Monday, December 29, 2025

Close To Done ...

I have had many, many … okay, maybe just two … people ask about the kitchen remodel:

Where are the photos??
When is it going to be done?

Well, here are the photos and it’ll be done, sigh, when it’s done. Those are the before pictures up there, and it looks good, but I think that’s just the lighting. And below we’ll start with some of the recent photos; as you can see the layout stayed the same, which was done for Carlos’ eyesight. We have kept everything, except the dishwasher, in the same spot so it’s easier for Carlos to navigate.

Let’s dish …

This is the new kitchen yesterday morning; I love the blue and honey cabinets and I love the blue cabinets and how they go up on the pantry, and then the honey cabinets and how they come down around the fridge, and onto the island.

We did a large subway tile in a stacked formation along the walls because it bounces light around the kitchen and plays off the lighter tones in the quartz.

And the stove wall … and the vent hood, the bane of my existence. I found a hood I liked, had the power we wanted and yet ran very quietly and so I ordered it online. It was to come in a week … it took a month. And then there weren’t enough of the chimney sections to reach the 9-foot ceilings; it was about ten inches short. So, I emailed the company and the manufacturer and both replied “That’s how they’re made and we don’t make other pieces to fit a taller ceiling”—even though the website claimed the chimney went up to ten feet.

And after they gave me the “There’s nothing we can do” speech, they had the nerve to say, “Is there anything else we can help you with?”

“Um, let me see … you helped me with the—oh, yeah, you haven’t helped me at all!”

Click.

So a new hood was ordered once we double- and triple-checked that it would go up to the ceiling and it was set to be delivered in a week and as you can see it has yet to arrive.

Breathe.

This is the sink wall with a muted Mexican tile that rises from the counter between the two upper cabinets to the ceiling—this same tile pattern will go behind the stove once the %&$#ing new hood arrives. I love the look of the tile because it has all the colors of the cabinetry and hardware:

And also has all the colors in the quartz, from the dark blue to the grays to the tans; that’s my favorite thing.

In addition to a rectangle sink; I don’t know why, but I love a good rectangle sink.

The far end of the kitchen we have no photos for, because the walls need to be finished and the floating shelve above two small cabinets that will hold cookbooks and tchotchkes and such, are not up yet, and the flooring … the next step for the entire house, is not down yet.

But it’s closer to being done and that’s a good thing.

48 comments:

  1. Bravo! Well done. There was a time when my father knew a guy with a metal shop who would match the hood and make that piece in a about 30 minutes. Today it is probably made in China or India. You eliminated the trash compactor, I don't know anyone who used those for more than a few months. I kind of like the original small tile floor. I insisted on a 2x2 tile for my bathroom floor, the designer thought I was crazy, but also said, "you are the one paying the bill."

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    1. That original floor is 60 year old linoleum! We were going to replace it anyway, but with the new cabinets and the old corner cabinets removed, we need new floors ... and will do every room except the bedrooms and baths! Next year!

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  2. I wish I could redecorate or change our kitchen and all the appliances just like you have. You have an adorable kitchen that many people admire, including me. Good evening from Indonesia.

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  3. It looks good! I like that sink...it's large enough for things like cookie sheet pans. Online ordering...I did the same for a large rectangle sink when we redid our kitchen (which needs to be done again). Had to send it back cuz it didn't fit. Argh. Construction projects always take longer than a contractor will claim. If they say 2 months, you can be sure it'll take 4 or 5.

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    1. It is quite a big sink ... I think I could bathe Carlos in it if need be!
      I knew there would be delays but the hood was the worst. And we're still waiting!!!

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    2. If you do bathe Carlos we need pictures as proof please.

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    3. Giving Carlos a bath in that would make for a great little film!

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  4. Hooter9:42 AM

    The kitchen looks beautiful. A lot of work went into all the detail. Once it is all finished the memories of all the hassles will fade away and replaced with joy.

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    1. It is a nice kitchen and suits both Carlos and me, which makes it all the nicer!

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  5. I love the tiles; the units blend in so well with them. My niece is still in the process of putting in a new kitchen in her 1930s house. I hope it comes out looking as good as yours.

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    1. It looks very different than what I envisioned but we really like the blue and honey, and the Mexican tiles math but don't match perfectly, which looks nice.

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  6. Cleora Borealis10:17 AM

    🥰🤩 Just gorgeous! I don't like blue interiors, but that midnight dark blue is my new exception and the Mexican tile is wonderful. Ya got good taste in people, fur kids, and decorating! 🧐😃

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    1. Thanks; it did turn out better than I had thought because you're, or I'm, always second guessing my choices!

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  7. Meh. It could use a little, wait for it, red! Just kidding. I actually really like the whole thing. It suits you.

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    1. A splash of red is always welcome!!!

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  8. Anonymous11:19 AM

    the dog's mother
    xoxo :-)

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  9. Let me get in here.

    I LOVE it!!

    *The Mexican title behind the sink and when finished the stove is lovely. My OCD brain loves a repeat pattern but this layout is exciting and different. I could embrace that.

    *The mix of the cabinet finishes are fresh.

    *The lighting is what I like. I am not a fan of the "big light." I say highlight the task areas and when needed turn on the big light-rarely. I follow a guy on Instagram who is remodeling his 1970s home and we are at the kitchen and dinning room stages. Honey, he has rows of canned lights in the celling like runway lighting strips. I could do surgery on his massive counter. The "big light" is in overdrive. I told him so and said that he could use a few lamps-to scale-in the kitchen as well as task lighting to turn off the "big light."

