The Kitchen is almost complete

Our kitchen is almost complete.  We have a couple of small details that need to be completed, but we have moved back in to the kitchen and used all the appliances.  I love it!  But everything looks so nice I almost hate to use it.

The island butch block top

Looking to the east

The dining room wall with ovens, refrigerator and microwave

The south wall with cook top and hood

Kitchen remodel up to August 28

Looking across the island to the oven/refrigerator wall

We have made slow but steady progress on the kitchen. We had to wait until the cabinets were installed for the granite to be measured and then it had to be manufactured, so that was a slow step. The granite was custom cut for the sink, so I got a sink at the same time the counters were installed. The plumber hooked up the sink and dishwasher at the same time, but the electrician hasn't finished the wiring yet. We also had a recirculating pump installed, so we have hot water faster in the kitchen now.

A dark picture of the sink

My copper hood is up, but not vented yet. It will have a a copper stovepipe to the ceiling. The cooktop has been installed just under the hood. The far right is bookcase where we will put the phone and TV/computer.
We were waiting until the counter tops had been fabricated to decide what we would do for a back splash. The counter fabricator was pretty sure that we would need three slabs of granite, so we planned on using the remaining granite on the third slab as a back splash. On Monday of this week we found out that we only needed two granite slabs, so I had to scramble this week to pick out and order a back splash. I was waiting until the granite was in place to make some final design choices. We have a pretty bold granite pattern with a lot of colors.

Kitchen Remodel Week 2 July 28-August 3

Most of the week was texture and painting. This may not be the final paint color. It is Yosemite Sand, the color we used in the rest of the house. We haven't really come to a decision about what we will do for a backsplash, but they wanted the paint on before they start with the cabinets and they needed a color immediately. It is not atomic tangerine, but it will do until we get the counters in and make a decision about the backsplash. The wood floor is installed, but will need to be sanded, stained and sealed at a later point.

We opted for a wooden floor vent. Be warned that it is not as sturdy as a metal vent and it could break. We got this warning repeatedly from the installers, but it is still their preferred vent.

This is a view of the dining room wall of the kitchen. The tongue of wood is where the refrigerator will go. Double ovens will go to the left of the refrigerator. Cabinets and a microwave shelf will be on the right.

The refrigerator is conveniently located in the dining room along with ALL of our dining furniture. There isn't really room to eat in there, so we eat at the picnic table in the back yard. Very civilized.




The pantry kitchen is small but efficient. We are fully equipped to make cookie dough. Apparently there is no real need to cook it.














Our temporary "kitchen" sink. We wash in the bucket, rinse in the sink, and dry on the rack. It motivates us to minimize the number of dishes used. Who needs a dishwasher?

Kitchen remodel week 1 July 20-27

Our kitchen model has begun. The crew arrived and with amazing efficiency the old cabinets were on their way out the door within an hour. It is going to take a little longer to get the new cabinets in.

Destruction!

You can see the outline in the floor where the penninsula used to be.

New can lights in the ceiling to replace the old flourescent fixture.

New wiring, you can see the old air conditioning ducts dangling from the ceiling.

The downdraft from the cooktop is still in the middle of the floor.

If you look out the window you can see the new birdfeeder Calvin made.

Sheet rock up and taped.


They put plastic up to keep the dust in the kitchen, but that didn't quite work, so they put in a temporary door.

A few more pictures of Clare

Getting ready to hear her first story book.

Clare is almost sucking her thumb, but if you look closely you can see that her thumb is tucked under and she is actually going for her fist.

Clare Octavia Bordelon

Clare doesn't open her eyes very often, so sorry Sarah that this isn't yor best picture, but Clare is adorable. I know you can't determine eye color at two days, but I'm betting on brown.

The Bordelon family June 29, 2011. They all look happier in the middle of the afternoon. I hear Clare likes to stay up late. Sarah let me take her picture before she had a chance to shower. She looks great for 1 day post surgery.

Calvin's bike ride from Newport Beach to Albuquerque

Dipping his wheel in the Pacific Ocean

A typical road day

Climbing up to Flagstaff

Standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona