Kitchen Cabinets - Part 2

 Well, the 3 of us did more work today. I forgot to take photos of the 3 hickory base cabinets that M screwed together on their face frames so we can level them as a unit. but some of the other filler pieces we needed were cold from being in the garage, so we brought them in to warm up and we went to work on finishing the green upper cabinet wall. That last piece was the microwave cabinet and a filler piece. 

I sure do like how it's coming together!

Kitchen Cabinets Part 1

 Just before Christmas we started installing the hickory wall cabinets. we got the corner one up, me, Hal and future BIL M. It's been nice having help! We only got to work 3 hours or so every day because they men wanted to go deer hunting (it is late doe season on private land) but it seems to be taking all that time for each cabinet because of the learning curve, plus we do want everything straight and level, and the drywall is pretty wavy in some spots.

We started again this past Monday and finished the 3 corner hickory wall cabinets.

The next to be installed are the base cabinets in this corner but we need to prep the sink cabinet first because it must be centered under the window and have many holes cut in it for plumbing. So while Hal worked on that, M and I started installing the green wall cabinets. First the wall oven unit and then the first upper. This took 2 days; a couple hours were spent yesterday just installing the filler strip between them. I think it looks pretty good. We'll do the next upper today.

And at some point, these corner base cabinets will be installed next.

Shower Surround

 Yesterday we finally started work on the shower surround for the master bath. I purchased a Flexstone unit which is PVC panels with a photo of marble printed onto it. We had to dry fit the large back panel first and unfortunately there was a lot of wave in the sides walls it butted up to so Hal had a lot of trimming to do before we got it tight enough. That took about 4 hours.

trimming with a box cutter is painful on the hands

Today we had to apply nearly 4 tubes of adhesive that came with the kit to the backside and then push it onto the wall 

Then Hal put up supports to hold it in place. This was not mentioned in the instructions but plenty of YouTubes recommended doing it. (right before this step is when my wedding ring took a dive.)

I think we are going to really like this. Not as fancy as tile but a lot less expensive and much easier to keep clean.

Ring Disaster Averted!

 In a small series of mishaps, my wedding ring too a plunge today into the toilet drain in the master bath. I had put it into my pocket to keep it from scratching the shower surround we were installing and it fell out when I pulled out my phone to read a text. Didn't realize at the time that the noise of something hitting the floor was my ring and not a screw. When I realized it was missing a couple hours later I couldn't find it anywhere and surmised it must be in the drain. Fortunately for me Hal decided, after I left for home, to make a strainer he placed at the outside cleanout and poured water down the drain. Lo and behold out came my ring. We're both surprised it worked. He has now blocked the drain from further such problems.

my nearly lost forever treasure

a little blue painters tape works wonders

Walnut Countertop

 My butcherblock top for the island arrived a couple days ago. The guys who delivered were very careful not to scratch it, took off rings, etc. I must say, it came out beautifully. The top photo is closest to the color, the bottom photo was washed out some by the flash.

It's approximately 50" wide by 87" long. I purchased steel supports for the overhang to ensure it doesn't sag or crack. Be a few weeks before we can install it, the cabinets are still in boxes and with Christmas coming, we won't be working as much. We can really use the time off anyway.

Kitchen Cabinet Delivery

 Last Tuesday, my kitchen cabinets were delivered to the house. The guys were nice enough to carry them all the way through the garage into the kitchen. Unfortunately when it was time to bring in the last, tallest, heaviest, custom oven cabinet, they dropped one end. which cracked one side at the base and split the face frame leg on the opposite side. So my kitchen designer has ordered a replacement which believe it or not may actually arrive before the end of the year! She and I were both worried because of the pandemic situation and lack of labor, etc that it would be a couple months. We can't put up the wall of cabinets without this one as they all build off of it.

We need to unbox them fairly soon to see if any have damage that require replacement. Hal isn't quite interested in doing that yet. I may have to start myself though the one I need to start with is smack in the middle of this pile.

