Well it's been a really crazy four months, but the kitchen remodel is almost complete!
Here's an update for those who were following my first post about this:
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,75006.msg734537.html#msg734537
This is where we last left it; everything was torn apart and ready for the redo.
We had it torn to open rafters to the attic and to the studs. Re-did the all the electrical (12/2), adding about 8 plugs, 8 can lights, and boxes for pendant lights over the counter and wall sconces on another wall. Insulated the ceiling and added a vapor barrier (before drywall).
Then commenced to do the major change that JoJo has asked for for years. Cut a opening into the family room so JoJo is able to be part of family and friends while working in the kitchen. Inserted a header and various cripples and cut it open.
Sixteen foot drywall on the ceiling as the kitchen is 15 feet long... no horizontal seams and only 2 vertical ones to finish.
Hired out the drywall finishing, then primed and painted.
Decided on cabinets in fast black, from RTA Cabinet Store. RTA stand for "ready to assemble". Yep, you have to build them yourself, but the savings are dramatic. Was $3000 below the next lowest quote! These cabinets are solid 1/2" plywood boxes, with 3/4 shelves, dovetail drawers, full overlay, 3/4" solid maple fronts and doors, and soft close hardware.
Granite counter tops. I ended having common friends with the guy who quoted the price, he knocked $350 off the price. 20% below our next lowest quote.
At first we were going to put in wood flooring, but have now decided on wood-look tile. It is a cherry color, just like the wood floor sample we were originally going to go with.
Went to Philadelphia and picked up the cabinets as to save the $450 shipping cost. Only cost me time and about $150 worth of gas.
Then on to building cabinets. Took about a week to get them all put together.
Ordered our appliances from goedekers.com, an appliance chain in the St. Louis area. They have/had the best prices on appliances with no sales tax and free delivery. We saved over $2000 by going with this online retailer. Took about 2.5 weeks to get everything, but we were in no hurry. We went with a freezer-less refrigerator as I believe too many cubic feet are wasted to store frozen pizzas and ice cream. Will keep that in the big freezer in the laundry room.
Got a good workout moving these appliances around...
Finally got everything dry fitted, leveled, and then attached to the walls. Went with a farm sink. For the plumbing, brought in a plumber that came highly recommended and worked for a very reasonable price. Got all new plumbing/drain run.
Counter tops came in 2 days later and were installed.
23 years of the stress of police work pales in comparison to drilling your brand new cabinets for drawer pulls. Went with Ikea drawer pulls.
I made this template for use with the Ikea pulls which made for very precise placement. All went on without a hitch.
Then onto the refrigerator/pantry wall. There is a heating/AC duct there and I talked to by brother-in-law, who is a retired sheet metal worker. He advised against making the opening smaller as it will choke off airflow. To solve this problem, I built across the entire wall a platform that is just above the metal duct coming out of the wall.
Added a trim kit for for the frig to make it look like a built in. Still need to do a filler in front of the platform for it to look like an entire black wall from floor to ceiling.
That's where we are as of today. Still have to get and install flooring, tile work, and a lot of trim work. Should be done in a few weeks.
..... AND to make this Valkyrie related.... haven't touched the poor Valk since October and have missed some nice riding days here. Oh well, got to git'er done.
