Slow but some progress

Good Morning Everyone.  Happy New Week.

We are plugging along on the changes to the new JCC III.  Still waiting on permits for the garage build and basement remodel so I am trying to stay patient on that front.

Bureaucracy at it's best. Ughh!

Thought I would share a few pics of some of the changes beginning to the kitchen area.


Here are some before pics of the kitchen with the old counter tops and no appliances.

I liked the character of the tiles on the walls so we used epoxy paint to update those and they will stay.  The counter tops, dishwasher that did not work and cabinets around the windows came out.

Cabinets are down and counter tops gone.  The blue on the walls gone too.
New color for the walls in the kitchen is Behr Gentle Rain.  White with a hint of gray.
The floors are a big mess but I will show you soon what we will do with them to update and make them pretty again.
As you can see this kitchen is a very small kitchen area so we are expanding the kitchen into the existing dining room.
Appliances arrived!





After putting the appliance in place we found that the refrigerator door to the freezer cannot open all the way.  Ugh!!!!  So we had to put on our DIY hats and figure this problem out.

The solution is to take out the upper and lower cabinet next to the stove to be able to move over the refrigerator so the doors will open.  I will show you how that all worked when we finish up in this area.  Still a work in progress.

We found a great little backsplash idea.  We found these seawashed panels that are water proof so we attached them to the wall under the vintage white tiles.  We have butcher block counters going in too.

I wanted to save this vintage kitchen sink but after removing it to put in the counter tops we found it was cracked and leaking on the underside.  So we are ordering a new sink that should come in sometime this week.  Of course no surprise it is a special size that has to be special ordered!  Nothing in stock would fit!

This is a few of the many changes happening at the new place.  I am adding a pantry wall and coffee bar to the old dining room area to pull this room into being part of the new kitchen.  It will also give us much more storage since the original kitchen area is so small.

I know this post was pieces here and there but I hope to have a final reveal soon with all the changes done and in place.

It is taking time with my "handyman Terry" only available on the weekends now!  We have also had a few birthday parties and weddings in the mix over the weekends too.  So not a whole lot of time available.  I am happy so far with the changes and hope to finish the kitchen soon.

Then we can get the bathroom painted and put back together.  We are waiting on finishing up the bathroom because the contractor has a whole in the wall to hook the plumbing from that bathroom upstairs to the new to be bathroom down stairs.

Lots to still be done but it is coming along.

Have a great week.  Miss all of you and hope to have some reveals soon.

We are having a great time living with our daughter and son in law and grand girls but I still feel deep in my heart I need my own home again.  Hopefully soon.

Hugs,
Kris



45 comments

  1. Looking good so far....I can't wait to see the final reveal!!!!! Fingers crossed those permits come thru SOON! Have a great week!!!
    ~Des

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is coming along nicely! I am enjoying seeing little snippets!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hopefully you'll be able to move in soon, Kris. What you've done so far looks wonderful. Good thing you found a solution for the fridge door. I hope Terry likes his new job.
    Hugs,
    Julia

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's a new beautiful journey in your new found cottage life. I am looking forward to a total move in and decorated in cottage style. With your hubby only having weekends free, I am sure you will be planning out every detail as to keeping those weekends moving along smoothly.
    Always a kink here and there when taking on a fixer upper to how we want to live, but with yours and Terry's collaboration you always come up with a solution to any madness that gets in your way. Always creating a well loved home.

    See you soon dear.

    Xx
    Dore

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think you are getting an amazing amount of work done considering your time constraints. I know it will al be beautiful when you are finished. xo Laura

    ReplyDelete
  6. With you and Terry at the helm, I am sure this kitchen will be transforming into a real beauty!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love seeing all of your pretty. Can't wait to see it all done

    ReplyDelete
  8. I can't wait until you move in! I think you are going to like "living small."
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great changes and I know that you are excited to get in your new home and put the Kris and Terry mark on it.
    Can hardly wait to see more.

    Have a wonderful week.

