No more dark wood trim!

I'm starting to see the light at the end of the remodel tunnel.  A couple weeks ago we had new carpets installed in the bedrooms.  It gave us a great opportunity to start the nursery with a blank slate instead of trying carve something out of an existing bedroom. 

Last week I took Monday and Tuesday off to install new baseboards in the hallway and bedrooms.  These were not fun days, but important in the life of the house and important to keeping my sanity.  I probably cut each length between 10 - 15 times before installing it. 

The hallway showing off the new baseboards.

The nursery with new carpet and baseboards.

Our bedroom has more of a charcoal tone to it.

The 70's dark wood trim is gone!

We are pleased with the results and can't wait to show it off.

Our punch list is getting shorter:

• Paint the door jams
• install laminate separators 
• new guest shower
• build bathroom cabinet 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Culture on the Coast

On a whim last Saturday night, Sandi and I decided to make a day-trip to Cannon Beach the next day.  May is Cannon Beach's 'Spring Unveiling' where galleries invite artists to unveil their latest work.  In light our of little one coming soon, our time of care-free art gallery browsing is limited.  We wanted to take advantage of the opportunity given.

 

We arrived at Cannon Beach around 10:30 and headed to 'Dragon Fire', a bright, colorful and eclectic shop that is fun to browse through.  We were inspired by photos printed on metal and I was thinking of where to put our next piece of art.



 

 

 

 

The next gallery of note is Primary Elements.  They feature a lot of bronze sculptures.  That day we meant a few artists molding clay for their next project.  We were amazed at the intricate details of each mold.  I think part of the fascination of it is my inability to do anything remotely like it.  Another cool takeaway is the opportunity to learn about artists who's work we see every time we go out to Pioneer Square in Portland or Pikes Place in Seattle.

Our favorite artist, Jeffrey Hull, hosted a water color 'explanation' (for lack of better word) showing his admirers his techniques.  I know NOTHING about art and have no interest in painting but I did enjoy watching him work.

What's trip to the beach without going to the beach?  Towards the end of our day we spent a little time on the sand enjoying the water.

Post Script: If you ever get the chance to visit Seaside, don't bother.  It was still light out when we left Cannon Beach so we traveled north a few miles to Seaside.  What a dump!  The comparison might not be fair against a classy place like Cannon Beach but the entire city looked like it was either suffering from a hangover or looking forward to the next party. 

Our New Kitchen

We love our new kitchen! Come stop by and enjoy it with us.

Cinnamon-stained maple cabinets

Quartz countertops

Super-size sink

Brushed-nickel faucet

Teak-colored vinyl floor

Integrated water-purifier

The Destruction is Complete

This is our kitchen at the start of the year. 

 


I admit a sense of nostalgia, or maybe I just miss running water.

 

We had five weeks to prepare for new cabinets so we took a timely methodical approach. 

 

The upper cabinets came out first

We lost the floor somewhere in the mix

The lower cabinets came out three days before the new ones come in

Now, with the dishwasher moved over to its new location and the walls near the windows patched, I think we are ready.

House Remodel: Kitchen shelves

Sandi and I originally discussed adding a pantry to the south wall of the kitchen.  That is until an expensive project turned into a much more expensive project.  For a fraction of the expense, we turned our dream pantry into a dream storage area. 

 

 

 

 

House Remodel: Kitchen

The kitchen looked old when I moved in 11 years ago.  It was actually part of the attraction: within five years I was going to rip out the existing and build new cabinets.  Five years turned into ten and I decided there was no way I was going to build any cabinets (building the vanity last year informed that decision). 

Since the hallway is under construction, let's add the kitchen too. 

White-painted yucky pressed-board cabinets here



White-painted yucky pressed-board cabinets there

White-painted yucky pressed-board cabinets everywhere!

 





We found a great deal on new cabinets at a local cabinet shop.  We chose 'cinnamon' stained maple cabinets to replace all the existing. 



The formica will soon give way to black quartz



And the floor will have the same vinyl Teak as the hallway.

To date I tore out the upper cabinets and the floor.  

I tried to talk Sandi into keeping the 70's floor.  She insisted on a new floor.

Our sink is a bit small.  The next one will be a larger undermount.

Sandi making due in the midst of demolition.



 



Our storage area

Only a couple more weeks until the new ones arrive.  When all is finished, our cabinets will extend about a foot beyond their current footprint (towards the garage). 



House Remodel: Hallway

Sandi and I have talked about redoing the hallway for a couple years.  In January we decided to do it.  Its fairly dark and the carpet has to go.

The problem

The solution

 

I painted the doors white and installed a new vinyl floor 'Teak Rose'.  Two doors were beyond painting so we are replacing them which is why the garage is full of door parts.

 

To be continued....