One cabinet was unboxed by the delivery guys because the only way to get the Super Susan which is 3' x3'  through the door was to turn it while carrying it. I really like how the door came out. For some reason the photo will not load so you'll have to imagine it. In the above photo the cabinet is on the far right side.

Carpet

 The 2 small bedrooms had their carpet installed today. The master was also supposed to get its carpet but the installer did not like the waviness in the pattern and didn't think he could do it right and felt the Mohawk rep should take a look at it. I have no idea what will happen at this point but I should know in a few days. 

The vinyl plank flooring rep came to measure today and I got the quote and the store will call me mid January to schedule that installation. He said there was a kit for the trap door in the laundry room so I don't have to worry about doing that anymore. I wanted to get that ordered before the prices went up in January.

Here are photos of the small bedrooms.

guest bedroom carpet

sewing room carpet

The Palace is Lighting Up

 So in the few days since my last post we've accomplished a few things. Hal installed a lot of lighting while I installed more outlets and sanding more drywall mud lumps off the floor. Here are photos of our lights.

walk-in closet light

I wanted something a little different for a ceiling fan in my sewing room, aka the 3rd bedroom so I went with this leafy look

sewing room light

kitchen island pendants

I like how the fan is actually hidden underneath the light. Same light only smaller for the guest bath.

master bath fan/light

The vanity light is the same style as the walk-in closet.

master bath vanity light

I had to go with a white fan in the guest room because I could not find a bright brass one to match the brass bed.

guest bedroom fan

The master bedroom, living room and TV room fans are the same model just different colors. Not only do they have a light on the bottom but on top there is a dimmer light that can be used as a night light.

master bedroom fan

I need to get more decorative lights for some of these but at least the lights work.

guest bath vanity light

Hal also installed the 5th and last ceiling fan in the TV room today but as it looks just like the living room and master bedroom fans I didn't bother taking a photo.

Ember

 I was lucky enough, through Kaylee's original owner, Dave, to find a puppy for my sister. Met the guy who bought 2 of Kaylee's sisters which he had bred to an AKC registered dog named Cash. Between Abby and Sadie there were 17 puppies. Abby's were born on Sept 7 and Sadie's on Sept 27th. My friend Tom and I drove out to his house on Friday and I asked for one showing retriever tendencies and she also seemed to be the biggest of the 11 still available, one of Abby's daughters. So Kaylee is an aunt, just like Luna was Lyra's aunt. Kind of cool.

My sister named her Ember and will finally get to meet her mid December. Here are some photos in no particular order.

trying to keep up with the big dogs

we visited John and Seamus before we got home

last night Kaylee made peace with her

yes, another photo

nope, nothing to see here

don't know what it was but it must have been important

we stopped just before we got home for her to pee, (she didn't)

day I brought her home

This is Abby, Ember's mom and Kaylee's sister.

We Have Water!

 So Hal decided a few days ago to hook up the cold water line, then the hot water line and get us water to the utility sink in the workshop. This flow is just from the well pressure, no pump. But it was enough flow that I could wash brushes and roller covers rather than having to go outside and use the hose. Today Hal added the cistern and the well pump so we have pressurized water. It's great, now just need to install sinks, etc.

Lyra

 On Monday, November 15 at 6 pm EST my sister's yellow lab, Lyra, whom my brother and I picked from a litter in October of 2008, and I got to raise for 5 weeks, passed across the Rainbow Bridge. She was a sweet dog, loved riding in his dad's truck, hanging with my sister while gardening, loved walks. 

A few short months ago she was diagnosed with cancer of the spleen and my sister was told she could go at any time. But Lyra kept hanging on, her heart too strong and she was starting to suffer at the end so she and her boyfriend made the heart wrenching decision to take her to a vet to end her suffering. Took numerous phone calls to find a vet willing to do it that day. Their own vet, who told them about the cancer in the first place, said they couldn't get her in for a week! I don't care what kind of excuses they had, covid, or whatever, that is sickening.  But they did find someone and she is no longer suffering. Here are a couple photos from happier times, Christmas 2020.

