It's Finished!

After a month of procrastination on the painting, the kitchen is finally complete! I had a day off work this past week and decided enough was enough, I need to paint it and be done. So I did. I had a friend help me that day and we finished the painting in no time at all. So now it is finished and looks so much better. Below are some of the pictures of the final product.

Everything Works Now

I'm a few days behind in posting this, but it's been rather busy lately. I do now have a fully functional kitchen though.

After going back and forth with Lowes on who would do the plumbing work, I finally had a friend of mine hook up the kitchen faucet and garbage disposal and all the plumbing. It didn't take him very long, and with a couple hours of work it was installed and working. I've even used the stove (to heat up a pizza, but it still counts) and the microwave (for popcorn of course). The only thing I haven't used yet is the dishwasher, only because I haven't had a chance to get any dishes dirty yet.

Now there only remains a couple of things to complete the project. I have to decide on paint colors so I can paint the walls. It looks a little goofy right now with the different colored drywall and patches, and the ceiling needs painted too.

But the end is near. I just need to figure out what color to paint and then find the time to do the painting. The second part of that may be the tougher of the two.

Two Giant Leaps

Well, the last two big parts of the kitchen remake took place over the last couple of days. On Wednesday and Thursday of last week the floor was installed, and today, the countertops were installed. Almost done.

The floor was a two-day process. The first day they laid the tile flooring and got it stuck down. They worked while I was at work, so I came home to find a floor with tile down and all the little plastic spaces in between each tile. It looked sort of funny actually. Thursday they came back and added all the grout to the tile and put the new stove and dishwasher in place and installed. It was a fairly quick process watching them work on the grout. Nothing felt better than watching the stove go into place though. The replacement for 'ol yeller was finally there and in place and in working order. Of course I refuse to use it until the whole kitchen is 100% done. Partly out of wanting it to be done first, and partly because I still have no sink, so if I did use the stove and cooked, I couldn't clean anything up.

This morning, the marble company came and installed the granite countertops. It was two guys, both fairy strong looking, and they struggled to get the two bigger pieces in there. They were pretty heavy. They got them in there and got the dishwasher secured and everything and only took them a little over an hour and a half. It was a lot quicker than I thought it would take, but the countertops are on and the sink is in.

I did hit one stumbling block though with the faucet/garbage disposal/plumbing. I know I had talked about doing that part myself to save money (or more appropriately, having someone I know do it for me), but I thought I decided to just have Lowes take care of the whole thing to make it easier. The contractors talked the whole time about how the countertop people would do that, but when those guys were here this morning they said they never do the plumbing stuff. So I called Lowes and they said it wasn't in the original contact or payment for the job. I looked at my copy of everything and they were right, there's nothing in there about kitchen plumbing installation. So I guess I may have goofed there. I'm going to look into it more because I was certain I decided to have them do it, but I guess it got left out of the work order somehow.

Anyway, what I thought was going to be a fully completed kitchen today after the countertop installation is not quite complete. I talked to a friend of mine's dad this afternoon and he said he could stop by Tuesday or Wednesday to hook up that plumbing stuff for me, which will be great. I'm sure he won't charge me the $350-$400 that Lowes would have charged.

So it's almost over. The long journey is coming to an end. I thought it would never come. And then I realized today I still have a major hurdle left, even after the plumbing gets taken care of. I have to paint the walls. Which opens up a whole lot of other problems in trying to decide which color to paint it. This could be a long drawn out issue because: 1) I'm so particular, and 2) I am the worst color coordinator in the world. Just ask my sister.

Oh, and here's an update on the eating list: Tues 7/13 - Wendys, Wed 7/14 - Macaroni Grill, Fri 7/16 - Red Lobster, Sat 7/17 - Steak 'N Shake, Mon 7/19 - Max&Ermas, Sat 7/24 - Dominos, Sun 7/25 - 54th Street Grill/Dairy Queen (dessert only), Wed 7/28 - Little Ceasers, Thud 7/29 - Longhorn Steakhouse (treated a friend to dinner on her birthday), Fri 7/30 - Steak 'N Shake, Sat 7/31 - Penn Station, Tues 8/3 - Penn Station (again), Wed 8/4 - Racanellis Pizza, Thur 8/5 - Red Robin (Yummm), Sat 8/7 - Milo's, Tues 8/10 - Red Lobster for friend's b-day, Wed 8/11 - Houlihans, Fri 8/13 - Mr. Goodcents, Sat 8/14 - Bandana's BBQ, Sun 8/15 - Pasta House.

