The painted trim moulding sits atop a pair of empty bookshelves awaiting installation.

Things have been crawling along this week as we all await the delivery of our Cambria quartz countertop. While we’re waiting, She Who Must Be Obeyed has nearly moved all her gear into the kitchen. Every available cabinet and drawer seems now to be occupied, a bit early I think, as the handles are yet to be installed! I can barely find anything now and, without handles on the drawers and doors, it’s difficult searching for whatever it is I need. We’re muddling through, however, even hand-washing all of the reusable dishes and flatware — something we’ve not done on a regular basis in years. More challenging, perhaps, is the fact that there is no running water and no sink on the main floor so dishwashing is done in a tub within the basement utility sink! I made pasta last night and had to carry a big pot of nearly-boiling, pasta-filled water to the basement for draining. Pasta and I made it through just fine. I have been keeping busy painting baseboard trim and shoe moulding that will be used to complete the flooring portion of our remodel. That, too, is challenging as it’s hard to find places to lay out the pieces that are up to about 15 feet in length for painting, then storage. I solved part of the problem by using boxes and bits of flooring to suspend the moulding above the paper-protected floor while painting. The wide trim pieces are now being stored atop two empty bookcases in the living room, awaiting installation. I don’t know what I’m going to do with the painted shoe moulding. We’re hoping the crew will return this Friday and install the moulding, finishing the floors. The countertop is expected in around the end of this week, beginning of next. This project, if completed in early December, will have taken fully six months from the time we ordered cabinets to completion. Seems longer than that.

Shoe moulding laid out for painting in our “former” living room.

The kitchen as it appeared at the end of a half-day’s effort this Saturday.

The crew of A&G Home Improvement came in for an intense half-day this morning. They finished laying the flooring on the main floor, even tearing out the half-bath there. The major kitchen appliances were placed in their alcoves, more to get them out of the way than anything else, and we can now move about in the living room — even sit at our table if we like! Monday and Tuesday will likely see completion of the contractor’s work, at least until the countertop arrives; the stairs will be surfaced with laminate as will the upstairs hallway. I go back to work and the crew will have to deal with She Who Must Be Obeyed. Now I must prepare for a night conducting Public Stargazing at the Observatory so I’ll leave one photo here showing the kitchen as it appeared at Noon today.

First order of business — smooth out that ceiling! The highly-textured kitchen ceiling got a scrape-down that knocked off the many peaks and reduced the height of the rills in the compound. It was a nasty, dusty job but it had to be done. Everyone who has seen it agrees, the ceiling now looks beautiful. Once painted it will smooth out still further but will retain a nice textured pattern. Well done! The doors were reinstalled on the cabinets today and then the guys launched into the flooring. Over the course of the day they were able to cover most of the kitchen, the dining area, the living room, and entry way. Along the way the Cambria technicians arrived and, using digital measuring devices, mapped out the precise shape and size of our solid-surface countertop; it arrives in about two weeks. The contractor plans on working a half-day tomorrow to finish flooring the main level. Yes, I know it’s not the kitchen but we were happily able to afford this work and be shed of the terrible carpeting that we never did like! I can hardly wait to have the floor (and the entire project, for that matter) completed but it’s gonna be a while.

Scraping the ceiling was no fun for John or anyone but the result was quite nice!

Crown molding is installed and wiped down by Dan.

Cambria representative uses digital device to input precise measurements for countertop.

Al (the boss) installing QuickStep laminate flooring in the living room.

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The day appeared to start off okay but the only real disappointment of the project took place first thing. It’s all in communication, or lack thereof. The contractor believed the kitchen ceiling was to be given a texture, not finished flat. So the crew obliged by spreading a thick coating of compound on the ceiling, then using a high-quality stamping tool to create a dimensional pattern. Unknown to those present, She Who Must Be Obeyed had a flat ceiling in mind and was quite upset when she learned, too late, that the ceiling had been stamped! We discussed the matter, then I spoke with the contractor and we decided the pattern could be softened a bit by lopping off the points that result as the stamping tool is pulled away — points being features drip-like in shape. Painting should also help soften the look. The focus, I pointed out, will never be on the ceiling so we need to keep it in perspective. Personally, I’d previously thought about what a flat ceiling would look like and I’m not sure that was the right answer though I think the existing texture is a bit too prominent. It will be fine. Better things happened later. The last of the cabinetry was all set, the new over-the-range microwave installed, under-cabinet task lighting went up, electrical was finished, and they were preparing the subfloor to receive its new laminate flooring system. Tomorrow should be really interesting with the first of the flooring due to be installed and the ordering of a beautiful new Cambria quartz countertop!

She wanted a flat finish. The contractor likes a deep texture. I’m stuck in the middle.

The last of the cabinets is installed.

New over-the-range microwave goes in. Will need to be leveled.

Installing the corner task light. Ouch!

At the end of Day 4.

Today was the big day: the cabinets arrived! The already-chaotic living room area of our little place was filled with big boxes — a few really big boxes — containing brand-new cabinets and components from Kraftmaid, an Ohio company. Not long after the delivery truck departed the boxes were opened and their contents placed in their approximate locations within the kitchen space. Already, things were looking better. Many things would have been better than the way the kitchen looked last night but the beautiful new woodwork did spur the imagination. Eventually the first upper piece was hung in the far corner, then another, and another; then some base units were set. Every time a new unit was placed, the crew carefully measured, leveled, adjusted, fitting each precisely in its final spot. The only hitch that developed during the day was that the hot water line should have been designated for movement as was the drain pipe. Not a big deal, but it will slow progress just a bit. Stacked in a corner of the living room is the new laminate flooring and, as I’ve already said, I’m really looking forward to the new floor!

Early morning arrival — the big truck with our new kitchen cabinetry!

The cardboard cavern of kitchen cabinets. I like alliteration … makes me feel like I’m writing for “Batman.”

First cabinet goes up! The guys are making sure it’s just right.

The Pantry — biggest single piece of cabinetry in the place and a bear to handle!

How things look at the end of Day 3 … Promising.

Today was the second day of the Great Kitchen Project. It started off right away with drywall for the ceiling going up, followed by a whole lot of other things — much of it drywall work in the space. New wiring was connected to the electrical panel, removed was nearly all carpeting in the living room, up the stairs, and in the second floor hallway! Oh, didn’t I tell you? We’re having the awful, old carpeting replaced with modern laminate “hardwood” and I think I’m looking forward to that about as much as the new kitchen! The stairway treads were trimmed to accommodate the new laminate kits that will fit over them. Of course, all this meant complete disruption of the main floor — I space I found reasonably comfortable from which to monitor activity, answer questions, and serve as doorman. Cabinets are set to arrive tomorrow morning.

First thing this day: Up goes the ceiling!

Patching the workspace or sealing the sink hole!

Applying joint compound to the ceiling and all around.

Our little home has become a difficult place in which to live in the manner to which we are accustomed. Putting it politely.

Um, yeah… we decided to have the floors redone. This kind of makes an even bigger disruption for our little family.

Two days of demolition and this is what we get: a big trailer full of rubble.