And here they are

Here are the latest photos. Granted, they're more panoramic than detail-oriented, but I figure once every single detail gets ironed out, we'll post a video "tour" instead of individual photos. Please forgive the quality.

Almost...ever....so....close.....

Ok ok....we're ALMOST done. There are few things remaining, including:

Baseboard moulding
Cover panels on the bar cabinet
Angle metal underneath the high cabinets

And that's it. Totally. Done. Stick a fork in it. Hang up the clock.

Photos are to follow. Keep the faith.

The First Supper

Above you have a photograph of the very first dinner prepared in the new kitchen. Well, actually, the second - but heating up Trader Joe's pizza in the oven really doesn't count. Asian chicken stir-fry prepared on Berta with a Pegu. Excellent!

So now you see the kitchen as it stands today. The backsplash of circular tiles is up, awaiting only the range hood so that the brushed metal backsplash for behind the range can be installed. Shelves to the left of the range hood await as well. Other than that, we have some trim pieces to install as well as toe kicks, baseboard moulding and the stair moulding for the floor and the kitchen will be....gulp....done!

Are we THERE yet?!?!?

My apologies for not posting more on here recently. It seems like the closer we get to finishing, the smaller the changes from day to day seem to be. It's like taking out the soffits was a BIG deal; placing toe kicks less so (although we're not there yet). Our goal was to have this all done by the end of May. "Done" would be defined as a functional kitchen, bangles and bling optional. To say the least, we haven't gotten there but are sooooooo close!

With this post I'll submit some photos that may give some insight of how things are going.

The first photo is the overall view of the kitchen. The countertops are scheduled to be delivered in 3 days, which would mean the sink could be plumbed in and be functional. To me, this defines a functional kitchen. Notice also that the upper cabinets have all the doors on. We're waiting to put the bottom cabinet drawers in after the countertop is installed. After that, it's all details.

This photo shows the pantry cabinet missing a door. The door actually is here. It's just that we're short two hinges. Back to Ikea.

Next are the bottom drawers of the pantry. Notice the HUGE gap left. Apparently to get two 12.5 inch drawer fronts, you have to buy TWO 24 inch drawer front kits, giving you two completely useless 11.25 drawer fronts. Again, a trip to Ikea.

This is the sink cabinet, complete with disposal. Nothing to see here, please move on....

Above the brand new shiny stove is a wire! We await the arrival of the range hood, which will let us put in the shelves to the left.

The dishwasher awaits its shiny metal covering.

Und das ist alles für heute.

Get it up!

Or more specifically, get -them- up! And they are! All the kitchen cabinets have been mounted and are awaiting only trim, doors and cover panels. Notice I said kitchen. Dining area doesn't apply. At this point, the BIG things remaining are the countertops and sink. Once those are in, which may take a couple of weeks, the rest is aesthetic. That means after close to a month or more of no kitchen, we'll be functional again. The light at the end of the tunnel doesn't seem to be an oncoming train for once.

Oh, and as for the second photo...proper horizons are totally optional after the second martini.

Mamma Mia!

As beautiful as Sofia Lauren, but more functional, allow me to introduce Berta!

Perhaps that was more fanfare than needed, but it marks a significant step in the overall project. The five-burner Bertazzoni range arrived today and was connected. That thing puts out some heat! We're still in a two- to three- week wait state for the range hood, but we're cool with that.

There are five cabinets left to install: two high and three base. Countertops with the sink will follow as will re-introduction of the dishwasher. Only then will the kitchen will be classified as functional, though still incomplete.

The saga wears on...

Kabinett

Cabernet? No. Cabinet. And I'm not wining. Get it?

More storage goes up tonight! This will form the basis of the right side of the kitchen. Clearly the doors and shelves are missing, as well as the finished side panels to the cabinets closest to you, but this was done in an effort to reduce damage while heavy stuff is moving around.

We're taking a weekend off so when we return, we'll begin the left side of the kitchen with the sink, dishwasher and forced air duct. Monday we anticipate taking delivery of our centerpiece, Berta!