Hah! I had the same question, just never dared pop it.

Countertop installation does indeed create a mess of dust, mostly in the top part of the lower cabinets. Maybe this depends on your cabinets, countertop guys, dunno -- ours did though. I had started to move in a little bit but was sorry! I'd selectively move in to the lower part of the lowers and uppers. But truthfully, if you can afford the time, I'd wait altogether (not that I did).

I waited until it was all done and then put things away.

About a week later the cabinet guys had to come back and make some adjustments to cabinets we were using.

They made such a mess that I had to empty those cabinets and clean everything in them and the cabinets again.

Wait - it will be worth it.

I agree with what everyone else said -- although I admit that I am already using the "cereal"/"snacks" cabinet, as a matter of convenience. My GC told me that I could go ahead an put things in the uppers, but to leave things out of the base cabinets, since they still get lots of dust and debris until the counters are in. HTH.

Oh, and as to your pantry cabinet question -- I have one next to the fridge, not next to any counter space, and I am already using it. No dust or dirt is drifting in. It's not a problem.

Wait until it's done. Spend this time looking at your stuff, and drawing it out on paper where you want it all to go. This kept me really busy and it also made "move in" really fast. And another plus....I was able to cull the stuff I really didn't use for the last 10 years that was buried back in the cabinets.

Good question! Our cabinets are set to go in next week (finally!!) but I haven't made a decision on counters yet(sigh) so I will be using the cabinets until the counters are installed. We have been without kitchen cabinets since October so the idea of having homes for dishes and food and stuff is too tempting for me to wait another month or more!

In your case, with an end date in site (lucky you) I would very impatiently wait for the counters.

Thanks for the input.... it's so hard to wait sometimes, isn't it? muskokascp - I can't imagine what shape I'd be in after that long!

I'll try to wait... and if I can't, I'll get some instant gratification by loading some cans of soup and tomatoes into my pantry cabinet. If I need to clean those, it's easy. :)

Funny I don't remember a lot of dust from the countertop installation. They cut the soapstone outside and carried it in. Pretty mess free. Do other installers cut the material in the kitchen??

Hi,ditto what judydel said. I put everything in the upper cabinets away as soon as the hardward holes were drilled. I even put things in the bottom cabinets that had a drawer over them! No problems with dust.
I couldn't wait either! :)