October 4, 2012

Kitchen Remodel: The Last Project

We've been down to the last project on the kitchen remodel all summer: finishing off the breakfast nook. Being summer though, we don't work much on the inside of the house. Still, there have been a few odd moments when we've made a little progress, like the dish rack. One thing needing to be done was the baseboard and a little trimwork.

Installing baseboard moulding with nail gun
Dan installs the baseboard, I'll paint it.

The other thing is the table and chairs. We took awhile deciding on seating. Originally we thought a bench for the wall side, and a chair opposite. That didn't work out, but I did find two acceptable chairs at a local Habitat For Humanity Restore. They are sturdy and at $10 each, how could we go wrong. All that was needed was sanding and painting.

Using a paint sprayer to paint the kitchen chairs
I'm matching them to the back door, because we have so much paint left over.

The table needs to be done too. This will be a small built in, something simple.

built-in kitchen nook table, materials, tools, & cat assembled
We got all the pieces at the big box home improvement store. Except the cat

kitchen dining nook table, checking for level
It's small but just big enough for breakfast. Dan will stain it next

The goal is to have everything finished by the time it gets chilly enough to fire up the wood cookstove. After that, I can declare the kitchen officially done! Expect lots of photos to celebrate. :)


25 comments:

badgerpendous said...

It's coming along great! I can't wait to see the finished table. That's a great use of space (as usual!).

Bernadine said...

I hope you thoroughly enjoy your new space. You guys are so innovative. When you're sitting in your new kitchen with the wood stove burning this winter, I can only imagine what a great sense of satisfaction you'll have. And love those chairs. We go to Habitat for Humanity too! Great job!

Farmer Barb said...

The great joy of coming in to the room for the first time after EVERYTHING is done just takes your breath away. Ahhhh doesn't quite capture it.


WEEEEEEEEE!!! is more like it!

Bec - Farmers Wife said...

It's looking good. Not only are you designing a great kitchen for yourselves you are also creating memories.

Sherri B. said...

That is a perfect solution for that space. I can't wait for you to fire up your cook stove and share with us the yummy things you'll be stirring up while warming your all new kitchen..yeah! xo

Sandy Livesay said...

I like what you've done so far in the kitchen. I'm looking forward to your final pictures of the finished product.

Leigh said...

Badgerpendous, me too!

Bernadine, you know what they say, necessity is the mother of invention. :)

Barb, weeeeeee, indeed! Getting the project finished will be such a relief.

Bec, thanks! That's so true about the memories. We love to go through the photo folder of everything we've done.

Sherri, this is why we moved the back door! That was the only way I could see to create a little space like this.

Sandy, thanks!

Anonymous said...

It must feel sooo good to see the end in sight! You both have done such a fabulous job :)

Doug Pitcher said...

Its nice to work on the inside when the weather is cold. It snowed here yesterday so it's already chilly for us.

DFW said...

It's looking great! Love the fact that the cat plops down in the middle of everthing. Curious creatures they are.

Farmers Wife said...

Looks great Leigh! Job well done! It's getting me all "revved" up to get our farmhouse kitchen remodel going too. Thanks for sharing!

Woolly Bits said...

I like the chairs! pity, I never have finds like that here... it's looking good - are you going to christen it all with (champagne) - eh, homemade wine?:)
the photo of the cat beside the tools is hilarious!

Leigh said...

Stephanie, it's truly a relief!

Doug, I don't envy your snow, not yet! It is nice to have both outdoor and indoor projects. I don't know what we'll do once the house is all done. :p

DFW, always! If there's something going on, it never fails to attract a cat!

Farmers Wife, thanks! The kitchen is so important and it was such a huge overhaul. I almost thought I'd never seen this day coming.

Bettina, actually, I've never tried my hand at homemade wine. We certainly do need to celebrate though. :)

Renee Nefe said...

Oh I LOVE the chairs! I'm in need of chairs. I'm going to have to check out our Habitat to see if they have any. We have a ton of desks with no chairs. I sew sitting on a padded step ladder (although I quite like that).

The table looks great and I see that Riley approves. :D

Unknown said...

Love the creativity you share in this project..the table is such a great idea!

sista said...

You are going to love that table on a cold winter morning reading the paper, drinking coffee, eating a little breakfast. Nothing really pressing to do.....Oh maybe that's my fantasy. I would like to have my bathroom finished enough to take a shower in it. We just got the toilet in last week. What a joy to not have to trek clear across the house in the dark in the middle of the night.

Sylvanna said...

It's going to be so cute. Your cat looks huge in that picture.

Sue said...

Such a great use of the space, and neat that you have matching chairs to boot. Can't wait to see the next major project (though I'm sure you wish everything was done, done, done!)

Leigh said...

Renee, aren't the Restores fun to shop? We were hoping to find a bench, but got these chairs instead. Riley approves of everything, as long as we stop to pay attention to him. :)

Michele, it's been fun. And really, the size and layout of our kitchen have rather forced creativity upon us, LOL.

Sista, congratulations on that toilet! Seems an odd thing to be happy about, but those of us who have experienced torn up bathrooms for extended periods of time know how it feels. :)

Sylvanna, thanks. We don't think much of our cat Riley's size, but someone who saw him from a distance recently, commented on his size. Then when he went to the vet for his annual shots and check-up, everybody in the office had to come take a look at him, exclaiming they'd never seen such a tall cat! He really doesn't weigh that much (11.5#), but he's still young. :)

Sue, I'm so pleased with how it's turning out. The next major indoor project will be that hall bathroom and the master suite. Trouble is, the weather is so absolutely perfect, that neither one of us wants to really work inside. :)

DebbieB said...

"We got all the pieces at the big box home improvement store. Except the cat."

This made me laugh out loud. :) As my husband says, you can't "swing a cat" around here without hitting, well, a CAT. :)

Love your cozy breakfast nook!

Nina said...

Love it! Isn't nice when it's finally all come together and you can see that finish line so clearly?

Thistle Cove Farm said...

It's looking great, Leigh and the chairs are beautiful. Nice use of leftover paint!

Leigh said...

Debbie, gotta love those cats. They find their way into everything!

Nina, seemed like we would never get here. It is a relief!

Sandra, thanks! Originally I envisioned the chairs either stained if we bought new unfinished or green otherwise, to match the walls. That would have meant buying more green though and it took so little to paint the door, might as well use it. :) That will give the dining nook a coordinated and separate look from the kitchen however, which was what we wanted all along.

Mama Pea said...

Oh, My. Having the kitchen done will be such a milestone for you. When one does food preparation the way we do, the kitchen is definitely the most important room in the house. Can hardly wait to see a panoramic view of the COMPLETED kitchen!

bspinner said...

How lucky to have everything finally done. I love the breakfast nook table. What a great idea. I'm looking forward to the following pictures.