On the Twelfth Day of Christmas...
... my finished kitchen!
On the Eleventh Day of Christmas...
... curtains!
Remember that fabric I bought way back when? I finally turned some of it into curtains :)
I fell in love with this fabric when I saw it, and I bought the last bit that was in the store - of course, it was discontinued, so I had to plan the curtains around the amount I had :(
It's not exactly what I wanted, but I still love the fabric, and I'm happy with the results!
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Leading up to Christmas, I plan on posting about my new kitchen. This is (obviously) not happening in real time - renos are MUCH slower than that! And yes, I do know the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on December 25. Deal. :)
Remember that fabric I bought way back when? I finally turned some of it into curtains :)
I fell in love with this fabric when I saw it, and I bought the last bit that was in the store - of course, it was discontinued, so I had to plan the curtains around the amount I had :(
It's not exactly what I wanted, but I still love the fabric, and I'm happy with the results!
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Leading up to Christmas, I plan on posting about my new kitchen. This is (obviously) not happening in real time - renos are MUCH slower than that! And yes, I do know the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on December 25. Deal. :)
On the Tenth Day of Christmas...
... I got a new table.
Well, sort of ;)
This table has actually been hanging out in my parents' garage for the past couple of years.
It had received some extensive water damage in the past, and there was no veneer left on the top of the main section. The veneer on the leaf (which hides under the table when not in use - cool!) was also damaged.
The chairs were in decent condition - and they are Katy approved ;)
The set was made by the National Table Company in 1944, according the the labels under the chairs.
The set needs to be refinished, of course, and I tried to get it finished before Christmas, but it just didn't happen. One thing I did get done, though....
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Leading up to Christmas, I plan on posting about my new kitchen. This is (obviously) not happening in real time - renos are MUCH slower than that! And yes, I do know the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on December 25. Deal. :)
On the Ninth Day of Christmas...
... I got a new old sideboard! I sold my old appliances on Kijiji, and while there, started looking around at some of the other postings. And found this for sale, just a few miles away.
It's not in perfect condition, but considering the price (just a bit more than I got for my old fridge and stove!!) and age (possible made in the 30s or 40s), it's not bad!
It fits nicely on the wall next to the fridge and pantries, under the bulkhead, and will be useful to stove things like serving dishes, my set of "good" silverware (ha!) and all my booze ;)
And while it's not an exact match, it goes okay with....
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Leading up to Christmas, I plan on posting about my new kitchen. This is (obviously) not happening in real time - renos are MUCH slower than that! And yes, I do know the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on December 25. Deal. :)
It fits nicely on the wall next to the fridge and pantries, under the bulkhead, and will be useful to stove things like serving dishes, my set of "good" silverware (ha!) and all my booze ;)
And while it's not an exact match, it goes okay with....
______________________________________________
Leading up to Christmas, I plan on posting about my new kitchen. This is (obviously) not happening in real time - renos are MUCH slower than that! And yes, I do know the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on December 25. Deal. :)
On the Eighth Day of Christmas...
... I got appliances!
While I technically didn't *need* new appliances, the functionality of my old ones was debatable.
And I have spent years lusting after gas stoves. So, I decided to go for it, and got a new fridge and stove, as well as a dishwasher and over-the-range microwave.
I got a deal on the fridge - freezer on the bottom (my fridge in Saskatoon was like that, and I love that layout), and a "French door" fridge. Normally, this wouldn't have been in my price range, but it was on sale, so...
And while I really shouldn't have pent the money, I'm glad I did. And of course, I sold my old appliances. And with that money, I bought something else for the kitchen...
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Leading up to Christmas, I plan on posting about my new kitchen. This is (obviously) not happening in real time - renos are MUCH slower than that! And yes, I do know the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on December 25. Deal. :)
On the Seventh Day of Christmas...
