As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Saturday, February 24, 2018

Slow Progress in the Kitchen


Nearly two years ago, I told you about our plans to s-l-o-w-l-y make changes to our kitchen. (Click ~here~ to see the old kitchen and read about our plans.) 

Indeed, the process has been slow. Partly because we're doing the work ourselves. Partly because we have worked on other projects too. (The library and closet, the media cabinet, several pairs of interior shutters, the little vestibule into the master suite, and the repair and/or replacement and the painting of exterior shutters.) And partly because house-y things cost money! 

Our progress has been slow, but sure. Here are the things we have accomplished so far: 

  • We have installed the new double oven range, taking out a bottom cabinet to make space for it.

  • We have removed the old wallpaper and painted the walls. 

  • We have painted the trim. Part of it, twice. (Long story.) And soon we're going to be painting it a third time. (Even longer story.) 

  • We hung a new chandelier over the island. 


  • We constructed, hung, and painted interior shutters.


This is a (nearly) current picture of the west end of the kitchen:




At the beginning of the year, we decided to get serious about the kitchen and make it the focus of this year's projects. Of course, we needed to finish the library closet redo first. but then we got right to work on the next kitchen project: removing the wall oven and reworking that space! 

Although there have been a couple of occasions when we have used all three ovens simultaneously, no one really needs to have three ovens in their kitchen. We felt that the space would be better served as a place for the microwave. That will free up a great deal of counter space! We had considered "hiding ugly stuff" with either cabinet doors, a fabric curtain, or a drop-down door, but we scrapped all of those ideas. Who really wants to open a door or curtain every time you want to rewarm your coffee or melt butter? Convenience won out this time. 


Here's a "before" photo:



And here is what this space has looked like over the past couple of weeks: 

Wall oven gone!


Oops. Not enough depth for the new outlet, because the pocket door is behind this space.
New plan: Build it out a bit with spacer strips.

Line the space with bead board paneling.


Add a shelf for the microwave.


Still considering what we're going to do with the bottom shelf.



As we speak As I type, Ron is painting! We are going to paint just this one section of cabinets/new shelf area this weekend. (The plan is to move on to another section of cabinets soon! Yay!) 

I hope to pop in later this week to show you how this space turned out!



26 comments:

  1. I love all the projects you and Ron accomplish, Cheryl. Very clever planning goes into redoing a kitchen. I look forward to seeing the finished project. Your home is just beautiful and I'm sure the kitchen will be as well. ♥

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    1. Thank you for your vote of confidence, Martha Ellen! We are excited about making changes that will both meet our needs and fit our style. The bit of painting that Ron did today in the new color has me chomping at the bit to get it ALL done! (Patience, Cheryl, patience.) :)

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  2. That is quite project! Maybe you could put cookery books on the other shelf under the micro?

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    1. Doing the whole kitchen is a big project! Doing it one bit at a time makes it more doable, although it requires patience. Using that shelf for cookbooks is one of the things we're considering!

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  3. It must be wonderful to live with a master carpenter! It looks like a wonderful idea you have and I love the bead board paneling. I have no doubt you will come up with good ideas for the extra shelf. No worries there! I love the way you even present how you've done your projects--as organized as your house is! :-)

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    1. Oh, it is wonderful to live with a guy who loves projects and does such a good job with them! (It also helps that he loves me when I keep changing my mind about paint colors. Yikes!)

      I do love organization, but I find that it's an ongoing process to keep it that way!

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  4. Your new kitchen is looking very spiffy. I'd go along with Elizabeth in using the shelf for cookbooks - or perhaps placemats. I really like the shutters on your windows. Great colour, too.
    We are embarking upon a very slow kitchen reno, too. It will take years. Literally. The new gas fireplace in the eating area was the first step. Next will be installing a new window and replacing the sliding glass doors with a single man door. Little by little. It's a do-it-yourself project here, too. So glad to be able to think of things and have someone put my thoughts into reality.

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    1. Although I sometimes think it would be wonderful to have a project done lickety split, there are certainly advantages to doing things slowly. For one, a slow project allow you to think things through and make changes along the way. And about that color? That's one of the things that we're changing.

      I look forward to seeing more of your kitchen project! The gas fireplace is such a cozy addition! It sounds as if you and your husband work together like we do.

