Kitchen Renovations - week 6 and 7

[turquoisedude]

Well not a whole lot has been happening for the past couple of weeks while I patiently waited for delivery of the counter tops and for hubby to return. I got a bunch of little things done, though. Dimmer switches have been added to the lights and I loaded up the wall-mount fridge.

 

[turquoisedude]

Freezer is a bit small, I admit....

But I cleverly bought a chest freezer last fall! This one is really going to be for ice and immediate-use items like frozen berries or vegetables.

 

[turquoisedude]

Valentine's dinner

I made an old-fashioned lamb stew, the old-fashioned way! On the GE range, natch... It works wonderfully! I really missed having a: 4 burners and b: a coil-top range.

 

[turquoisedude]

And we have power!

The electrician finally came by on Saturday and hooked up the breaker for the outlets in the kitchen centre. My wiring held and I had to test the retractable cords with the 1957 Cory Crown Jewel perk.
The cords didn't roll in or out that smoothly - I think I messed 'em up when I did the wiring, but I should be able to correct that.

 

[turquoisedude]

The dining room is back, too

This was a two-person job - I wasn't about to wreck a Haywood-Wakefield buffet by moving it myself. It was nice to have the space to sit and enjoy a meal again!!
I'm still not convinced about that copper fixture; I like it but I think I need something different. Just the excuse I need to hit the yard sales and flea markets this summer...

 

[turquoisedude]

The counters are due in today (delivering them to a neighbor's place) and I have instructed our contract to get them in and finish the plumbing work.
So, by this weekend with any luck, the kitchen will be ready to move into again...

 

[petek]

Looking good. I think you're right about that copper light fixture it's a bit too country/colonial. One of those saucer shaped ones with the retractable cord OR a 3 fixture model with shades hanging at different lengths like the ones over your counter.

 

[turquoisedude]

One of those saucer shaped ones with the retractable cord

is exactly what I want! I had one in the house that we sold in 2007 and I am sick to think that I left it there... AAARGH!

 

[tlee618]

Paul, all I can say is WOW Your new kitchen dinning area is looking just beatiful in the pictures and I bet even more so in real. You have done one amazing job!! Keep us posted. Terry

 

[58limited]

This is really looking great. I can't wait to see the counter tops installed. I agree: the copper fixture looks out of place.

 

[mattl]

Totally unrelated....

Crisco in the fridge? I've never refrigerated it. What does everyone else do?

I'm curious,what are you using for counter tops????

 

[turquoisedude]

Ha! It's not Crisco....

It's actually leftover spaghetti sauce - I kept a bunch of the old plastic Crisco containers for storage. What can I say, I am genetically programmed to be thrifty... I usually keep the Crisco in the pantry cupboard so that I can whip up a pie crust in a jiffy!!

For the counters, I went with a standard laminate pre-moulded style. I really wanted to have something with a stainless steel edging (very a la 50's) but you would not have believed how much that would have cost! I had to compromise to stay within the budget I had to work with, alas... They will be dark grey. Stay tuned!!!

 

[dalangdon]

Your kitchen is gorgeous! Have you thought about a Sputnik-type fixture over your dining table?

And I think laminate is a wise choice: It's looks nice, is easy on your china and silver (important for a clutz like me), and easy and inexpensive to replace when you get tired of it.

Can't wait to see the finished product!

 

[mattl]

Formica counter tops are so easy to fabricate, I've been knocking them out for years. I would think having some stainless bent up would not cost that much. Would be very easy to add it as an edge band and it would cut out a bit of the work.

Wasn't doable?

 

[turquoisedude]

Couldn't find anyone to do it! Contractors in Montreal are pretty danged fussy about non-commercial work because we're still in a construction boom here and forget the smaller outfits down in the Townships, where the house is.
I can always shop around and when I find someone who can do this, I could change the counters....