Monday, October 17, 2011

The Kitchen Chronicles: almost at the finish line

A BIG congratulations to our donation giveaway winners!! Tara Jamieson, you are our first winner so please drop me a line at inthefunlane@gmail.com so I know which prize to send you! And Carmen Judge, you are our second lucky winner. In the event I don't hear from Tara within a week I will allow Carmen to choose the prize she prefers so she doesn't have to wait an eternity to get it in the mail~

THANKS again to every who supported us! As promised, here we were freezing our tails off pre-run at about 8 am.


But between moving around and all the body heat generated in this crowd we were warmed up and happy campers in no time at all!

It was so much fun (we walked with about 20 other people we knew) and we will definitely be back next year!


But besides doing a run 2 weeks ago you are probably wondering what the heck has happened to us? I promise, the kitchen renovation that never ends is very close to actually ending!!!

The week after the run we had cabinet installers here all week replacing busted and defective cabinets... then we came to a bit of a stand still with our sink. It seems that our cabinet installers didn't approve of putting it in the appointed cabinet... and our counter top measuring guy hated the thing because it required special notching in the marble to be made. After a full day of phone calls, pleading, begging and demanding, everyone eventually decided to play nice and get the sink in for me. But if you plan on using this thing to save some money over other apron sinks (this one is from Ikea, $400) I will tell you right now it isn't worth the trouble unless you are installing an Ikea kitchen. It was a nightmare all around, but in the end it is in and I love it.

Then last week we finally got countertops!!! Just to see them in place made my heart skip a beat, I am so in love. So we were able to bring in our appliances and finally get back to normal life.

So for the last week we have been busting our tails to get party ready! We are pretty close, at least close enough to not be too embarrassed at the state of things.

I took these photos at about 7am this morning before the sun was up so excuse the slightly greenish tinge.


I did all the window casings and tile this past weekend and I am hoping that the cabinet boys will be back to install our cabinet baseboards and crown and the few decorative side cabinet panels being replaced. It will be officially done once I paint the window casings, finish the trim on the ceiling and grout the tiles.

I am waiting on some stools from Restoration Hardware that mimic the factory/industrial feel of the light. I think the few touches of black like the light, stools and some accessories I haven't put out yet will give it some punch.

I am kicking myself for buying this light early because it is on sale right now at Restoration Hardware, but I love it so much that it was worth it!


The windows casings are probably my most complex project, using 4 different types of trim to get the look I wanted. But they make such a difference to the feel of the room now. Now I only have 20 more windows in this house to slowly replace LOL. I think I will do an easy tutorial on these soon because I found so little info on window casing looks that I feel like I need to put something out these for any future google searches!

So there ya have it, an early morning tour of our *almost* finished kitchen! After our party goes down on Friday I think life will finally be normal again and I can show you all the whiteberry stuff I've been playing with.


46 comments:

Sara said...

I LOVE IT! So beautiful!

meghan said...

Wow, Holly your kitchen is gorgeous! So worth the wait, I'm sure. I love everything about it! But the countertops have to be my favorite. Great job!

Deborah said...

Call Restoration Hardware and see if you can get a price adjustment! Some stores do it! :-)

Christine said...

Hi Holly,
Your kitchen is looking great!

Pine Tree Home said...

So worth the wait. Clean. Simple. Stunning. The light is fantastic, and how cute is that utensil holder?

Karen said...

Beautiful kitchen,the window casings are fabulous. A tutorial on them would be great.

MMM said...

SO excited for you! I am in the middle of a kitchen remodel as well so I feel your *pain*!!!

I'm excited to see your RH stools- I ordered our stools from there too and I'm thinking they're probably the same ones! How fun! ;)

Enjoy your new kitchen!!!

Rachel said...

It's looking beautiful! I'm so impressed that you did the window casings yourself!

Whitty said...

Hi holly,
I Am just beginning our forced kitchen remodel... Our fridge leaked everywhere.... Your kitchen is lovely and is close to what i have envisoned for mine. I do have a question, what kind of stove do you have and what kind of fridge is that, if you din't mind sharing... They both look like what i would like for my kitchen, but don't know where to look.
Thanks!
Rachel

Erin M said...

Wow-it looks beautiful! Hard to believe it's the same kitchen!!

Shades of Gray said...

Love it! It's gorgeous!

Remnant said...

Call Restoration Hardware and send them a copy of this blog post with your light installed. It is so beautiful. Perhaps they will give you the discount because of the free advertising.

Can I ask you a question: I absolutely adore the windows above your sink area and would love to mimic this look at some time. However, I'd probably hesitate because I can't figure out where I'd put dishes, glasses, bowls, cups. Where are you storing these?

I LOVE your moldings. They add the perfect touch. Beautiful.

Katie said...

wow, it is beautiful! you have a lot of the same elements that i hope to use in my upcoming kitchen remodel, it's so nice to see one that is (nearly) complete!

Lisa @ Life is Crazy Beautiful said...

Looking awesome! Love that big pendant fixture!!

Emily [On the V Side] said...

Gorgeous! ::sigh:: I am so envious... I'll be living vicariously through your beautiful kitchen for a while - hope you don't mind! :)

Emily

Lara Brehm said...

wonderful countertops! love how the kitchen came out! :)

Anonymous said...

