Almost Finished...

Having finished all the grouting, and put most of the lamps, toasters, and small kitchen-y things back in place, I find that there's very little left to do except for bringing the cabinet doors (whose center panels I removed) in to have the amber glass installed, and finding the right glaze to do the routed edges of the door panels.

So, here's a couple of "after and before" shots, to see where we started, and where we're ending up.

Countertops, Part Four: BACKSPLASH!!!

Our accent tiles finally arrived Friday evening via UPS. I started out Saturday afternoon (8/23) putting them up right over the countertop. I used 1/8" spacers to seperate them and cemented them with the same acrylic cement I've used on the floor and countertop.

By Saturday evening, I had gotten the entire row of accent tiles cemented, and about 2/3 of the rest of the backsplash.

I've been cutting the tiles with a conventional sliding-arm mitre saw using a diamond-tipped blade. It's been working fine, but I clean it with a blower and oil it frequently, because the ceramic dust seems to build up very quickly.

As of this evening (8/24), I've gotten the entire backsplash done, and (probably) tomorrow, I'll hit it with some grout.

Pretty nice, yes?

PLUMBING!!! We've Got PLUMBING!!!

Installed the new garbage disposal today and hooked up the waste drain. I also connected the diswasher drain to the disposal. I had to put in a 2' PVC trap and connect it to the existing drain pipe.

I ran the hot and cold water to the sink, and put in a connecting valve to feed the refrigerator's ice maker.

And, of course, I connected the sink to the countertop.

Whew. I haven't done ANY plumbing in about 20 years.

Countertops, Part Three: Revenge of the Grout

Got the grout done today, and that's all I'm doing. I'm really beat.

It looks nice, and I'm having great fun, and saving enormous money, but after nearly two full months of this, I'm getting tired.

Next up this week: hooking up the water supplies to the sink, refrigerator (ice machine) and dishwasher, and the drain from the dishwasher and garbage disposal, and attaching the sink to the countertop.

We're almost there.

Countertop, Part Two

Okay. Tiles are down on the main countertop. Job took about six hours. Cutting the space for the sink was a chore-and-a-half.

With the wood mouldings stained a dark mahogony, it's a really nice match (I think). A lot of this, you must know, is pure serendipity. I'm never sure (for instance) when I'm picking out a stain that it is going to be a good match. The same is true for the grouts for the floor and the countertops. I bought one called "sahara sand" for the floor, because the tile is rough-looking and a little lighter terra cotta than the counter top. I bought one called "tobacco brown" for the countertop, because the stain on the mouldings is kind of deep in burgundy color and the terra cotta of the tiles is a much deeper red.

Here's what we started with six weeks ago, and here's where we are at this moment. If all materials come in within the next week or so, I should be done by next Sunday.

Countertops, Part One...

Did the small corner countertop between the oven and the refrigerator. Still needs to be grouted, but I'll finish the rest of the countertops first, starting tomorrow.

Mouldings!!!

Okay. Did the mouldings (which I stained over the weekend -- sorry, I didn't take pictures) today. Counter-end, cabinet and ceiling.

What a difference a few mouldings make.

I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.