Lording over me.

Before we fixed up the kitchen, we had this weird, unused little area near the back of the house. We used to keep Rickey's dog bed and his food there. Well, even with the kitchen mostly done we still have that weird unused area. Until I decide what exactly to do with this area, I've parked my Craigslist-find chair there for now so we have a place to sit. Rickey seems to think that this means his bed has just been upgraded. Here he is lording over me as I begin to cook dinner. Look at his lazy ass! He's now begging for food from a blue throne. Fucker.

Anyway, about this area. Thoughts? I am thinking built-in bench with extra storage. The man of the house wants it to be more like a booth with two little built-in benches on either side and a little table in between. He wants to read the paper and drink his coffee near the window.

Ideas?


The wall color is actually The Right White from Restoration Hardware. It just looks yellow-ish because I can't seem to take a decent photo these days.

Almost.

Yeah, we lived with that disaster yellow kitchen for 4 years. If you are late to the party, you can read more about the horrible old kitchen and my paint-peeling party HERE in my love/hate letter to home ownership.

It's not a super deluxe remodel or anything. We didn't move any walls. We didn't reconfigure the space. It's just cosmetic, but we sure as hell needed it.




(Update: A few Seattle people have emailed to ask about the cabinets. I got them from BUILDER'S SHOWROOM. The cabinets are manufactured by a local company, CANYON CREEK.)

Faucet: Final pick.

By Rohl. In all its polished-nickel glory.

Mini kitchen update:

I came home yesterday and was like, "What??? What is all this shit?" Drippy patches were hanging from the walls. It was painting day.

And then my better half said, "I think it's like spackle or filler." And then I realized that the painters skim-coated ALL the walls to even them out. Holy cow. So in a moment I went from, "What the fuck?" to "My painters are geniuses!"

I didn't know this was part of the deal. I just expected dudes to paint - simply paint - as I would. But it's a good thing that is not the case because I am the kind of person who would paint a cobweb or a hair into the wall.


-Counters go in early next week.
-Sink is in, but I can't see it because all the cabinets are covered up for the painters.
-New faucet needs to be ordered stat. I am sending the old one back (Everyone was right about the skinny handles.)
-Still need to figure out lighting for two more spots in the kitchen, but I'm not rushing that decision.
-Ditto on the backsplash. No decisions there yet. Oy.
-That's really all that remains to be done. I should be making a mess again in my kitchen by end of next week. Thank the lord.

A little more progress.

Came home from NY to see that all the cabinets are in. Lots of other things to do to finish them and the whole room, of course. The best part was that all the cabinet boxes piled high in the front room were now empty and the boxes themselves were repurposed in the kitchen to protect those ninny fir floors. I was glad to see the messy tide in my house begin to recede. Shit had taken over every room.

And now that the promise of a new kitchen is starting to seem so real, I am trying to imagine what it will be like to really use it. I was thinking I can't just put my ratty old Ikea flatware back in my new kitchen drawers, can I? No. Answer is definitely no, since this seems like a good time for an upgrade. So maybe today is the day I buy new flatware.

I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to edit all the crap that we will put back into the cupboards and drawers. When we had to remove all the food and dishes from the cabinets before Contractor Gary scrapped all the old cabinets, I kept thinking, "WHY exactly do we have these disgusting old college-era cheap-ass pans in here?" Things we never or rarely use are going to go. We really only use like 3 pans anyway. Time to tidy up.

See the light.

Here's the little pendant light I spied at ABC Carpet while here in lovely NYC. Just FYI for those following along with my kitchen updates.

Miscellaneous updates from NYC.

1. Just barely made it to ABC Carpet & Home before it closed. I took some photos but can't seem to get my iPhone to talk to my work-issued PC, so unfortuantely I can't show you the lights I found that I think will work in my kitchen. The are sort of vintage-y and mercury glass-ish and small in scale. Thinking one over the sink and a group of 3 hanging from their long skinny cords as the pendant light for the center of the room. Pending approval of my better half. I trust his good taste.

