it's a kitchen

We finally have some kitchen updates!

Last time we updated you we had just installed the floor and so much has happened since then.  In fact...it is actually looking like a kitchen!  The day after the floor was installed the appliances arrived!  We got a new fridge, stove, dishwasher, and microwave.  All the appliances are black with the exception of the fridge...it is silver with black handles. 

The next day Matt went to Menards for bleach to clean the water damage in the basement and found out that our countertop was in.  Stephen, Mandy, Jeff, and Jackie all came over to offer their help!  The guys installed the lower cabinets and dishwasher while Mandy and I sorted through papers and boxes.  After a break for pizza, Stephen and Matt began installing the countertop!

 They also began cutting the hole for the sink!

While they worked on that, Jackie cut lining for the drawers.

After getting the hole cut for the sink the guys called it a night.  Jackie and I continued to work for a few hours on cleaning and sorting.  It was wonderful to have so much help!

Two days later Stephen came over after alert and he and Matt worked on installing the sink.  We actually ended up having to purchase a new one...while they were cutting the hole, Stephen and Matt didn't calculate the curved corners into the measurements (and the sink did not come with a template).  The hole they cut for the sink would show on the corners.  So we all piled into the car and went to Menards to look for a new sink...with less rounded corners.  We found one...for less than we originally paid! 

Once we got home with the new sink everything went smoothly.  The new sink fit perfectly into the hole with no gaps or holes and the faucet, disposal, and plumbing were quickly installed. 

Over the next few days we worked on cleaning and moving things back into the kitchen.  I worked on making dividers for the drawers, the cabinets got lined, and we put up all the cabinet doors.

On Monday we finally had our first meal in the new kitchen!  The menu:

Salmon with lemon juice and capers

Asparagus with Bearnaise Sauce

Orzo Pasta with feta cheese, pine nuts, and kalamata olives

This is one of our favorite meals so we figured it was fitting for it to be the first one we made in the new kitchen!

This week we got the dishwasher fully installed (it needed to be bolted to the countertop and floor), ran the first loads in the dishwasher, moved and organized all the food and appliances from the dining room into the kitchen, and began putting on all the pulls onto the cabinet doors.

Matt and Eric just completed putting in a new outlet for the microwave and Matt and I will install it first thing tomorrow morning.  Overall things are coming together nicely.  We finally have a working kitchen again and it all looks less like a construction zone and more like a messy room (this may be the only time I am excited about a messy room)!

Once we get the microwave in we will work on getting pictures of the entire space to share.
.katherine.