Update #1 Granite (Kashmir White) in the kitchen

My weekend was pretty relaxing. I went to The Woodlands  for a long scheduled Spring Break Weekend with my Dad. In my mid 50's now, but it is still soooo nice to go 'home' for spring break. I slept until 8, ate at several fun restaurants, hit up the Houston Museum of Natural Science to see the Caves de Lascaux , hung out with a couple of my brothers and finished up with a wonderful family meal on Sunday at Aunt Peggy's.

While I was having so much fun, Wm was finishing up the prep on the walls in the kitchen. When I got home, we grabbed Max and Tamera to help with the 'spraying of the texture'. Max and I are 'shielding' and Tamera is photographer. Wm is doing the spraying.

On Tuesday, I waited and waited. First the 'demolition' guy showed up to take out the old formica counters. Then the bar support guy showed up about 4 to install the counter supports. THEN at 7 PM, the granite install team showed up. Needless to say, they did not finish last night. Today, I have a new team to finish up.

Here's a sneak peak of the granite:

Yes, yes, I do love it! 

Starting our kitchen remodel!

About 10 years ago we moved back to Austin from Denver, CO. I remember that as soon as I walked in this house, I knew it would be a great fit as our kids were growing up and leaving the 'nest'. 

We have done some changes over the years.  A couple of years ago, the big thing was the new carpet and tile throughout the house. At some point, we knew we would tackle the kitchen. 

I tried to find some 'before pictures' as I chronicle the makeover, but apparently, I hated our laminate counters so much, I avoided taking photos in the kitchen as much as possible. :(

I have pinned on pinterest like a crazy woman. I'm really almost tired of my 'vision' before I even get to it. That is too bad, because I won't be changing the vision! It really did help to see a lot of kitchen pins to get an idea of what I really like to get a general direction of where to go with this!

So here are a few before photos! This first one is of Christmas Eve with family gathered around the table in the dinette area adjacent to the kitchen. Uggghhh. The green walls will have to go. I read somewhere that minimal contrast will help make the area seem larger, so my dark walls will be replaced with creamy white ones.

A couple more shots...

Demolition Day started with taking out these upper cabinets and the wall they were attached to. 

Note the beige paint color I'm trying out on the walls as he works on demo! I just love, love how this opened up the kitchen to the dinette. Before he taped and floated the wall, he added a line for this little canned light just above the counter.

Ok, in this last photo, you can see he removed all the upper cabinets along the exterior wall.. That's part of the new chimney vent hanging just to the left of the window. LOTS of work still to be done. William will prime and texture the walls where the cabinets hung. He also will rip out the backsplash and install hardiboard as a base for the subway tile. I will probably hang an open shelf just to the right of the window and to the left of the chimney vent.

No, I don't intend to install new upper cabinets! I am able to fit all that we have either in the lower cabinets or on some shelves in the dinette area. I may hang an Ikea towel bar with some 's' hooks under one of the shelves for hanging some utensils.  The subway tile will go up a bit higher than normal. I want it to follow the line of the window, just below the hood. Right now I'm daydreaming about a slightly longer kitchen island. :)

Will post some more pix once the granite is installed!

looking forward to 2014

It's Christmas Eve, 2013. Wow. What a year.

Let me just say, it's very nice to be sitting down listening to Christmas music that is so old, dear and familiar. Comfort food to my soul. Looking at the tree... glad that all my good-ies are baked! Ready for all the fun of tonight and tomorrow!  Merry Christmas!