Thanks, everyone!

Fishcow - yeah, the Popeocalypse is pretty much shutting down the city. The major road/highway closures are supposed to only be from Friday evening to Sunday evening, I think, but they're already shutting down some city streets. I live just outside (8 blocks) "the box" where no cars are allowed in or out, encompassing all of Center City (downtown.) Yesterday, my cabinet-pull guy mentioned being concerned if he needs to get his toddler to the hospital. Public transit isn't even operating in the normal way - at all. My plan is to grocery shop tomorrow and then not move the car again until next week.

Today, I hope the electrician comes. Fabricators are coming late morning. Maybe I'll move a few boxes upstairs to put things in the pantry & uppers this morning.

Happy Template Day! :o)

Two amusing unpacking-related discoveries.

A half a dozen years or so ago, I hosted a gathering for fellow bloggers. One of my guests, during party prep, noted my pathetic collection of glasses & decided that the occasion warranted *real* drink glasses. We took a trip to Philly Aids Thrift and bought a whole bunch of party glasses. Those glasses have been wrapped up for years. I finally decided it was time for them to come out. I hardly drink at all, so am bemused at how much of my cabinets space is taken up by alcohol vessels.

I still have a box of 8 wine glasses to unpack... Some of these may go back into storage/get donated back, depending on my cabinet capacity. In principle, I can think of no better use for new cabinetry than storage of wine glasses, but for a woman who lives alone and drinks far less than she thinks she ought... ;-)

As I started to unpack water/juice glasses (and that other box of wine glasses (I have wayyyy to many for a person who lives alone) I noticed that quite a few are quite filthy. Even though most are wrapped in newspaper, years of basement crud found its way in. I was debating whether to wash them now, in the basement utility sink, or wait a couple of weeks and just wash them in my new kitchen sink. Then, I had an epiphany - I have a dishwasher now! In two-ish weeks, it will be perfectly functional. Why hand wash them now, and why hand wash them later. I have a dishwasher!!!

Got a text from GC that electrician will be here at 11/11:30. So, that and template today.

Clearly, you have to have a kitchen-warming party (after the glasses are washed in the *new dishwasher* of course)! Are we all invited?

Good luck with templating day and electrical!

Templating is done, and went smoothly. Everything I asked of the templater - flush mount sink, sink as close to front as possible, eased edge & gentle DW corner, etc., he wrote down & said that would be fine.

KD was here & brought the panels to cover the venting over the microwave, and the shelf for both the open cabinet (which had been left out) and the one for over the sink. She forgot to bring the 90-degree stops for the cabinet doors that would otherwise hit walls or panels and will bring that when she's here for templating.

I asked her about the possibility of running the 4" top piece of crown (not yet installed on cabinets) across the top of the wall over the window, and she said that was a possibility, though she seemed to think I should also include the larger piece (which I don't want.) I won't know how I want to do it until that piece of crown is up on the cabinets. Then, KD mentioned running the crown all along the back wall, between the cabinets & above the transom. Again, not sure what I want to do there.

I showed KD the 18" DW & told her about the moment of panic when we realized that it was way shorter than standard, and then I told her about the adjustable feet. I showed her how the bottom didn't line up with the cabinetry, and that it didn't really bother me. She told me that she could get a piece of filler to Velcro to the DW, to match the cabinet toekicks (though the bottom of the DW still won't line up w/ cabinetry.) I asked her how much that piece would be, thinking I'd only go for it if it was really cheap, since it really is unlikely to bother me anyway. She said she wouldn't charge me for it, so I said yes!

Oh, and my second medium pull came in today (pictured above). I only ordered it Sunday night, so I'm amazed that it came so quickly. The guys had drilled the holes yesterday, so it was nothing to screw it in myself. I have to say that I'm really oddly pleased that I got to do that myself. I've really enjoyed all the planning (you know, when I wasn't stressed out and hating it) but I've done none of the actual physical work myself. Screwing in that one pull (even if the holes were pre-drilled for me) felt almost embarrassingly good.

Adjusting the dishwasher height? Putting in a pull? In my book, that qualifies as DIY LOL!

You'd better pop open the oven drawer to be sure the kitty hasn't found a cozy new hideaway...

Bpathome - I'm actually on the phone (on hold) with Whirlpool customer service about the oven drawer. There seems like a big gap between the top of the drawer and the bottom of the oven door. It might be normal, but it might not be... We're trying to figure out if this is normal:

Hard to tell from the angle, is it just one side? Is the drawer in right? Is there a kitty weighing it down?

