Uenth's Finally Getting Her New Kitchen!!!

It's been kind of a lousy week with this kitchen project. Drywall crew got held up on their previous job so we had nothing done on Monday. That was kind of a conundrum for me as I was relishing the peace and quiet as were the dogs, especially Arlo. The constant traffic and loud noises just has him freaked! So, while I was enjoying quiet, the other part of me was going, well this is certainly putting the project way behind schedule. Crew gets here around 1 and work to 4 or 4:15 latest. Kind of weird as they clear out of the house and shut the gate, so I know they're done but they either sit in the truck or on our sidewalk for at least 30 minutes. before they drive off. Don't have a clue what that's all about. Don't really care but it's just kind of weird, IMO. Back in the day, when I clocked out, I hauled it to the car --- couldn't wait to get home and get changed into comfy clothes and out of my monkey suit (business professional, after all - UGH).

Anyway, they told me this afternoon that they will be back tomorrow to finish up. Hallelujah on that one as it goes back into the hands of our contractor then. I know he'll be painting, leveling the floor where it needs it, setting cabinets and putting the flooring in. Electrician will need to come and put all the spotlight cans in and our plumber will need to get plumbing reconnected, dishwasher reinstalled and water line to the refrigerator reconnected. Not sure if all of that can get done next week or not. But at least I can see the end of the project, at long last. Just dying to start putting stuff in those gorgeous cabinets sitting out in our garage!!!
 
LOL, well drywall guys and contractor were both treated to my displeasure today.

First, I should say that the drywall guys maybe are putting in 2-1/2 hours a day, tops, and that's stretching it. Contractor had specifically stated that it would take 3 days for the mud/tape process, which I am aware of since this is probably the 10th room (counting both houses) that we've had remodeled. They hung drywall Tuesday and did mud/tape Wed, Thurs, and today. Yesterday one drywall guy told me specifically that they would "finish up" today.

Day didn't start out really great because dude also said yesterday that they would be here in the afternoon. So, we did our usual morning routine. I was downstairs at 5:30 doing my step aerobics, got upstairs and changed into yesterday's clothes so Arlo and I could take our walk. I was just getting ready to get Arlo on lead and leave when I thought I spotted their work truck coming up our side street and did utter an "Oh, eff" that they were here already. Hub, at least, had showered right after he got up. I wait until after I've walked both dogs so I don't pit out and ruin the positive effect of showering. So, I dashed out and told them I needed like 5 minutes to get things together so that Arlo and I could head out. While I was switching dogs, I heard Hub tell one of the workers that in about an hour, I would need in the kitchen to get oj, milk and butter so I could get our breakfasts fixed and heard that guy say no problem. So I walk Missy, shower, brush teeth and hair and dress and head out to the kitchen. They had the fridge so I couldn't even open the doors so I asked them to move it a bit so I could get stuff out. The other worker told me he needed 5 minutes. Well, he pulled that crap on Tuesday when Arlo needed to go out. I waited 10 minutes and then he said "Do you want your walls sheet rocked or not?" so I ended up putting Arlo on lead and walking him around to the side to get him in the yard. Then they were bent out of shape because they couldn't leave the gate open. So I've not been real thrilled with the drywall guys. Anyway, when the dude told me 5 minutes, I stayed where I was. He started motioning that I needed to leave the kitchen and I just had had enough. I straightened up as high as I could and told him "No, I am NOT leaving until I get what I need out of the refrigerator." He waved his hand at me again. I repeated myself and again he waved his hand. So I again repeated myself, this time pretty bitchy. Evidently he got the message as he moved the fridge so I could get what I needed. Probably took me all of 90 seconds to get milk and juice poured and toast buttered and I was out of there for the duration of the time they were here working. I will also state that this is the first time I've been in the kitchen while the drywalled's have been working so they cannot say that I've been a pest. Who wants to be in there with all that mud flying around? Sheesh.

Anyway, it looked, an hour or so later, they were packing up so I poked my head through the doorway and asked the other worker, who is much friendlier, if they were done. He said they would be back on Monday which shocked me since he had told me the day prior that they would finish today. I asked him when they would finish and he said "Wednesday we'll be done." Honestly, I just wanted to cry as that means another 2 weeks minimum to get back in the kitchen and a total of 7 working days to drywall a very small kitchen. Well, duh, if you're only working 2-1/2 hours a day, 7 days is probably about right.