Everything is... the Same

Nothing new to report on the kitchen progress. I'm still waiting for them to come do some more work on the whole thing. Wednesday the 11th is still the date set for coming to start work on the flooring install, which will likely be a two day process. Once that's in, the stove and dishwasher should be installed as well. Hopefully I can talk them into helping get the fridge moved back into the kitchen as well. I had to move it out myself, which was not easy. With the new floor, I'd prefer a couple people to get it moved back so it doesn't scratch the floor.

I did play with the new drawers and cabinets and one of their upgrades I got for them. It's so cool. You don't have to shut them all the way. You push either the drawers or cabinet doors to shut them, and after they get so close, they close themselves. It's so cool. you don't have to worry about them getting slammed shut or anything, they just gently glide shut.

In the meantime, I continue to sit and wait. Which includes more eating out. I've added a few more restaurants to the list too, including another duplicate. I ate at Penn Station for a second time, but this time it was paid for by someone else as payment for helping them move.

Current Restaurant Tally: Tues 7/13 - Wendys, Wed 7/14 - Macaroni Grill, Fri 7/16 - Red Lobster, Sat 7/17 - Steak 'N Shake, Mon 7/19 - Max&Ermas, Sat 7/24 - Dominos, Sun 7/25 - 54th Street Grill/Dairy Queen (dessert only), Wed 7/28 - Little Ceasers, Thud 7/29 - Longhorn Steakhouse (treated a friend to dinner on her birthday), Fri 7/30 - Steak 'N Shake, Sat 7/31 - Penn Station, Tues 8/3 - Penn Station (again), Wed 8/4 - Racanellis Pizza (for a date - woohoo!), Thur 8/5 - Red Robin (Yummm), Sat 8/7 - Milo's (2nd date - woohoo again). And since I know the plans for this week - Tues will be Red Lobster for a friends b'day, and Wed with be to be determined for a 3rd date - woohoo again.

Three Steps Back

As quick as things seemed to be going with the kitchen, they suddenly came to a screeching halt. After the electrical work and delivery of the flooring supplies, I was ready for things to get hopping. Not so much.

For some reason, I thought the installers were coming on Friday, which was my day off, to install the flooring. Not sure why that was in my head, but since I lost my pocket calendar where everything was written down, I couldn't be certain when I thought they were coming. After they didn't show up, I called and left a message to double check on the scheduling of the work. The contractor called back and after looking at his schedule, said he would be there to install the flooring on August 11 and August 12, which is another couple of weeks away. Of course, the stove and dishwasher can't be installed until after the floor is done either. So it's just more waiting.

At least the date is set to have the countertop measured. Someone from that company comes out on Monday morning to get all the exact measurements so they can cut the countertop. Now, after initial talks with that company, they were set to come out and install the countertop on August 12. With the contractors doing the floor that day, there's no way they can both be in there at the same time. So I asked about moving the countertop install to a different date. Of course, there was no way they could do it sooner, they were too booked. Earliest they could do it was the following Monday, August 16, so I booked that date. Since the sink will come with and be installed with the countertop, I will continue to be with no kitchen until at least then. I'm also hoping they can install the countertop quickly since I close at work that night.

So I guess you could say the patience is starting to run a little thin. More out of anticipation than anything, but a little frustration as well. It just seems odd that they can come and work on it, and in a four to five hour work day, get the drywall up and install all the cabinets, then go weeks without touching it. If so much can get done that quick, why not come back sooner and get it totally done and out of the way. Obviously they have other jobs going on, but the large gaps in doing the work on mine is a little annoying.

There is another matter I need to figure out as well, but I'm not sure I can do that until everything else is done. I need to figure out paint colors for the walls. A friend suggested doing that early in the process, before they put up the cabinets. He said it would be easier to paint without anything in the way, which is true, but I'm not sure I could decide on a color until I had the cabinets, countertop and floor all in to match the colors better and see what looks best. So that will have to wait for now.

So now it's just more sitting and waiting until Monday, when they come to measure for the countertops. I did break one of my goals though. I ate out at the same place more than once now. I know, I know, I was going to try and not do that, but it just didn't work out that way. On Friday night, I ate at Steak 'N Shake for the a second time during the process. It was quick, easy and cheap, and a friend I was meeting there didn't have a lot of time, so we met there. I'm sure I'll hit up some of the other restaurants more than once too, especially since I've got at least another two and half weeks before its done.

Current Restaurant Tally: Tues 7/13 - Wendys, Wed 7/14 - Macaroni Grill, Fri 7/16 - Red Lobster, Sat 7/17 - Steak 'N Shake, Mon 7/19 - Max&Ermas, Sat 7/24 - Dominos, Sun 7/25 - 54th Street Grill/Dairy Queen (dessert only), Wed 7/28 - Little Ceasers, Thud 7/29 - Longhorn Steakhouse (treated a friend to dinner on her birthday), Fri 7/30 - Steak 'N Shake, Sat 7/31 - Penn Station

Two Steps Forward

First thing this morning the electrician showed up to finish work on the all the kitchen electrical work. It took a couple hours and he got everything hooked up and ready to go for power. While he was here, Lowes delivered all the tiles, grout and supplies needed for the floor work.