... I got drawers! :)
That is another feature I really wanted in this kitchen, since I find drawers so much more functional than doors for lower cabinets. If I had gone with stock sizes for the cabinets, I would have ended up with fewer drawers - not the end of the world, but not the best option either - especially since we are all getting older, and getting down to reach into the back of a cabinet isn't going to get any easier ;)
The two banks on the window wall are great - they store so much. (And thank you, Katy, for posing so nicely...)
Like all my kitchen linens (As an aside: aren't those sunflower towels and place mats great? My sister made them for me years ago, to go with my kitchen at the time. They don't really "go" with this kitchen, but I still like them too much to get rid of them!)
And bowls and glass storage containers.
And all my baking pans.
And baking dishes.
The bank beside the stove is huge - at 37" long, it stores my pots and pans, and the top drawer has all my cooking utensils.
I also have the standard issue upper cabinets, but there is nothing special about them!
Of course, a new kitchen needs new appliances....
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Leading up to Christmas, I plan on posting about my new kitchen. This is (obviously) not happening in real time - renos are MUCH slower than that! And yes, I do know the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on December 25. Deal. :)
On the Sixth Day of Christmas...
... I got prep areas!
Lots of prep areas!
I knew the long length of counter top under the window would be a great prep area (can't you just see it, covered in jars, come canning season?), but the small area between the sink and stove surprised me at how handy it is. It's just big enough for a small cutting board, and being right next to the sink, it's a great place for small tasks, like cutting up ingredients for an omelette :) It has actually become my main prep area for most of my daily cooking.
The other area I'm really happy with is the cabinet under the bulkhead. I chose a full length cabinet that goes right down to the counter top. Being right next to the main run of counter top, it's the perfect place to keep all my baking supplies, herbs and spices.
Lots of storage space, and the drawers are great for small items.
Like dog-shaped cookie cutters...
It really is the perfect layout to do large tasks. It's so hard to envision how the kitchen will actually work, when looking at lines on papers, so I'm really happy this layout has worked so well for me.
I realize a corner sink isn't everyone's first choice, and I did go back and forth on that a lot. But I am so happy with it - it gives me a great small prep area next to the stove, and a large prep area under the window, with easy access to everything I need. Especially with all the drawers to hold all my bowls and pots and pans...
______________________________________________
Leading up to Christmas, I plan on posting about my new kitchen. This is (obviously) not happening in real time - renos are MUCH slower than that! And yes, I do know the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on December 25. Deal. :)
Lots of prep areas!
I knew the long length of counter top under the window would be a great prep area (can't you just see it, covered in jars, come canning season?), but the small area between the sink and stove surprised me at how handy it is. It's just big enough for a small cutting board, and being right next to the sink, it's a great place for small tasks, like cutting up ingredients for an omelette :) It has actually become my main prep area for most of my daily cooking.
I realize a corner sink isn't everyone's first choice, and I did go back and forth on that a lot. But I am so happy with it - it gives me a great small prep area next to the stove, and a large prep area under the window, with easy access to everything I need. Especially with all the drawers to hold all my bowls and pots and pans...
______________________________________________
Leading up to Christmas, I plan on posting about my new kitchen. This is (obviously) not happening in real time - renos are MUCH slower than that! And yes, I do know the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on December 25. Deal. :)
On the Fifth Day of Christmas...
... I finally got finished cabinets!
But no pictures, sorry! The room was full of drop cloths and trim and paint :)
I do, however, have pictures of some of the details...
These pictures show the difference in size of the two crown mouldings. The one that is over the cabinets which are under the bulkhead (clear as mud?) have a smaller moulding, while those that aren't under the bulkhead have a larger moulding, but both have the same profile. Using two sizes meant the cabinets under the bulkhead could be as large as possible. If you look closely, you can see an "extra" piece at the very top of the moulding - that caps it off, making a space I can use for display if I want to. Otherwise, there would have just been an open space leading under the cabinets - what a pain to clean!
Another trim piece: the under-cabinet valence. It's there to hide under-cabinet lighting - which I don't have. It still looks good, and finishes the cabinets off nicely. And I might get one of those battery operated stick-on lights, to highlight...
