Kitchen Remodel

 Carol and I had been talking about a redo for our kitchen. It was smaller than we wanted. It seemed like we were always in each others way while we prepared meals. I had approached one contractor but he was always too busy to call me back. Finally I asked my plumber if he could recommend someone. He did and we began talking to Tommy Day. He is a cabinet maker and he showed us several styles of door fronts and we agreed on maple with clear lacquer and a very plain door design. Projects like this always seem to "snowball". My back is very sore and therapy is not doing the job yet. So I asked if he could raise my bath room vanity to kitchen counter height and also redo the vanity in the second bathroom. The bathrooms will be a later explanation. Carol and I looked in  several warehouses looking at granite. I bet everyone was easily over 100 degrees inside. We finally found our granite,


The first three pictures are of the original kitchen. It was bright and functional, but cramped. The first picture is the corner to the left of the stainless sink. A feature neither of us liked

The second picture is a view to the right of the sink. Note that the dishwasher was located in the corner of the right El-shaped counter. The lower part of this counter had doors that opened to shelves. One of us was always on bended knee searching in the back space looking for something.

The third picture shows the window and sill and the double cabinet above the counter. Carol had a number of cactus plants on the wooden sill.

Tommy was to begin while Carol and I were away attending family functions and visiting family in Michigan and Rhode Island. The goal was to have a working kitchen by Labor Day. We talked to Tommy weekly to check on progress. Unfortunately, it rained almost every day for three weeks. Tommy explained that he could not shoot the lacquer. We understood. We had a useable kitchen the Monday after Labor day.

Following are pictures of almost finished kitchen. Tommy still needs to install the crown molding and the 1/2 inch round along the bottom of the counters. Tommy is on vacation with family and will finish when he returns home.


The following picture shows the window area. Now the dishwasher is  located next to the under mounted sink. It is a composite of granite and other stuff. Larger than the old. Remember the "snowball effect". This was the time to replace the garbage disposal and the dishwasher. The first time we used it, Carol asked if I could hear water. I could not. Shortly we heard a whooshing sound and we figured the correct buttons were pushed. The kitchen was expanded by slightly more than the width of the dishwasher. The faucet was replaced also. There are three cabinets above the counter now.

The following picture shows the counter top. We were very pleased with the quality of the install. There is a seam, but barely detectable.

This pictures shows the storage space in the counter. Note now there are drawers that pull out and will hold over 200 pounds according to Tommy. We may not currently know what is in each drawer, but we can easily look. No more crawling into the area below the counter. Over a year ago we had all new tile installed through out the home. Fortunately, our tile guy was nervous and has us buy an extra 100 square feet. When the kitchen was expanded part of the cement pad was exposed. Tommy got his tile guy to come in and tile the area. He removed part of one strip and it now looks like it was always there.

Another view of the kitchen, The crown molding across the top of the cabinets will further dress up the cabinets.

This is a close up of the new granite window sill. It of course matches the counters. I asked Carol when her plants would return. She said the sills so pretty and I think she is in no hurry.

We did wash dishes in the bathroom sink for about two weeks. Every thing that belonged in cabinets was stored in boxes or on a folding table in the guest bed room.  Our kitchen is fully functional. We think we know where everything is now located.  We know the inconvenience was well worth it.