I agree, you are a DIY'er, at least in my books.

You might want to make sure that there isn't a cat in the oven drawer.

It's a good question to ask especially if there is a worry about proper sealing of the door/drawer when baking.

edit to add - bpathome and I were cross-posting. We're both worried about your kittie!

Thanks, you two. The drawer is just a storage drawer, so I don't need to worry about any real cooking function, but it looks odd to me.

Not to state the obvious, but it kinda looks like the drawer is off the track on the right side.

Dcward - I know, but it's not. And there's only tracks on the bottom, none on the sides.

It looks great and next year during the fall Rittenhouse Art Show, I'm inviting myself to see all those wine glasses. Then you can come visit me across from Parc at my booth. ;) Because of Popeageddon this year, I decided to forego the fall show, and since I do better at the fall show, decided next year to only do the fall show and not the spring one.

Cpartist - why don't you come for one of the holiday shows? I want to visit your booth - if you've got a website, send it to me so I can check out your work before next year. And, yes, come visit my glasses! Maybe I can even put something in them for you.

"I've really enjoyed all the planning (you know, when I wasn't stressed out and hating it)..." I know how you feel. We're getting the exterior of our house painted this week and even though we hired a family friend, the noise and dealing with company-that-isn't-really-company brings back memories of kitchen remodel stress.

Thanks for sharing your remodel journey with us. I'm having such fun learning what is going on each week at your home. And I'm glad that so much is going right for you. It's looking so good and it's going to be fabulous when it's done!

Yesterday, electrician's helper came to put in the new electrical panel. His drill wouldn't work on my concrete basement walls, so not a lot happened that was obvious to me, though he was here a few hours. Today, he came back and put in the panel (not so exciting for me, but I know it's important:)

What was exciting for me is that the fridge is no longer in the living room! The fridge needs some adjusting - my floors & walls are all uneven, so there's been fancy footwork all along to get everything to line up. I'm going to wait on putting the toekick on the fridge until contractor's guys are back.

And here's me standing all the way near the front door. First time in forever there hasn't been a fridge in the way!

The main electrician may be coming tomorrow, but with Pope craziness heating up, I kind of doubt he will - besides that, we're done here for the week. I'd love for the new microwave to be hooked up so I can give away my old one, but already my house feels sooo much bigger!

Oh! My! Don't you just feel like DANCING?

Oh wow! Look at that view! And I'm not just talking about the outside. The new view inside is amazing. Can not wait for your final reveal!

and sorry for the electrical delay...

Love, love the space and I've said this before and I'll say it again on your reveal, putting in the door and transom was genius. It's just so pretty with the sun pouring into the space.

Any news on the oven drawer yet?

One electrical glitch discovered this afternoon.
After the electrician had left, on my way out the door, I went to switch on my outside door light. Nothing happened, no electricity in the in the living room either - no coffee maker, no microwave..
I called the GC and left him a message. He called me back and said that the lead electrician probably is coming tomorrow. I assured him that if somebody walked me through it, I could probably turn the breaker on.

He said that with some electricity working and some in the kitchen not ready to be turned on he didn't want to take that risk.

GC just called me back again now, and said that electrician will be at my place between eight and 830 in the morning.

Oh, the oven gap... It seems that the gap is normal. I did some Google image searching, and there is a gap. I'll get used to it.

It's looking awesome!! You're on the home stretch now!

Oh, Hell, yeah!!!! It's so awesome. I'm clapping and yelling "Bravo!"

Oh how exciting to see it all coming together. I love all the light and it looks so spacious now. BTW what did you end up doing for your trash can?

Lyfia - I guess you remember my agonizing over the trash! I did a trash pull out under the right hand side of the sink. There are two cans (trash & recycling.) They're pretty small, and the smaller of the two is really small, but I can put excess trash in the basement between pickups. I'll use the smaller one for regular trash, I think, as I actually generate more recycling than landfill trash in the kitchen (I compost, too.)

WOW!!! I am beyond happy for you. It's amazing Carrie B =)

Wow! That latest pic gives a tremendous perspective! Yay for you!

OT, but how do you like your "mini-shed" on the fence?

Yay!!! How awesome will it be to come home every day, open the door and see that?!?

You know, I've never been to Philadelphia before.... ;)

I think you all need to schedule a trip to Philadelphia! I have a door to look out of and fancy (thrift shop) drink glasses.

bpathome - shed on fence is good!

