kitchen renovations

After much thought, planning, looking at ideas, discussions about doing it and then putting it off, Steven and I have decided to move forward hire a team to renovate our kitchen!

Ever since we bought this home we agreed we never liked the dark wooden cabinets with the apple carvings!! Some of our friends did, but we knew we would be changing this at some point. After living  here a year, the formica kitchen counters with a wooden trim piece along the edges is not working for us. This wooden lip makes wiping the counters off next to impossible! Not that we are neat freaks, far from it! We just don't like crumbs on the counter that we can't wipe off.

Above you'll see the style of cabinet door we chose on the left. It's very plain and considered contemporary style. Truthfully, I think both Steven and I wanted something clean and sleek in contrast to what we have been living with! The smaller, lighter piece of wood in front of the door style is the color and the wood we've chosen: maple, with a honey stain. The small granite piece is what our counters will look like.

The photo bottom right shows Steven talking animatedly to Kitchen Designer Scott Duncan about our choices : ) You can also get a peek at our current kitchen in this photo, try large. The new plans call for opening the kitchen into the living area by removing the wall behind the range and microwave. There will be a "knee wall" below the counter, but the counter will be enlarged and there will be a place to sit and chat or eat, open to the living room.

We have to get the permits for doing this work before it begins, which could take 4-6 weeks because our home is in a flood zone. In the meantime, we will shop for appliances, plumbing fixtures and tile. The cabinets and counter will be ordered by Scott. The demolition should start in December if all goes well and the work itself should take 6-8 weeks? Before that time Steven & I will need to pack up the entire kitchen and set up camp in our garage! Since the work will extend into the living area with wall removal, replacing the tile floor and painting - we will have to clear that room out too. It will be arranged differently anyway after the renovation to go with the new counter area.

It will be worth it!!!!!