Kitchen Reno Update

Kitchen Reno Update

My tag line has never been so accurate.

After two full days of demolition, the support wall is down and the support beam is up (it’s NOT an I-beam after all). The whole area is lighter and brighter, but this new open concept has one drawback. From now one, we must close the bathroom door — unless we want passersby to catch a glimpse of us performing ablutions at the sink.

As with any old home, there are always surprises. Turns out the wall we took out was more of a “moral support” wall than an actual load-bearing structure. This explains why the dining room ceiling was 2 inches lower than the kitchen’s. With the support beam now properly inserted, the two ceilings are once again the same height and the pine floors in our bedroom above no longer sag. Bonus!

Best of all, I’ve said good-bye to the horrid circulating fan — and it’s decade-long accumulation of grease. You know it’s bad when the contractor’s soft-spoken assistant feels the appliance warrants comment.

Not only has this reno proven my housekeeping skills to be somewhat lamentable, it’s shown I will never make it as an architect. I’ve lived in this house for more than 15 years and never realized the dining room is 24 inches wider than the kitchen. No wonder my reno drawings wouldn’t line up. Initially I put this down to my questionable math skills, but the real culprit was my impaired powers of observation.

And if that’s all I have to report, you know it’s going pretty smoothly.

Below are some snapshots to give you an idea of what’s happening and the level of chaos that has crept throughout our dwelling. Just click on the photo and it will take you to a short explanation of the picture. Click on the picture again, and it will take you to an enlarged shot. Sorry, but I can’t figure out how to do all that in one click. And once you see the state of my office, you’ll understand why I’m a bit challenged at the moment!

I’ll be back to the regularly scheduled topics of food tomorrow. In the meantime, I’m posting regular updates via Twitter. Don’t have Twitter? You can read the most recent Reno Tweets in the sidebar on the left.

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14 Comments
  • Terry Cohoe
    Posted at 08:57h, 15 March

    OMG Charmian. You poor thing. A few years ago we did something similar and I have to say the only good part was not feeling obliged to keep it clean. “Well, it’s a construction zone you know”, lol. Enjoy your mess with no pressure to clean and soon it will be all over and you’ll be in a kitchen paradise. (Also, wine helps). 🙂

  • Kara Newman
    Posted at 12:02h, 15 March

    good luck, Charmian – renovating is such a big project. Looking forward to following along (and rejoicing with you when the ordeal is OVER!)
    .-= Kara Newman´s last blog ..Spice & Ice virtual cocktail party, part 3 =-.

  • Cheryl Arkison
    Posted at 13:31h, 15 March

    Oh wow. It’s kind of dumb to say it will be worth it in the end when the end seems so. far. away.
    Hang in there, find the humour, and enjoy your BBQ.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 17:43h, 15 March

    @Terry Cohoe, thanks for the moral support. I must say “not feeling obliged to keep it clean” is one of the liberties I’m currently enjoying — as I wipe plaster dust off my keyboard.

    The workers are incredibly tidy and respectful of the space. If their results are half as good as their process, my kitchen will be a thing of beauty!

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 17:44h, 15 March

    @Kara Newman, when this is over I’m making me one of those Sparkling Daisy drinks of yours. Pop goes the champagne!!

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 17:45h, 15 March

    @Cheryl Arkison, BBQ?! Again, you prove yourself invaluable. It’s been too cold or wet recently, but the upcoming week is supposed to be nice, so I’ll fire up the Q tomorrow night! Oh, steaks or lamb? Or souvlaki?

  • Claire Walter
    Posted at 18:46h, 15 March

    When I look at your work-in-progress pix, I’m suddenly VERY happy with my 21 1/2-year-old kitchen! It will be worthwhile when the last teacup is put away in a new cabinet.

  • Carrie
    Posted at 23:28h, 15 March

    I’m still super giddy for you! A brand new kitchen for all kinds of new mischief.
    No pain, no gain!
    Oh and yes the barbecue and paper plates are the only way to survive a kitchen reno. No one will fault you!
    .-= Carrie´s last blog ..Everybody’s Irish and, apparently, I’m a baker =-.

  • lisa waterman gray
    Posted at 13:43h, 16 March

    @Charmian Christie,
    I’m sure you’ll absolutely love the results. I love the current color on your walls. Will you keep it when you’re done?

    L

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 13:55h, 16 March

    @Claire Walter, glad to serve as a reminder 🙂 Putting away the last teacup is a while away, but it will be worth it!

    Did I mention we’re doing some bathroom renos too? I’m looking forward to walking across warm tiles on chilly mornings.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 13:57h, 16 March

    @Carrie, Thanks for the moral support! Paper plates are recycled as compost in our city, so there’s not guilt!! Just delicious barbecued food.

  • Carrie
    Posted at 14:00h, 16 March

    @Charmian Christie,
    Heated tiles ROCK! You’ll love them. And the best part is, your floor will never be wet. My parents have them in their main entrance and in their bathroom. No soggy mats.
    .-= Carrie´s last blog ..Everybody’s Irish and, apparently, I’m a baker =-.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 14:03h, 16 March

    @lisa waterman gray, not sure. The claret color is lovely but too strong to be carried across two rooms.

    Currently we’re considering keeping it on one wall as an accent. Taking the wall down has changed the light considerably so we have to rethink everything. The old green, which was a leaf green looks like something out of the 1950s in the new light. Quite hideous — and yet it was a soft pretty green when I painted.

  • Cheryl@5secondrule
    Posted at 19:25h, 16 March

    I’m w/ Lisa WG. Love the colors. We have very similar colors throughout our house, though I must say our kitchen is bright orange, and I quite love it.

    I do feel your renov. pain. We’re in the midst of a backyard redo and the constant ratatat of the power tools is growing just a wee bit old. Hang in there! It’ll be lovely on the other side.
    .-= Cheryl@5secondrule´s last blog ..Sunday =-.