2. The weather. I was walking down the street around 8am and these little chunks of ice fell from above me. When I looked up, I saw more coming down around me. It was the weirdest hail I've ever seen. I swear to god, these were long and rectangularish and were big. They looked like diamonds. Seriously. It was like Elizabeth Taylor died, went to heaven, and spilled her jewelry box. Or something. It was the damnedest thing ever.

3. Impactful is not a word.

That is all for now.

Light in the kitchen.

*******Before you comment, read the post, already. A number of people have commented on the ugly second fixture. If you read the post, you will see that I am posting it as an example of what I don't want. - xoxo, The Management***





We touched on this before, but how much light do I really need?

You can see from earlier photos this kitchen is smaller than some suburban bedrooms, so consider the size if you will.

We already have one light over the stove, one over the sink, and then one in the nook area near the window. It always seems like enough (but then again, it's all the we had). I will tell you that I always turned on all 3 because 2 lights was inadequate.

So in addition to this, contractor Gary put in a box for a light in the center of the kitchen so I can hang a pendant or something. Fine. Here's the deal, though, I think I can just get any ol' single-bulb lighting fixture since in my mind, the addition of this new light and some undercounter task lights will be all the light I need. Gary thinks I need a fixture with at least 3 bulbs in it. I think this will be a monstrosity because (a) the size alone will be weird [too big] and (b) it's going to limit what I can buy and I will end up with an ugly-ass fixture. Like this:




Any thoughts would help. Also, I adore the Clemsen light from Restoration Hardware (photo at top of post), but it's the kind of light that i/you/we keep seeing everywhere. I am having a tough time finding something I like that is a bit more unique, but also not overly clever or loud. I may end up going with this light, but there is a part of me that thinks "This is the polite, safe choice you make when you have no time or patience to find something better." Oy.

Help. And please send links to great options if you have ideas.

They are like quiet shellacing ninjas.

I woke up this morning and Brett the floor guy was applying the last bits of his shiny finish/varnish whatever you call it coat to the floors. I forgot they were coming this weekend. I am sure my contractor told me this, but I think I had the days mixed up in my head. Oy. Anyway, what's done is done. The floors continue to look red in the photos but not in real life. I like they way they look. I *may* have asked them to do one more dark coat, but I like them as they are so we're happy here.

As for my pug, Rickey, what kind of guard dog is he? He didn't bark at all when the floors guys quietly let themselves in to finish the floors. That dog. I tell ya. He needs a job.

Darker.

Crappy photos*, but you get the idea. They are actually a little darker than these photos (and the flash) suggests. And these aren't finished yet. In progress.

I'll be in NYC next week while some big things happen. My cabinets, which are piled high in my living room, will be installed. The lighting will go in (lighting I haven't decided on yet which drives me nuts. I need to figure that out tomorrow.) and the room will also be painted. So, except for my counters and the faucet, it will be pretty much done.

I know someone was scolding me in comments a post or so ago, "Floors last! Floors last! Do everything else first and do your floors last!" Look. The floors are already in progress, so no scolding. And why would I put my cabinets in on top of the shitty old non-sanded wood and THEN finish the floors at the end... and stain them? Wouldn't it get on my cabinets? I don't get it. I understand it would be nice to not having "contractors" stomping all over them, but I plan to stomp all over them soon enough anyway. With HEELS on, no less. Plus, look how tiny my kitchen is. Barely two people fit in at any given time, so it's not like a small army of contractors will be treading on the floors. This is modest project and a modest room, as I am sure you can tell from the photos.

I have to pick out some marble tomorrow. What a fucking racket that whole business is. I went to Pental to shop marble, took photos and notes. Called back to basically say, this is what I want what will is cost? And then they told me I can't buy directly from them, I need to buy from a fabricator. Ok, fine. I get it. It's like telling me I need to buy fabric from a decorator. That whole model of selling is so old and broken. I don't understand why they wouldn't just arrange and broker the whole installation and take a cut of that. Seems like a lost service/profit opportunity, but maybe I am missing something. What a hassle. Anyway, I am picking out marble, for fuck's sake, so I really should quit my bitching.


