Kitchen Remodel, Part Trois - The Pantry

While "redeveloping" the kitchen, we went ahead and developed a new pantry space.  This was something we had planned to do eventually but not necessarily at the same time as the kitchen.  Since one thing leads to another, we didn't really want to lay new flooring until the new pantry space was done.  Because we wanted this all to end, we decided to jump on in and get'er done.  Building a new pantry space also meant repositioning the HVAC intake vent.  That was a task I was really dreading to undertake.  However, this particular project ended up being a piece of cake, not as difficult as I had expected.  I moved the vent all by myself and it was surprisingly easy!

Here is part of the original space where the new pantry is.  It served as our "kitchen" throughout most of the remodel.  Yes, a microwave, toast and chocolate milk were staples there for awhile!  :-)  This part of the original space had a buffet-banquet-like space with about five drawers.  It was really terrific...if you had 142 placemats, tablecloths, and 14 sets of silverware you needed to store.  Needless to say, it appeared pretty useless to us.  We had better plans for this cubby.  I was able to yank it out in it's entirety and may use it in the garage for something.  

To the left of the cubby (above) was our old pantry.  

Really, it was a 2x3 closet we turned into a pantry by adding shelves.

By removing the cubby drawers and demolishing the existing pantry closet, 

we gained about a 3x6 amount of space. 

This is the HVAC air intake that used to be located directly above where the microwave sat in that cubby.    I was able to remove one piece of ducting at the seams allowing it to rest perfectly where I needed it to.  Look profesh, right?!

Here are the beginnings of the MDF shelves and pine supports.

After some research, I learned how wonderful MDF can be...notwithstanding certain parameters.  This particular project required that the MDF shelves to have some additional support.  Oh darn, time for a new toy tool!  I found this dowel jig at Harbor Freight (which is like the Dollar Tree of Home Depot).  FYI - This exact same "jig" was nearly 3x the price at Sears.  EXACT.SAME.JIG.  Just sayin'.  What this allowed me to do was to add those little dowel-and-hole siteeeations you come across when you buy do-it-yourself furniture.  I felt pretty cool having the capability to do this on my own!  How cool is that?

Anywho, here's a piece of the process...

...and here is the finished product after tending to the "certain parameters" part as mentioned above.  I had to add addition strips of wood in the corners and front for support.  I'm pretty sure these shelves aren't going anywhere anytime soon!  :-)

Voila!  It's the the biggest pantry you've ever seen.  However, it is about three times bigger than the original.  It feels so good to have everything all organized and siteeeated.

XOXO, Kinley Mae

Kinley has a ValentiMe's message for you...

It's been a cRaZy month with Mommy and Baby sick and an attempt to complete the kitchen remodel.  Our sickies are getting better on a daily basis.  We will be posting pictures of both baby and the kitchen very soon.  So stay tuned!


XOXO


Love to all!

Kitchen Remodel, Part Deux

A lot has been accomplished since November.  It's amazing what can be done in four days.  Yes, four days.  Due to scheduling issues and a thing called Thanksgiving, renovation work was put on hold.  How aggravating that was.  Oh well, right?  We're rollin' like thunder now, people!

The wall between the existing kitchen and dining room was removed and a B.A.B. (big a$$ beam) was installed in its place, much like the one installed when we removed the other wall between the dining room and the family room.  However, this time we had the beam recessed into the attic. 

Electrical was revised to reflect the moving of double ovens, cooktop and fridge to different walls.  Additional outlets were added as the THREE that were in the kitchen were not only insufficient but practically unusable due to their location.

Recessed lighting was added as well.  As long as we were going to the trouble of installing new lighting systems, we'd bypass the retarded CFL fixtures required by code and go LED (which exceeds code).  They weren't cheap but what WILL be in this kitchen remodel?!  Plus we'll be using like .2 watts for the next 30 years, haa!

I installed new insulation and what a welcome aspect that was after living without any in the kitchen where the attic was also exposed allowing the air and Lindsay's squirrels into the Manor.  This was an easy task.  Stuff and staple!  Stuff and staple!

We had our homies who did the ceiling over again to sheet rock and texture the walls and ceilings.  Man they're fast!

There's the update!  Stay tuned because we're ready to rock this kitchen from here on out!  

Still to come: 

prime/paint

cabinets

countertop

flooring

So much to do before Bajeda arrives!

33 weeks pregnant

 

Not sure why my eyes look nearly closed in this picture- must have been early in the morning :)

Here is Mom and Baby at 33 weeks (This is nearly 2 weeks old, and I need to upload a more current picture).  John and I are taking our birthing courses and I just got the 'ok' from my doctor to take a leave of absence from both my jobs- weird to think I really don't have to be anywhere!  Trouble is I am going to have to get disciplined and set my own "work schedule" to get things ready around the house for baby's arrival.  Hopefully motivation comes like... NOW!

