Itchin' for a kitchen

Ever since we had our new range with convection oven delivered, I've been itchin' to do some cooking in my new kitchen. Thing is, there still isn't running water there, although that's coming soon---maybe next week. This week we finished up the ceramic tile we laid in the kitchen and dining room and although we have to go back over the grout with a sealer and colorant, for the most part, that's done.

In this photo, Rudy put in the last tile.

It was a huge job, over 250 square feet in the kitchen, dining room and pantry, and was a major step in being able to add trim and shelves in the new pantry, and moving small pieces of furniture in. The only mishap was that the camel colored grout turned lavender/mauve. The theory is that the water changed the chemistry of the colorant---or it was just plain bad juju---nobody knows. That's the problem with grout; it never dries the way the sample looks and it's impossible to change much once it's dry.

Another major step was getting to the point where we could add the underlayment for the countertops, which will be pine. This photo shows the left hand side of the kitchen with the two sections on either side of the stove.

This shows the other side, with Rudy doing a "dry run" on the sink---upside down. The underlayment for that side is also in.

Remember the BEFORE photos? Even though it doesn't seem like it, we've made progress. this is the left hand side, before. The stove now sits in front of this former tiny pantry wall.

And this is an overview of the other side, with the original cabinets, flooring, wall and countertops.

The refrigerator is sitting out of the way until the counters are done, but is otherwise ready to go. It's been sitting open for a few weeks in order for all the new plastic inside to outgas. Otherwise the food will taste awful. Yuck.

Here's a photo of the kitchen and dining room from the living room. A set of antique french doors will go into that opening eventually, and a very small island will sit in the middle of the kitchen between the two sides.

The living room walls have been painted with "Mark Twain House Tan"....a National Historic Register color available at Lowe's. The trim has been primed at this point.

So, no cooking for me in my new kitchen---yet. But I still have hopes that we can at least cook a meal here before the end of the year, when I can try out my new convection oven. Until then, it's sandwiches and frozen dinners in the microwave.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

bobbi c.