(*And speaking of crappy photos, if you would like to take non-crappy ones, HERE are tips from Paul Costello on taking better photos of interiors.)

Hardwoods!

So, frequent fliers here know that I am fixing up my kitchen. And that once they pulled up the icky vinyl tile, we found hardwoods, which I happily reported on this blog, a declaration lovingly mocked by my pal Mamacita (frequent smart-ass commenter) and which was clarified for the general public by another commenter as:

The way I read Mamacita's comment was something like...decorno has a hottie contractor, has found hardwoods, is now getting a disposal, found a bag of cash buried in the wall, a diamond mine under the house, and the fumes from the remodel mysteriously made her boobs increase two sizes. You bitch. I hate you, how wonderful for you.

Well guess what? IT IS like I found a bag of cash! I mean, seriously, look at the sorry-ass floors in photos here...





...and then look at what some patching of massive holes (I was not delighted to know that I had these holes under my refrigerator, but whatevs) and a some sanding did. It's like magic.





I am trying to mourn the loss of Domino, but I am too fucking excited about my new old floors.

The first two coats of stain go on tomorrow, and then we take a look-see and if needed, the third coat will go on Friday and then that's that.

The cabinets were delivered today. They were made by Builder's Showroom. So far, we have had a great experience working with Lisa (co-owner) and Paul (designer). So, if you are in the Seattle area and considering a similar project, visit them. I was told inset cabinets would cost me 30% more, but the final quote to get exactly what we wanted AND inset was better than quotes from lesser versions at Lowe's and Home Depot. So, so far, so good.

And the happiest part today was reviewing the new itemized quote/bill which actually came down from the original estimate thanks to eliminating the cost of tile and labor to install it - - even though he's had to add in other unexpected work. Love that part. See Mamacita? It IS like I found a bag of cash in my house.


On another note, having a male contractor is like having a temporary second husband. We had very, I dunno, marital discussions about lighting today. You know... where he played the role of a know-it-all (in a sweet way) declaring things like, "Well, yeah, I am putting in black canned lights because it will soak up some light and cause less glare. Function over form, you know." To which I had to say whatever polite version of "Like hell you will..." that I could muster. And then I find out he worked in the lighting business for 25 years and felt a little defeated. But I am the chick with the design blog and 90 pounds of back issues of old magazines, so I know what I want dammit, and he's just going to have to ixnay his black ights-lay and find me a solution that is less... gross.

But I am growing to love Gary. He never really says no. He gave me homework (figuring out my lighting situation, naturally, because he tells me my picks won't give enough light). And after we went rounds on the lighting situation I looked around my house quietly.... scheming.


"Can you build a mantle?"

"Yes."

"Can you build a built-in bench in the kitchen.. with storage?"

"Yes."

"Can you give me electrical outlets in the backyard so I can string party lights in that tree?"

"Yes."


I sat for a moment thinking of everything else on my list.


"We're going to have a lot of work for you."


And he just laughed. Because he already knew that.

Day Five: Still life of piles of shit.

My house, which is sort of always a disaster, is much more of one these days. The refrigerator is in the middle of the dining room. The dining table is shoved into a corner of the same room with piles of things we need handy (paper plates, silverware, 2 coffee mugs, napkins, etc.).

I spent time yesterday trying to re-arrange the piles and make the whole dining room/temporary kitchen more usable, but that was a wasted effort. It's all such a mess. There is only one nice thing to look at: a bowl of fruit. Of course the piles of everything else surrounding it just make the whole scheme a still life of piles of shit.

The guts of our lives - everything in the cabinets - is simply not a pretty thing, is it? It's a wonder how people live with open shelving and glass-door refrigerators. I would be forever tidying up if I had them.

