Renovation Update #1 here.
Good news! Demo is officially finished. Bad news. It doesn’t make for a super exciting update #2. Lots of decision-making this week, and not so much doing.
So, we took out the kitchen and opened up the walls, and continued with ripping out all the window casing, the floor base, and crown molding this week. Electrical and plumbing are almost finished as of this morning. However, things look relatively the same as last week.
Oh, and how could I forget – we demolished and removed pretty much the entire backyard (deck, jacuzzi, so on and so forth). Right about now, if you walk out of the sliding doors, you’ll break an ankle from falling into a ravine of dirt and gravel. Here, I illustrated a highly scientific visual for you.
The backyard wasn’t really a project I wanted to take on during this first stage, but hey! What’s done is done.
Right now, we are making a lot of seemingly boring decisions about the house. Like, we decided to take out part of the wood floor in the kitchen and dining room. I mentioned last week that part of the floor was laminate, but surprise! It’s not. It’s real oak. However, D is very, very happy to rip that part out because this?
This is the kind of situation that makes me say, “Yep, not really optimal, but let’s talk about the kitchen backsplash!” On the flip side, this is something D loses sleep over. “We can’t possibly have that ridge. Absolutely not. Not only are the planks running in opposite directions, the floors are two different heights. No. I can’t bear to look at it for one more second. WE’RE REDOING THE FLOORS.” Remember, we are talking about a man who has degrees in both interior design and architecture…that breeds a very special of kind of picky. Persnickety, perhaps? (However, the dude is ALWAYS spot on. Always.)
So, although not originally in the budget, we are ripping out the newer oak and re-framing so the floors will be even. After that, we will sand all the floors and refinish the color. Think more grey-brown, less yellow-gold. Can’t wait – I think it will be so pretty.
Upcoming to-dos:
Drywall (Fun!)
Replace floor base and window casing (Titillating.)
Replace doors and door jams (zzzzzzzzz)
Floors – sanding and refinishing the wood, replace bathroom floor
Paint – prepping and painting (Can’t wait! No, really, that means we’re really, really close.)
Install kitchen cabinetry, island and appliances
Basically, loads of non-pretty renovation stuff in the upcoming weeks. But the pretty will come later, I promise. (Or at least that’s what I keep telling myself. One daayyyyy…)
To be honest, most of our time this past week has been spent deciding on kitchen appliances. Because you see, if we don’t know what appliances we want, we don’t have the exact measurements of the appliances, which means we can’t complete the kitchen drawings, which means the cabinet maker can’t start making the kitchen cabinets, which means the toe-kicks can’t be installed, which means the floors can’t go down in the kitchen. It’s called a snowball effect, and I would surely like to get the snowball rolling.
All in all, I could write 50,000 words on the subject of kitchen appliances and why we chose the ones we did, but I will keep that kitchen manifesto to myself for fear of losing you to a deep, deep slumber. (But! I have seen/researched every refrigerator known to man. I could be a refrigerator saleswoman starting tomorrow, for reals. In fact, if I have to discuss ONE MORE refrigerator or hood range or dishwasher, for the matter, I will weep.)
We are going with Viking for the refrigerator since it truly was the only one that fit our size, aesthetic and price criteria, and thinking Bosch for the cooktop, oven, and dishwasher. But! Here’s where you come in, oh wise ones. Who out there uses a Bosch dishwasher? Are they truly as good as everyone says? (J.D. Power #1 in Customer Satisfaction! Best value out there!) I’m going between Bosch and KitchenAid – does anyone have something to say about these brands? Speak now or forever hold your peace! We’ve just hit that point, you know, where we’ve become so bogged down with research, review-reading, and talking to appliance experts that we’re going loco. (No matter what, I’m sure whatever we end up with will be amazing compared to the stuff we use at our rental now.)
So, yeah. Let me know about that. In return, I’m giving you the gift of video. 46 seconds of utter destruction to the tune of Moon River. Enjoy.
(Yes, that was a ginormous corkboard wall in one of the bedrooms.) Until next week!