It looks fantastic! I can't wait to see it all finished and also look forward to your tutorial on the window casings! Can't believe you did those yourself! You never cease to amaze me. (And I really mean that.)

Christen L said...

This looks so much like our current kitchen remodel. What tile did you use? I love it and we're in the middle of hunting down nice subway tile ourselves.

christenellis@gmail.com
withtwopugs.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

your kitchen is turning out great!! and congrats on finishing your race!

Rayia said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

Jen Kershner said...

It looks amazing and I am learning so much from you. I would also really love a tutorial on the trim because that is exactly what I have in mind to replace our fluted molding with corner block trim that I hate!

Michelle said...

Our IKEA cabinet measure guy said to not purchase the IKEA apron sink because the install was way too difficult so we bought something else just to avoid the trouble.

Your kitchen looks fantastic...

And I know I personally would appreciate a tutorial on window casings, that project is coming up for me soon...sigh

Unknown said...

Wow, it looks absolutely STUNNING.

Rachel Noelle Pallas said...

~GORGEOUS~ I LOVE your new kitchen!! I sooo wish mine looked as stunning! I cant wait to see the final reveal!! xoxoxo Rachel

Rachael said...

Yay! It looks amazing. I really love all your choices. It must feel so good to be so close to the end. Your subway tile backsplash has just reenforced my need for some in my kitchen. It's been on my kitchen wish list for years now - I just need to make it happen. Thanks for sharing!

Sixty-Fifth Avenue said...

you have to be pinching yourself over that kitchen..it is beautiful!
Your project makes me wish we were doing ours now, but the exterior was next on the list. I will be one of the people looking for that trim tutorial.

Lovely Little Nest said...

It looks AMAZING!! Seriously, you did such a fantastic job on your kitchen! Well done! :)

Julie Taylor and Danni Greenwalt said...

OMG, It looks so good. Can not wait to see it when it is done. Love the light fixture.

theroses said...

Gotta ask as I'm in kitchen redo dreamland right now...what brand of stove/range did you get? I've been searching and pricing. Love the look of Wolfe/Viking but don't love the price. Yours is lovely.
Thanks,
Jenny Rose

Holly Austin said...

Love it! Can't wait to see the full finished reveal - and to see some regular blog post from you :)

Kristen said...

it looks AWESOME. great job - i'm so impressed with your carpentry skillz :)

Frances said...

Please please talk more about the window casings. They are beautiful! Love the kitchen, it's coming together so nicely. The countertops are stunning!

To The Moon and Back said...

O. M. G.! This is AMAZING! Love how it's all turning out. Can't wait to see the full reveal. Would love a tutorial on your window casings.

Lindsay said...

Yes, please share a window casing tutorial! We are just starting on this project, and I am not convinced I like the results we currently are getting. I LOVE yours though! Please do one soon!!!

PS Your kitchen looks amazing. I love the white on white, and the subway tile. Who knew you had such a huge window? It really is stunning.

erin said...

It looks amazing! I love that you enlarged the window over the sink. I think it will make dish-washing a little sweeter when you are standing there enjoying the view! Congrats. PS- I know you mentioned you used the Martha Stewart cabinets, but did you mention the style? Would you recommend them? The reviews on-line have been mixed.

twinmommydiva said...

Holly,
Which thing was the biggest headache regarding the sink? The cabinet below or the marble cutting? I was just about to get it for my reno...

Jen of MadeByGirl said...

dont you just love those countertops??? I do! You have the same fridge i have..all looks great!! :))))

Anonymous said...

WOW!!!!!! It looks absolutely amazing, the transformation is incredible. Love everything!!!! You must feel so great!

Shell in your Pocket said...

I love those lights!

sandy toe

Tales of Our Journey said...

I love your new kitchen. I'm a bit jealous! I really want countertops like that in my next house/kitchen.

Mindi said...

Wow, Holly! What a fabulous transformation! I am craving now more than ever to finish my counters and subway tile! Keep the posts coming... you are inspiration!

Onegirlruns said...

your home style is exactly what i'd like to see in mine.

Natalie {Parade of the Day} said...

your kitchen looks amazing! and I would LOVE a tutorial on the window casings mine are in desperate need of some tlc.

mcgrathinnola said...

Absolutely love your countertops...marble?....the tops!!!

Krystal Wight Armstrong said...

So, was the kitchen basically your last big reno of the house, or are there places to re-do still? The kitchen is lovely! My favorite thing is the pretty decorative supports under the bar. And kinda what 'Remnant' was saying- were those dish shelves where the new big window is? I loved that from your old kitchen pics, 'wondered if there was new similar shelving on another wall somewhere. And my in-laws bought that same sink when they renoed their house last year all on their own, unfortunately they had to move after redoing the whole house especially for them, and are stuck renting it out w/ our horrid housing market now; actually buying another house this week after renting for a year themselves! Anyway, that was probably tmi, all that to say, way stick it out and make that beautiful sink work for you! Once your whole house is finally finished, I think it would be so cool if you did another vlog post complete tour of the house so we can see the whole big masterpiece! Oh and I'd love to read your window info tutorial post. Your caulking one was pretty nifty.

a' la mode said...

What are your countertops? Marble? Thanks! Shelli

 
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