Thank god I don't. And won't.

Day Two: "Can we do that?"

Contractor Gary called early this am.

"Did you want a disposal?"

"Yes."

"Well, it's not in my bid."

"Um, ok. I know we want one."

So we spoke about that and I learned that in order to re-plumb the area to get the disposal to connect to my sink, it will add an extra $250 to the job. Plus the cost of the disposal. Oy.

I've never had a disposal. I have always lived my adult life in vintage apartment buildings, and in this older home. So I am not sure I understand the magic of it. But I asked my friend at work, and she cried out, "You don't have one?! You HAVE to have one!" Ok. I get that it grinds up the little bits of food from dinner, but I am not sure what the magic is. My better half and I decided that it seems like something a "modern home" has - - like soft-close drawers and, say, an electrical outlet in the bathroom (the only outlet we have in ours I can't reach. Go figure.) - - so we decided to get a disposal. I mean, if Karine is right, we need it.

But seriously. What is the magic? Please tell me.


Unrelated to the disposal business we had an interesting discovery yesterday, which I am still thinking through today:

Underneath the weird, gross, 12" x 12" plastic-y "tile" that the previous homeowner applied to the kitchen floor, Contractor Gary revealed.... hardwoods.

"So, are they.... good?" I asked him.

"Yeah. I mean. You'd need to refinish them."

"Can we do that?"

"Anything is possible. It'll just cost you more."

Which pretty much sounds like the unwritten rule of all matters related to home improvement.

So I know when discussing the floor everyone was hot on hardwoods. So maybe I will do that. I only have until tomorrow to decide. I better get a good night's sleep.


*UPDATE* Oh! And I forgot to add:
When he called me today, he had a question about the sink I ordered. And I told him, "Actually, if you look over on such and such, you will see a BINDER I have with everything related to the project so far... your bid, all my receipts, installation instructions for the sink, specs for the microwave, etc." I think he liked this.

When I returned home tonight, I noticed he left it open. He made notes in it. I love that part. He's actually using it.

Organization pays. (I can't believe my unorganized ass just typed that.)


Photo above? Not Contractor Gary.

Day One: The point of no return.

This morning, I had a sink. A crappy one, but still.

My favorite part today was just a few minutes ago when I was surveying the damage and chatting with the contractor about progress, to-dos, etc. He was telling me about work he will need to add. I just said, fine, can you tell me along the way what we are adding to the bill? He said, "Oh sure, but I will need to have [my fiance] sign for it since he's the homeowner.

Argh.

We both own it and the remodel is being funded with money I have been saving. Needless to say, the little lady of this house FELT STABBY. I let him know the situation and told him that he can just have me sign for everything, thank you.

Which reminds me, we had dinner with some people a few weeks ago and when they realized we'd been in the house 4 years, they asked, "What have you been doing this whole time?" Again, STABBY. Well, we've been saving for renovations, among other things. No loan, no interest, no funny money, no line of credit. Just cash. We lived nearly all that time with a faucet that shot water in your face if you moved it too far to the right because we just figured we'd make all the repairs at once... and once we could really afford it. Maybe that's old fashioned, but oh well.

Nevertheless, that all sounds so negative, but the truth is, I like our contractor. He's efficient, a little bossy when he needs to be, he's clear about letting me know when decision time is coming to an end for certain parts of the job that I am still deciding on (materials, etc.). So we are thrilled that work is beginning. We're glad the day has come, you know?

Plus, for the next 6 - 8 weeks, I have a perfectly good excuse for not cooking dinner and to have it delivered instead. What's not to love about that? Pagliacci is on speed dial.

Renovation binder & home bibles.

I am not, by nature, an organized person.

So, when reading Cynthia Kling's Domino article many months ago about running a super-organized house, I was admittedly turned on by the idea of maintaining a house bible - some kind of binder with all kinds of useful information. I have a habit of scribbling things down only to lose them later. My life is a never-ending hunt for that one Post-It note with that one important phone number.

