Let's Talk Remodeling

[Syrreal]

So it begins...

We've got the electrician going in tomorrow to start work on rewiring the basement. We also are getting the finished up estimate for a new deck to replace the deathtrap that is at the house now.

We are also starting to do the kitchen. We've picked out all our new appliances and are only waiti8ng for them to be delivered. We've ordered our new quartz countertop to replace the formica one and we scored a free sink of our choosing. We went with a double sink with one side at 9" deep and the other at 7" (it's a 1 and 1/2). Also already picked up our new faucet. Now all we still need to pick out for the kitchen is new flooring.

Here is what the kitchen looks like right now. We want to lighten it up some.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Ohhh goody, another project underway!

 

[holbear]

Good luck on your project!!


We have an appliance update for our too big fridge. They FINALLY agreed to bring us out a different one and it fits! The delivery guys refused to move the old one out to the garage and its been sitting in the corner of our kitchen for a week. We had a pick up date, but they didn't show. I wasn't surprised. They are supposed to come get it tommorrow. I have my fingers crossed.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I wonder why you've married a Cajun for the 2nd time? Could it be for the food! I'm sure with all of the New Orleanean transplants in Houston now, cajun food should be getting a lot easier to find!

Because I'm nuts? My husbands (that sounds soooo bad) have both been normal, but their families? Sheesh! I've noticed that the older the Cajun, the worse they get!

And we love to hit the Tex-Mex places when we visit Houston! We're trying to score some freebie Astros Suite tickets for a weekend at the end of this month for a quick getaway with DD & DSIL! I'll let you know if we do, you'll have to recommend some good Tex-Mex places for us.

I can do that! Just let me know when and the area you'll be in!

 

[shovan]

So it begins...

Can't wait to see what you do! What color quartz did you choose?

Good luck on your project!!


We have an appliance update for our too big fridge. They FINALLY agreed to bring us out a different one and it fits! The delivery guys refused to move the old one out to the garage and its been sitting in the corner of our kitchen for a week. We had a pick up date, but they didn't show. I wasn't surprised. They are supposed to come get it tommorrow. I have my fingers crossed.

So glad you found one that fits!

Because I'm nuts? My husbands (that sounds soooo bad) have both been normal, but their families? Sheesh! I've noticed that the older the Cajun, the worse they get!




I can do that! Just let me know when and the area you'll be in!

No one ever said us cajuns were normal! DH is still waiting to hear about the Astros tickets. I'll let you know if we get them!

 

[DisneyPhD]

Silestone to be installed Thurs 8/30 in the morning! 10 more days!

Yea for you!

It is going to be mid sept for us and I am not too happy about it, but what are you going to do?

We are back, we had a nice little trip and are home and ready to get this kitchen finished.

 

[mickeysgal]

We are back, we had a nice little trip and are home and ready to get this kitchen finished.

I know this is a remodeling thread, but can you tell us a bit about your trip?

Throw in a couple of comments maybe about molding detail, doorknob/hardware finishes, or special lighting that you saw to keep it on topic.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I know this is a remodeling thread, but can you tell a bit about your trip?

Throw in a couple of comments maybe about molding detail, doorknob/hardware finishes, or special lighting that you saw to keep it on topic.

Ask and ye shall receive.

Warning, mini trip report to Mackinaw Island MI. Just ignore if it doesn't interest you.

Weather report was for rain rain and more rain in the lower peninsula and the area. The good news is not for the upper or Mac City and the area.

Sunday we headed out and got to my friends parents cottage that is right at the tip of MI on lake Michigan. We had a nice visit and the kids played on the beach for a while. We headed into town to eat at Scalawags (wonderful fresh fish, we love that place) and shop some in Mac City. The new area is rather Disney like, and they even say that on the loop they play in the hotel rooms. We let the kids play in the park areas and got some ice-cream. My friend went back to her parents cottage and we checked in at our motel It is a cheap but clean and nice place called Rainbow motel. We don't expect too much other then a clean and comfortable place to stay in a good location that isn't over priced and we are always happy with it.

