Home Renovation! Here's the Kitchen/Sunroom **UPDATE - Post 30**

[Russian Blue]

Sorry guys that I haven't been around. So busy this year - first Rob's court case is presented this month - from last year's car accident), then our wedding and now we purchased a cottage property. I've been checking in but not posting much since I have such little time. But, I posted a new Gigi and Steve thread in the Cat forum which related to my home renos (see here.....http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?p=2258807#post2258807

Some of you know that I've been renovating a century old house (like, forever :rolleyes:). I finally organized some of my home renovation photos. I know many of you wanted me to post them some months back and I didn't have a chance. So, better late than never!

We moved into a 'handyman' special house and everything had to be replaced, from the old knob and tube wiring to the roof, to the flooring, to the bathroom, to the garage, to the plumbing, to the windows. You get the picture? ;) So, let's just say we've been busy.

We decided to tear out the kitchen and move it from the left side of the house to the right side of the house (since we had nothing better to do :D). We removed a main floor bedroom to make space for the kitchen. At the same time, we blew out the back wall and added a glassed in sunroom. So, here are the pics!

We did the majority of the renos (except the sunroom install) and my husband designed and manufactured the kitchen doors/cabinets and drawers himself. Lucky for us! Saved a great deal of money!

The whole house consisted of yellow/white painted walls, green painted floors/counter (yes, you heard me correctly) and burgandy painted kitchen cabinets. Bleh! Ugly as sin.
Original Kitchen - Left side of house
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846336451_w728k-M.jpg
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846373495_DVCPc-M.jpg
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846373152_XiHjC-M.jpg

This is where we started to tear down the wall that divided the kitchen from the bedroom:
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846373512_2iwMD-M.jpg

Final view, with the wall removed and re-supported (load bearing wall):
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846373532_r88aM-M.jpg

Looking back to the old kitchen space, with everything removed:
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846373515_7DcUQ-M.jpg

And this is the angle looking into the new solarium and new kitchen (old bedroom). You can see the tubing on the floor of the solarium...this is the installation of the heated floors for that room:
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846373536_vYdSh-M.jpg


Continued in next post.........

[Russian Blue]

Okay, so here is the new kitchen with cabinets being installed, counter installed and new flooring installed. We removed the original window and have a pass through that looks into the new solarium and lets in great natural light:
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846373448_M2B8v-M.jpg

Wood drawers with anti-slam hinges (this pic was before the drawer face was added):
http://www.bluespirit.ca/photos/846373475_qVq4f-M.jpg

My husband, Rob, cutting into the counter to install the sink:
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846373035_vEyPR-M.jpg

My view when doing dishes. :)
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846373490_6wJbc-M.jpg

Since we lived in a century old home, I decided on a tin backsplash in a unique celtic pattern:
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846373053_kGksp-M.jpg

The rest of the renovated kitchen:
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846373134_fU9m8-M.jpg

The counter we chose is from WilsonArt and it's to resemble soapstone:
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846373119_aZRQL-M.jpg

http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846373176_a9Voh-M.jpg

[Russian Blue]

And, finally, this is looking back into the room that was the old kitchen, now our dining room. The window blinds are old and will be replaced. Plus, a radiator cover/baseboards still need to be installed:
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846373032_dxcoC-M.jpg

And looking into the new sunroom with fireplace:
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846373109_QySLz-M.jpg
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/photos/846373094_uuA9D-M.jpg

[Scooter's Mom]

Everything is beautiful!

[3Catcondo]

Love it!! It's nice when we or our significant other can do that type of work. It sure saves alot of $... I used to date a carpenter who could do anything. It was awesome. Thanks for sharing the pics, I'm jealous of the sunroom :)

[blue]

Very nicely done.

[Taz_Zoee]

Wow, that is all so beautiful!! :D

[Lilith Cherry]

That is beautiful; such a lot of hard work but it was certainly a success! Would you tell me where you found the tin splashback? It is beautiful and would be just right in my kitchen too! I live in a century old renovated ( well nearly:D) house too.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Everything is gorgeous.:D Thanks for sharing these pictures with us. I bet you're so glad that it's finally finished.:)

[Cinder & Smoke]

>> Wow!! <<

You guys do NICE work!!

:cool:
:)

[RobiLee]

All that hard work has certainly paid off. It looks fantastic!!