Well, I did it. I created a binder for the house which has all kinds of info, like the recipes and timeline for making Thanksgiving dinner (since I had only done it once - the year before - I knew I didn't want to reinvent the wheel on that little project). It also includes names of repairmen, the insurance guy, take-out menus, and big lists of recommended contractors, landscapers.



But so far, the best use of a big ol' binder has been to devote one entirely to our kitchen remodel.

I started it with tear sheets from magazines of the kitchen I wanted, photos I had been collecting for years. And the best part of organizing the inspiration part first is that the decisions are then easy to make. So many of the kitchens I've seen and lusted after included the same elements. So when I started to get overwhelmed at the tile store, Lowe's, Ann Sacks, or even at home when shopping for materials online, I just flipped through the binder and it gave me a way to make sure that what I was selection was as good or better as the many photos that I'd been collecting as inspiration for years. Plus, when I know I will need to make a quick call to deal with something while traveling for work or at the office, I just grab the whole binder and take it with me. That way I am never stuck guessing about my counter dimensions or some appliance spec. I have the whole project at my fingertips, including the budget, invoices, even details on the tile grout.



Anyway, I recommend it. Of course, I have never done anything like this. I've never done any serious home improvement project, so what works for everyone else? If you're done a small or large remodel, how did you keep your project on track & organized? I am sure people will love to hear your advice.

Love.

Kitchen counter.

We have an awkward space at the end of our kitchen. We were thinking of this sort of arrangement with stools, but now I think we just need to build a bench with storage underneath and then add in built-in shelves next to it for added storage.

Decisions, decisions.

Kitchen lights: Yes or No.

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9.

Porn shops.

Waterworks showrom in Seattle.


If shelter mags are my porn, then going to marble showrooms and places like Waterworks is the equivalent of putting on a trench coat and shades and hitting up my favorite porn shops.

Because I get to travel a little bit, I do get to see great decor stores like ABC Carpet & Home, John Derian, and LA/SF home stores. But I never go shopping for bathroom hardware or countertops because I have never renovated anything. My idea of big home improvement so far has been, "Oh my god, this lamp is going to change my life."

So imagine the joy of checking out giant slabs of marble and even taking a sample home. Totally thrilling.

So while I love design, I don't really know much about the particulars. I think Joni from Cote de Texas was the first person who introduced me to not just marble but honed carerra marble. Honed? Carerra? I felt so ESL. I had no idea there was so much variety out there.



Carerra is so popular that it's almost unnerving to select it because, well, you don't want to have the kitchen of the moment. I fell hard for a Greek marble called Thassus. It's a very pure white with sort of glittering tiny bits in it. It nearly sparkles. I would select it in a moment if I didn't think it would be wiser to pick a counter with some striation (is this the word I am looking for?) in it to hide our sins (like acid stains and red wine accidents).


Thassus, again.




This tile, above, isn't too compelling here because I am not giving you any indication of scale, but they are slender little slivers of marble. I think a whole backsplash in this would look too busy, so I am scratching my head trying to figure out how you could use it, but I just loved it.




This not handsome photo was snapped merely to remind me to ask everyone what is the preferred edge for a counter? My better half liked this, and if it were in a Deco-y bathroom with Deco-y hardware, I think it would be mighty sexy. I am not sure how it would look in our kitchen. Thoughts?




Waterworks has the most amazing everything, including bath accessories and even laundry hampers (but, of course, none as amazing as THIS one...). I loved these crystal jars. At $40 and up, they seemed like a bargain compared to everything else there.




I was fond of this mini subway tile.




And we laughed about this, which I keep seeing shelter mags refer to as a "tub filler." What's the difference between a faucet and a tub filler? $3000. They would be better named "wallet emptiers," but whatever. We're not in the market for something so fussy-looking anyway. But it's all interesting to see. I think the best part of any home project is this: everything is possible when you're still in the dreaming/planning stage.