The next day DH unpacks the bikes from the van (we had to take them apart to make them fit, but we didn't have a bike rack.) We ride over to the ferry line and get right on one. It cost around $70 for the family and the bikes to get to the Island and back. The weather was a bit cloudy and breezy, but I was sure it was going to clear up. The radar shows lots of rain to the south. When we get to the Island it is cool and we decided to get some pancakes at a little place. After DH looks at the map and wants to go inland to get away from the wind. He has this brilliant idea of walking the bikes up this massive hill in the middle of the island and then it is mostly down hill from there. We do, but man was it hard. DH lets Anna (6 years old) ride on the back of his bike (it is a tow behind called a tag along.) Kind of like a child tandem. Anyway this appears to loosen up the bolts and we don't have any tools with us. So we are riding all over the Island with DD on a side ways slant, but it works. DH tries to be nature man and shove bits of twig and stuff to fix it. It didn't work. I want to go back into town to a bike place and see if we can borrow a tool, but don't want to go back up the hill, so we just deal. We ride over to arch rock and all over, lots of up hill. Did I mention I have a 3 year old on the back of my bike? Instert huffing and puffing here.

After a while we head over to British landing road (right now the middle of the Island) and DH was right, it was all down hill. 2 miles down hill. For well over a mile I never touched my pedals and my speedometer said I was going 24.5 miles per hour (I was breaking actually.) That part really was fun. We stopped at the other side of the Island and it was out of the wind and the sun was out. It was a great break. The girls played on the rocky beach for a while and we hung out. We rode the rest of the way around the Island, stopped at the school for the girls to play in the playground and then headed over to the gate house for lunch. It is run by the grand hotel, and is at the base of the hill. It is a much more casual place, and you can eat inside or out. We choose in since we had enough wind for the day. It was sunny, and in the mid 70's, but cooler when in the breeze. It really was a typical northern MI day and it was lovely. The meal was fine, but not as good as I remember it being last year. DH wanted to go up the hill at the grand hotel, and then back down to the main strip. Of course after the massive hill every place was too steep to ride down, so we went back and road down the street in front of the Hotel again. I was about to kill DH for making to go up all these massive hills. If you stick to the road around the Island it is flat.

After we stopped, and got a bunch of fudge at Joanne's and ate it while sitting on the lawn of the fort (a tradition for me.) We didn't eat it all at once though. The girls played at the play scape on the top of the hill and it was 5:00 so we headed back off the Island. Lily (the 3 year old) didn't have a nap and was asking to go back. We biked about 10 miles total. It was a good day, but I don't recommend going up hill so much. Also if you bring your own bikes, throw a tool or 2 in the back pack.

We hung at the hotel, took the girls swimming at the motel pool (indoors) and heated up our left overs from yesterday. It was a good day.

The next day we packed up and meet DH's parents in their trailer at a park on the other side of the bridge at little to the east. We and had another good day. We spent the night with them and then drove home today. We stopped at birch run for a very small amount of outlet shopping on the way home. I looked in the pottery barn outlet for bar stools for the Island and a new rug for the back room. (there that was my remodel dig.) We couldn't buy anything though, nothing would fit in the car. I did find a rug that would work, so I might make a trip up later next month. Any excuse to go outlet shopping.

 

[mickeysgal]

We hung at the hotel, took the girls swimming at the motel pool (indoors) and heated up our left overs from yesterday. It was a good day.

Yes, it certainly sounded like a great day. Mackinaw Island is on my to-do list. It sounds lovely. Thank you for the report!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

My contractor - who must surely think I'd dropped off the face of the Earth - is coming out Monday at 2pm, to once again look at my bathroom.

I think we're going to have to move plumbing (ca-ching!) to achieve the look I want for the bathtub. I did manage to pick out two items yesterday; the granite and the cabinet stain.

Here are the two finishes I like; one is maple with a ginger glaze and the other is birch with more red undertones. I'm trying to keep the cabinets close the colors of my hardwoods, which are just a room over, but I'm leaning toward the one with red undertones. Here are the two stains:

I'm torn between two granite colors, but both are very similar. The first is Ventian Gold, which doesn't have much flow to it (we're trying to use remnants, so this might be very important. The second is Santa Cecelia.

We're also thinking we can save some money by using Kraftmaid cabinets, since they pretty much have the same thing the custom cabinet maker was going to make for us. This is similar to how the run of cabinets will look, with the exception to the one off to the left; that is where our shower will be. I also don't want the roll-up door. I'd rather have more shelf space.

