Phew! I survived Monday’s start of our kitchen renovation project. I also survived the previous day’s chaos: emptying cabinets and drawers in the kitchen, and then transferring their myriad contents (all by my lonesome) to another wing of the house. Boy was I exhausted after the 100th trip.
Fortunately I perked up just in time to sign copies of my cookbook at a local library on Sunday afternoon. And as a personal reward, I downed a couple of Tito’s Cosmos after the book-signing event. A Tito’s Cosmo contains Tito’s vodka, lime juice, orange liqueur, and, for healthful reasons, a rejuvenating splash of cranberry juice.
You might find that cranberry juice alone is an excellent pick-me-up.
You be you.
Anyway, the work-crew arrived promptly at 8AM on Monday. They reluctantly posed for a photo, after I promised not share the photo on this blog.
As you can plainly see, I am a man of his word.
(Just kidding here. I used the photo with the group’s permission.)
Job number one: protecting the floors. The crew rolled up the entrance hall carpet, and then taped down a path of “FloorShell.” FloorShell is a heavy-duty construction “board” made of 100% recycled fibers. The same material was used to cover my entire kitchen floor.
Next, kitchen doorways were sealed with plastic, and a special exhaust fan equipped with a HEPA filter was put in motion. Although the fan wasn’t particularly loud, it was definitely effective! As demolition progressed, I neither gagged nor wheezed while working in my writing room. It’s a private room that adjoins the kitchen.
Demolition included the removal of low-end cabinetry and counter tops we purchased back in 2002…
And the busting and breaking of a tile backsplash.
News flash! I might not use any tile at all in the “new” kitchen. Sheet rock, if painted with highly-washable paint, makes a fine backsplash all by itself. And the color can be changed to suit the cook’s mood.
One day I am yellow, one day I am blue.
Some plumbing and electrical work was also accomplished on Monday. I’ve a new sink coming, and the current dishwasher is being relocated.
The crew left the place in tip-top condition before they departed at 4:30PM. Even the kitchen floor was free of dust and debris. So far, I’m delighted with this skillful team.
As for Avery and the cats, well, they were not happy to have strangers in the house. I put Avery in the library/den, and gave her lots of walks and two trips to the dog park. Tiger and Camille and their must-haves (litter box and food and water bowls) spent the day in a guest room upstairs. I can’t risk losing these precious family members during a kitchen renovation!
I’ll write again tomorrow, with Tuesday’s progress report.
x (still-exhausted) Kevin
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Source
http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2018/05/kitchen-renovation-week-1-day-1/