New Kitchen in Six Days

Uncle Ray wasting no time to start the demolition!

The BEFORE shot - nice and dirty!

The OLD.

When dad and Uncle Ray rolled in with a truck full of tools and building supplies, I knew that we were in for a whirlwind kitchen remodeling project.  It didn’t take long for them to start the demolition.  Shortly after they arrived, we moved everything from the kitchen into the basement, dining room and living room and the dust began to fly!  Paul even got in there with a few hammer throws to try to knock down the walls.  Of course you never really know what is laying within the wall until its knocked down, so we were certainly in for surprises – like a dummy vent that was disconnected, and makeshift plumbing that we’re surprised has stood the test of time. The demolition of the floor is what proved to be the most challenging.  

Demolition is all hands on deck!

Mmmm, should we cut this pipe found in the wall??

As they were ripping up the floor, many of the floorboards were coming along with it – so we had to devise a plan to put down a new floor all while taking into the consideration the height of these new cabinets and the new ceiling as well!  What was going to be a swift demolition and reinstall turned out to be a complete overhaul including a new ceiling, new walls, and new floorboards!

Time to try to get up the old stuck on tile, not an easy task!

The days went by in an absolute blur, we ate a lot of meals from slow cookers and Dale had his fair share of nail guns and screw guns that he wasn't too fond of.  It was an adventure to say the least.  One night we ate chinese food from our small coffee table while all sitting on a burlap covering on our couch. The dust was piled high and I'm pretty sure if my mom were here she would have already been at a hotel. Haha! It was a mess!

There once was a wall...

Our dining room. Who wants dinner?!

New drywall was required after our crazy demolition!

We started doing dishes in the laundry tub and lived by the microwave and slow cooker.  While Uncle Ray and Curty were out here we also had to take them to Fat Heads so they could experience the big burgers full of flavor!  I got Chicken Little and Paul and Curty got the Triple Bypass Burger!

There's always a few holes that need patching when it comes to remodeling!

Progress, and we're still smiling!

As the week went on it seemed like the tasks were piling up to the last minute and the kitchen was probably not going to be finished this time around.  Of course, my dad had other plans and kept proposing goals for each day and the next.  Each day Paul and I would get home from work we had the opportunity to appreciate the dramatic changes in how the kitchen was shaping up.

The first cabinets go up on the walls flush to the new ceiling!

One of many backyard BBQ's on the saw table. 

When we came home to see that the walls were plastered and painted and the cabinets were about to be put into place, it was a major transformation!  The colors all starting coming together so nicely.  The sink going into place was a major relief because we could finally start cleaning up the dust and setting things in place.  It went from small ally kitchen to a beautiful, yet affordable, modern kitchen with a wide open passage to our dining room!

Construction BREAK: Fat Heads on Carson Street!

I got the Chicken Little - which was NOT little. 

The Artery Clogger!

Headwiches, as big as your head!

After just 6 short days, Dad and Uncle Ray had to hit the road back to Wisconsin and heal from the long work week of carpentry from daylight until dinner - which takes a real toll on your body!  I couldn't believe it, but they had completely finished the kitchen!  My task was now to organize and put everything in its new home.  I couldn't believe the transformation!

Dishes in our laundry basin...

Look at what we did!!!

Bringing in the new stainless appliances!

We cannot thank Curty and Uncle Ray enough for all of their hard work and help with the kitchen project.  It definitely did not happen overnight and took a lot of shopping around and planning to do the project on a budget!  Paul also found us a dandy of a refrigerator on Craigslist to polish the place off.  It came together much better than I ever could have imagined and we cannot thank everyone enough who was involved!

Uncle Ray and I sharing a cup of coffee brewed in the kitchen and not in my bedroom!

Breakfast from the new stove in the new kitchen, under the new lights!

We had to show you the amount of garbage that resulted - what a mess!

Hopefully that's the end of major transformation projects for the house, it's really shaping up to be a wonderful and comfortable place to live.  We love gathering around the kitchen, and it has become a favorite place to entertain friends!

Our old kitchen, now in Curty's truck cab!

The final breakfast in Pittsburgh!

THANK YOU!