Backsplash is done

Hmmmmmmm. Something looks different.

This is what I thought I was getting.

Granite was installed today. It looks nothing like the sample I saw. I haven't decided if I like it yet.

Pendants... I can't pick one !

Almost done....

yahooooooooooooooooo

I came home from a lousy trip to Boston and this was waiting for me ....

Progress...

Drywall is back up, electrical and plumbing are done. I'm off to Boston tomorrow, I'll be back on Tuesday night.  Cabinets and flooring should  be finished by the time I return.

Happy Halloween !

 There are 3 things I've learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics and the great pumpkin.

Demo has begun

I love it when a plan comes together.

My range just arrived. I purchased this range without seeing it in person. No stores had it on display. It's even more fabulous than I thought it would be. Chuck called me Friday, demo will begin this Wednesday or Thursday. If all goes well I should have a finished kitchen ( except backsplash) in 2 weeks.

Dunzo

I finally picked out backsplash tile. I think the fine folks at Avalon Tile hate me. I could not pick a tile color. In my defense  these particular tiles only came in 6 colors...it was slim pickins. The color I ended up with it kind of a creamy blue grey.

9 of these will form a 18" X 18" square
behind the range

Trim to create a tile "picture frame"
around the above tiles

Decorative Tile Color

White Crackle Subway Tile

Will be placed in
the rows of subway tiles and
run around the entire backsplash

I'm bringing indecisive to a whole new level

I was doing really well for a while. Now I must pick my backsplash tile... I literally mean NOW. Turns out all those snazzy tiles are handmade and takes about 6 weeks to arrive. I went to Avalon Carpet & Tile yesterday and perused the tiles for 2 hours. Today while at work I figured out exactly what tiles I want and which colors. I go back to Avalon today and the sales guy bursts my bubble when he tells me the tile I want isn't available in the color I want. Then I find another similar tile and that tile was available in the color I want but none of the trim pieces come in that color.  I left the store 3 hours later ready to cry.
The store has thousands of tiles ! I have no idea why I am having such a tough time, well actually I'm sure it has to do with my desire to pair up some expensive decorative tiles with some cheaper subway tile.  I refuse to spend $45 a sq ft on Walker Zanger white subway tiles.
In other news I did buy flooring yesterday while at Avalon, I opted for cork.  It's earth friendly !

I HATE CARDBOARD

I opened every box yesterday. Each cabinet was inside a cardboard box, which was inside another cardboard box. It took me 9 hours to open them all and cut up all the cardboard. I filled 2/3 of a New Castle County cardboard dumpster. It was ridiculous.

Cabinet Delivery

ok, I have finally had that moment...the " holy crap what was I thinking moment". My entire living room is filled with boxes. And I have to live like this for a few more weeks. Plus the box for the lazy susan is HUGE. So big that it could not fit through my front door. The delivery guy assured me that once it is out of the box it will fit in my house, but of course they can't take it out of the box or bring it in my house if I remove  the box. So as you can see if the picture below, there is a giant box in the hallway. I'm sure my neighbors will be thrilled.  I have no idea who I am going to get to help me bring this thing in.

Giant Box

After

Before

After

Finally !

Got the call today, cabinets are ready for delivery. They will be here on Thursday.
I talked with Chuck this morning and looks like installation will be the 1st or 2nd week of November.

Tile Samples

My faucet arrived yesterday and I love it ! Some tile samples arrived today. The tiles I thought I would love, I hate. And the ones I thought I wouldn't like.. I like.

This sample I was on the fence about, but in person it's beautiful, the colors don't look anything like the picture. It's actually white and grey, in the picture it looks blue and brown.

This tile is also fabulous in person, it's a white marble and it has a sparkle like effect.

kitchen remodeling is not for the easily annoyed

When I ordered my faucet on Monday, the website stated "in stock and ships within 1 day"
So when my faucet didn't arrive I emailed the company this morning and was told that it is on back order for 12 WEEKS !!!
I called about 20 kitchen faucet retailers and managed to find someone who had it in stock. I had to get a different handle style and finish... polished stainless steel which of course cost $136 more.

I'm not sure I like the handle style, but I can buy replacement handles from Kohler for under $35.00

I'm on a roll...

Bought countertops today. I ended up getting the Kashmir White granite.  Got a great bargain. Next stop... flooring and backsplash.

Mission Accomplished

I finally picked a faucet
The Kohler Parq Bridge Faucet. I didn't get the side spray,  might consider a built in soap dispenser.
I got  it in chrome, the cabinet hardware is shinny so it should look good together.

Countertop choices

Yesterday I went to a kitchen and bath showroom in Cherry Hill to look at some Kohler faucets. It's hard to judge what they look like online so I needed to see the finishes in person. The place didn't have anything I liked but downstairs was a countertop place.  I was crazy surprised at how affordable my choices were. I have narrowed it down to 2 options.

Kashmir White Granite

Panna Ria Natural Quartz

The kashmir white looks awesome with the gray swatch for my cabinet color, but I have no idea what backsplash I would do, lots of gray, blue, black and dots of red in the granite. Would need a plain backsplash.
On the other hand the quartz slab is amazing ! I've never seen anything like it. This picture does not do it justice. I'm going to pick up samples next Saturday and see what they look like in my kitchen.

pulls or knobs ??

Sinks

Vaso 966

Free Sink

So I have pretty much chosen Corian for my
countertops. I'm donezo with granite. It's crazy granite is now half the price of the higher end Corian.
 Which color Corian ?...that is another story for
another day. Corian has a sink that is integrated into the counter so they are no seams. Plus the sink comes with the package. I'm thinking of upgrading from the rounded sink to  the new Vaso square sink.

I'm in love...