After two days of muscle, and friends with muscle, our kitchen is no longer. The craftsmanship that went into putting it together 55 years ago is phenomenal. If we weren't putting in equally quality work, I think the builders would have been rolling over in their graves seeing us pound out their work with no disregard.
One of two dump runs and over 1500 lbs of drywall and cabinetry.
We had only one minor problem of a slow drip of water from the hot connect that we thought we'd disconnected the night before. It leaked for fourteen hours which cumulatively is a lot. It dripped throughout the kitchen, into the basement and was even dripping between the siding and outside of the house.
Underneath all the orange 70s formica was this tiny swatch of vintage wallpaper. The only remnant, besides the honey toned birch cabinets, that shows our kitchen did in fact originate from the 50s. So befitting for us, since the acorn was one of the main symbols for our wedding two years ago! We also found an unopened can of Dinty Moore Beef Stew and a classic red and black plaid can of Scotchguard, both which had fallen into no man's land behind the old lazy susan.
Whew! Ready to get put back together.
Over the high walls of the berry fields I hear the mothers laughing,
catching up on recipes and birthdays, men and music.
Their children giggle and hide within ear shot,
eating with blue stained fingers and lips.
In ten minutes they will overheat
and cry to their mothers to take them home.
The adults slowly become parents again.
Savoring this time in the green, gently calling the others to come.
The school year is a month away, the rain a month away.
But for now there is still summer in these fields.
And promises of pies, soft midday naps, and bike rides at dusk.
In the next month, the Mister and I will be completely gutting our adorably, out of date 1950s/70s kitchen. It looks fine in these photos - but if you look close, open and close a few doors and drawers, you will see it needs an update.
We'd planned on having it completed while we could still grill outdoors, but winter is seemingly upon us here in the pacific northwest and we may be microwaving our meals. Feel free to invite us over for dinner anytime! Otherwise we'll be dining a la Stouffer's and washing dishes in the bathtub.
Besides painting the bathroom, it's the first time we'll be working on the house since we bought it almost three years ago. Projects like these are costly - dang! But we've been saving our pennies and will do things ourselves, search high and low for deals online, utilize friend's connections and talents and hopefully come out with a whole kitchen when we are done.
Frank and Mariko, the previous owners had kept it in such great shape; however, the original, brown '50s stove had only three working burners and space is/was a constant problem. Also, the veneer had begun the downward spiral into the land of no return. The orange and cream Spanish? style floor, while in great shape, is a little too LOUD.
Strange that the MIster does not like the Batman cape detail above the sink, but he does not.
We'll be gutting it ourselves over a weekend with prybars and sledgehammers. CRAZY! I know. And by gutting, I mean, everything - no cabinets, no drywall, no appliances - just one big empty room. We'll recycle as much as we can, donate to the local reuse places or selling (giving) away on Craigslist. Then begins the dance of professionals and code inspectors who will have us by the short and curlies. How will it all look in the end, you ask? Picture clean, crisp whites, and grays, natural teak cabinets to bring it down to earth and then with a splash of color...maybe lime green. Aaah!
Jeff explains the dado joint. Teehee.
Our teak cabinets are being crafted by the talented woodworking guru, Jeff Mangers, owner of Plane & Square (stay tuned for more about him). Our counter tops will be arctic white Silestone (anti-bacterial and easy to maintain) and the floor, God willing, will be the ever eco-friendly Marmoleum in "Volcanic Ash". We are still trying to figure out the lighting...is recessed lighting a fad or a function? A pendant or two for sure. Stay tuned for more updates and stories of the progess.
Some fine craftsmanship that will last a century. The dado!