So, Hub and I talked and I sent contractor a text. Explained to him that: A) I cannot get into Sew & Sew, where I have work to do because they have that entrance all sealed off, I can't get the dogs out the door and it's a hassle that I need to close the gate and now I can't get into the kitchen when I need to get Hub fed (diabetic's generally keep a pretty regular schedule as far as when you eat). Hadn't heard back from contractor so I told Hub he had till about 4 to contact me or I was calling and giving Hub the phone to talk to him.

Anyway, about 4:15, I was getting off the phone with one of my friends so I could call contractor and got a text from him that he called the contractor and told him that his guys had to finish up by COB on Monday, no ands if or buts about it.

I don't mind legitimate delays. Didn't get irritated that we lost a couple of days waiting on electrician and lost a day because we couldn't do the insulation the way we initially planned. Unavoidable delays, but for these jokers to work 2-1/2 hours a day, maybe, and take 7 business days to do a 3 day job was just not going to happen.

I'm relieved that Hub didn't get drug into it but still a bit p*ssy about the entire situation. I get that mud needs to dry but come early and apply a coat. Set up the fans and then leave until right before lunch, apply another coat, leave and come back around 4 and apply another coat and then you're done for the day. Pure absolute laziness is what I see. Told Hub that it's a damn good thing that this is the last room that needed serious remodeling as after this little adventure, I'm just not down with having to deal with this crap any longer. Too old and too little patience for ineptness and bullshit. Even if they get finished up Monday, our contractor will no way get all the remaining things done by Friday so the contractor's "3 weeks and you'll be in your new kitchen" is now stretching into week 5 for no good reason other than lazy subs.

Again, this too shall pass and in a year or two I'll be over it. LOL! Won't take that long but I am truly glad I have no further need for contractors once this job is done.
 
A great remodeling day so far and just barely 1 PM. Drywall crew got in here about 7:30, finished sanding the entryway, now known as the kitchen annex, and did a fairly decent clean up job. I was pleased to see their truck pass down our street for the last time. I told our contractor that my biggest complaint was that they don't communicate. They were here for 6 days and never once said they were leaving for the day. If I went in and asked pointed questions they would respond but I discovered that what they said was not factual at all. Like telling me on Thursday that they would finish up on Friday. Then on Friday they told me 3 more days. One of those shake your head moments. They were no sooner out of sight when I got a text from contractor asking if siding guys could slip over and fix our siding where windows were removed. You betcha, come on over. So our exterior has been fixed and you could never tell that 2 banks of windows were removed.

Painter got her about 10 till 1 and is just about ready to apply the primer in the kitchen. Cannot wait to see how my color will look on the walls. Plus it's one more tangible sign that we are, at long last, making real progress in this renovation.

Attaching exterior pictures where the windows were. Will try and get a shot of the paint later today.20260825_113224.jpg 20260825_113224.jpg
 

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If I may, Uenth, your communication should be with the GC. He's supposed to be in charge of subs and the scheduling. Let him (or her) know you would like more communication on the coming and goings of the subs. That's his job. Your entire life shouldn't revolve around this.
 
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If I may, Uenth, your communication should be with the GC. He's supposed to be in charge of subs and the scheduling. Let him (or her) know you would like more communication on the coming and goings of the subs. That's his job. Your entire life shouldn't revolve around this.
I did mention it to me. I think that's just the way these drywallers work. He always texts me to make sure it's ok to send subs over, etc. I did make big-time noises when the dude told me that it would be 7 working days to get the drywall ready to paint. Still took 5 but at least we have the rest of the week to get things done.

I think the biggest issue is that my GC has gotten way too busy and is subbing out just about everything. Not just our job, I know he's balancing between multiple projects, which doesn't thrill me particularly but it is what it is. We're just about through it and it truly is the last thing this house needs other than keeping up with normal maintenance but no more huge face lift type projects.
 
20260826_162005.jpg Kitchen and entryway are now painted. Cabinets should start being set tomorrow or Friday. I, of course, am hoping it's tomorrow but if it doesn't happen until Friday, Arlo can use a break from all the commotion and I still have plenty of construction crud to locate and get out of the house, Will still be an issue until we can get moved back in the kitchen and then I can go room to room, top to bottom, to get all the crud out of here. Like washing ceilings, walls, floors and everything in between. Living room and dining room I am going to hire a cleaning service as we have a cathedral ceiling in the living room and both rooms are textured and it is a real pain in the backside getting construction dust out of those textured areas. Did it once, not ever again. I am thinking that this should all be over by the end of next week, though that all depends on the electrician and plumber being able to get in here but the end is definitely in sight now. Anyway, this is the entryway, now officially known as the kitchen annex, freshly painted.
 