    Hugs,
    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  10. Kris, I think you and Terry will have to change your middle names to "work"...gee you kids are busy. You know what they say about men...if they can't be handsome they better be handy...you have both with your Terry...hehe. I know that horrid feeling when things don't fit in the right place meant for them. Stoves and fridges are the worse. I am positive your new kitchen/dinning will just be beautiful when finished. Blessings to all of you, xoxo, Susie

    ReplyDelete
  11. Kris old houses present their own set of problems that need creative solutions. You and Terry being the dynamic duo will figure it out and improve your new home into a lovely nest to love and adore. I think of you often and know your time renovating is precious hours scheduled into a active schedule. Looks like great kitchen progress and sorry about the delay with the permits. So excited for you and thank you for posting your progress since you always are on all of our minds.
    xoxo,
    Vera

    ReplyDelete
  12. The stuff you never think of at the time - I had that same fridge problem after my first kitchen reno in this house which is what spurred me on to reno #2 which ultimately is the best kitchen I could have imagined. Everything is looking fabulous. Can't wait to see more!

    ReplyDelete
  13. It is so much work, but it is coming along! We had the same weird problem here with a fridge, but our solution allowed us to move it to the other side when we remodeled our tiny kitchen. Oh the things you have to do to make it work! I wondered how did they live with it like that??? xoxo Su

    ReplyDelete
  14. :)It's coming along! You guys have ways of making things work out perfectly!
    deb

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great solution of the fridge. I know that this kitchen is going to look amazing. I'm sorry about the permits. That is so frustrating.
    I can't wait to see more.

    ReplyDelete
  16. HELLO my friend! I knew you were busy and doing a lot of work, but I sure have missed you. YOU ARE BACK with lots of surprises! I just know you and Terry the Handyman will get these problems straightened out. In the mean time, you are making progress. I have to constantly teach myself that progress is only the cherry on the cake but that PROCESS is the key winner. When we learn from these challenges, we also have the opportunity to CHANGE things and make them even better, or sometimes these things take us down a better road we never would have imagined. I just know this cottage is going to sparkle. To be honest however, I am ANSY and literally can't wait to see it all!

    BIG LOVE TO YA!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Good Morning Kris
    Everything looks great so far. You have really done quite a lot so far. Love your new appliances and that Chandelier is gorgeous. Love the new wall color* It takes so long for permits doesn't it. Good thing you are so patient. Before you know it you will be in your new home. Enjoy the time with your family
    have a great day Kris
    love deezie

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh the challenges! But it looks like you are making the best of it and moving along. The kitchen is going to be wonderful! My new frig is similar to yours only in white. My freezer door can't open all the way either but it opens enough so we didn't have to demo anything (fortunately)! Can't wait to see it all finished!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wow you are such hard workers! I'm sure it will be great when you are done. Love the chandelier!

    ReplyDelete
  20. You have done so much and handled so many challenges. Looking great! Did you get your Mom all moved?

    Have a great week.

    Judy

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wow, you're on the ball girl! It all looks well thought out. I've seen the door not opening on the freezer so many times. Glad you figured it out. Can hardly wait to see it decorated!

    ReplyDelete
  22. It must feel like endless waiting. But with your vision and Terry's handyman skills combined with your typical "lets get it done attitude" it eventually will all be accomplished. Love that the chandy is already hung amongst the continuing projects. Got to get some pretty going to motivate the efforts. Keep the pictures coming with the progress...we're not just about the final product, we like seeing your process.

    ReplyDelete
  23. So busy! I love what you have done so far. I know how hard it is when you are raring to go and you have to wait on your weekend warrior and the powers that be for permits. Been there too many times myself. I'm glad you have those sweet granddaughters to distract yourself. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  24. This is going to look good. You & Terry remind me of my sister and her husband - great skills, great team. I'm sure you'll have something creative to 'fix' that fridge door obstacle, just like you are the backsplash, tub and floor. And I actually like seeing the updates. It's not fun living in them, but it's a nice way to show yourself (and us) the progress you're making. It may look slow to you, but I think you guys knock these things out as fast as any contractor would, even if you do only work on weekends.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I know that must be such a drag waiting on permits, but you've accomplished so much already! I can't wait to see the butcher block counters and the coffee bar sounds so neat! It'll all come together beautifully.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I can't wait to see the finished product. You are always so creative! Daring fix for the refrigerator problem. I'm sure it will turn out great.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I can't tell you how many times the refrigerator door has been the bane of my existence when it comes to setting up or remodeling a kitchen. You'd think appliance manufacturers would have that figured out in the design somehow. Shower doors have pivot swings, so why can't a refrigerator? Well, one thing's for certain. . .you and Terry will figure it out and what you come up with will be just right. Can't wait to see the entire reveal. Hugs, Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  28. Kris this kitchen is going to be awesome! The new appliances are very cool (can you feel the jealousy I'm emitting? LOL) Love the idea of expanding into your din rm. It will be wonderful! Have fun - before you know it you'll be sitting back relaxing in your new kitchen sipping ice tea/lemonade/coffee and just plain enjoying it!!
    Blessings always, Sherry @ Edie Marie's Attic

