And we’re done (mostly) …

So, here are the most recent photos of the kitchen.  Backsplash is grouted, under cabinet lighting is installed, even the quarter-round trim has been installed along the toe-kick.   It looks pretty darn good – just a few places to touch up with paint and we’re still waiting on the cabinet repairs.  Hope we get that done before CHRISTMAS!!

Without further ado, enjoy …

Oddities & such about this kitchen:

We purchased a new microwave because our kids broke the handle off the old one, and the cost to replace the handle was roughly the same as replacing it (though not with the same type of microwave.  The old one was a really fancy (expensive) one with convection/oven/microwave capabilities.  We only used it to microwave and decided having a new one that looked nice was more important than keeping all the old features.  So they delivered the microwave, Tom and Spencer struggled and cursed (figuratively speaking, off course!) and got the thing mounted.  And then the stupid thing wouldn’t cook.  Lights came on, sounded fine, no heat.  So, we had to remove it and box it back up and schedule an exchange and wait another week to have  a new one delivered.  Fortunately, Tom was able to easily put the new one up, since he’d done all the hard work in mounting the plate, etc. from the original.  Fortunately this one works terrifically.

We purchased a new dishwasher to go with the new microwave (our old one was a hand-me-down from a friend who gave us theirs when our other dishwasher quit washing dishes).  I’m pleased to say that I installed that dishwasher ALL BY MYSELF.  And it DOESN’T leak!  And it actually WASHES dishes!  I feel quite pleased about this (can you tell??)

Under cabinet lighting is SUCH A PAIN!  It looks really nice, though, so there’s that.  We still have to install the two lights next to the fridge, but will have to do some re-wiring of the extension cord that came in the kit, so haven’t done it yet.  That part of the kitchen definitely needs a little more light, though, so it will be nice when it is finished.

Overall, I’m quite happy – all our pots and pans are easy to get to now that we have pull-out shelves.  Ditto for the pantry items.  And there’s lots of space for storing stuff.  Most of the upper shelves are empty at this point (though I don’t suppose it will stay that way!)  It’s been a big, fairly expensive, project.  But I’m happy to say that we didn’t go into debt to pay for any of it, so that is the best part of all!