It's noon and we now have a functional kitchen.  Water was hooked up this morning giving us a sink, disposal and dish washer (by Asko).  The granite people will return next week after Christmas, which leaves only a missing cabinet and the backsplash tile job to be done in early January.  to The whole remodeling project, from design to execution, has gone as planned.  The master carpenter is a skilled professional, a good sub-contractor manager and a nice fellow too. 

All done by Kitchen Guild. 

We'll suspend the blog until another tradesmen shows up, about another week.  In the interim, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all loyal foodies.

General clean up is underway as we head out to the granite place to confirm our selection of the granite section of the countertop  (1/3 granite [serving area] and 2/3 stainless steel [working area]).
 
 
 
 

The aforementioned expensive mahogany trim turned out to have been poorly milled.  None of  the pieces were squared.  Whoever ran them through the joiner and planer was an indifferent novice with no supervision.  It took the carpenter three hours to trim the archway using saw, clamps and a heavy nail gun.  If the wood billets were true, the whole thing would have gone up with finishing nails in a hour.  We were not amused.  I plan to go out and pluck a crow with the manager of the lumber company. 

So, we're cooking with gas tonight.  Something really gourmet to mark this auspicious occasion.  Probably Macaroni and Cheese with Hotlinks and Cranberry Sauce.   It don't get no better than this.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The microwave, warming oven and hood vent won't be be powered until Day Thirteen.  Tomorrow morning, three guys will muscle the range up from the garage to the kitchen.  With luck, we may have it in place and on line by noon.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

We decided over the weekend that both the kitchen cart and the hanging pot rack are too big.  The cart will crowd the larger oven door and the rack interferes with a new cabinet door.  I bought both in San Diego in 1978, so we've had good use from them.  We'll look for replacements on the Internet.  We went to the lumber store and ordered mahogany to frame an archway. I ordered three wide pieces for the arch and three for the side wall.  It dawned on me in the middle of the night that there are two side walls--one on one side of the wall and one on the other.  Dohhhh.  Called them this morning and upped the order to six side wall pieces.

All of the appliances should arrive tomorrow.
 
 
 

Carpenters spent a half day tweaking doors and hinges and building up various surfaces for paneling.  We got word from our guy in Baltimore that the Blue Star range is now in his warehouse and will be delivered early next week.  All other appliances are accounted for and will be delivered by Day Seven. 

We've decided to get a new smaller stainless steel center island cart and retire the larger wood one that I bought in San Diego in 1978.  Also looks like we will need a smaller pot rack.  Maybe the stainless steel counter guys can build one to order.  If not, their are hundreds of them on the internet.

We have had some misunderstandings regarding the positioned height of the cabinets.  I was reminded by the designer that the contract says it is to be determined on site to clear the ceiling beams.  That was done correctly.  End of matter.

Oh, the pink curtain (The Little Woman calls it Dusty Rose) suspended in the photo, drapes the chandelier to prevent us all from crashing into it.

PS: The master carpenter left his five foot level here over the weekend.  Wherever I position it, vertical or horizontal, the bubble is dead centered. 

The aforementioned wrongsized floor cabinet box now graces the utility room, drawers, doors and all.  The contractor has the right sized one on order.  It's their bad. 

The carpenter hung the wall cabinets.  He mentioned that they are 1.5 inches lower than planned, which I didn't understand nor like.  It turns out that the error on the floor cabinet box forced the wall cabinets to shift left.  Which, at the designed height, now swung two doors into the ceiling beam.  So there they are, about 16" above the counter. I'd like higher.  Another discovery:  the big cabinet door on the right swings into the pot rack.  Mmmmmmm.

Then the counter guy came in the afternoon to take the measurements for the stainless steel countertop.  "Where will the seams be, I asked?" "There are none, it's seamless, sink, corners, turned edge, backsplash and all."  "Wow, sez I, we gotta come out and take a look at your shop."  "Please, by all means, we would love to show you around, but be forewarned,  we do use magic," he said with obvious pride of product.  I asked him how many homes they do and he replied that stainless steel is gaining in popularity.  " We're doing about twenty a month now."

Mailman delivered a letter from the United States Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Virginia, removing all doubt.

I made Fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp in the mini-kitchen last night.  Never again.  One burner, fridge upstairs, sink in the bathroom, TV trays.  A real hassle.  But good . . . 

For breakfast, I sautéed a couple of small smoked boneless pork chops on the Burton Burner, in the make-shift mini-kitchen, in the utility room.  Sure enough, the smoke alarm went off.

Master carpenter, who commutes from Front Royal, a long drive, headed home at noon as road conditions deteriorate in the higher elevations where he lives.  He probably also wants to get out the snow mobile and run around with his boy, since the schools are closed. 

The first cabinet box has been placed, leveled and releveled.  According to our carpenter, if the countertop guys don't find the entire cabinet top surface flat and level they will walk off the site without taking any measurements and bill for the visit.  So levels and lasers abound.

Yesterday's kitchen detritus was hauled off last night, as scheduled. The cabinet vendor called to say its delivery truck would arrive at 0715 this morning, so everyone--house and contractor--turned out early for the occasion.  After three phone calls by our unamused master carpenter, the truck showed up promptly at 1030.  But the electricians came early and put in a full day's work roughing in.  By day's end, the carpenters had floor cabinet boxes in the kitchen and positioned sufficiently to discover that one box is 4 inches too long, leaving insufficient room for the stove.  The designer showed up rather promptly, ruler in hand, and returned to her office to order a proper sized box.  The oversized cabinet is not returnable.  Maybe it will fit in the garage somewhere.  Nice:  three drawers and doors. 

Pepper, the poodle, seems less confused by all this today and no longer barks nor pays much attention to the movements of the labor force.  It is said that cats know staff.  Well, dogs do too.

First step on our part was to order a new gas range, a 36 inch Blue Star.  A well established appliance dealer in our area had one on the show floor to look at, so we ordered it.  That was on 30 October.  Just before Thanksgiving I had difficulty getting the dealer to give me a delivery date.  After Thanksgiving, no one was answering their phone and the store was dark.  Worst fears realized:  No stove:  no check.  So, we have now hired a lawyer and ordered a second Blue Star.

The master carpenter showed up this morning with a helper. With floor protection coverings in place, demolition got underway.  By the end of the day, all of the old kitchen, save the fridge and the kitchen faucet, was out on the driveway awaiting the dumpster guy.  The carpenter then claimed half of the garage as a staging area, so the SUV will be parked outdoors for the duration.  Stay tuned . . .