Uhhh, could you and hubby make my house your next renovation project ;)

[Medusa]

Very nice! I especially like the sun room.

[Russian Blue]

Thanks everyone! This has been one very long renovation. My husband was able to design and manufacture all the cabinets and drawers himself. This saved us a huge amount of money (the whole kitchen only cost $1K), but it took forever since he had to use the shop machines after work or on weekends. Since this was the first time we had to create and manufacture cabinets, there were quite a few errors which were time consuming. But, as they say, measure three times, cut once. ;)



........Would you tell me where you found the tin splashback? It is beautiful and would be just right in my kitchen too! I live in a century old renovated ( well nearly:D) house too.

They have them at Home Depot, but the sheets are not made of tin and instead is some type of plastic? I saw them and really didn't like the patterns or the look.

Then I found Brian Greer - the God of Tin Ceilings and Mouldings Tin Ceilings (http://www.tinceiling.com/home.htm)! :D He's located near me and he's simply amazing. He can reproduce any pattern or even create something from your own design. He's involved in many restoration projects throughout North America.


..........I bet you're so glad that it's finally finished.:)

It's not finished yet. We still need to finish the radiator covers, baseboards and the upstairs bedrooms. Plus, install the deck off the back of the house. Unfortunately everything stopped last year when Rob had his car accident. So now we're slowly picking up where we left off.

We'll probably sell the house next spring.


............Uhhh, could you and hubby make my house your next renovation project ;)

Take a number. :p He already is working on two other projects for associates and the job requests have not stopped coming. I think he'll have to quit his day job since these side reno jobs pay more!

It sounds great that he's in demand but not so great when I need MY home projects finished. *sigh* I guess I'll have to take a number as well. ;)


Very nice! I especially like the sun room.

Thanks! I love the sunroom and brings in so much needed light into this small house. Our electricity bills have been reduced also since we don't need to turn on any lights at the back of the house. You can also hear it when it rains since it's hitting the glass. I love the sound of rain since it's really relaxing. :)

[Bengalz]

You and Rob (and Steve and Gigi, of course!) have turned a house into a beautiful home:) I love your style - elegant, but comfortable!

PS. loved the photos of Steve and Gigi supervising the dishwasher install. Eve, our little monkey cat, loves to sit on top of the tallest ladder and doesn't miss a thing ... she's NOT shy with her comments either:eek: We couldn't do a thing without her help;)

[Lilith Cherry]

Thank you so much for the info!

And yes cats are born "supervisors"! :D

[phesina]

Beautiful work! WELL DONE!!!!! to all concerned.

You will enjoy that space so much!

[krazyaboutkatz]

It's not finished yet. We still need to finish the radiator covers, baseboards and the upstairs bedrooms. Plus, install the deck off the back of the house. Unfortunately everything stopped last year when Rob had his car accident. So now we're slowly picking up where we left off.

We'll probably sell the house next spring.
I'm shocked to hear that after all of this work and even more reno's to do that you'll then end up selling it. I thought that you were doing all of these reno's for you not as a flip. Good luck.:)

[finn's mom]

Well done! I LOVE the floors! They're beautiful! We just got a new house, and I wish we had the facilities and skill to do that kind of renovation on our own! $1K for that kitchen? That's amazing!

[Barbara]

I simply cannot believe you even faked pictures of Rob with the machine only to hid the fact that Steve and Gigi did all the work. Just think of the solarium- who else than a cat could come up with this idea?
And the wonderful taste of all of it ;)- it can only have been a cat.

[smokey the elder]

Wow! That looks great. Did I read that right...by DIY you did the kitchen for only $1000!? Awesome!

[Russian Blue]

I'm shocked to hear that after all of this work and even more reno's to do that you'll then end up selling it. I thought that you were doing all of these reno's for you not as a flip. Good luck.:)

Last week, we purchased a 7 acre cottage property up north (:D) and that is why we need to sell. Here's a pic:

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/846164696_NoxaG-M.jpg

We're taking the equity from our city home to pay off the cottage land. Then, we need to start planning on building our cottage next. We hope to retire there eventually.

Also, we have already been in this house for 6 years so it's time to find a new place. ;)


Well done! I LOVE the floors! They're beautiful! We just got a new house, and I wish we had the facilities and skill to do that kind of renovation on our own! $1K for that kitchen? That's amazing!

