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Last week was a whirlwind.
Aside from my normal schedule of work, board meetings, blogger events, and the start of SXSW, the majority of our kitchen remodel happened. My in-laws arrived on March 1, and my husband and father-in-law dove into the task ahead of them. It was no small feat – they had a lot of work to get done in only a few days. And, somehow, they did it.
Here’s what our kitchen looked like before when we bought the house, before moving in. We replaced the appliances a few years ago.
This is what the kitchen looks like today.
Since March 1, the floors have been ripped up and replaced, all the cabinets removed, new cabinets were installed, new sink/faucet/disposal was installed, the countertops were cut so we can use them temporarily, the island was removed, new island was installed with new butcherblock top, and lighting was installed in the upper cabinets.
It has been a ton of work, even for me, who was not doing any of the heavy lifting. Planning, planning, planning, lots of discussion, rearranging plans when deliveries and appointments were delayed. Figuring out what to eat every day (and making sure we kept mealtimes on a semi-normal schedule) was difficult. The stove was behind my sofa and the refrigerator was next to the TV – we weren’t really able to do any sort of cooking at home. Even the microwave was out of commission for a few days.
There is still lots to do, of course. (We’re definitely not leaving the walls looking like that!) Aside from the big tasks, there are tiny tasks everywhere that add up. And probably fifteen more trips to Home Depot.
Still, I am so glad we are doing this ourselves. We’ve hand-picked every element and aside from installing the new counters and lighting to come, the grunt work stayed in the family. Even unfinished, every time I walk into the kitchen I look at it proudly and think, We did that.
Do you like to DIY? What are your favorite projects, big or small?
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About Megan
I learned how to cook by exploring seasonal ingredients, and you can too! Meal time shouldn’t be stressful or complicated, and with fresh ingredients and easy methods, I’m here to help you enjoy the time spent in the kitchen. Read more…
WOW, this looks great. I always love checking out other peoples DIY. We redid our last place and the transformation was amazing. Now that we are in a new place, there is no need, but we still get itching to make the kitchen more like us! Cannot wait to see the finished result!
Yay! So glad you did an in-progress update. Can’t wait to see how it turns out and the org geek in me wants to see the insides of your lower cabinets when they’re all set and done. 🙂
@aneelee I probably will, because I’m also an org geek! I’m wishing I had taken a photo of the insides of the old cabinets, because we really increased our efficient-organizing space with the new island.
Looks great! Love the wine rack along the microwave. Next month I start the remodel of my kitchen. Doing butcher block counters, repainting cabinets and walls, and new flooring. It’s very rewarding knowing you did it yourself!
It’s looking fabulous!
We are up to our elbows in DIY right now — front yard landscaping, painting inside, garden boxes in the backyard, grill pad. I like it, and I wouldn’t have it any other way (I’m a control freak), but I am ready to be DONE.
I love that sink!! My fav DIY projects are the finished ones 😉
It looks so good! Great job everybody. Love your sink, and I can hardly wait to see the wall color.
In a 100 year old house, it’s a continual DIY project. project I do most of the work myself because I enjoy it and when I get stuck the hubs chips in. Next up painting the kitchen a nice shade of unsalted butter color. With a touch of black.