Try to be quick. Picture shows you what cabinets got sat today. Contractor said they should get remainder sat on Monday. Rub is that the countertop won't be ready for 2-3 weeks. They have to come out to measure after cabinets are sat, which makes sense because if it's off by inches, sink will be screwed up. I told contractor if appliances are in and dishwasher is functioning, I can deal. I'll still have to go downstairs to wash pots and pans as they recommend washing by hand and that's what I've done since we bought them. I'll prepare food in the dining room since I don't have countertops but that pales by comparison to what we're doing now. As Bo Pelini said so many years ago, "It is what it is."20260828_170124.jpg
 
Try to be quick. Picture shows you what cabinets got sat today. Contractor said they should get remainder sat on Monday. Rub is that the countertop won't be ready for 2-3 weeks. They have to come out to measure after cabinets are sat, which makes sense because if it's off by inches, sink will be screwed up. I told contractor if appliances are in and dishwasher is functioning, I can deal. I'll still have to go downstairs to wash pots and pans as they recommend washing by hand and that's what I've done since we bought them. I'll prepare food in the dining room since I don't have countertops but that pales by comparison to what we're doing now. As Bo Pelini said so many years ago, "It is what it is."

That's pretty normal, Uenth. Our cabinets were also in for about 10 days before the countertops. We picked out the slab long before and then the craftsmen waited on getting the final measurements. It's exhilarating as it all comes together!
 
That's pretty normal, Uenth. Our cabinets were also in for about 10 days before the countertops. We picked out the slab long before and then the craftsmen waited on getting the final measurements. It's exhilarating as it all comes together!
It made sense once the contractor told me that. Just didn't realize it until yesterday when he told me. Once I thought about it, it was a no brainer. Even a few inches off cutting for the sink would be a problem. It's no worries as far as I'm concerned because the dishwasher will be functional so it will really be minimal disruption, It's all good!
 
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Lots of activity today! All cabinets are installed, except for the pantry, which goes in the kitchen annex. First picture is cabinets over stove. The cute thin cabinets were designed to hold cookie sheets, cake/pie/muffin tins (y'all know I'm the crazy neighborhood baker). I'm most excited about those cute little dudes!
Second picture is the corner cabinet, with lazy Susan. Those go over the cabinets that were installed last Friday.
Third picture are the new cabinets that are part of the reason why we removed the windows on the east side of the kitchen.
Fourth picture are also new cabinets. There is a gap between cabinetry. Dishwasher goes there. Another cap between a cabinet and the wall. That little gap was constructed intentionally as that provides a nice little niche that the dog food holder can be rolled in and out as needed. It used to sit in the area that the pantry is going into.

Electrician is coming Wednesday afternoon (I think) and I'll call plumber after that to reconnect our dishwasher. Electrician's crew have already been given marching orders by our contractor to move the stove into position after they get lights and outlets juiced. Either Wed or Thur, I'll run the first load through the dishwasher in about 6 weeks. Crazy daisy, for sure!

Won't see contractor until Monday (grrrrr) and he will put flooring in at that point and, I hope, the pantry. One of the niceties, he did for me happened just before they left for the day. We did the lipstick on a pig routine with this kitchen 21 years ago when we bought. Contractor built a bannister so the dogs didn't fall off that ledge and break their neck when they landed in the basement. Right after contractor (not our current contractor) left, I noticed that one of the spindles was upside down. I was not real impressed by that. Called dude and he promised to come by and fix it. He never did and that was pre back fusion and I just didn't have enough oomph to call and fuss about it. Ran into him at a Pump & Pantry about a year later. I didn't recognize him but he came up to me and apologized for not getting over to fix the spindle and promised to call me and come by. Never heard from him again. I just grabbed an umbrella from my umbrella stand and hung it over the railing to hid that spindle and called it good enough/. They took that bad boy off late this afternoon and put it in correctly (only took 21 years to get it fixed-LOL). Then they hauled it out to the garage for me. It's got a ton of construction dust on it and I told them I would attack it with Murphy's wood cleaner (best stuff I've ever found for cabinetry and all things wood).

