Kitchen

[Nightowlz]

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@sometimesQVCaddict wrote:

I did a complete gut job of a late 1950s kitchen in late 2019.  So I have some experience in this!  First, I would HIGHLY recommend you get someone who just does kitchens (and maybe baths) to design a layout of where cabinets go, what goes where, where appliances might go best, what kind and size of cabinets you need, etc. That would answer most of your questions!! If you just hire a general contractor who does 'everything', while they certainly want your business HA they might not really be 'experts' in kitchens!  I learned a TON of information I had absolutely no idea prior and I feel it's absolutely worth it 100% to get an expert's opinion in this! Also, depending on what a contractor 'sources' for the cabinets, it might not work or fit in your space.  I've been in homes where they 'cheapened' out the cabinets and you can DEFINITELY tell some of them are 'off' and not centered, or just look like they put the cheapest thing they could find to install. I feel bad, but don't want to hurt anyone's feelings and tell them if they just paid a little more for custom cabinets, it would have looked 100% better! If you're going into a total gut/remodel job, do it right!! And I'm not rich by any means, so it's possible on a budget!

Second, if you can manage, be your own 'project manager'. I was quoted an absolutely ridiculous amount of money for someone to 'oversee' the project, do demo, electric, gas line (needed to run from basement to kitchen for gas stove-had electric in old kitchen) & plumbing. Figured I'd be supervising the whole thing anyway (because I don't let strangers in my home when I'm not there!!) I had my own handymen do the demo of old cabinets and appliances and tear down half a wall.  My one handyman also did my electric work and installed 3 appliances that the delivery guys were going to charge a lot more for (this I would have had the delivery guys do if my handyman couldn't). I found a plumber to fix and put a new water line in for the sink.  The company we get our gas from I used to run the gas line. I'm not messing with gas line work, and didn't want to hire anyone to do this EXCEPT for someone who does this every day all day!!  

Third, I mapped out when everything was to be done. Going back to the expertise of the kitchen designers, they helped me determine when I needed what to be done and mapped out my schedule from there! On this note, give a 'buffer' in-between projects. Things always take longer than you think! And make sure everyone is on board with what they're doing when! It all was based on when the cabinets would be done and the new countertops were to be installed (time to make everything).  Please note they won't even measure for countertops until after the cabinets go in, so you get an exact fit! This is the right way to do countertops I found out. Who knew? lol

It sounds like a lot, but really wasn't. Not saying I didn't want to tear my hair out sometimes, but it saved me 75%!!!!! from what a contractor wanted to charge vs. what I ended up paying to hire out myself & oversee for the 'work'. This didn't include the cabinet and countertop/backsplash cost which the kitchen designer/maker incurred. The kitchen designers also installed the cabinets.Well worth the piece of mind and I have a warranty/guarantee it was done RIGHT! Again, let the experts do what experts do! And I had the countertop/backsplash designers install their product too. The kitchen designers recommended the countertop/backsplash company (who I might use when I save to do a bathroom-my next project!). Both top notch!

GOOD LUCK!!!

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@sometimesQVCaddict 

We don't need a design layout. Out kitchen is a glorified hallway aka galley kitchen. LOL!!!

No way to make changes unless we use some of the living area in which case we would have to add on the house in the back to make a larger living area. Not doing that. If we add on to the house it will be to the master bedroom.

The guy making the cabinets is all he does plus the install. He does coordinate with others to get the job done. 

We are buying custom cabinets so they fit in the space.

We can oversee the project we don't need a contractor. We don't let strangers in our house without one of us being there. I want to see what they are doing. If they are doing something I don't think is right I won't have a problem saying so. Like the guy that put in our AC & new thermostat on wall. It was crooked & I told him he needed to fix it. He said are you sure it's crooked without getting a level & I said yes. I was right. LOL!!!

We have a plumber & electrician we use. We won't use a handyman for that.

Going to talk with designer tomorrow to set up time for her to come out. I want to make sure what I'm doing will look ok or what else we should do. I also need her input on colors for cabinets, hardware backsplash & countertops.

We already have gas so a line most likely they would run from the garage where the gas heater & hot water tank are which is not far from kitchen.

[RedTop]

It's been 6 years since my galley kitchen update, and I'm still very happy with the choices I made.  

Doing away with base cabinets with doors was my best decision.   All of the drawers were made deeper, even the silverware drawer.  

My sink faces the dining room, and a bar with stools was on that side.  I shortened the length of that cabinetry on the kitchen side, did away with the bar, added deep base cabinets with drawers on the dining room side and had a custom one piece top made to cover all.   I love having that extra storage area.   

I had a custom cabinet made; about 80" tall with doors on top for storage, an open middle for my microwave, and shelf storage behind doors on the bottom.  

We've never wanted a dishwasher, so I have a 9" deep, double stainless steel sink.   

If I were doing this job today, I think I'd do it exactly as I did 6 years ago.

[Nightowlz]

We are still working on our kitchen. Waiting on backsplash. People where we bought it are sick. Can't have under cabinet lighting installed until backsplash is done. Need to paint. 

Here are a few pics. We did finally get our refrigerator but it's not in the pics. We decided to keep our other one in the dining room until it quits. It's 21 yrs old. It's full of peaches, almond milk & beer right now. LOL!!!

Kitchen is a mess. Getting ready to eat a bite. DH installing more tile where we removed dishwasher.

Don't need one.

Pantry storage. Plenty or space for everything.

Already bought a new ceiling fan. Can't wait to get rid of the ugly gold. Only thing in the house that's gold.

Nice deep 33" Sink

Close up of countertop. It has some black & burgandy specs in it plus some copper sparkle specs. All the tiny white specs are clear sparkle specs. They do not show up on the pic as they really are. Bling Bling on the counter. LOL!!! As you can see from this pic & one above does not look the same. Don't know why I cannot get a decent pic of it.

Finally found a 36" counter depth GE fridge without water/ice on the front of the door. I think it took 5 months.

My new Made In Cookware in both drawers. Plus the 2 new fry pans we used on an Induction burner during the remodel. Everything we had that would work on it had already been thrown away. I forgot we needed to use it.

[SouthernBee]

@Nightowlz : Really love your kitchen but especially the pantry.

My modest kitchen completed in 2017. The side by side refrigerator on the left and the sink beside it. That was all that I could afford but a big improvement. I have a very small pantry in the hall. Love my pot and pan storage. We have health issues and couldn't do anything ourselves. You made excellent choices and will really enjoy your new kitchen.❤️

[Nightowlz]

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@SouthernBee wrote:

@Nightowlz : Really love your kitchen but especially the pantry.

My modest kitchen completed in 2017. The side by side refrigerator on the left and the sink beside it. That was all that I could afford but a big improvement. I have a very small pantry in the hall. Love my pot and pan storage. We have health issues and couldn't do anything ourselves. You made excellent choices and will really enjoy your new kitchen.❤️

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@SouthernBee 

Thank you. So far we really like it. I like your kitchen too. Are those Maple cabinets? That's what my sister has. I like your wall ovens. Looks like you have a gas stove.

We had an electric but DH wanted gas. It sure is nice after using that 40 yr old stove we had.

I love all the large drawers.  

Our backsplash will finally be installed Weds.

The electrician will have to drop by to finish the under cabinet lighting.   

DH did gut the kitchen, replace some floor tile & remove drywall so plumbing could be replaced before the cabinets were installed.