Meanwhile, we are thinking about baby names, fine-tuning items on our registries, and... trying to make the best of a very cold house from the kitchen remodel...  At least we have our LOVE to keep us warm!

We can't wait for baby to get here!

Kitchen Delivery!

Absolutely nothing has changed since Part 1 of the kitchen remodel, frustratingly enough.  However, we purchased the IKEA cabinets last night and they arrived this afternoon.  Oh how exciting it is to see our new kitchen amongst a pile of 178 packaged goods!  I'd be more excited if I was able to put them together and begin installation.  So much to do before that process begins...

Don't the words "Lidingo" and "Akurum" make ya wanna go na nuh na nuh?!!!!!

Meanwhile, this is our kitchen right now - 

Note the Nesquik which has been a vital part of our existence lately.

Kitchen Remodel, Part I

As if we didn't have enough going on (like preparing for the arrival of our kid in January) we have started the kitchen remodel.  If you had the opportunity to meet our old kitchen, you would know why.  It was a special little beast, previously remodeled in 1986 according to the newspaper I found stuffed in the wall behind the drywall.  :-)  This is something we felt needed to be done prior to Bajeda and sibs because when would we ever have another chance to be without a kitchen for an extended period of time?  Additionally, who wants to constantly try and keep the little rascals out of the demolition area?  Blek.  Not fun and not me!

So here we are - pushing it to the verrryy lasstttt minuteeeeee...

Here's the beginning of THIS adventure -

Our lovely 1986 kitchen.

...and so it begins...

The original drive-thru window...

Moral of the story, don't be alarmed if we show up at your doorstep for a bite to eat.

Just sayin'...

Savings at Safeway

This was another delightful trip to Safeway!  Thanks to the 6 x 11 card o'coupons we received in the mail advertising ways to create inexpensive meals.  The coupons were for free Safeway branded items.  For the most part, I ain't too picky when it comes to brand names (...I did say for the most part)!  There were some pretty good items on there (ie. marinade, salad dressing, salsa, $3.50 4lb bag of chicken chichis, etc.). The only catch was that I had to spend a minimum of $10.  Since I already had my coups out for various other items and on the hunt for the $2.49 Best Foods, that was not an issue.

I must pause to mention that I happened to notice that Safeway had their own brand of cooking sprays.  Once upon a time, Trader Joe's had this baking spray that had flour in it.  It was terrific but like a handful of items from the past like my beloved flake salt and lysine, it has disappeared never to return!  Needless to say, when I spied a similar canned substance of a Safeway Select nature, I was all over it, especially at $2 a can.  Definitely worth a shot (or a spray)!

Back to my delightful coupon experience, it's not the most fabulous coupon raid I've had but I think that getting all of these items for $18.39 made for a very nice visit!  Here's to free tortillas and salsa (and a bunch of other free shiz!)!!!

$18.39 for all this shiz!!!

P.S.  Remember when Lucky ("the low price leader") used to be in this neck of the hood and "3 was a crowd"?  Those were the days because 3 is DEFINITELY not a crowd at THIS Safeway!  Apparently it takes about six on four different registers...

29 weeks pregnant photo

Baby Turner is certainly growing!  I gained quite a few baby pounds at my last check up- but I am still right on track for weight gain.  Makes me grateful I hardly gained anything in the first three months, because I seem to be making up for it in the third trimester :)  Cutting back on the chocolate milk isn't going to be easy!

 

My hair has grown like crazy.  I think John likes it much more than I do... it just takes so much time to get ready with long hair!  I am debating whether or not to chop it short once baby arrives.  We'll see.  In the meantime, we're pretty sure our cute little girl will come out with luscious locks of her own, since mom and dad both have rich dark (and potentially curly) hair to pass down.

I feel like the next ten weeks of pregnancy are going to fly by.  Overall, I can't complain- this pregnancy has gone by quickly and without major discomfort (so far!).  I've finally mastered getting a better nights sleep- sleeping on my side wasn't easy to get used to, but the purchase of memory foam pillows has been a complete relief.  I am getting very good at making multiple trips in the middle of the night to the bathroom - John doesn't even feel me get up or hear the toilet flush!  What a champ he is.

Baby is very active now.  I feel her all throughout the day, especially before bed.  She takes my breath away when she puts on her performances... full on 360's and flips are her favorite.  She has a solid punch and left hook too, that little rascal!  If this is any indication of what she will behave like after birth, John and I will definitely have our hands full...

We're registered for our hospital classes and we're in rush mode to get everything ready for baby's arrival.  The countdown is on!