... the raised display area behind the sink.
I find corners wasted space in kitchens - maybe just because I'm too short to easily reach them? ;) So, when the kitchen designer mentioned having a corner sink, I realized that would "solve" that problem, as well as giving me a fabulous run of counter top under the window. Once that decision was made, it was easy enough to decide to put in the raised display area - especially since it was no extra charge!
I also decided to go with a glass door for the angled cabinet over the sink. Again, it's a cabinet I find hard to access - even worse with the sink there! So, it will be used to store those pretty things I don't use very often - and it makes a nice place to hang a Christmas wreath!
Pretty, pretty details - but what about the functionality of the kitchen? Did I mention my "baking station"? Maybe tomorrow...
______________________________________________
Leading up to Christmas, I plan on posting about my new kitchen. This is (obviously) not happening in real time - renos are MUCH slower than that! And yes, I do know the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on December 25. Deal. :)
But no pictures, sorry! The room was full of drop cloths and trim and paint :)
I do, however, have pictures of some of the details...
These pictures show the difference in size of the two crown mouldings. The one that is over the cabinets which are under the bulkhead (clear as mud?) have a smaller moulding, while those that aren't under the bulkhead have a larger moulding, but both have the same profile. Using two sizes meant the cabinets under the bulkhead could be as large as possible. If you look closely, you can see an "extra" piece at the very top of the moulding - that caps it off, making a space I can use for display if I want to. Otherwise, there would have just been an open space leading under the cabinets - what a pain to clean!
Another trim piece: the under-cabinet valence. It's there to hide under-cabinet lighting - which I don't have. It still looks good, and finishes the cabinets off nicely. And I might get one of those battery operated stick-on lights, to highlight...
I find corners wasted space in kitchens - maybe just because I'm too short to easily reach them? ;) So, when the kitchen designer mentioned having a corner sink, I realized that would "solve" that problem, as well as giving me a fabulous run of counter top under the window. Once that decision was made, it was easy enough to decide to put in the raised display area - especially since it was no extra charge!
I also decided to go with a glass door for the angled cabinet over the sink. Again, it's a cabinet I find hard to access - even worse with the sink there! So, it will be used to store those pretty things I don't use very often - and it makes a nice place to hang a Christmas wreath!
Pretty, pretty details - but what about the functionality of the kitchen? Did I mention my "baking station"? Maybe tomorrow...
______________________________________________
Leading up to Christmas, I plan on posting about my new kitchen. This is (obviously) not happening in real time - renos are MUCH slower than that! And yes, I do know the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on December 25. Deal. :)
On the Fourth Day of Christmas...
... I got trim!
Well, sort of (are you seeing the trend here yet?).
And do you have any idea how much trim costs??!?! Yarks! Of course, I can't get nice, simple cheap trim, no....
Well, I could, but I didn't think it would fit the style of the house. I feel guilty enough at having to throw out all the existing trim (it was so old, we couldn't take it off without having it break and splinter. Trying to save it, fix it, refinish it and then re-use it would have been almost impossible, especially given the changes we've made to the layout of the house). So, in addition to base boards and casing for the windows and doors, I got specialty pieces for the bottom of the door frames, the tops of the windows and doors, and for the baseboard corners. They do make the trim look even nicer, but each piece is around $5, which really starts to add up. Not to mention, the fun of painting them...
At least I had help with the painting...
The corner and bottom pieces for the casing went on easy enough, and I really like the look:
Yes, I still have some nail holes to finish filling and painting over. Yes, it will be done before Christmas.
Of course, things can never go right all the time. There was a small issue when we went to install the baseboards.
Fortunately, Dad being the amazing sort he is, came up with a simple solution: add a wee bit onto the bottom of the corner piece.
Unless you get down on the floor and look closely, you'll never see the extra piece.