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  5. Looking good! You two are doing a great job. I'm going to be getting rid of my micro-wave. The only thing I use it for is 'storage' and heating up clay packs when I have muscles that need to be relaxed.

    Have a lovely Sunday ~ FlowerLady

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    1. Thank you, Lorraine! I rarely use my microwave for any real cooking, but I'd probably never finish a cup of coffee if I couldn't rewarm it several times. (I like my coffee hot!)

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  6. You guys do amazing work! Want to come work on some projects here? 😊

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    1. Thank you, Deanna! It would be fun to work on projects together, but we're as slow as poke!

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  7. Slow steady progress is always good. One can avoid a few messes on
    the slow side. If you did it the more traditional way, it’d all be torn apart for
    quite some time. Yes, I definitely prefer your method. Ron is such a good
    carpenter. His work is truly exceptional, he thinks on his feet, and can
    figure out a difficulty well. You’re in good hands down there at the Pineapple
    House. Now to know why you are painting so often...

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    1. That's a good point, Vee! I have had plenty of "all torn apart" projects in my lifetime. Slow is better at this stage of the game! And, yes, I am definitely blessed to live with a carpenter!

      The paint story may be a separate post . . . not that it's all that interesting. Just that it's long and complicated. (Because I am long and complicated maybe?) :)

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  8. This is coming out so great. I love your kitchen and butcher block island. Love that new double oven that is pretty awesome. Your Ron is like my Terry. We are blessed to have these guys with great tools that know how to use them! The progress is great.
    Hugs and Happy Sunday,
    Kris

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    1. Thank you, Kris! Absolutely, we are blessed! Hope your weekend was lovely!

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  9. Brilliant! I love the open shelves the bead board paneling. Like others I thought of cookbooks for the other shelf, or a two tiered holder of some sort for fruit and veggies you don't want in the fridge. You'll come up with something soon enough in the middle of the night when you can't sleep. :)

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    1. Thanks, Ellen! My brain is always spinning with house-y plans! :) I will probably try a lot of things on that shelf (cookbooks, yellowware bowls with potatoes/onions/etc., pitchers, cake pedestals, antique boxes) before I land on something. And it might change from time to time too!

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  10. Your Ron sure is a handy guy to have around! I also love the bead board paneling...what a great idea. Looking forward to seeing the next update!

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    1. Thanks, Debby! I think I'll keep him! :)

      Hoping to have something to show by the week's end. Second coat of paint went on tonight. Now the wait for it to cure . . . (I hate waiting!)

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  11. Oh wow. So nice! Put your cookbooks on the bottom shelf under the microwave. That was my first thought. Wait, you constructed the shutters?? Do you have links to the plans? Those are so what I need!

    Linking over from Mrs Rabe's post on intentional grandparenting...where you gave me some wonderful ideas! Thank you.

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    1. Thanks, Christina! I think cookbooks are getting the popular vote! :)

      I am sorry to tell you that there are no "plans" for the shutters. Ron just makes four panels per window and has to do the math to figure it all out. (I'm not a bad math student, but all of that measuring and figuring makes my brain hurt, so I am glad that he is up to the challenge!)

      Thanks for following me over here. I'll be repaying your visit!

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  12. Cheryl, your kitchen is looking great! The new double oven range will be so nice to have. I also think the new space under the microwave shelf would be an ideal spot for cookbooks. Or maybe some glass canisters to hold various pastas, dry beans, sugar and flour? I can see all kinds of possibilities there. Have a great week!

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    1. Thank you, Cheryl!

      Haha! I think that's my problem: "all kinds of possibilities"! You can be sure that I'll be trying out several ideas before I nail one down! :)

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  13. Cheryl, I absolutely LOVE the conversion! It reminds me of years ago when I got a magazine called 'Country Living,' but it became too cluttered for me and I switched to a magazine called 'Country Home.' It was much like your home, at least when I got it, absolutely beautiful in its simplicity and vintageness or whatever it is. Love your kitchen! Actually, I just want to live in your home, but I realize you do have a family. LOL

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    1. Thank you, Judy! I got both of those magazines too. (Still get Country Living, in fact.) I think that the "country" of the eighties was characterized by lots of stuff. And ruffles! When I look at photos of my home back then, I cringe.

      Hey . . . the more the merrier! If you come, please bring Tommy and Smokey and make Bekah happy! :D

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