Moving Along

Things are moving quickly

The cabinets got their first coat of cream paint.  A second coat tomorrow and we will be ready for hinges and hardware!









My new refrigerator and food storage area.  See the narrow area on the left side - that will be my spice cabinet.  How it that for nifty?  And the counter area will be a great place to store the dog and cat treats

There was some drama this week.  They did not have enough of the tile I originally picked for the backsplash at our regular Home Depot so I had to make a choice.  Do we make a trip to a different store or choose something else.  The something else would mean a change in the color palette.  Troy was so patient me as I waffled, bought sheets to try at the house and MORE paint samples.  So now instead of ice rink blue with brown/tan/beige tile we will have -----

Green, brown and beige glass tile backsplash

And the new wall color is called "Sliced Cucumber" - how perfect for a kitchen!  All in all, I think it will be a more "high end" look and match the rest of the house better.  Sometimes having to change the picture leads to a pettier picture. 

Primed and Ready

Anther very busy weekend.  The mission - prime the cabinets cut the beadboard, and do some minor work like filling cracks, building a box for the vent, and putting a top on the cabinets.

Mission accomplished!!

My major task was the cabinets.  And they look fabulous!  The molding we added is just the right touch - still simple but adds a touch of class which those cabinets sorely needed.

Don't they look amzing!! I think so.  They lighten up the kitchen a lot.  And we even got the beadboard up!  Loving the terracotta color I picked out.  Behr Ceramic Glaze.  Now when I open the cabinets I won't see the outdated contact paper.  I did test the final cabinet color and I am very pleased - not too white and not too yellow - a prefect cream. 

A few minor chores during the week.  Some of the cabinet doors need a second coat of primer.  The ledger boards need to be painted terra cotta and maybe some more spackle.  But we are on track to paint the cabinets next weekend and prime the walls.

Only one piece of bad news this week.  We might have to buy a new sink but I'm hoping we can find one at the habitat store.  The frigde cabinet/pantry unit need to be designed yet as well. 

It is finally starting to look like a kitchen again!!  

The great unwashed

The dishes are piling up and progress seems real slow.  We were both pretty crabby this week.  The mess and difficulty in doing even routine things was getting to us both.  But we rallied, after a nice dinner out to celebrate our anniversary.  I can't tell you how much I appreciated eating off a real plate with real silverware and drinking out of a real glass! 

So we set a goal of being ready to prime cabinets on Sunday.  I will confess now that we didn't make it but we got a lot accomplished.

All the cabinets, the drawers and doors are sanded.  I got pretty competant with an orbital sander.  It got the better of me at first but I can handle it like a pro now. 

We built the shelf for the microwave



we saw this pipe idea on a home improvement show

And we got the molding on the cabinets

It makes a big difference I think!  I am happy with the choices and it was pretty cheap - the inside corners were hard because we broke our coping saw blade on another project and didn't have another one.  We were able to borrow an air brad nailer - oh I'm in LOVE with that tool!  Did you know that wood glue feels like Jello mousse?

But I saved the best for last - we decided to put the sink in - temporarily but we now have running water in the kitchen!! And I learned plumbing skills - compression fittings, elbows, p traps and t's

primer and PVC pipe glue - my new go to fragrance - that stuff stinks!

Troy's plumbers putty pretzel

Isn't she beautiful....

just waiting for the great unwashed



 height and distance - the perfect combination - a field goals kickers dream and mine!
Faucet by Moen

And yes the whole job passed the plumbing inspectors watchful eye....



Tidbits

I must confess that we took Sunday off - with the exception of a 2nd coat on the countertops.  We spent the day catching up on other chores and cleaning up a bit.  You can only stand so much mess - and looking like a mess too!

We did get some key things done on Saturday.  He took me to Home Depot!  (Usually I have to stay home because Home Depot is another woman's Victoria's Secret).  We bought the new faucet............

I think this one combines the best of both worlds - a higher profile for pot filling but the extra length of a flat design.

And we picked the cabinet hardware

             

Both by Martha Stewart Living at Home Depot - add some curves to all the straight lines is my thinking.

And I got the door stripped and we put a new handle on it.   

I found a pendant light I liked for over the sink and I got lost in the tile aisle - saw several possible options but I want to look at other stores. 

We will have to do some work during the week in order to stay on schedule.  Our plan is to make a list of what needs to be done before we can begin priming/painting cabinets.

Oh and I may get to go to Home Depot again - to pick out molding for the cabinets! 

The queen of countertops

So I have been dubbed by my diy partner.

I can't believe he had the patience to wait until Thursday to unmold the countertops..

and here they are...

And the cat (meet Izzy aka Creepy Ass Cat) who NEVER got on the old countertops seems to like the new look as well

Sealing concrete countertops is a big mystery - there are a lot of DIY sights that say seal the concrete but never says with what!  The internet to the rescue.  If you are interested in concrete countertops you need to watch this three part video series

Concrete countertops: Sealers

 Btw, that is what I read with breakfast instead of the morning paper! 

We decided to go with a urythane coating and we will put an acrylic on top to add shine.  Last night we did the sealing - AND we instantly got excited about the color!  I am so pleased - the color is rich and dark - just what I wanted and the finished product is organic, rustic and earthy. 

What do you think?

long view

dark chocolate - yum!

Looks like rich leather!!