And, of course, this being the house it is, the windows need sills at the bottom, not just casing (wood piece at bottom of the window frame, can't put drywall there, piece is too wide for the casing to cover, blah blah blah). We were able to find a plain piece of trim to use as the apron, but Dad had to rip the sill piece out of wood, then router the edges. It does look nice though!
And I took the opportunity to make kitchen window sill large enough to put pots of herbs on. Or, for now, some tacky Christmas decorations :D
Of course, in the middle of trying to get the trim painted and installed, they came back to finish the cabinets...
______________________________________________
Leading up to Christmas, I plan on posting about my new kitchen. This is (obviously) not happening in real time - renos are MUCH slower than that! And yes, I do know the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on December 25. Deal. :)
Well, sort of (are you seeing the trend here yet?).
And do you have any idea how much trim costs??!?! Yarks! Of course, I can't get nice, simple cheap trim, no....
Well, I could, but I didn't think it would fit the style of the house. I feel guilty enough at having to throw out all the existing trim (it was so old, we couldn't take it off without having it break and splinter. Trying to save it, fix it, refinish it and then re-use it would have been almost impossible, especially given the changes we've made to the layout of the house). So, in addition to base boards and casing for the windows and doors, I got specialty pieces for the bottom of the door frames, the tops of the windows and doors, and for the baseboard corners. They do make the trim look even nicer, but each piece is around $5, which really starts to add up. Not to mention, the fun of painting them...
At least I had help with the painting...
 | |
| Painter's Helper (no Kips were painted in the making of this photo) |
The corner and bottom pieces for the casing went on easy enough, and I really like the look:
Yes, I still have some nail holes to finish filling and painting over. Yes, it will be done before Christmas.
Of course, things can never go right all the time. There was a small issue when we went to install the baseboards.
 |
| See it? |
 |
| See it now? |
Fortunately, Dad being the amazing sort he is, came up with a simple solution: add a wee bit onto the bottom of the corner piece.
 |
| Problem fixed! |
 |
| Perfect! |
Unless you get down on the floor and look closely, you'll never see the extra piece.
 |
| See? ;) |
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Leading up to Christmas, I plan on posting about my new kitchen. This is (obviously) not happening in real time - renos are MUCH slower than that! And yes, I do know the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on December 25. Deal. :)
On the Third Day of Christmas...
... I got the rest of the cabinets.
Well, sort of. Sigh.
The installation was supposed to take two days. Unfortunately, a few things didn't work out.
And of course, they did eventually come back to finish the install...
______________________________________________
Leading up to Christmas, I plan on posting about my new kitchen. This is (obviously) not happening in real time - renos are MUCH slower than that! And yes, I do know the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on December 25. Deal. :)
Well, sort of. Sigh.
The installation was supposed to take two days. Unfortunately, a few things didn't work out.
- The installers couldn't finish the crown moulding on the left. As you can see on top of the corner cabinet and the cabinet next to the window, there is a piece of MDF that goes behind the crown. That piece is L-shaped - a flat piece sits on top of the cabinets (and gets attached to them), then the actual moulding gets attached to the upright piece. The straight runs were preassembled at the shop, and the corners (where it goes from the front of the cabinets around the side to the wall, which is called the return) gets braced for extra strength. Unfortunately, the shop put the return on the wrong end of the longest piece, and due to the brace, this couldn't be fixed on site.
- The drawer fronts for the corner cabinet (to the right of the window) were too short. Substantially too short. Like almost an inch too short.
- There weren't enough drawer pulls. This actually annoyed me the most. The other mistakes, while preventable, were somewhat understandable - but not including the right number of pulls? It was compounded by the fact that some of the pulls didn't have the correct finish - they were shiny, not brushed, but even if the finish was correct, the count was still short.
And of course, they did eventually come back to finish the install...
______________________________________________
Leading up to Christmas, I plan on posting about my new kitchen. This is (obviously) not happening in real time - renos are MUCH slower than that! And yes, I do know the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on December 25. Deal. :)
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