The electrician liked to talk to himself as I soon found out. Initially I couldn't tell if he was talking to me or to himself, which made it a bit odd at first. I was a little nervous at one point when he was reading instructions on the GFCI outlets, thinking as an electrician he should know that, but who knows, he could have been reading something else.

He got all the wall outlets done, and hooked up an outlet under the sink for the dishwasher and garbage disposal to plug into. The stove outlet got all hooked up and secured and ready to go as well. He also had to hook up the power to the microwave. He had a little trouble with that but got it done as well. He got the two lights hooked up as well. There is one under the cabinets above where the sink is going to go. That was a change I made from the way it was. Previously there was an old, ugly looking light on the ceiling above the sink area. I had them take that out totally, and instead had a light hooked up and hidden underneath the cabinets.

The other light is the ceiling light. It wasn't originally in the plans to have them switch that out, to be honest I had actually forgotten about it. I had bought a new light and just left it sitting in the kitchen for him to see and hopefully change out. As he was finishing up today, he said he noticed the light and said he didn't think it was on the original job description to include that. I played stupid, hoping for the best, and said I didn't remember if we talked about it or not. He said he could go ahead and do it assuming there were no complications. Thankfully there weren't and he changed them out in about five minutes time, and looks so much better.

The tile and other flooring supplies were delivered as well, and by the same guys from Lowes who delivered the stove, dishwasher and microwave. As we were talking we both wondered why they didn't have him deliver all the tile and flooring supplies at the same time he delivered the appliances, which would have saved them an extra trip. But I guess they have their reasons. And now my room that was just emptied of my cabinets now has the flooring supplies stacked up and filling the void. Will that room ever get emptied?

It's All Coming Together Now...

A former boss of mine in Buffalo used to say that all the time, and it's very appropriate in this case. The installation process on the kitchen took place yesterday morning (Friday), and all the cabinets are now installed.

Andy and his assistant, who does have a name but I feel bad because I can't remember, arrived bright and early Friday to start installing the cabinets. They got there a little before 6am, which was great since I closed at work the night before. First up was the new drywall, covering up the holes from the pieces they cut out when tearing out the back splash. It covered up all the electrical work/wiring that was done as well.

Then it was time for the cabinets. I wish I could say I was amazed to watch them put the cabinets in so quickly, but going off about three or four hours sleep, I was half out of it during the whole process. They did work quickly though, and made a whole lot of noise.

I have to say it's amazing to see how much different it looks already, even though the cabinets are the only thing installed. I guess having real kitchen cabinets as opposed to the cheap crap that used to be up there makes a big difference. The microwave was the lone appliance to be installed for obvious reasons. It's not working yet, but I've still go the old one to use for now.

They were very precise in doing the work too. I could hear them talking to each other and you could tell by the conversation that they were being very anal about making sure everything was measured up right, installed right, and fit together right. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, I mean it is their job after all. But how many times do we see someone doing their job but knowing they don't really care and are just going through the motions. Obviously its different because I was here, but you could still tell they were being so precise because that's just the way they do it. They were also very thorough in cleaning up when they were done. Again, being very particular and wanting it to be done just right.

Now its moving on to the next couple of steps. One is the electrician. He has to come back out and hook all the wiring up so its live and ready. That includes hooking up the microwave, getting the outlet for the stove up and ready, get in the wiring for the dishwasher and microwave live and ready, and get all the wall outlets hooked up.

The other step is the countertop. They had to wait for the cabinets to be installed before measuring to get an exact fit on the countertop, so now that appointment has been scheduled. Unfortunately, that company couldn't get out here until August 2 to measure, and then set up a date of August 12 to install the cabinets. That means no sink until at least August 12, which means probably no cooking until then either. More eating out - oh joy!

After sitting on the couch through much of the work on the kitchen, the cat finally got spooked by all the work. With all the drilling, and hammering, and cutting going on, he hid in my bedroom around the corner of the bed and barely moved until they left.

Tonight I finally caved in to pizza for eating out. I was holding back because its so easy to do the pizza thing by yourself - and they deliver.
Here's a rundown: Tues 7/13 - Wendys, Wed 7/14 - Macaroni Grill, Fri 7/16 - Red Lobster, Sat 7/17 - Steak 'N Shake, Mon 7/19 - Max&Ermas, 7/24 - Dominos.