Mrs. VJ
September 21, 2012 at 11:51 amWe love our Bosch dishwasher and actually took it with us when we moved homes ;) Super quiet and very reliable. A heads up on the Viking fridge though (if you haven’t purchased it already that is)…my Aunt has the whole Viking suite in her kitchen, but it’s the Viking fridge that has become overly friendly with the repairman – he has to come out and fix the darn thing at least once/year. Just sayin’…check those reviews!
whoorl
September 21, 2012 at 12:13 pmYes, Viking has had some issues in the past for sure. (Even my parents had issues with theirs!) However, Viking recently changed who manufactures their units, and the quality has really increased. We’ve got our fingers crossed!
Joel
September 21, 2012 at 11:58 amYou won’t go wrong with either. In laws have Bosch, quietest I’ve ever not heard. I’ve owned Kitchenaid and not had any complaints.
I agree with your husband on the floor level issue.
whoorl
September 21, 2012 at 12:05 pmYes, it is going to look soooooo much better.
Sarah Filchak
September 21, 2012 at 12:49 pmI have a Bosch and LOVE it, wouldn’t trade it for the world. My mother in law had a Bosch and went with a snazzier/newer Kitchenaid and hates it- not nearly as quiet, user friendly or just all around great as her Bosch. Go Bosch.
Sarah Filchak
September 21, 2012 at 12:52 pmAs far as beeping and wonky racks, if you look in the user guide, you can mute the beeps and I have yet to have an issue with the racks making my plates clatter into each other. Again, go Bosch!
rebecca
September 21, 2012 at 12:54 pmWe went with the Bosch dishwasher and absolutely LOVE it. SO quiet, as everyone has noted. The one caveat I would say – my husband is an architect as well and we designed our kitchen renovation. The dishwasher has an integrated panel on the front so it blends seamlessly with the cabinets. The one thing I did not anticipate was when I propped open the dishwasher door over night, the STEAM that comes out of the Bosch at the end is intense. So it warped a bit of our veneer drawer face to the right of the dishwasher. I don’t know what your design is like – but just take into account what surrounds your dishwasher, and don’t ever prop it open over night after the cycle has finished. I learned my lesson, just wanted to pass it on.
The other tidbit on the dishwasher, is look at the drawers. We are finding that the lower drawer is difficult to put in large platters. It’s something that can be hard to anticipate, but if you have the ability to think about how you use the dishwasher, take a look at what you’re getting to be sure it has what you need (I know, this sounds so obvious…I was knee deep in appliance research a year or so ago and I wish I had ascertained this…)
We did Bosch dishwasher, cooktop and oven, Best by Broan integrated hood. Love them all. And Miele, integrated fridge. I know your husband probably gets some great discounts. We were able to get a fantastic Miele fridge with a great architectural discount. Beautiful fridge! Loving it! Counter depth, integrated front panel.
Really enjoying the house posts – keep ’em coming! :)
Lyndsay
September 21, 2012 at 1:22 pmBosch is amazing. You cannot even hear the dishwasher running. It’s crazy quiet.
Lin Ilsley
September 21, 2012 at 7:25 pmFor me, Bosch has been a bit meh. I loved my Asko, a lot, and am still kicking myself for not getting another when it died an honorable death. Years ago I had a Kitchen Aid and it, too, was amazing, for two decades. Not sure what the newer ones are like, though. Wise choice not going with Viking stove. My have two, a gas and an electric, and there have been issues. Good luck with the renovation. They are challenging but fun.
Ninabi
September 22, 2012 at 12:58 pmI love makeovers- be it human or house, it’s a joy to see something transformed into something fresh and beautiful.
We owned a historic property for years and I am keen to witness all “the boring stuff” that must come first. I remember the money and hard work that goes into plumbing, electrical, roofing, etc… all the things that are unseen and unappreciated.
I thoroughly enjoyed the video, especially since you are doing the work BEFORE you move in. We, hilariously, did the steps in reverse. Nothing like standing in a furnished dining room after the roof has broken and having a direct line of sight to the Big Man Upstairs who got an unholy earful about said roof.
Can’t wait to see the end results, particularly with the powerful design skills in your household.
Lisa H.
