New Dining Room Light!

We've been talking about this light since Christmas 2006, so I figured we should order it. I found it on Amazon.com for $333.00 and free shipping (through a 3rd party) so I just went for it. It came in about a two weeks ago and last weekend, I put it in with Brian's help (it's really quite easy). The hardest part was figuring out which circuit breaker shuts off the ceiling lights in the kitchen/dining room!

Anyway, here are a few shots of the cleaned up dining room and new light. Enjoy!





There are four 100-watt bulbs in it (they're full-spectrum compact flourescents though, so they give off a LOT of light but don't take a lot of energy). It really improved the look of the dining room dramatically. It will definitely be an 'exclusion' when we sell the house.

Not finished yet, but oh so close.

So we're still not finished yet. I'm not sure if someone at Home Depot isn't bothering to order the final things we need or what - we finally got the panel for the island (to make the blank spot less blank - it will be a false door). But we're still missing:

• Broken deep drawer needs replaced
• Double-layered silverware holder for top drawer
• 3 roll-out shelves (had 2, were the wrong size, one is still missing)
• Faucet still leaks a little bit
• One shelf needs to be planed down so it fits

Some of that (last 2) are just waiting for the REST to get here so they can come finish at once. This whole thing has gone on for over 2 months now (was supposed to be 'less than 2 weeks').

So, in the spirit of spinning this to a POSITIVE post - here's what it looks like ALMOST finished (dishwasher is in finally!)

















Oh yeah - the glass for the two doors next to the wine fridge isn't here yet, but that's our fault. We're custom ordering it ourselves and just haven't called the guy yet. Soon. Very soon.

So close...

The rest of the countertops are in - and I LOVE them. Brian will too when he gets home, I'm sure. I sent a pic to his Blackberry but it doesn't do them justice. In fairness to Home Depot, it WAS roughly 48 hours after my tirade about the wrong sink that this got done. Kudos to keeping a deadline.

Shot of the sink base and adjoining counter:


Close up on sink:


Call my crazy, but I think that dual-sized bowls in the sink really make an impact and class up the joint. Maybe I'm overthinking it.

We called our HD contact last night to confirm the plumber. You'll recall on Tuesday that it was 'either Thursday at 4pm or Friday morning at 7am.' With a promise he'd call us on Wednesday to confirm.

No call. So we called Home Depot. Of course, our guy is up in the mountains on 2-days off and won't be back until Friday. So the guy we spoke to called him, and said "I couldn't quite make out what he said but I think the plumber comes at 4pm." Lovely.

After the sink was installed, I called our contractor (unfortunately the only number I had was the owner's cell, but he was gracious). He's checking with our lead guy to confirm the plumber. I think if it's NOT tonight at 4pm, I'm going to explode. Still waiting to hear.

We also got 5 boxes from Kraftmaid via FedEx this morning - presumably all of our missing doors and pieces. So I let them know those are here and hopefully they can find time to install and get things finished.

Right now, I could care less about 3 damaged and 1 missing door. I want a sink. I want a dishwasher. Those are priorities!

Countertops - only 1/2 way.

Unfortunately, there was a f*ck up with our sink. I don't know any other way to describe it. We ordered what's known as a "bishop" sink. It has two basins, but one is larger than the other. We confirmed 4 times with Home Depot® that the right sink would come.

So today after they go the island done, and the countertops to the left of the stove, they brought in the countertop for the sink base and the sink. The conversation went something like this:

"It's the wrong sink."

"This is the one we have on the order form."

"I believe you. But it's the wrong sink - let me make a call."

From there I had a "conversation" with our designer at Home Depot. In the end, there was apparently some miscommunication between him and Silestone® about the sink - so they will work out the $1500 cost to cut a new piece for our REAL sink.

After a bit of discussion, we will have the new sink & the rest of the countertops put in between 10 and 1 on Thursday. We felt 48 hour turnaround was acceptable.

The plumbers will then come EITHER 4pm on Thursday or 7am on Friday to hook up the plumbing and dishwasher.

For now, enjoy these photos of the two pieces that ARE done:







No word yet on the 3 replacement doors (damage), 2 missing doors, missing silverware inset or kick-panel finishing. On top of getting them re-doing the microwave venting so it actually VENTS to the outside, fixing a few shelves and other finishing touches.

As soon as those parts are in, we'll get a date scheduled.

We can cook again!

As we were thinking about the countertops being installed - and a 1" bullnose end on all of the exposed edges, we measured the stove and realized that odds are it wouldn't fit. It would have about a 1/2" of clearance - if that.

We called John at Home Depot and after much discussion, the contractor sent over 2 guys to put the stove in place this morning (at 7:30) before the countertop guys get here at Noon. To ensure it will fit. It was quite an ordeal, even without the countertops in - but it's in. Looks great. And it works. If it wasn't 9:40 in the morning, I'd go make a pizza or something.



Now we wait for countertops.

Countertop Update

While I was in Chicago yesterday in agency meetings, I got a voicemail from the countertop installers. The short of it - they're coming on Tuesday at noon to install our Silestone® countertops!

I have to say - not a moment too soon. If all goes well the last remnants of replacement doors and kick panel will be here by then, and by Friday we'll have the kitchen 100% finished. With working oven, dishwasher & new sink.

Keep your fingers crossed for us!