Thanks! The renovation journey has been quite the experience. And don't say you don't have the skill. We had a huge learning curve when we purchased this house and just tried everything we could. If it didn't work out, no big deal, you just redo the item or start again.

The floors were so cheap! I think they were called country oak and they were cheaper since we went with the grade of wood that showed all the knots and characteristics of the grain - rather than having something more 'polished'. It's great for covering up cat nail marks! :D


I simply cannot believe you even faked pictures of Rob with the machine only to hid the fact that Steve and Gigi did all the work. Just think of the solarium- who else than a cat could come up with this idea?
And the wonderful taste of all of it ;)- it can only have been a cat.

:D Too cute, Barbara. Yes, I had my friend who is a whiz at Photoshop to delete all the fur from the pic.


Wow! That looks great. Did I read that right...by DIY you did the kitchen for only $1000!? Awesome!

Rob works in the furniture industry and therefore had access to all the machines and internal suppliers for materials. This was the first time he ever had to design kitchen cabinets/drawers from scratch, though. It was a real experiment and huge learning curve. It took 5 months from start to finish. He had to use the machines after work or on weekends. Plus, the tin backsplash was only $200! Quite the deal.:D

So, there were no labour costs since we were the labour and we had company discount on materials. The biggest expense was for the electrician who put in the potlights, electrical outlets, and undermounted lighting.

[Bengalz]

Wow! Love your cottage property and can only phantom the home you two will build. Now that you've tested the waters, your next project will be outstanding beyond belief!

Congratulations - a great plan:D

[CultureJunky]

What a beautiful new kitchen, and my favourite is definately the splashback, that is just divine! I just love it.

[Asiel]

Gorgeous. Everything looks so nicely finished, love the solarium, it makes all the difference in the room.

[carole]

wow that is simply gorgeous, i love our celtic background, i just adore places done up like your home, thanks for sharing.:):)

[k9krazee]

Wow. You guys did a fantastic job, I absolutely love it! And your property looks awesome too - I bet the cottage will be super stunning as well!

[Freedom]

I have never understood why people paint over hardwood floors. And the colors they select! Green? Was it supposed to be like grass underfoot???

Love your new look! What a nice kitchen, I'd LOVE to cook in that! That sun room, though, that is the BEST! Nice job, slap on the back for all of you!

The new floors look great! WilsonArt makes some terrific counter tops, nice choice. We put WilsonArt in my Dad's house when we redid his kitchen about 8 years back.

The new lot looks beautiful. WOW!

[Pawsitive Thinking]

I'm shocked to hear that after all of this work and even more reno's to do that you'll then end up selling it

Same here.......until I saw the next project :D You turned the house into a beautiful home and I am looking forward to seeing what the two of you build next

[Anikaca77]

WOW just amazing!

[Russian Blue]

Another renovation finished.....finally completed tiling and painting the front mudroom. Here's the before and after. Remember from my first post, everything in this house was painted green and yellow and burgundy.

Not anymore!!! :D

It was my mission to eradicate all these colours from this house. Slowly, by replacing, renovating and painting we did just that. We finished the front mudroom reno this weekend. No more green floors, yellow walls, burgundy door or green flower border (bleh!). I finally am free! :D

The before pics - we had already painted the burgundy door black in this pic
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/Other/Home-Renos/SunroomBefore022/877935850_RNrB2-M.jpg

Green floors, yellow walls...bleh!
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/Other/Home-Renos/SunroomBeforeFloor021/877935891_Jcrfk-M.jpg

Here, we are setting the tile....
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/Other/Home-Renos/SunroomBefore035/877935873_Mbbjf-M.jpg

Finished tiling...now getting ready to paint....
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/Other/Home-Renos/SunroomBeforeTaping009/877935928_mdrng-M.jpg

The finished product....cat approved! ;)
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/Other/Home-Renos/SunroomTile015/877921470_JiSJU-M.jpg
http://bluespirit.smugmug.com/Other/Home-Renos/SunroomFloorSteve020/877921356_8ALnW-M.jpg

Now, onto the next project.....backyard deck! No rest for the weary. ;)

[carole]

Wow i just love seeing what you are doing with the place, thanks for sharing, the differences are just simply amazing, cannot wait to see the complete finished product, by the way what on earth is a mudroom,?not a term i am familiar with down under.:)

[krazyaboutkatz]

It's gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.:)

[snakemama]

Wow, what beautiful work! Thanks for sharing it!