Oh and for the first night since July 7th, I can park our car in the garage. All of our cabinets were delivered on the 8th of July so I've been parking in the driveway ever since. Looks weird to not see our car in the driveway now. LOL!

Anyway, still a lot for the contractors to do but we're where electrician and plumber need to do their thing first. Kitchen is fabulous already!!
 
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What did you pick out for cabinet hardware? New appliances too?
Once hardware is installed, I'll snap a close up. They're all sitting in a box in the garage. We're keeping our appliances as we just bought them last year. Fridge got a little dinged in this process which does not make me happy but so it goes. Other 3 appliances I think survived it all.
 
20260902_163758.jpg Today, we had the electrician here for most of the morning and part of the afternoon. We now have lights in the kitchen again. As I told the contractor, I really didn't need them. Heated up water twice each morning (hot chocolate and tea bag which I use for my big glass of iced tea, which gets me through the day. By the time I do breakfast and other meals, we have plenty of natural light. After I supper, I clean up utensils, coffee cups, etc downstairs so we just really didn't miss it that much. Now it's great that we have it. I started putting shelf paper down in the new cabinets and got the first cabinet drawer loaded. My spoiled dogs treats pretty well filled it up. LOL! Also got most of the pots and pans washed and drying so I can put them away in the morning. I have 4 drawers papered and 3 available. Think everything will fit in the 2 drawers that stack. Plumber will be here first thing in the morning to connect the dishwasher and then I'll start running dishes through it and start getting those bad boys loaded! This is the fun part of the reno to me! Have to go back to the tile place tomorrow and get the tile for the backsplash ordered. That's been my big project all week. Not exactly my thing but we survived it and it's a great tile pattern we picked out. Friday, the cabinet guy's people will be by to measure exactly what we need for our quartz countertops and then will also mark where the sink will be and it's actual shape, etc so no unpleasant surprises when the countertop gets delivered. We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. And only on page 3 (WHEW!)
 
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Slow but important day, kitchen-wise. Dishwasher is once again functional, so after lunch I'm off to fill the first load of dishes and get a cabinet cleaned out and shelf paper in that bad boy so I can load it once the dishwasher finishes its cycle. Picked out flooring. We did that early on and gave contractor a "poop" card with all the pertinent details on it. He can't find the card and we no longer had the link up ... so, we picked out flooring again. Probably a good thing as we have a better idea how things are coming together and I think we picked out a better color than we had originally. Also ran to the tile place and got the grout picked out and grout and tile ordered so that's 3 important things done before noon. Yeah!!! My afternoon plans are vac'ing in Sew & Sew and sweeping the multi-purpose room as I have a bridesmaid coming in for a fitting late this afternoon. Other than that, I'm cutting shelf paper and putting stuff away in my new cabinets, the fun part of the renovation. I did chuckle when our plumber was here working on the dishwasher. He walked in, looked at the kitchen and just said "It doesn't look like the same room at all. It looks so much bigger." I feel the same way every time I walk in there.
 
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View attachment 9874 Today, we had the electrician here for most of the morning and part of the afternoon. We now have lights in the kitchen again. As I told the contractor, I really didn't need them. Heated up water twice each morning (hot chocolate and tea bag which I use for my big glass of iced tea, which gets me through the day. By the time I do breakfast and other meals, we have plenty of natural light. After I supper, I clean up utensils, coffee cups, etc downstairs so we just really didn't miss it that much. Now it's great that we have it. I started putting shelf paper down in the new cabinets and got the first cabinet drawer loaded. My spoiled dogs treats pretty well filled it up. LOL! Also got most of the pots and pans washed and drying so I can put them away in the morning. I have 4 drawers papered and 3 available. Think everything will fit in the 2 drawers that stack. Plumber will be here first thing in the morning to connect the dishwasher and then I'll start running dishes through it and start getting those bad boys loaded! This is the fun part of the reno to me! Have to go back to the tile place tomorrow and get the tile for the backsplash ordered. That's been my big project all week. Not exactly my thing but we survived it and it's a great tile pattern we picked out. Friday, the cabinet guy's people will be by to measure exactly what we need for our quartz countertops and then will also mark where the sink will be and it's actual shape, etc so no unpleasant surprises when the countertop gets delivered. We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. And only on page 3 (WHEW!)
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