Chic Kitchen

Our current kitchen was functional. It had cupboards, appliances, and room for a table to eat at. I can't count the number of times people told us "oh your cabinets are fine". Sure, they were okay, but the lack of space to truly cook in, coupled with me burning the countertop (oops), the constant purge of kitchen utensils and appliances, and rolling of the portable dishwasher was getting a little old.

More than that, though, the lack of freezer space that caused us to play freezer jenga almost every quarter was frustrating.

I think we truly started on the path to a new kitchen after we drooled over the full fridge and full freezer unit. 

It went on sale around the time for a honey of a deal around we had J and we wanted to buy it, but just couldn't swing it financially. So we started to figure out a budget to finish off this project, then we started the tear out.

Believe it or not, that is the last deconstruction that we will do in the Hobo-Chic Project - we've literally torn every room apart. The kitchen was the last hold out.

Being that the kitchen has also been the draftiest & coldest room in the house for the last little while, we opened up all of the walls to check the insulation. We weren't surprised to find a lack thereof.

After adding some insulation to ensure the kitchen is much warmer, and quieter, and removing the cabinets to give to a friend & selling our old appliances online, we found some wonderful retro flooring.

We debated leaving it, but no, the show must go on. Ripped out all the old vinyl (x2 layers, of course), and added a new sub-floor.

We also replaced all the windows and doors in the kitchen and added a new side door to make our side entrance a little easier to come in at instead of a tight stairwell.

More on this crazy door situation & our new side deck next post. We went through the regular routine of drywall, taping, mudding, sanding and painting, no big news there.

About this time, my mom, J and I took off to Edmonton to await baby #2, so every day I would get new update SMS message, they went a little something like this:

Floor done in just 3 days!

Our cabinets were in the week they were suppose to be. They did beat P-baby to Edmonton (she was late by 12 days), however we needed the handyman himself, so the project got put on hiatus for a week or two while we delivered some of our best work.

After only 3 days in hospital, back at home, the guys got right back to work, with my dad in the mix too. And now, we have the pantry and one wall of the cabinets assembled. Unfortunately, our cabinets for over our lovely full fridge and freezer were ordered in the wrong size, so we're anxiously awaiting their replacements.

In the meantime, we are working on the deck outside for the new door, the sink being put in the kitchen, installing the dishwasher, the plywood counters, drywalling the hallway, picking out handles for cabinetry & debating what goes where.

Phew!