    ReplyDelete
  29. Looks like things are rolling along well. I'm intrigued by your plans for the kitchen floor. Looking forward to seeing your kitchen expansion ideas. In the meantime, happy renovating JCC III

    ReplyDelete
  30. Everything is looking great so far. I am surprised though that you chose stainless appliances. I would have guessed white. I have stainless, too. But after our kitchen remodel I think I would have liked white better. Oh well. I have never lived through a complete demo, so I think we did alright. Thanks so much for sharing. I look forward to each and everyone of your posts.
    *Smiles*

    ReplyDelete
  31. The wheels of bureaucracy do grind very sloooowly. Hope things move along a little better. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  32. Kris, it already is so exciting! That old sink was pretty, I can see why you liked it but I bet the new one will be lovely too. I sure wish you could figure out what to do where our fridge door would open more than straight out. But the exterior house wall is against it. I was willing to deal with it though so I could have a larger fridge than the one that came with the house. Even if it means I have to open the freezer door to to slide big platters into the fridge!

    I love all your progress and knowing how you two figure out things!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Well at least you have a lot of experience with remodeling now! I bet that has helped you this time around. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress.

    ReplyDelete
  34. You and Terry need your own hgtv show. Who needs Chip and Joanna? lol

    The issue with the fridge is not uncommon. I'm wondering what the previous owners did? Even with a freezer drawer that pulls out rather than swings, one would still have the fridge door to contend with. I've seen this design mishap in lots of homes, even new ones. It's never a good idea to design a kitchen with the fridge near a wall, or for that matter a stove top near a wall...makes it difficult to keep pot handles inside which could be a safety hazard, particularly with small children.

    I know it must feel like things aren't moving as quickly as you would like, but I think you're making wonderful progress, especially with your busy schedules and the bumps in the road you have encountered. You're a great team!

    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hi Kris, so much is going on in your life! Are you hanging in so far? I think that you have your own home improvement channel going on here! lol Love, love your ideas. Can't wait to see what is going on next. Have a great rest of the week.
    xoxo Jo

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hi Kris, Progress is good. It will all be put together again soon, but I know that the waiting is hard. Can't wait to see it all done JCCIII will be the best one yet!!..Have a great week..xxoJudy

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hi Kris, oh I can't wait to see what you do with the kitchen. You are so lucky to have such a handy husband. I can't wait to see it all finished!
    Enjoy the weekend.
    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  38. It's already looking great, Kris! Phew, you have a lot going on. I am exhausted just reading about it! :) Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hi Kris,
    Ups and Downs ... I am sending a HUG. We just got our insurance claim for our damage from the May 16th storm. Of course that is never just a one time thing as well. You got to do this and then this, just to get your house fixed from something that was not your fault. Grrr!
    I do hope we can have it all come together, contractor, insurance and $!
    Lots of love to you and good luck with your permits.
    Carla

    ReplyDelete
  40. I know it's frustrating for things to be taking so long, but I know you and Terry will work wonders.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I am always amazed at how much you two get done, Kris! You have wonderful vision and it is fun seeing it come together!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Wow! You've already done a lot in the kitchen actually!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Stunning, Fantastic its looks so astounding. Much obliged to you for sharing this article and keep doing awesome. rugs abu dhabi

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hello man! Incredible post however I extremely needed to simply drop a remark on your blog. Your blog has a super cool outline. Is this wordpress by possibility?
    sisal carpet price

    ReplyDelete

sponsor