Wow. Just wow. It looks so much more spacious!

Looking at that last pic and just how little wall space there is on the back wall, I am really excited to see how that green color (sawdust??) you picked out for paint looks. I think it's going to be a perfect complement with your creamy cabinets and there is so much light that there's just no way it will darken up the room.

Your home has been simply transformed...just beautiful!!

I am curious, what kind of shade will you be putting over the transom and doors? It is just such a beautiful space you must be really pleased to be getting down to the final details!

Practigal - I don't intend to put a shade of any kind back there. I won't get direct hot sun streaming in, due to the house across the way and the tree back there, and there's no privacy issue unless someone sneaks into my yard - so, open door it is.

This morning:

Hee, kitties approve too! It's amazing. What a transformation.

You may have to put a cozy cat basket there for them :) or just a little rug.

Ha! Kitty and GW-approved. :)

Not too much of interest happened today. Electrician came around noon & got my power back in the living & guest room. He did hook up the new microwave and put covers on the 4/5 recessed lights - excluding the one that had to be moved & spackled & still needs painting around.

So, not so much interesting to report, I'll give away the old microwave, so it'll be nice to have that out of the way.

Photo added because, well, what's an update post without photos? Plus, this blue electrical cord to the DW wasn't here before today.

Oh, I happen to think electricity is VERY exciting. Are you having fun switching your lights off and on? Using your new microwave? How's the fridge working?

Funkycamper - you know, when the can lights were first put in several weeks ago, I definitely turned them on and off quite a bit. At that point, only the outlet by the back door was working, and there's no dimmer on that switch. For some reason, though, I didn't do that earlier today. Just now, though, I went over to the switch that's just on the LR side of the steps (the one with the dimmer) and had fun moving that little sliding knob up and down.

I haven't used the microwave yet, but I did go over to it (again, just a bit ago.) I was going to set the clock up - but it looks like electrician already set up the time. I did turn the under-microwave light on and off a bunch of times, and it has a bright and a lower setting, so I got to play with that, too.

Oh, I did put a night light in one of the kitchen outlets earlier today, and fridge is working great in its new home!

Here's a photo taken just now, with dimmed can lights, bright under-micro light, and nightlight in the front:

Your neighbors across the courtyard must be chortling. Or trying to decipher the Morse code.

So what are you going to cook first?

Wow! Enjoy it, that level of privacy is so rare these days.

AnnKH - salad, with a sink!

Practigal - I guess that's an advantage to having a view of a solid wall just a few (10'?) from the back door. :)

My front window is just outside my sidewalk, though. I do have a curtain on that window, which is generally left open.

I'm so excited that you have your electricity working before the pope comes! I'm also crazy excited about all the progress made this week, so you must be thrilled :-) Do you know how many more weeks it's supposed to take until they are done? I can't wait to see the countertops...

Momof2 (another early riser, eh?) - I don't know how much longer. I'm anticipating another... 3ish weeks?

Things got delayed early on, and I think the time has now gone into the schedule where my contractor has other jobs started - he'd anticipated being done with me by now - so I'm not getting him & his guys every day..

I'm hoping that countertops will go in end of next week - but the following week might be more likely. I think the sink will go in a few days after that - maybe when sink goes in, DW will & range, too. That's when I'll have a functional kitchen.

Other than that, there some finishing work & electric to be done. The backsplash, I think will wait until the end, pretty much. Also, there's exterior work to be done. I need a new set of steps built for that back yard, and new door needs stucco (or whatever) added around it. I think that builder guy is coming sometime next week to work on the steps.

I am so thrilled with my kitchen! Even if I don't really get to use it, I sit on my couch and just gaze at it.

I forgot what kind of sink you are getting but if it's an undermount sink, I think they are installed at the same time as the counter...my countertop guys installed the sink when the counters were installed and we then connected the plumbing. They also drilled the holes for the faucet, soap dispense, etc.

Oh, yes, absolutely. Template guy actually took my sink with him. What I meant was that plumbing would be hooked up sometime after counter install.

Carrie, yes unfortunately I am generally up before the crack of dawn, lol. I get up at 5 am Mon through Thurs for work, but Fridays I am home with my 2 year old all day (my 5 year old is in kindergarten) and could theoretically sleep in, but something always seems to happen to keep me from actually sleeping in... This morning my 5 year old woke up at 4:55 am screaming from a nightmare, so I've been up since then. Thank god for coffee :-)