It's Done!!!!

Yup! It is done! We received the final papers today. The window (pictured above) is done and painted. The tiles around the window are all grouted. The light above the sink has a dimmer on it. Everything really looks good. We have had friends stop by and say, "Can we see the kitchen"? Certainly!! We are definitely proud of it and the work that Levco has done.

So, now what? Oh! Just some minor paint touch-up. And if it keeps snowing - yes, it did snow today - we may not make it out of the kitchen until next Spring! That would be fun. Can you bring groceries to us if we need any? No, not Meals-On-Wheels! Cheers!

Window Installation

Today is: Yuk! Rain! Snow! Cold! Not much to do except to "play" with photos of the New Window in the kitchen! This is slowly becoming like my graduation from Boise State University - anti-climatic! Therefore, in order to stay off of Prozac and other depression stuff, a new project? I don't think so this year. But we do have 11 other windows that could be changed out, Joe. Next year? Who knows.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Even the thought of more of these windows makes one feel "tingly". It sure would help the heating and cooling resource. Cheers!

Almost done? Probably.

The painting is done. I just have to do some touch-up here and there. But essentially, the painting is done!





The area by the stove and the long storage drawers are complete. Those long drawers were a pain! Robin made that cork board out of used wine bottle corks. We will use the board as a recipe holder.





The area over the refrigerator is done, too! Just some minor "touch-up" to do now. The iron fixture on the wooden divider by the refrig is to use magnetic things of interest. Robin ordered it.




Overall, I just think that the finish on the bare wood enhances everything. I know, I keep saying that. Well, it does! Diane was here today and she really liked the painting scheme. She likes how the bare wood treatment draws the room together. She also said that the window over the sink may be in tomorrow or early next week. That'll be fun!

Maybe I'll make a Lamb Paella for Spanish Paella Day tomorrow. Got to seriously use the kitchen now that it is mostly complete. I'll make enough so Robin can have some when she gets home. That sounds good. I'm hungry; catch you later. Cheers!

Paint Every Where!

So today, 25 March, "they" said snow! But no snow - just rain. Since noon, the rate has been pretty steady .04 - .07 inches per hour. And, since it is raining, I can't go out and play, so I have to stay inside and play!




I really can't get over how good the maple trim looks. Here is a "before" photo ....




and here is after two coats of acrylic. I think it is awesome.





Here are some cabinets after the acrylic applications. Everything seems to accent every other part.








We usually hang "things" on the refrigerator. But our new one is stainless - non-magnetic. Before Robin left for "playtime", she ordered this steel "thingy". Now we can place magnetic items on it, like "Church Keys" and magnetic business cards. Actually, I like the one she found and it looks good placed here. The green color goes very well with the rest of the decor.













A couple of years ago, I got this for Robin and the Wine Cellar. Can't find room for it in the wine cellar, so it looks good here. Actually, it really is "out of the way" and high on the wall. Maybe you will see it, maybe you won't - you can see how close to the ceiling it is.










Well there you have it for today. About 2 more days, and the trim painting may be done. In the mean time and at 40 degrees, 100% humidity - it's raining - and no snow so far, I have to get ready to go to a birthday party. A BIG one for a friend of ours! I remember when Pop had this birthday - he refused to acknowledge it! I don't know that he ever did acknowledge it - but he made it another 25 years! Cheers!

Still Doing the Trim

You'd think that Spring was here. It's not! Snow tonight - 8" to 12" - at 4000 feet and some here in the Valley! I may be shoveling "some snow" in the morning. Yuk! So, in the mean time, I am doing the trim in the kitchen.

It seems that after taping the doors and tops, doing one under-coat and two coats of Light Loden and 2 coats of the acrylic urethane, there would still be time left in the day. There is not.



The acrylic turns the maple slightly darker, but it also seals it and makes it shine. We are not going to paint the maple - it's too pretty to cover-up.





When the drawers come out, you can see how the maple is somewhat darker. It's really nice.





The maple trim being darker, really frames the Light Loden green.









So there you have what I have been doing for the past two days. But the old 1955 GE dual oven, 4 burner , electric stove finally left. Levco picked up their trailer that they were letting us use to store things in. And maybe our "old" refrigerator will leave soon. (It is under cover and out of the rain and snow). Progress, at this level of the remodel, is slow at best, but it will pay off to take ones time. There you have it! Cheers!

Doing the Kitchen Trim

Yes, there is trim to do - the doors and the cabinets. If you look on the back of these cabinets, you can see the original "clapboard" construction. That construction we did not change, just a fresh coat of paint.




We want to save these door knobs and plates, but we do not want them painted.





So, we stripped them of all paint and the brass is exposed. Much the same as the cabinet door hinges posted earlier in this saga.
















The doors in the kitchen must also be painted. The photo over this door is the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls. Obviously, we took it from a boat in the Snake River.















Even the back door needed to be painted. And on this first day of Spring and a temperature of 72 degrees, we did get some things done. Robin worked on some of the things still in the backyard. She even worked on "her room". Much has been donated to the Idaho Youth Ranch. And even more has been donated to the landfill. The "Sanitary Engineers" were not happy this morning - again - as they uttered something in their native language when they threw the trash into the truck. The Levco trailer is now empty (I must contact them to let them know) and the storage in the backyard and on the back porch is diminishing. OH! And the dishwasher works fine! So quiet! So there we have it. Hope this weather holds, but it is supposed to rain Saturday and Sunday and the temperature is supposed to drop by 15 - 20 degrees. Not ready for tomatoes yet!

