[kate1234]

We knew within days (for me) or a week or two (for him) that we were perfect for each other. In 1993.

[kelly]

That's a beautiful stone, and an even more lovely story! Congrats on the love!!

[kate1234]

Here are a few screenshots of the plans (drawn in SketchUp):

First an overview: Since this is a split level, the only rooms on this floor are the foyer, living, dining and kitchen. It is about 24' x 25' all together.



This view is from the dining room toward the kitchen. Notice that I have changed the double window that was over the where the piano used to be to a french door that will eventually (hopefully soon) go to a screened porch. The wall between the dining and kitchen comes down except for a soffit. The kitchen door comes out as do the the kitchen windows and they are replaced with a bay.



This view is from the front door down toward the kitchen. I have added tall 24" pullout pantries, a niche for my favorite raku vase, and more elbow room as you walk in the front door - all under a soffit.



This is the same view but in reverse; from the kitchen down toward the front door. Notice that we expand the opening from the kitchen to the foyer, but the size of the foyer (by the pantries) remains the same as it always was. It is only expanded down by the front door. The opening between the kitchen and foyer is framed on only two sides because I didn't want to interfere with the full swing of those pantry doors. They will swing rather than pull out.



And this is the view into the dining room:

[kate1234]

I went back today telling them I wanted to visit my slab. I took the camera:



It is about 6' x 10' and we will use all of this plus some of some other scrap pieces. The section in the dining room is a straight 10'. They will probably give me a seam on the left side of the bay window.

I was relieved that I liked it today too. It looks light in the picture but is a fairly dark blue overall.

After I was done there I went to the Benjamin Moore stor with my granite sample plus a pillow from my favorite chair. The chair is creamy tan with some burgundy and black but we worked (there was a woman there with a great eye to color and who obviously really liked trying to find just the right shade) to find two wall paint colors that might work. I haven't yet painted them onto the poster board to try in the rooms.

[kelly]

Your plans look wonderful- I like your niche with the vase, and the storage you have/are planning in the adjacent rooms. Very nice design.

Sketchup looks great, too- I must investigate!

[kate1234]

Down comes the hated wallpaper:



Out come the broken appliances and the broken-but-still-nice-looking cabinets:









Out comes the floor:



Incredibly hard work "This is glued and screwed!"



Excavating the many floor layers:

The original subfloor
3/4" plywood
original spotted linoleum
two layers of vinyl
another layer of plywood
whatever they set ceramic tile into
the hated slippery PINK ceramic tile



All together the floor was about 2 1/4" over the subfloor. In the foyer the ceramic was over plywood which was glued to the original hardwood.



Down comes the wall between the kitchen and dining room:








Down comes the wall between the foyer and the living room:


Out come the soffits:


And a whole lotta boxes in a pile:

[sassycat]

Kate, wow, I think we have the same house! We have a split level in Falls Church, very similar floorplan (and multitude of horizontal rectangles). And I just did a double take when I saw your fireplace. It's very interesting to see what our place will look like when we ditch that wall between the kitchen and dining room, if we ever work up the courage. How long have you lived in your house?
-Robin

[kate1234]

A bit late, and I didn't really do beauty shots. But I owe you some pictures and here they are.

The backsplash isn't in yet - its components are sitting inside one of those big kitchen drawers.

My most favorite part of my kitchen is my pantry - the one in the hall. I love that I can exactly match the height of a gigantic drawer to its contents. For instance my Food Processor slides in with an eighth of an inch to spare. And with the soft close and full extension, I feel like a queen.

Click on the Start Slideshow button:

Photos

[Gloria]

I'd call those beauty shots! Amazingly beautiful. I love your garden window and that pantry is great. Thanks for sharing your pictures!
Gloria

[madp67]

You have a winner - It IS a beauty Kate.

I mean, if this isn't a winner, then what is???

ps. I really, really love your granite.