September 23, 2012 at 10:12 amJust chiming in to ask if you have seen the new White Ice appliances? I have all stainless steel in my own kitchen, but holy shit that White Ice is making me want to start all over again. Gorgeous!
Leslie
September 23, 2012 at 5:31 pmYou wil NOT be disapointed with a Bosch dishwasher!! Hands down the best!
GreenInOC
September 24, 2012 at 9:46 amMy sister had a Bosch dishwasher and liked it until it broke, well within the warranty. Dealing with Bosch to fix it, turned into a nightmare of epic proportions and after not having a working dishwasher for over a year, they got rid of it (still under warranty!).
I recently purchased a low-end dishwasher (my high-end one broke after 14 years and I couldn’t find anything that I liked as much as that one so instead of spending lots of money on something I didn’t like, I spend a little money on something I didn’t like!).
When the installers arrived, I made a joke that it was probably the worst dishwasher they installed that day. They said, no it wasn’t bad, it “should” last five years. I was horrified – why only 5 years?! They laughed and said that none of the dishwashers last more than 5 years – even the really expensive ones.
Still cracking up at the crazy clean demo you’ve got going on over there!
Claudia
September 24, 2012 at 1:28 pmWish I’d asked your readers about dishwashers before we installed a Samsung last year. Nuff said on that.
I’m interested in the bathroom. What are your inspirations for that room? Are you doing wood floor in there too?
whoorl
September 24, 2012 at 4:48 pmHaha, that’s a GREAT question…as we’re trying to figure that out right now. Stay tuned. :)
Claudia
September 27, 2012 at 9:11 amI love wood floors in the bathroom, but it takes guts. Water isn’t exactly wood’s friend.
GreenInOC
September 24, 2012 at 6:46 pmDear Cleanest Demo Project EVER(!!!),
Totally forgot, are you going to re-use the current flooring and just lay it all on the same level and direction, then stain it?
whoorl
September 24, 2012 at 6:55 pmWe are keeping all of the original flooring, but getting rid of the newer oak flooring in the kitchen and dining room because it is buckling ever so slightly (turns the framing wasn’t venting properly.) Adding new oak in those rooms running in the same direction and at the same level, and staining. We just finished sanding the original floors, and they are beeeeeautiful!
Loa Page
September 25, 2012 at 8:36 amWe rennovated a condo, and installed all Bosch appliances (my husband who does 99% of the cooking’s request)and we liked it-nothing mind boggling with the dish washer, though we rinse our dishes prior to putting them in the dishwasher just to minimize the dishwasher cleaning. A year later we outgrew our condo with the birth of our first, and we bought a larger condo, and we renovated the new condo.
We bought all new kitchen appliances again, and I have to tell you, the only Bosch item we got again was the counter depth refrigerator. This time for the dishwasher we bought an Asko-mainly for esthetic reasons-my husband wanted a very streamlined handle-nothing sticking out, and operating buttons on the inside-so the kids could not access (we have 2 now) but also because it was completely stainless inside which I guess for longevity is better? Washing they are the same, and I prefer the rack layout in the Asko, we did spend about 1000$ on both.
I always thought appliances had to match in brand, but the second time round we bought everything different-though esthetically they look the same-but we really liked what each had to offer, the first time we bought everything Bosch because we had heard it was the best, and we wanted it to match, we were especially unhappy with the range-but you have a viking, so no worries!
jenfromboston
September 25, 2012 at 10:45 amI have a Bosch, and love it for the reasons veryoen mentions. One mindor dissent here is that the water drips will stain on the S/S and are very, very hard to get out. I think not all S/S appliance are created equal, as this seems to be a “thing” for Bosch S/S dishwashers (I’ve found the forums for it). Anyway, just a word of caution as this is a thing that drives me nuts as I can’t get them out with your typical S/S cleaner product you’d find in the grocery store or Bed, Bath. I think the forums recommend Bon Ami (stuff used in pro setting) for this issue, which you can buy on amazon.
My prior dishwasher was a fridgedaire matte finish (so technically not the true S/S) and the bonus was I never had to deal with handprints, water drip issues.
jenfromboston
September 25, 2012 at 10:46 amSorry for the typos…eating lunch and commenting apparently not my strong suit.