Electrical Work - December 31

220, 221...whatever it takes.  (Mr. Mom reference for those of you old enough to remember the movie).

The day started bright and early, well at least early, with the Bagster people showing up at around 7 to get our bagster-o-kitchen-wall debris.  Exciting stuff!  Of course I took pictures 'cause it is machinery and 'cause it's cool.

Just that simple!

The electrical rerouting work went great as did running a new line for the pendant lights over the peninsula.  We've got one tricky dimmer switch for said pendants that is giving us a challenge but I am confident that we'll get it (and by we I mean my Dad).

 Where the beautiful pendants will go 

New junction boxes and a new outlet and the spot for the dimmer switch.

Doesn't look like much but we actually made more good progress today! One is wise to go very slowly and cautiously when one is dealing with electrical stuff.  Oh, and make sure the power is off.  :-)

Chris also dug up about 4 million ferns so the Gas Dudes will have an easier time of it on Thursday.  My Mom finished planning the configuration of the wall oven /microwave cabinet - that is the next project after the Holiday tomorrow, and then Gas Dudes the next day!

Happy New Year everyone!!!

Plumbing Day - December 30

Another busy day but it doesn't feel as accomplished as days past...I guess once you've torn out walls and seen huge progress very quickly, the smaller stuff seems so slow...

We did get a lot done today - we had to reroute some plumbing that had previously been in the soffit.  That was interesting but we're proud to report that there are no leaks on the very first try.  Of course, we had a very good coach along the way (thanks Dad!).

Here are a couple of pics of the massive amount of plumbing we did (I kid about the 'massive' part but it did involve THREE 90 degree couplers!).  Before:

After:

 We also had to notch out some wood to let the PVC rest inside the notch so the new drywall will be flush, seen here:

Pretty exciting stuff, eh?  While that was going on, the first step of the gas installation happened, too.  We are having gas run for our fireplace (thank you Baby Jesus!) and our new cooktop (no more electric range!!!).  One of the gas lines has to get across the pavered pool deck, so the Paver Guy came today and pulled up a line of pavers so the Gas Guys have a channel to run the line through (under all that sand, of course).

Yeah, right out the back door.  That'll help keep the dust and dirt to a minimum.  :-)

Tomorrow is electrical work, which is mostly moving existing outlets.  We are running a new line for the pendant lights that will be over the "peninsula" (get it?), and so have done a test run tonight so my Mom can help us get them spaced right tomorrow...(these are plastic cups and garden twine, not the real lights - though they're close!)

We actually did this next part yesterday...You may have noticed writing on the studs in the plumbing pictures.  A friend told me about the idea of writing "Blessings" on the studs of your home before drywall happens, and I just loved that.  So, we collected a few favorite poems (old and new favorites), and some Scriptures, and a few sports references, and those are now going to be part of our home forever (written on studs and the exposed backside of drywall that will be covered soon).  Here's a sampling:

Blessings, indeed!! 

Demo Day 2 - December 28

Boy are we having fun!!!  And boy are we tired, especially he who has been using brute force and cutting over his head for two days!  Tomorrow we rest - aka the Jaguars are playing so we must watch.

Today's accomplishments include tile removal around the fireplace (new tile there will be the same as new backsplash tile).  Here's the before:

These pitiful tiles were some awful beige color when we moved in and at some point a  million years ago, I stenciled these fabulous flowers on them.  Served us well, but time to go!  So my mom and dad removed them today (apparently the people who built this house did not intend for these tiles to be removed EVER)...

Progress in the kitchen as seen below...

The soffits are completely gone except one little piece holding the light over the sink!  It is already amazing to see the difference even if we're looking at insulation, studs, and electrical lines...ah, but it is progress!

Chris had lots of supervision today, besides me standing around being bossy (I can see all of your shocked faces).

Grand and Pap and the Dooze all got the hang of supervising today.


Full Bagster in the garage to be picked up next week, no soffits in the kitchen, only a little bloodshed among the workers, we're on time and under budget.  All good things!!!

Demo Day 1 - December 27

You know it is going to be a good day when some of your first activities involve acquiring a sledge hammer and a crowbar.

My parents came out this morning to help us, and we are thankful that they did.  As the Founders of the Suddenly Corporation, they have a wealth of experience and knowledge and spent the whole day with us taking down cabinets and beginning the long awaited and VERY exciting demolition!  

For your viewing pleasure:

 

Boxing Day - December 26

Wow!  We have a lot of stuff packed into this teeny little house, and we got to spend the day after Christmas packing all of it from the front part of the house preparing for the big project.  So, our kitchen now lives in our garage, all of my books are in boxes in the guest bedroom, and all of the vases and other 'treasures' are in boxes in the office.  Not sure what we'll do with the furniture when it is new floors time, but we'll get to that later.

So, to remind you - here's the crazy from before Boxing Day:

See what I mean?  Lots and lots of stuff.

Now, for pics after Boxing Day!

It might have been easier to move.  But, on to Demo Day!  Whee!

 
 

Welcome!

Welcome to our blog about the Big Kitchen Reno!

I decided to create this so that those that I love who are too far away to participate in real time can keep up with progress via the interwebs. You know who you are! 

You all know the back story so I will only add this preface to the rest of the blog: Suddenly Construction is bringing their A Game to this project!!!