Kitchen Remodel - "The Final Curtain"

Every drama comes to a close at some point. If not, it gets boring. Today - after 22 days or so - the "Final Curtain" descended on the Kitchen Remodel. Robin and I feel very lucky to have 168 photos of the old being blended with the new - a "Re-Birth", if you will. But the past is not lost - it remains in places, is re-emphasized in places, and is documented. It is not lost.
Every drama comes to a close at some point. If not, it gets boring. Today - after 22 days or so - the "Final Curtain" descended on the Kitchen Remodel. Robin and I feel very lucky to have 168 photos of the old being blended with the new - a "Re-Birth", if you will. But the past is not lost - it remains in places, is re-emphasized in places, and is documented. It is not lost.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We owe a debt of gratitude to Levco Builders - Joe, Diane and Dewy - for their expertise in guiding us through all of this "trauma" and to all of their sub-contractors. At times, the project moved like "greased lightening" and at other times like "molasses in winter". This is one case where the end really does justify the means. We are totally pleased with the outcome and with our new kitchen. Now, we must learn how to use all of the digital appliances - the stove, the microwave and the dishwasher. Yes, all three are digitally controlled. It might be like having 3 VCR's when the power goes out! I can't wait.

We do hope that you have enjoyed following this project with us through the medium of the internet. And of course, you did not have to put up with the dust and the barking dog, the "confusion" of having 4 contractors in the room all at the same time and doing 4 different things and the broken sink. In another couple of weeks, we will have the window replaced. and oh yea!, now we have to pay for all of this. How's the lottery doing? Cheers!We owe a debt of gratitude to Levco Builders - Joe, Diane and Dewy - for their expertise in guiding us through all of this "trauma" and to all of their sub-contractors. At times, the project moved like "greased lightening" and at other times like "molasses in winter". This is one case where the end really does justify the means. We are totally pleased with the outcome and with our new kitchen. Now, we must learn how to use all of the digital appliances - the stove, the microwave and the dishwasher. Yes, all three are digitally controlled. It might be like having 3 VCR's when the power goes out! I can't wait.

We do hope that you have enjoyed following this project with us through the medium of the internet. And of course, you did not have to put up with the dust and the barking dog, the "confusion" of having 4 contractors in the room all at the same time and doing 4 different things and the broken sink. In another couple of weeks, we will have the window replaced. and oh yea!, now we have to pay for all of this. How's the lottery doing? Cheers!

"Houston. We have water!"

Water finally arrived today. The new sink is awesome and looks so large. But we kept it in the period style - it looks like the old slate sinks. It is, however, a composite of granite and plastic!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The dishwasher was also plumbed, but won't be "electrified" until tomorrow. Just a little more grout on the tiles and fix the floor, and we will be set to go! It looks good! Check out the hinges that we brought "back to life". Just a little more work on them and they too, will be set and ready to go. Cheers!

Kitchen Remodel - Before and After

Looking North before the remodel. That's all the counter space we had. And only one cabinet!


Looking North after the remodel. Do we have counter space? or cabinets?




Looking South before the remodel


Looking South


Such a change! After looking South. Almost the very same camera angle as above.











So there you can see the changes side-by-side. A much better perspective of the work done and the very much improved working space and storage. Such a change!

Kitchen Remodel: Day 20

So, Day 20 is upon us and has past. Happy St Patrick's Day. Just a few things left to do: Install the sink; Install the dish washer; Weld the marmoleum; Repair the scuff mark in the floor.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Maybe the sink will be installed tomorrow along with the dishwasher - the Boise River is not far from here, but the water is running low and cold! We did make dinner tonight and tried out several things on the stove, including the broiler and the convection system. All worked very well. Plus, the dinner of Corned Beef and Cabbage (Robin made this) and Soda Bread and Lamb Stew (Bob made these) - Robin's was better. We really do love this new kitchen! The photos just don't do it justice! Many, many thanks to Levco Builders for their excellent work and cooperation with us. We'll let you know what is accomplished tomorrow. Cheers!!

Kitchen Remodel: Day 19

Yup! Almost there. Just waiting on the sink to be installed and the dishwasher. Actually, any day now the new sink should be in. Then on Thursday, the floor repair. I painted some of the east wall cabinets and renovated the hinges to bring our the brass and the patina.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We placed some of the pots on the rack today, after the rack was installed. Now we are bringing things back into the kitchen, going through the items, and creating a box for donations. We did have our first meal in our kitchen and on our new stove and in the microwave this past weekend. It will be nice to eat at the table in the kitchen. Just the right size for the two of us.

Our Kitchen - AlmostFinished!

We can't believe that the remodel is almost completed! Seems like just yesterday ........ Monday or Tuesday we should have our sink in - the first one was cracked - and the dishwasher installed. Need also to add some more tiles where the lighting was installed. Hope you like these photos!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

See you Monday! I have been posting daily updates on Our Retirement In Idaho blog. If you want to see more, please look there. The stove and the microwave are both top-of-line Whirlpool and the refrigerator is a 25 cf Amana. The dishwasher is a Bosch - not pictured yet. Look at our transome window on the previous post on our Retirement blog.