[kmcg]

I'm still in my first week of kitchen renovation, and thought a few of you might be interested in a progress report. I jumped into this rather precipitously because I found a secondhand AGA cooker I could afford, and then realized I really should reconfigure the cabinets to do justice to the range. If you've ever read "When You Give a Mouse a Cookie," you know what I'm talking about!

I spent about a month planning and acquiring. Shipping the 2 crates containing the range from Texas to Seattle was a logistical challenge. And I was amazed how complicated it is to design a kitchen if you don't want to move utilities and your DH wants as little change as possible! Thanks to all who pitched in with ideas, especially eva p, space planner extraordinaire.

The construction phasebegan last Sunday when I filled my little minivan to the brim with my entire kitchen - minus the tall pantries which are beset with supplier problems. It was a bizarre thing to see these boxes and bags fill our family room, and realize someone would have to put it together. Happily, my brother who is a contractor was available, so I was happy when he and his partner showed up on Monday to get to work.

Day 1 of construction was demolition derby day and the great Craigslist cabinet giveaway. I posted my ad on Craigslist for free cabinets and sink, and immediately had over 60 calls and emails from people who were desperate for the stuff. I spent much of the day negotiating over who got what, and by Tuesday, nearly all was moved out.

Demolition reveals strange things about your house. Idiscovered that the hardwood flooring didn't really run all the way under the peninsula; for some reason, the PO had left a foot-wide gap in the planks, probably saving the cost of installing about 5 square feet of hardwood floor. I was annoyed because it looked like it went all the way through the room, and I had planned on switching to an island configuration. My brother recommended a perpendicular patch in this area, because matching up each little plank would never look right. So that's the plan.

Another discovery was that the plumbing was set up in a way that would make it tough to move the sink and DW even a foot to the right, so I spent a sleepless night trying to solve that one. Rather than modifying 2 cabinets to fit the plumbing, I dumped the corner cabinet idea and quickly ordered the blind corner unit from Lee Valley. Unfortunately, we have to wait a week for this to arrive, which means at least a week before we can install the counters.

Day 2 involved a trip to Ikea to pick up the substitute cabinets, and to the airport to pick up the AGA installer. (It was cheaper to fly an expert in from Michigan than to hire the only Seattle installer who would deign to install a used range!)My brotherstarted installing the cabinets, and his partner decided he needed to fix all the shoddy electrical work that had been done by the PO, who had sent her son to electrician school so he could work on all the properties she owned (bad idea, it turns out).

Day 3 was the carefully orchestrated day when the gas line would be installed, under the supervision of the AGA installer. Wouldn't you know, the gas line guy stood me up because of another client's emergency. We had to make do without him, and eventually the stove was completely set except for having no fuel.

Day 4: my AGA installer flew home bright and early, and the gas guy showed up to do his part. It actually worked out okay; the range isn't all that mysterious. It is lit and warming up. Cabinets are progressing slowly. We discovered that following the cabinet installation instructions will cause your upper cabinets to be too close to the counter...not to mention the problem of lining up the tops of the tall pantries and themammoth over-the-fridge cabinet. I finally settled on the Brizo Floriano faucet, which GoD introduced to Ikeafans. Happy to get that resolved, and give up my flirtation with the Hjuvik.

Day 5 is today. Perhaps I'll go to Ikea to see about a dining table to fit my now very shrunken breakfast area

I'll post a photo of the AGA standing alone, soon to be surrounded by an island. The AGA is a deeper red than what my camera captured. Think wine instead of Hawaiian Punch!

Cheers - Kathy

[Lisa]

First of all, the AGA is so cool. I have no concept of how it works, but it is lovely to look at, for sure. Second, it gives me an idea as to how to deal with my Bizarre Kitchen BBQ (I don't think I've ever mentioned it).

Also, I'm wondering about the blind corner unit from Lee Valley. I'm not wild about the lazy susan, is this a viable solution for the 37" corner cabinet?

In our hallway we had a huge chunk of hardwood missing for some unable to be understood by me reason. We patched it, and admittedly, I can see it, but honestly, I have to say it blends pretty well. One day it'll have a runner over it, anyway.

Why do PO's do what they do?

Can't wait to see more progress shots.

[DesignDiva]

Kathy, it is a thing of beauty!! You will go through ups, downs, and spinarounds with your kitchen reno, but in the end you will enjoy the almost indescribable feeling of knowing exactly what you have accomplished and that you CAN DO IT!! Like childbirth, you will not remember the pain once you gaze upon your newly born kitchen, you will simply rejoice in an almost ridiculously happy feeling. You'll find yourself walking into your kitchen at 3 in the morning, just to see it again. Delight in knowing that yes, this is your kitchen, all yours, and you did it yourself and you can have it forever if you want!

You will get a chill when you run your hand along a counter; you will know the source of Mona Lisa's smile because you will have that same smile when you think of your pots and pans happily nesting in your deep, deep drawers, ready to be beckoned forth to hold culinary delights you have only imagined until now. Every towel and potholder in its proper place will tickle you. Putting away leftovers will suddenly become a ballet. Even doing the dishes will be something you look forward to the way you once looked forward to seeing lower numbers on your bathroom scale.

(I suggest you print this out and read it in about a month when you are just about insane with all things demo and reno. It will restore your peace of mind momentarily.)

[nyc_home]

kmcg, congrats--can't wait to see the finished results!

Eva, we have to add "inspirational writer" to your list of talents! I for one am not going to wait a month to see if I'm insane enough to reread this. I'm going to print it out right now and hang itup in mykitchen--eitherover the hole that used to be a light switch butsoon be blocked when we move the refrigerator or above my wall cabinets in the spot where the ceiling inexplicable gets 3/4 of an inch heigher than the rest of the room

[DesignDiva]

LOL NYC, it is the voice of experience speaking! I do find I have to refrain from telling visitors the whole saga and simply pointing out improvements. They are not interested in the whole minute by minute emotional rollercoaster (as I can tell from the glazed look on their faces) so I have no one to share it with but my fellow IKEAfans!

[dtlyme]

AH! Your AGA is gorgeous. Did you buy it from that nice couple in Texas?? Can't remember their names - I emailed them about it. Found it on some AGA forum. Anyway - I am going with the AGA Six-Four if we can fit it into our budget. Can't wait to see photos of your finished kitchen with the AGA!!!!



-Dana

[kmcg]

Hi Dana - Yes, my Aga is from the couple in Texas who had just installed a brand new Aga in a new house. Six weeks later, they sold their old house and the single guy who bought it didn't want the Aga! I was really happy with its condition (essentially perfect), the packing job they did, and the fact that they included the kettle and all the other basic Aga pans. I saw a 6/4 at the distributor recently, and that looks amazing. I am sure my hubby would have liked a more familiar looking cooktop, but he's learning. I hope you are able to do it in your new kitchen!

Kathy