L to R: Kaylee, Ziggy, Lyra

Lyra always looked so serious in photos!

She is missed.

More Painting

First coat of Behr Lavender Memory in the guest bathroom. Only have about 1/3 of a gallon left but it may be enough, second coat never uses as much paint. The tub enclosure isn't painted because it will be covered by the tub surround.

Since I have to wait for it to dry before the 2nd coat I decided to paint the first coat on the accent wall in the dining room. This is Sherwin-Williams Clary Sage in satin. Apparently I was still able to get his paint, not all of their paints are out of stock. Second coat will happen tomorrow. This is the color of my kitchen island cabinets and the bar sink wall.

Master Bathroom Walls and Floor

 I finished the 2nd coat of paint  m on our bathroom walls yesterday.

Behr Permafrost in eggshell

I also bought 7 cases of Lifeproof vinyl plank tile from Home Depot in the color Castle Black Slate for the floor on the bath, the attached walk-in closet and the small hall connecting them to our bedroom. Originally I was having the LVP flooring in the kitchen and living room run straight through but as that can't be installed till the as yet undelivered kitchen cabinets are installed we decided to do this instead. Having the floor in will allow us to put in everything else, and give us at least a partially working bathroom. Can't run a shower till the well pump is hooked up, but the toilet can definitely slow fill the tank after each flush with the current pressure of our flowing well.

1'x2' planks

First we need to install the shower wall surround which we plan to pick up from Home Depot this weekend. Then we'll put in the floor and then we can start putting the rest of the bathroom together. We hope to have a semi functioning bathroom before the end of the year, earlier if we can manage it.

Let There Be Light

 Last week Hal thought something wasn't right with the living room ceiling, there seemed to be a  big blank spot amongst the recessed lighting. So I looked up some pre-drywall photos and sure enough, they neglected to cut a hole for one of our 18 can lights. Fortunately it was easy to find because it was in line with a few other lights and we just crosschecked. Then Hal took a drywall screw and went looking. Sure enough, it had a working lightbulb and there it was.

a screw hole of light

Then it was just a matter of finding the edges and cutting it out.

Hopefully, nothing else is hiding in the walls.

Lopi Berkshire

 We installed the gas heat stove last week. The hard part was connecting the stove pipe. It's all scratched up now so we're going to have to get some paint to fix it, but at least it's in and heating the house now! With only one of the 2 burners on we're keeping the living room at 64 degrees. Very comfortable working conditions. With both burners lit we have no trouble getting it to 67 which is where we set it, no need for more heat yet. I actually had to contact the seller to figure out how to turn on the 2nd burner, it's all done with the remote control and not all that intuitive.

Here's a short video. Very nice flame.

Sure wish there was a crackling fire sound but it looks pretty realistic otherwise. It will look better once the fake embers are added but we'll do that after we install it permanently. The floor has to be installed first.

The 4 Bedrooms are Painted!

I first started with the master bedroom with the fancy one coat Behr Dynasty paint in color Thundercloud. Dynasty is unforgiving, thick, dries too quickly and still left pinholes of white primer showing through (requiring a 2nd coat) as well as roller marks. At $50 a gallon, not worth it! I finished this room after finishing the other 3 bedrooms using the Behr Ultra Premium. All the paints are in an eggshell finish, one step up from flat/matte.

obvious roller marks

MBR hall looking into living room

I stopped working on the master while I painted the other bedrooms using Behr Premium Ultra, cheaper and easier to use. First the small bedroom, aka my sewing room. The color is called Lunaria, sort of a yellow tinted cream.

Next I did the guest room in a yellow tinted green called rejuvenation.

Next I did the other large bedroom which will be used as the TV room/den and is wired for surround sound speakers. The color is a blue tinted green called Thai Basil. The photo is just after the first coat. I know in these photos the colors look very similar but they're not. I need better lighting but Hal hasn't installed any of the lights in the bedrooms yet.

If I get better photos, I'll put them in a later post. Off to build a fence now though. No paining today.