The counters will be granite, and the tub will be a drop-in on a granite deck. The front of the tub will either be the same tile on the floor (travertine look-alike), or a very neutral mosaic that matches the floor tile.

 

[shovan]

My contractor - who must surely think I'd dropped off the face of the Earth - is coming out Monday at 2pm, to once again look at my bathroom.

I think we're going to have to move plumbing (ca-ching!) to achieve the look I want for the bathtub. I did manage to pick out two items yesterday; the granite and the cabinet stain.

Here are the two finishes I like; one is maple with a ginger glaze and the other is birch with more red undertones. I'm trying to keep the cabinets close the colors of my hardwoods, which are just a room over, but I'm leaning toward the one with red undertones. Here are the two stains:

I'm torn between two granite colors, but both are very similar. The first is Ventian Gold, which doesn't have much flow to it (we're trying to use remnants, so this might be very important. The second is Santa Cecelia.

We're also thinking we can save some money by using Kraftmaid cabinets, since they pretty much have the same thing the custom cabinet maker was going to make for us. This is similar to how the run of cabinets will look, with the exception to the one off to the left; that is where our shower will be. I also don't want the roll-up door. I'd rather have more shelf space.

The counters will be granite, and the tub will be a drop-in on a granite deck. The front of the tub will either be the same tile on the floor (travertine look-alike), or a very neutral mosaic that matches the floor tile.

I knew you'd come up with something great!!! I like both cabinet finishes!

You know when we went to the cabinet shop, the guy spent a couple of days trying to build out our vanity using Kraftmaid cabinets! He said they had some of the best quality at better prices & also had more variety in sizes & styles! He just couldn't get it to work for the wheelchair accessible vanity we needed. Believe me we were hoping it would, because having to go total custom doubled the price!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I knew you'd come up with something great!!! I like both cabinet finishes!

You know when we went to the cabinet shop, the guy spent a couple of days trying to build out our vanity using Kraftmaid cabinets! He said they had some of the best quality at better prices & also had more variety in sizes & styles! He just couldn't get it to work for the wheelchair accessible vanity we needed. Believe me we were hoping it would, because having to go total custom doubled the price!

We'll be using four separate pieces. Two vanities, one drawer cabinet, and the upper. Our custom estimate came back at $2,900 for stain-grade, and then I'd have to get it stained. For paint-grade, it was $2,600 - same deal; I'd still have to get it finished.

We haven't gotten prices yet. We're going to Lowe's this evening. Do you think it's unrealistic for stock cabinets to come out a little less?

I hate to cut out my cabinet guy, because he's been so awesome to us, but I think it would be so nice to have cabinets delivered that were completely ready to hang and use.

And my bedroom furniture is very similar to the first cabinet sample. Would you go with a different color wood in the bathroom? I hate to design a bathroom around furniture that we're not going to keep forever, but I'm a nut when it comes to making sure every room blends.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I really like the second cabinet color with the second granite color. However, I tend to gravitate toward the darker colors lately. The others are very nice as well, either will be a great choice. I don't worry about matching woods too much. I have light pine bedroom set and then I went with Maple cabinets with a cranberry stain in the bathroom.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I really like the second cabinet color with the second granite color. However, I tend to gravitate toward the darker colors lately. The others are very nice as well, either will be a great choice. I don't worry about matching woods too much. I have light pine bedroom set and then I went with Maple cabinets with a cranberry stain in the bathroom.

I like the dark cabinet better with the second granite color too. GMTA!

The only problem is that one is Birch. I need to find something similar in Maple. I'm trying to keep the budget as tight as possible and Birch will jack it up.

ETA: The Santa Cecelia has cranberry spots in it, so I think something with red undertones would really make it pop.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Here are my darker maple cabinets:

And then a link to all the other finishes: http://www.wellborn.com/maple/sevillesquaremaple/

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Here are my darker maple cabinets:

And then a link to all the other finishes: http://www.wellborn.com/maple/sevillesquaremaple/

Love it!

I also found exactly what I'm looking for, on their site. I don't want the glass front, but this is exactly the look the custom guy was going for. I hate to see how much this costs!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Ohh that is VERY nice!

