Monday, February 23, 2015

If you can't handle the heat ...

tear out the kitchen!

Some of you may remember that we started demolition of the kitchen way back a couple of weeks before Christmas.   We have finally gotten to the point I'm willing to share pictures of it with the world. Thankfully, our contractor friend was able to get us functional in early January.  The rather long delay is mostly due to my own    v e r y      s l o w      p r o g  r  e  s  s   on the final details (refinishing wood trim, painting, open shelves, etc). 

The kitchen at the time we moved in was barely functional.  The oven did not work at all.  The stove top only had 1 out of 4 burner that worked,  the remaining burners I took to naming; "DOA" (self explanatory), "Frigid" (no way to turn it on and knob ridiculously expensive to replace) and  "BurnMe" (only had 2 settings, "Not quite off" and "Incendiary"). 

Even the microwave, which looked to be a bit newer than the rest of the kitchen decided to join the list of the deceased a couple of months after we moved in a spectacular display of smoke and lights.  Oh how I grew to love my giant, rocket red, Crockpot, but that's a post for another day.

So without further ado, here are the pictures.

BEFORE:








AFTER:

 



We kept the same layout, only swapping the refridgerator and tall cabinet positions, but replaced pretty much everything: cabinets, appliances, lights and flooring. 

These are a few of my favorite things about the new kitchen:

  • everything works!
  • lights, lights and more lights! crucial as this room is literally in the center of the house and only gets natural light from a window onto an enclosed patio
  • more storage (we removed the old soffit and got taller upper cabinets)
  • granite topped seating area with open shelving on previously blank wall
  • electrical upgrade and way more outlets
  • sink large enough to bathe a small child (although I hope those days are over)

Off to make dinner now, Ciao.