The Living Room

Part of our kitchen/laundry remodel includes updating and improving our living room. We couldn't very well continue living in the Frankenstein house, with a gorgeous new kitchen and a frightening living room within sight, could we? Besides, we knew that once we opened the walls we'd have many of the same issues we've found with those in the laundry room and kitchen, mainly that the window openings were never properly "headed" and the load-bearing status of those walls were pressing down upon glass windows. We have torn out the paneling on the living room walls, exposing the studs underneath and finding that the windows themselves were load-bearing. We've strengthened the headers (and, in some cases, put in new, never-before-installed headers), shored up the walls with glued and screwed plywood, replaced the windows, replaced the paneling with drywall, covered the paneled ceiling with drywall, textured, painted, and put in decent baseboards. Many thanks to Chris and Ross for their tireless hours improving our lives. Thank you!

For those of you unfamiliar with the "before" status (photos are truncated, click on them for full view) ....



The old windows, which were single-pane, and which wouldn't close properly and leaked heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. We've since determined that they didn't close properly because they were under so much pressure.


The new windows installed with proper headers and support studs underneath.


Notice how the 40-year-old (dark) stud is bowing to the right from supporting too much weight by itself.


Ross's solution for one of the windows on the South (porch) side wall which was to be replaced with a smaller window and had little-to-no support to begin with. Pardon the clutter beyond the window opening ... this is what our porch looks like while we store our kitchen contents on the pool table out there!


The living room with raw drywall installed.


Drywall, taped and mudded.


The state of affairs during priming.


Can you say ... nearly finished? We still have to do crown moulding, A/C vents, and re-installation of the ceiling fan, but I. am. thrilled!!!!!

Appliances!

Except for the dishwasher, which is on backorder, the appliances are here. Lighting is also complete!

Check out the under-cabinet lighting! (Photos are truncated, click on them for the full view.)


Long shot view.


Long shot view with the flourescents on.




The blue trash can is sitting where the dishwasher will be.

Finishing Touches

We are nearing the end of our remodel for the kitchen, and it's been incredible. After we're done, we're going to relax for a couple of weeks, then start on the new walls and windows in the living room.

We are at the "finishing touches" stage of the kitchen.

All of the cabinets are now set in place.


Another view.


This is our "official" countertop. It's been ordered and should be ready next week! This photo also (kind of) shows the cabinet knobs we've selected.


This is the pendant light over the sink.

CABINETS!!!!

The majority of the cabinets were installed today, thanks to the great work of Rob, Ross, and Chris.

The island cabinets are back-to-back with a gap in between for storage. A continuous countertop will go over all of it. And the floor cabinets along the fridge wall aren't set yet, due to some tile mortar that was just laid today. The center floor cabinet will actually fill the gap at the right of the wall; its current spot is for the dishwasher. (Pictures are truncated; click on them for full view.)


Juma is laying where the table and chairs will be.


Full view from the living room.

Progress

The tile floor is grouted and almost finished (we still have to work out some details at the threshold between the kitchen and entryway, as we have a 3" step in the concrete there). Cabinets are beginning to be installed. Enjoy!

Now that the plastic sheeting is down (which was saving the living room from dust and debris), I have a long-shot view of the new space. The notorious blue carpet in the foreground is simply a piece of scrap protecting our wood laminate floor. (Pictures are truncated, click on them for the full view.)


Look past the goofy child and you'll see the entryway cabinets, just installed!


Closer view.


View of the entryway from the laundry room.


Rob and "his girls" relaxing in one of the new pantry cabinets in the main kitchen.


Juma enjoying the nice, cool tile in the spot where the refrigerator will be.

Big Day

Today we had two major developments in our project ... our 22 kitchen cabinets arrived, and the floor was tiled. I'm so excited!

Update

The kitchen cabinets are scheduled to be delivered in 48 hours, so we had to huff a bit to make some headway this week. There's nothing like working two full-time jobs and being parents, then having to switch gears and prime/paint the ceiling and walls. However, now we're ready for the next step ... tiling.

The walls and ceiling are primed!


The walls and ceiling are painted!



Sample floor tile and pendant light shades:


Simulation of the kitchen floor tile as seen against the laundry room wall (which is the same color as the kitchen):


Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?