 

[shovan]

We'll be using four separate pieces. Two vanities, one drawer cabinet, and the upper. Our custom estimate came back at $2,900 for stain-grade, and then I'd have to get it stained. For paint-grade, it was $2,600 - same deal; I'd still have to get it finished.

We haven't gotten prices yet. We're going to Lowe's this evening. Do you think it's unrealistic for stock cabinets to come out a little less?

I hate to cut out my cabinet guy, because he's been so awesome to us, but I think it would be so nice to have cabinets delivered that were completely ready to hang and use.

And my bedroom furniture is very similar to the first cabinet sample. Would you go with a different color wood in the bathroom? I hate to design a bathroom around furniture that we're not going to keep forever, but I'm a nut when it comes to making sure every room blends.

I think the price should be less! The shop we went to does stock, semi-custom & custom. He never actually gave us a true quote on the stock cabinets (still would have needed semi-custom) but he did say that the basic stock Kraftmaid would be almost half of the price of full custom. But I think you have gotten excellent prices from your cabinet guy, so it might not be a huge savings.

That picture is one of the ones I haved saved on my computer, that we carried with us to the shop!!!!

I like the darker maple color & if you can find a pic of the Saint Cecelia I loved to see it. It sounds like just what I'm looking for!

I think as far as matching the bedroom set, you can do anything you want. If the room is totally closed off from the bedroom it won't matter. If you purchased a new bedroom furniture, would you go with something similar to what you are going to put in the bathroom?

We still haven't firmed up our decision on our bathroom vanity. I'm really trying to match antique furniture but am worried that might be a mistake for resale. Although everything I have in mind looks very similar to the lastest free standing vanities. I really want it to look like furniture & not cabinets. Think I'm making a mistake?

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I think the price should be less! The shop we went to does stock, semi-custom & custom. He never actually gave us a true quote on the stock cabinets (still would have needed semi-custom) but he did say that the basic stock Kraftmaid would be almost half of the price of full custom. But I think you have gotten excellent prices from your cabinet guy, so it might not be a huge savings.

I have gotten good prices. I guess I'll be happy if the price stays the same, since they'll come pre-finished, and ecstatic if they can beat it!

That picture is one of the ones I haved saved on my computer, that we carried with us to the shop!!!!

It's gorgeous, isn't it? I don't know where to find Wellborn cabinets though. I think they're on the more pricey side though, aren't they? Jasmine?

I like the darker maple color & if you can find a pic of the Saint Cecelia I loved to see it. It sounds like just what I'm looking for!

Here it is in slab form:

Here it is on a kitchen island:

Those round flecks are cranberry. There are some slabs that run more yellow than others, and that's the type I want.

I think as far as matching the bedroom set, you can do anything you want. If the room is totally closed off from the bedroom it won't matter. If you purchased a new bedroom furniture, would you go with something similar to what you are going to put in the bathroom?

Eventually we'll replace the bedroom furniture, but I like what I have now. I don't want to start another towel bar syndrome in my house!

We still haven't firmed up our decision on our bathroom vanity. I'm really trying to match antique furniture but am worried that might be a mistake for resale. Although everything I have in mind looks very similar to the lastest free standing vanities. I really want it to look like furniture & not cabinets. Think I'm making a mistake?

I think the furniture style is very in right now. Heck, I put a black vanity in one bathroom! If I wasn't worried about resale, I'd do it in the master too!

 

[shovan]

I have gotten good prices. I guess I'll be happy if the price stays the same, since they'll come pre-finished, and ecstatic if they can beat it!



It's gorgeous, isn't it? I don't know where to find Wellborn cabinets though. I think they're on the more pricey side though, aren't they? Jasmine?



Here it is in slab form:

Here it is on a kitchen island:

Those round flecks are cranberry. There are some slabs that run more yellow than others, and that's the type I want.



Eventually we'll replace the bedroom furniture, but I like what I have now. I don't want to start another towel bar syndrome in my house!



I think the furniture style is very in right now. Heck, I put a black vanity in one bathroom! If I wasn't worried about resale, I'd do it in the master too!

That's very pretty! I think I want something with a little more red in it to go with the dark cherry.

The place I went to carried the Wellborn. And the guy talked me out of going with them, because of the cost.