Kitchen Update 3

We are currently just sitting on the kitchen, waiting for the counters, installation of which is scheduled for the 20th. But since Kitchen Update 1...

Carpenter Dan installed a false beam (it's not structural) in the middle of our ceiling because the ceiling is wicked sagged on the living room side and there was no way to drywall the gap between the two ceilings seamless and smooth. 

finishing the outside corners of the false beam

sidekick in his usual spot

I finished mudding/taping the drywall, and giving it a coat of primer. I'm waiting to pick out the wall color until the counters are installed, so I can take a color out of it or something. 

cats on ladders! also walls are primed

After filling in the gap in the wood flooring (where the old wall used to be) Carpenter Dan sanded down the floors. It looked like a TON of work and took two whole days. There are parts of the kitchen floor that are pretty damaged even after sanding, but that's what happens sometimes. Just think of it as character.

See the sagging ceiling? Please say no. 

Then husband Dan broke his arm and he was in a lot of pain and will have only one working arm for two months. For the first week during which the smallest movement caused him unbearable pain, he had to be bathed in the bathtub on the first floor -- bear in mind, that's the same bathtub serving as our kitchen sink. 

Poor Dan. Sometimes he wants to break off his broken arm. Very frustrating :(

My sister Senri came to stay with us for a week, and she helped Dan and I poly the floors. The appliances were delivered; the dishwasher and stove sat in the foyer (of course) while the fridge was curbside delivery only and sat in the garage. Then Carpenter Dan installed the cabinets. 

We rented a U-Haul dolly and moved the stove and fridge to the kitchen. The doors of the fridge had to be taken off in order to fit through the front door. It was mighty difficult with Dan, who is usually the muscle around these parts, one arm short. But we managed!

some discoloration in the flooring

A word about these cabinets: I bought a 14-piece set of used kitchen cabinets from the ReCover, which is a salvage/thrift store in White River Junction. We only ended up needing 9 of the units, but it was buy all or nothing for 600$, so I snatched up that deal as fast as I could. Then Dan and I spent a Saturday taking 4 trips to the ReCover store with our neighbors' van moving the entire set (they don't deliver). It limited us a little bit in our cabinet configuration, but worked surprisingly well, and since cabinets can cost upwards of 10K (and A LOT more if you want) ... no complaints here. 

I strung up the pendant lights, which I made from sockets and cloth wire bought off ebay, with cut glass bulbs which cast pretty patterns on the ceiling and wall. There's also a pot light on the other side of the kitchen

folks, we have light in the kitchen! Turned on with a switch!

Carpenter Dan in the kitchen. Potlight on the right and switches right next to the porch door!

We have a hell of a so-called work triangle right now, with the stove in the kitchen, the refrigerator in the dining room, and the "sink" in the bathroom.