This is how the kitchen looked the night before Kevin came to start the remodel.  We stayed up late packing everything away.

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First of all, I love my house and I love my kitchen.  However, my husband was not pleased with the way the kitchen has been holding up (or, “falling apart”) since we moved to this house seven years ago.  The cupboards were cracking, some of the doors had already fallen off and he reglued them.  Some of the drawers were missing “stops” so every once in a while someone would pull a drawer completely out, making a big mess.  One of the bigger drawers was stuck shut and no amount of pulling could open it.  While I am not partial to change OR major projects, Rich decided it was time to replace the cupboards and remodel.  He has been the driving force behind this whole experience and I am so thankful that he cares to invest in our “nest”.  We have the finances to do it and are thankful for no borrowing or debt. 

Secondly, this is part one of two major projects.  After the kitchen is done, we are also planning on doing an addition off our current dining table area to a new dining room/corner office/big pantry.  The plans are all drawn up and we hope to get that started in a few weeks.

Rich and I have been making the decisions for the kitchen together, and it’s been fun.  We both loved the look of dark wood for the cabinets, and we chose a nice solid cherry.  We picked out a double oven, decided to put in a second dishwasher, and found a flat top range that is bigger than what we had.  I look forward to cooking many meals (and I may even look forward to cleaning up!) for our big family over the years with a lot more ease in our new kitchen set-up.

At the same time, I feel extremely humbled, and frequently tear up, because really, there is no need for such luxury.  I take it as a gift of love from my husband, which is what it is.

 

Having Kevin working in the house every day was awkward at first but we quickly got used to him, he’s a very nice man and is so patient with us, with Seth especially.  Dear Seth is very inspired and now considers himself A Builder, too.  He wants to help, he wants to participate.  I have to work on keeping him out from under foot. 

I appreciate that Kevin is a neat worker, always sweeping and vacuuming up after himself. 

This is what the kitchen looked like after day 1.  He removed all the cupboards and the half wall.  (there is a big dumpster sitting in the driveway outside) I was thankful to be able to use the sink, oven, and dishwasher for one more day.

 

On the next day, the kitchen and livingroom were filled with boxes of cabinetry.  This was very exciting for the kids. 

 

 

See that very narrow piece in sort of the middle?  *SPICE DRAWER!*  I’m just thrilled as I have wasted so much time in the past, digging around searching for a particular spice for recipes.  I plan on organizing them alphabetically. 

The lower cabinets all have pull out shelves.

 

As you can see, the black stand is moved into the middle of the livingroom.  This is so the electrician can place the cords of the tv behind the wall.  Yes, we are also having other little house projects done at the same time, including a full paint job in the livingroom and kitchen.

 

The silverware is in the livingroom, along with the coffee maker and some dishes.  The master bedroom is full of groceries, kitchen linens, small appliances, and dishes.

I love love love the cabinetry!  I keep going out to open and shut the doors.  (the doors shut silently!  You let go half way and it slowly shuts on it’s own)  And I love that we no longer have that half wall anymore.  Instead, we have a long island.  We chose a wood top for it, and granite for the counters.  We will fit four stools at the island.  Ethan said it will be like a restaurant.  After the new addition is done, the table will no longer be in the room.

I requested bookshelves at the end for my cookbooks.  I started moving them into place!

 

The table and bathroom have become my temporary kitchen.  I laugh as I wash up the dishes in the bathroom sink.  I dump the leftover milky cheerios into the toilet and flush ’em down, then scrub everything up in the itty bitty sink. 

I have the crock pot out and have made soup and hot dogs.  I also heated up leftovers in it.  Crock pots are so handy!

I have the toaster ready and available on a bench by the table, too.

With no oven for the last week, we have been eating lots of deli food (macaroni salad, potato salad), sandwiches, and fruits.  The children have cold cereal and toast each morning for breakfast.  Dinners are a little harder because they are so used to my good hot meals (LOL).  It’s been mainly sandwiches, but we did order pizza last night, to Ethan’s great delight.

 

Washing the crock pot insert in the bathroom sink.  So weird, that I had to take a picture.

 

Today Kevin started painting and is almost done with the kitchen ceiling.  He also put the microwave back into place and ran an extension cord so that we can use it tonight.  My boys will be so thrilled, it’s been such a great experience for them to go without an oven for a week, now they now how good they have it.  I know there is away to make a single serving of scrambled eggs in a coffee mug.  (we need to use up eggs!)

Tomorrow the oven will be set up and the cords to the TV will be in place so I can move that crazy black stand back into place.  Kevin also plans on putting up the crown molding along the top of the cabinets, too.

Things are a little topsy turvy here– and there are definitely moments when I pull my hair out (so to speak) but it has gone well so far.  I am managing a household of nine, with five school children, two of which are in sports, and two preschoolers who are so very busy, but I will never complain, that’s for sure.  This is a girl’s dream come true!  I love my life.

I dream of kitchens lately and I can’t wait to move into mine!