Ditchin' the Kitchen 2006: Week Seven

We've moved in. Fridge is full. Tonight, our first home-cooked meal since early March (sauteed shrimp, grilled asparagus, green salad).

Ahhhhhhhh ....

Ditchin' the Kitchen 2006: Week Seven

Ditchin' the Kitchen 2006: Week Seven

Appliances installed. Light fixtures installed. Faucet installed. Outlets, switchplates, garbage disposal installed.

Completion is tantalizingly close, with only the class cabinets and some touchup left.

But at this point, we've got a working kitchen. Oh, and the dumpster and Port-a-Potty are gone from the back yard. It's less a construction site, and more of a home again.

Ditchin' the Kitchen 2006: Week Six

First cupboard filled: the liquor cabinet, of course!

Ditchin' the Kitchen 2006: Week Six

Ditchin' the Kitchen 2006: Week Six

Two projects completed this week: countertops and tile backsplash.

Gorgeous.

Countertops are Corian. Main counters are a pale yellow; isthmus is a textured sand color.

Backsplash is a matte, textured, slightly reddish brown, punctuated by diamonds of glossy textured turquoise. Grout is a slightly darker brown.

Did I say gorgeous?

Ditchin' the Kitchen 2006: Week Five

... and a pop-up mixer stand.

Ditchin' the Kitchen 2006: Week Five

More cabinet explorations: spice racks, turntables ...

Ditchin' the Kitchen 2006: Week Five

New floor installed.

Stone-look vinyl. Simple. Easy to clean.

Toby likes.

Ditchin' the Kitchen 2006: The Halfway Point

Hey, isn't that Toby?

Ditchin' the Kitchen 2006: The Halfway Point

Ditchin' the Kitchen 2006: The Halfway Point

It's Cabinet Week.

And suddenly, it's a kitchen -- with big holes where the oven, sink and dishwasher should be, but a recognizable cookin' space nonetheless.

The cabinets arrived a day and few hours late, but the installer had the first units up in a few hours and the whole room, minus some trim work, done by Thursday. The dark walnut finish and shaker styling matches our interior doors and dining room set almost perfectly.

The range hood got installed, and it's just cool -- brushed stainless, sleek and rounded, like the tailfin on an old Thunderbird, and very quiet.

Can't wait to see the matching cooktop.

Can't wait to cook!

Ditchin' the Kitchen 2006: Week Three

The obligatory Toby photo ...

Ditchin' the Kitchen 2006: Week Three

Ditchin' the Kitchen 2006: Week Three

Finally, it begins to look like ... well, not a kitchen, but a room, anyway.

Finishing touches on the drywall. New molding to replace what had to be sacrificed during the demo (a moment's silence, please). More plumbing work to make certain we're working with gravity, not against it.

And then, finally, the paint.

Del Mar Blue.

No photograph, digital or otherwise, can do it justice.

Best. Color. Ever.