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.

14 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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  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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  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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  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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  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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  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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  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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  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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  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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