home about me our home

Monday, March 3, 2014

My Kithen Update



When I left you last the kitchen re-do had begun. We had all the cupboards emptied out, and  the contractor was coming to do his thing.

Kitchen reno 005 (800x600)

The appliances were removed, the floors were covered and the work began with tearing out the 36 year old tile.

Kitchen reno 010 (800x600)

The tile is all gone and now the underlayment is being removed. I was amazed at how small this made my kitchen look.

Kitchen reno 015 (800x600)
Look Mom, no tops!!

This is where the trouble began……
(insert scary music)
 
With very careful measuring my contractor discovered that my cabinets were off level from one side of the kitchen to the other by 1 3/4inches. That is more than is within industry standards!

Major discussions ensued on how to remedy this problem.

We decided to sleep on it. My hubby, who is super logical, and tends to be a perfectionist when he does a job, and I (who is beyond a perfectionist) discussed the options, and decided to do it right.

Decision was made....all of the cabinets had to come out on the bottom.

Kitchen reno 008 (800x600)

Needless to say, this totally unnerved me! I am not good at the tearing out part. I like the building up, and making pretty part.

Kitchen reno 006 (800x600)

I felt as if my kitchen was undergoing surgery.

The cabinets were all leveled with new frames to sit on.

SIDE STORY:
I am sure some of you might be wondering why we are trying so hard to save the 36 year old cabinets, and why don't we just get new.



You see my sweet Hubby's Dad was a cabinet maker and he built these cabinets, and my Hubby helped him. They are more than just cupboards to us. They are a part of Pop, and a very sweet memory for my hubby.

We both remember being a little nervous to show Pop our cabinets after they were painted, he was a lover of wood and it's beautiful grain patterns.

He told us that he thought this was the prettiest kitchen he had ever seen.

Toward the end of his life he did not even remember he had built our kitchen. He suffered with dementia.

He would grin at us and say, " These cupboards? Nah! I didn't build these." "Really?!" We assured him that yes in fact he did build them.

So you see we have to save them!!! 
Kitchen reno 010 (800x600)

The cabinets were all put back on their new frames, and the plywood underlayment was put in place and the template was made.

When using a slab of natural stone it is imperative that the cabinets are level. You do not want any strain on any part of the stone or you might get an unwanted CRACK!! Horrors!

I am very fortunate that my contractor is quite the perfectionist, and he reads me well. He checks every little detail with me, he never assumes anything.

It is Monday and we are now back on track. We lost a few days and a few dollars, but it was all fixable. Feeling very thankful and relieved today.

Davinci Marble (800x600)
Later today we are going to my contractors shop, and see our slabs again. We will place the template on the stone where we want it to be cut. I think today of all days is really going to make this all seem real to me!!!

Other post about my kitchen redo:
HERE
HERE
HERE
HERE
  
 
 

15 comments:

Nancy said...

i'm so glad you saved the cabinets! its like having a piece of your father in law still with you. :)

Patty Day @Pattys Epiphanies said...

It's great you were able to save the cabinets! I understand their "value"! The slab will look fabulous!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh Kathysue, it is all looking so good and your stone is stunning. I can't wait to see it all done. Hugs, Marty

Stacey said...

I can't wait to see the way your kitchen comes out. My Daddy is a builder of all things house related too. I'd bend over backwards to save anything he built.

Tiffany @ {Living Savvy} said...

I love the sentimet of your kitchen! I would try to save them too! And yes level is so important! You will be so excited when you can really have a visual of the marble and where it's imperfections and amazingness will be! So excited to see the process!

John said...

That's awesome that you saved those cabinets. If Doug and his Dad made them "back then" you know the quality has got to be head and shoulders above any of the crap you'll find at big box stores today. Good for you guys, kudos' Doug!!

stephanie at Stephanie Kraus Designs said...

Such a sweet story about your cabinetry. I too would fight tooth and nail to save those cabinets too. They can never be replaced:)

Anonymous said...

Loved that you saved the cabinets; that's soooo special. Also happy you have a perfectionist contractor; it makes all the difference. When you think about the extra work you went to to get everything perfect remember you won't be redoing your kitchen any time soon like other projects that are annual or even more often. Do it once and love it forever. Jo @ Let's Face the Music

Merlin said...

I could JUST FEEL your emotion...you gotta save it!! Measure twice cut once. GOOD LUCK!! franki

Julie Taylor and Danni Greenwalt said...

Kathy Sue...that is the sweetest thing...I love that story! I cant wait to see your kitchen...I would like to tear down my kitchen...the builder put in the cheapest cabinets...there awful!

Kate Riley said...

It's coming along so beautifully Kathy Sue! I adore the color green on those cabinets, is it different than the one in the little "kitchen that keep on giving" image? So pretty! I'm glad you were able to save them and that marble will be gorgeous!
Kate

Victoria said...

What started out a little scary turned out to be such a lovely story about your husband's Pop and how important it was to save those cabinets. Your father-in-law gave you a loving gift that cannot be bought in any store. How lucky you are.
XO, Victoria

Preppy Empty Nester said...

Yikes! I can hardly wait to see what's in store for me when they start ripping apart my kitchen in this 100 yr old house. Love watching your progress.

vignette design said...

Hi Kathysue,
Wow, I had no idea that uneven cabinets could result in cracking marble. Perhaps that is what happened to my countertop! After all my house is over a 100 years old. It was a very good decision to level your cabinets and not rebuild. Such a sweet story about your father in law. Your kitchen is going to be fabulous. I must say though that it would have unnerved me too to see my kitchen all torn up like that. It's all worth it in the end. Hope you are enjoying the process! ~Delores

Carla Aston said...

Looking good, Kathysue! And I love the story about your cabinets. Very worthy of preserving.