we still like to support them because my mom worked at Nutone when I was a kid.

This is a universal model (meaning non-vent or vented), mid price range, purchased from Lowe's

Let there be light!

The hubbs installed 2 GFI's. One near the sink and one near the stove. We still need to get the cover plates for these--which are less than a dollar apiece. We are still debating whether to add a dimmer switch for the recessed lighting. I also have under the cabinet lights (halogen pucks), which I am going to install once my base cabinets and countertops are installed.

 Although the hubbs did ask me if I was going overboard with the amount of light in the kitchen. Snort-chortle...as if! Apparently he and I have have very different memories of the former kitchen as represented in the following picture.

So that's it for now and to celebrate, let's do the electric boogie (aka electric slide).  Y'all can hate me later for getting this stuck in your brain, haha

Choosing the cabinet hardware

...is like choosing from Baskin Robbins 31 flavors! I am so confused on the type of hardware I want for my cabinets. And now I want ice cream too...

Do I want knobs, handles or bin pulls? All metal in my chosen finish of satin nickel? Glass? Porcelain? A combination of styles and finishes? Then to make the decision process even more difficult you can add knob and handle backplates! Aaaacckkk!

Cabinet hardware is the jewelry of your kitchen,  which means my light fixture must be the tiara. I kinda like that! This is my light fixture from Progress Lighting,

I like the look of these knobs and bin pulls in this example kitchen.

I like these from Hardware House. In nickel, of course.

Or maybe porcelain and nickel?

Glass or Frosted glass (similar to my light fixture)?

Just metal, in drop handle or pull handle? Each of these handles have a corresponding (matching) knob.

Which are your favorites?