    *The undermount sink-not divided-is awesome. Love that extra touch of the inset at the bottom of the sink.

    *Love the understated knobs. This choice is best. I have seen some designs where there are pulls everywhere and it looks overdone. I say keep in simple.

    *A true, well thought out design is when all things flow together and your eyes takes you calmly from one installation to another with nothing really glaring out saying LOOK AT ME.

    *The quartz has enough lift without being too busy. Great choice.

    *Can't wait for you to bring it home and show us the finished design.

    Thank you for the update. Just let us know when the home tours in your area are starting and we can fly in.

    Have a great week and HAPPY NEW YER to you and Carlos.

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    1. I like the tile because it has similar colors to both the cabinetry and the counters, but isn't a perfect match.
      We had bought a light for over the breakfast table and two smaller ones for the island years back, and we were lucky to find a similar light for above the sink.
      We are loving it and cannot wait for it to be completely done.

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  10. Your kitchen is fabulous! That hood story sounds typical of our experiences. I say our theme is usually one step forward, two steps back.
    We are 3/4 the way through a bathroom remodel. Actually rebuild as we went to the studs and added water resistant insulation, drywall, ceiling, new wiring, new plumbing including new drain. The walls are up and painted, the ceiling is up and painted (except the paint isn't right and needs repainted). The new shower walls, pan, and plumbing is complete, the sink and cabinet are installed and medicine cabinet and shelves are installed.
    Now we need to repaint the ceiling with correct paint, replace the baseboard heater which has turned into a project like your hood with new pieces and parts reordered, put in a floor, install the toilet, everything needs knobs, molding everywhere, . . I am sure there is more.

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    1. I have learned from this remodel--and will use the idea when we do the primary bath--to order everything we need from cabinets to hardware, sinks, light, tiles, etc, and once it's ALL here, then start the work so we aren't waiting on one thing!
      It's all a learning process.

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  11. Can I just say, that kitchen was due for a refresh? Wow, what a difference! It is lovely, the cabinet colours are wonderful, I love the quartz, and the Mexican tile is so special. I'm impressed. I don't have that ability to design a space.
    As you say it will get done when it gets done.

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    1. Thanks!
      The old kitchen was nice, just old; it had great space but needed some updates.

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  12. Anonymous11:53 AM

    Your kitchen turned out fabulous! So many great details and a bold color choice. You're going to love spending time in there.

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    1. Thank you; we are enjoying it so far but are ready to get the last bits done!

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  13. Love the Mexican tile accents. Looking at the before picture, it looks like you remodeled just in time. I think that the variegated counter top tile had the potential to turn both of you into ax murderers. The world will be a safer place once you have finished the project. Hang in there.

    Will Jay

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    1. Yes, the tiled counters were the worst thing about that kitchen and, I hate to say it, but Carlos asked to keep about thirty of the old tiles.
      I'm scared to think what he's going to do with them!!!

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    2. Perhaps skeet shooting in the back yard?

      Will Jay

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    3. I like the sound of that!!

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  14. Your new kitchen looks great! I LOVE the blue and honey cabinetry, muted Mexican tiles and stainless steel -- it will be a relaxing colour palette in which to create culinary delights! So hang in there, Bob, you're in the home stretch now...

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    1. Thanks so much; we are loving it and counting the days until it's completely done.

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  15. All looking very smart, fresh and modern. It's bad about the exhaust fan flue, especially if you ceiling is a normal height.

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    1. That's getting replaced next week and will be completely finished, thank the goddess!

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  16. I love every one of your choices. The blue cabinets. The honey cabinets. The sink. The nobs. The countertops. The subway tile. The Mexican tile. Absolutely beautiful. You have great style. Good luck with the hood!

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    1. Thanks Mitchell ... as it stands now the hood will be complete next week though why any company thought a 9 foot ceiling was too tall is beyond me.

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  17. It's going to look great!

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  18. I do love the mexican tile and the blue cabinets and am annoyed on your behalf over the non fitting range hood pipe. I'm curious now about the flooring and what it will look like when it is all finished.

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    1. The floor is going to be LVP in a wood look, which is great for kitchens as it's impervious to water.

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  19. I love that dark blue on the cabinets and the mosaic tiling. You're a man after my own heart. Actually I've been looking at my kitchen (white cupboards with mosaic flooring) and wondering if I should paint the cabinets pale blue. Now you've got me thinking!!!!

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    1. Try it! Especially painting them; you can always change your mind.

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  20. The kitchen is probably the worst room to refurbish and it must feel so nice to know that the end is nigh.

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    1. It does feel good, and once we get the rest of the room done and get the kitchen table back in, we'll be able to eat in our eat-in kitchen!

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  21. I LOVE IT so far!!!!! Like you I just adore a dark blue and it looks great with the honey cabinets!!!! My favorite thing though? Has got to be the backsplash behind the sink!!!! Warm, charming print and adds just enough pattern. Very nice!

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    1. I looked at so many Mexican or Moroccan tiles but they were all too much, then found this tile, that's more muted but has all the colors of the kitchen plus a couple more.
      I was pretty happy with the choice!
      Thanks Maddie.

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