As requested

Before:


After:

Finally...

We haven't done much in the way of reno work since we had the kitchen finished. Yesterday, however, I decided it was time to get something done.

We've had our microwave sitting in a box in the dining area for weeks now. It was sitting there because I had to install a receptacle in the cabinet before I could get the microwave in there. The electrician was supposed to do this, but it seems the electrician we hired was a cursing curse word. I had to do some playing around to get it in there, and it is definitely not to code, but it works and it's safe.

After I got that done, it was time to get the microwave up. First i had to drill a couple holes in the upper cabinet, then some holes in the wall. This was interesting. The microwave requires is mounted with a bracket that screws to the wall, then the microwave slides onto this bracket. The instructions say that when you put the bracket on the wall, it needs at least 2 screws through a stud. Unfortunately, the stud in our wall didn't line up with the holes in the bracket, so I had to go out to Home Depot and pick up a drill bit that would go through metal. I come back, drill the holes, and then realize that the instructions called for 3/8" holes. I had bought a 3/16" drill bit. D'oh! So then I take a look at the screws they provided. These screws were too small for the holes I drilled, so why did the instructions call for even larger holes?? stupid. Anyway, I have metal studs, and no screws that would work in a hole the size I made, so I went BACK to Home Depot, picked up metal screws that were sized right for a 3/16" hole, came back, put them in and it was perfect. The rest of the mounting of the bracket was using 4 toggle bolts in drywall. I then slid the microwave up onto the bracket, screwed bolts into the top through the upper cabinet, and I now have a microwave. Hurray!

It looks nice in the kitchen now. Everything is complete except for the backsplash. It's going to be hard to sell this place when the time comes.

Pictures!

So, Here's what the kitchen looks like now that we have some granite installed. The sink, backsplash and under-cabinet lighting still needs to be installed, but that'll have to wait until we return from Mexico.

Countertops Pt. 2

AS I TYPE, our granite is being installed. It looks super nice.

Countertops

I just got a call from our cabinet maker (who also arranged the counters with a granite company) that the granite guys would like to install the counters on friday this week. That's pretty sweet.

I've got all the appliances where they belong now, so with the countertops coming friday we'll pretty much have everything complete, except the backsplash (which I'll probably do next month) and the drains for the sink.

OMG New cabinets!

Yay, it's all done! and damn does it look good. Here's a picture



And this is the tile we will most likely use for the backsplash:

More cabinets...

So I got home tonight hoping to see a finished kitchen. Instead I saw something else... SAWDUST! On EVERYTHING! Now, I'm not stupid. I figured there's be some sawdust from the cutting that needed to be done. But seriously, the guy could've at least TRIED to cover up some things with the tarp he had.

Colour me annoyed.

Also, it looks like all he did today was the trim pieces... the doors are not installed. WTF! Does it really take THAT long to do the trim? It doesn't even look right... you can see the seams and nail holes, so he had better be filling those in tomorrow when he comes to attach the doors.

It's still a nice kitchen, but I'm annoyed that it's still not finished. I want my home back! I have no room to move around, literally! Right now I'm sitting in bed because I can't use the living room. I have furniture piled on top of furniture just so we could make room for the cabinets to come in.

This weekend will be one hell of a clean-up weekend