Memory Monday

Here's another before and after Memory Monday. It's been driving my mom crazy that I never posted a before and after shot of our kitchen remodel so Mom here you go. :) These pictures are taken from the same spot and I tried to make sure it was close to the same angle. If you want to see a recap of everything we did go here.

BEFORE

AFTER

It is now such a more user friendly kitchen. I can see the kids while I'm in it and I don't feel like I'm in a cave. I love our new kitchen so much that I think I've gained 10 lbs since we finished it because I cook more. Oops!

GRANITE!!!

What's New in Our Kitchen?

Well we have uppers and some doors. YEA!!

And the fireplace is done. Now I need to pick out a paint color for it and we're still working on a mantel and doors for the cabinet boxes on each side.

Quick House Update

Thank goodness it's getting cooler because our computer is in the garage. That's why I haven't been blogging. But since it's now only about 98 in here I'm sweating it out on the computer to update the blog.

Cabinent bases are in. Notice the white insides? They were supposed to be wood. That was only the beginning of our cabinet maker headaches. Seriously, what is wrong with cabinet makers? He's the reason our remodel has come to a COMPLETE stand still!!!!!

Here's the new floor. Remember what the old floor was? BIG improvement!!

To faux or not to faux? That is the question. I wanted to do a poll but I there wasn't enough time. So we fauxed. (Fauxed? Is that a word?)

And that is what happens when Mommy is trying to wear too many hats at one time: mommy, wife, painter, part time contractor, floor specialist, chofer, tutor, maid . . . .etc. Obviously, I need a little more practice at making the mommy part better.

Sorry for all the very boring, only the basics posts but as you can tell our house is a disaster area and right now I'm writing to you on my knees because the chair is being used to hold things on outside.

Anyway, on to the details. All the texturing and drywall is done. YEA!! All the workers so far have been great. My only complaint so far is the drywallers. They were not the nicest, they took the longest because they would show up at 2 or 3 and they left this after texturizing . . .

Not pretty. But they're done so on to better things like painting. Today we got the ceiling painted and the kids got to help prime the walls. :) Stripped down to their undies of course so their clothes don't get painted. Good thing too. You should have seen their hair when they were done. Aren't they great helpers?

Now we just have to choose a wall color. I could seriously use an interior designer about now. Why is it I can come up with great ideas for other places but when I get to do my own house I'm clueless? So I'll take any advice.

More Updates

Our computer cabinet has been wrapped in plastic and taped off so I didn't post updates but here's the latest.

Yesterday we had some issues with the fireplace. It wasn't going to hold a TV even after I told the framers over and over that we would be hanging a TV on that wall. And there was no room for AV equipment. So we had to tear down the newly framed wall and start over.

There, that's better. AV conduits in place and studs to hang the TV nailed in.

Tearing down the beautiful (said sarcastically) popcorn ceiling. (YUCK!)

Fireplace sheetrocked.

Oh, yes and I even got to blow the insulation back into the attic. Why did I have to do that? Well, that's a whole other post in itself.

Then there's the kids and the dog. What do they do while we're hard at work? Well Chloe likes to roll in the plaster.

And the kids dump all the toys all over. Great FUN!

It's Going Fast - (Knock on Wood)

Here's yesterday.

Wall taken down. Big beam (a.k.a. Mr. Beam) added for support in the conventional framed roof.

Fireplace framed in.

Here's Today

Sheetrock went up in the kitchen. Air vents done and electrical all wired.

We're having a small issue with the fireplace though. Even though I told the framers several times that eventually we would put the TV above the fireplace, it seemed that no one stopped to think about where the wires would go and the electrical stuff. So now we're having to hammer out the bricks to make room for that. I'm not so sure that's going to work either. But here's the kids enjoying their new "stage".

We Have Lights!

Here's the newest addition: can lights and most of the electric is done. Air guy comes tomorrow, maybe framers too. :)

One good thing about no kitchen, you can bath the kids and do the dishes all at the same time. Although not the same water. ;) Use the sink for the dishes and the bathtub for the kids.

Chef Cesar

Our kitchen is COMPLETELY torn apart but Papi keeps on cooking.

No updates today. Nothing happened. We had a few people come look so they knew what they would have to do but no work done. :( This is why it's going to take forever!

Time To Update

Remember this?

The work begins.

We are finally doing it! We've been thinking about redoing the kitchen ever since we moved in and it's finally happening. BIG BIG JOB ahead but it has begun.

This was the conversation we heard ALL DAY between the boys.

AJ: "D, how we gonna fix this D?"

DJ: "I dunno. Papi, how we gonna fix this, huh?"
Our kitchen now.

We're also raising the ceiling. Who knew there was so much insulation up there?

I'll post updates.