framework for supporting eating area of island in place

Despite 1 inch of unexpected snow, the work continues on this New Year's Eve.  More patching of the floor where baseboard and radiators used to be.  I also located some plain white quarteround tile trim for finishing the outside corners of the shower.  I took all that the tile company had because even plain white is in short supply.  I needed 18 linear feet because the shower is in the old part of the house with its over 9 foot ceilings.  The white doesn't match exactly the white background of the tile but is close since they are both an off white on the creamy side.

Small steps

The photos show how the island is situated relative to either wall.  It was moved towards the north to accomodate the extra cabinet.  Appliances (except for double wall ovens on back order) were delivered today.  This meant the holes in the island for the downdraft vent and the cook top gas line could be cut.  The blower for the downdraft will be installed under the floor, cutting down on noise and allowing use of the cabinet that holds the cook top for large pots (think soup and spaghetti!).

More holes were patched in the existing house floors where water pipes (tub, sinks, baseboard heating, radiators) used to be. 

I had an adventure trying to find tile trim pieces for the outside corners of the back bathroom shower.  The shower has 3 walls and I think that butting tiles around the corner and then grouting looks unfinished.  I was trying to find what is called a simple white v-cap, and will probably have to get quarter rounds instead.  The v-caps I could find are actually complex because they are meant to make an edge for ceramic kitchen counter tops and so they bump up to keep water from flowing right off the counter.  This experience makes me appreciate even more the 50's tile work in my Seattle house even if the tile was that intense 50's pink.

island ready to be built out; patching floor in old bathroom

The island is constructed from cabinets and a pony wall because it is two level and provides eating space at normal table height (I don't sit comfortably on counter level stools).   The pony wall will support the table height side with space for 3 people and needs to be built yet.

The other photo shows the patch of flooring where the old bathroom tub had damaged the hardwood floor.  The patch uses some of the original wood that was pulled from the new kitchen and replaced with plywood.  It takes skill and patience to put down that old, narrow tongue and groove maple.  Fortunately, one of the workmen meets those qualifications.

east wall cabinets in plus bonus; some tile delivered

The cork floor and the shower tile for the back bathroom have arrived.  The bonus cabinet is because we had to use a smaller one on the east wall because the door opening to the kitchen moved north.  So the south wall of the kitchen has more depth and the extra cabinet can go there.  I will mount a microwave on a shelf above and put trash and recyle bins next to the extra cabinet without impinging on walkway space.

appliances expected Wednesday; more cabinets going in

added corner shelf to west wall of cabinets

Space in west wall is for dishwasher.  Stand mixer cabinet is to left of gap; sink to right

Special cabinet for stand mixer

The sink cabinet and drawers for flatware anchor one end of the west wall of the kitchen.  The other cabinet allows you to easily access and use a heavy stand mixer.  The platform swings up and locks in place.   The contractor will be creating a hole in the back of the cabinet where the cord can be plugged in so there will not be cords across the counter top either.  My sister makes specialty cakes so this was a must have for the new kitchen.

cabinet photos

3 cabinets up; more basement floor treated

One photo shows the detail in the cabinet doors; another shows the double oven cabinet, regular upper cabinet, and double cabinet that will get glass inserts.  The upper cabinets are 42 inch high because there is space for tall ones.  There is masonite where the glass inserts go.

You can see the sprinkles in the basement epoxy covering.  There is also aluminum oxide grit to make it non slip.  The black pipe is what is left of the infamous uncapped gas line that nearly blew up the house.

cabinets delivered; odd jobs like pull staples in work

The cabinet finish and the floor tile go well together.

There will be no work here for awhile due to snow!

Icicles, drifts, and enough snow to come up to my knee!

Overnight snow

kitchen floor now ready for cabinet install

The photo above shows you the detail in the pattern as it extends into foyer closet. The center section went down yesterday and the mastic for putting it down stinks to high heaven. Sure glad I am not trying to live in the main house. The mastic had to get sticky tacky before they would place a tile unto it, hence what seems like turtle speed. The final photo shows the surface we are slowly, section by small section putting on the old basement floor. It looks shiny enough to be wet but isn't. There are little flakes to give it color and aluminum oxide crystals to make sure it isn't slippery.

wet bed in 1 shower; pendant light in kitchen over counter

electric lights going up; view of kitchen and dining/living room flooring

I found small, almost flush mount light/fan fixtures for the 1/2 story attic rooms. The ceramic tile has a squishy back so easy to stand on and blends well with the bamboo hardwood.

final siding

just in time for low temperatures over night.


Siding went on ice house at breezeway and last siding at front door and kitchen window.

getting ready for kitchen floor tile

below the rosin paper is a new layer of plywood. I am anxious to see what the floor tile actually looks like since I have not seen it since September and I don't have a sample.

front being parged ... lights going in

Where the front porch entry and its steps were removed needed to be patched and then parged. Patching with concrete over plywood, tar paper, and chicken wire happens first as can be seen in the photos. Depending on dry time, parging may happen tomorrow.

The Electrician was also here and started putting in outlets and attaching overhead recessed lamps to switches. He will be back tomorrow to finish inside and work on the porch and breezeway.

radiant flooring mats

Electric radiant floor heating mats are installed in both bathrooms.

reusing old floor; figuring out tub faucet placement

The kitchen starts in the existing house and extends into the addition. Its flooring will be ceramic tile. The existing house part has hardwood flooring that the contractor took out a rectangular piece so it can be used to patch other places in the existing house where flooring has been damaged. The rectangle is then replaced with plywood. The real hard part of the kitchen floor is matching up the old floor to the new addition floor. The house has settled and by the time you go from 1 side to the next, the drop is 1/2 inch. So various pieces of plywood are cut to the thickness needed and then the entire line is sealed with a special patch.

Finally got to place the tub so we could figure out the best position for the floor standing faucet/tub filler, which in the photo will be the back left hand corner where the walls join. The tub has been in its box since August. Glad to see what it looks like.

Wall board all ivory now

Chestnut fireplace surround still covered to protect it. This will be in one of the main bedrooms.