Is the backsplash going to wrap around into the window? It continues to be hard to get over how extraordinarily better this kitchen is from where it started. Looks very pleasant to work in now.

We are also planning to buy that fridge. (This how you know how long DIY renos take -- I've been planning on buying that fridge for 3 years. ANYWAY...) I see it's inset slightly into the cabinetry in these pictures. Can you still open the door all the way when it's like that? The hinge doesn't need more space?

Beautiful! !!

Each new thing complements the last! Shows the thought and planning that went into this kitchen. Once you get the little round table in place you may never want to leave the house ;)

Love the countertops! And the bottle display!

Thanks, everyone! How fun it is to have all these people following along. I feel like I must be popular & lead an exciting life. :) Fun for the cat lady I actually am. ;-)

Blfenton - I hope the floor & backsplash happen soon! Really hoping next week. Contractor's started a couple new jobs, so time is divided. Fingers crossed. You know, I've been thinking more about what I could put above the window, and am thinking something along these lines could make me quite happy. There's a store nearby that sells that type of thing...

Lisa_a - I like the way you have those tiles! Yes, very nice to have options, and I'll keep that option in mind. thank you. I don't want to put any new holes in that cabinet (for now) but I bet I could rig up a small something for them to sit on, and lean slightly back only the cabinet pretty easily.

Jillius - Right? I was perfectly fine with my kitchen. And, then, one day, I wasn't anymore. The fridge is, for now, just stuck there, rather than placed. It still needs leveling and fine tuning after the flooring is finished. It will get pulled out more ultimately. It does open just fine, and all the way, where it is now, though.

amck2 - lots of thought & planning on my part and about 4 dozen others - 2.8 dozen of those being GardenWeb Kitchen Forum genius volunteers. Not to mention family & friends and other willing, marginally willing, and, most likely, unwilling contributors who I cajoled & bribed & pressured into giving me advice. And that's not even counting the two kitchen designers (the first one who y'all convinced me to fire.) Speaking of not wanting to leave - I had to tear myself away to go to IKEA for drawer inserts, and now have to go back to return one item (I can't figure out how the knife drawer insert actually works if you don't have the exact size & number of knives...) and get other ones...

Oh, Jillius - I forgot to answer your question about the tile wrapping around the window. No, it will end in a piece of trim that will be added to the backsplash, on either side of the window.

Carrie- Lol at your comment; you're popular on here, that's for sure! :) I love your countertops, that color is so sophisticated. I'm sure you're having fun replacing things in cabinets. I bet you pinch yourself everytime you come in the front door;)

I believe you mentioned you don't cook much? Might this new, fabulous kitchen tempt you to spend more time there?... It would me! Oh well, even if you just admire it from your new table it will be worth it!

nancyjwb - :) I'm totally having fun putting stuff away, and trying to figure out what I need to throw away, and what else I want to buy (somebody, please, stop me!)

You know, about the cooking... oh, I really, really hope so. My old kitchen was so dark and dingy... I know I'll want to spend time in it... but maybe I'll just keep opening & closing drawers and brightening and dimming dimmers over and over and over again... so happy!

Oooooooh!!! That looks so sleek! The name is Lagos Blue? Is there any blue in it? Or is it like the "sawdust" paint name not matching the color? :-)

Did the kitties break in the counters yet? Oh and I love that Mexican plate idea.

Thanks for the fridge info too, I was just going to ask about it and there was a link. I think I want to get that one for our little cabin we are fixing up. I decided yesterday as I was cleaning fingerprints off the stainless appliances for the 1,000,000th time, I HATE stainless steel! I mean cleaning it anyways.

Hooray! The counters are fabulous!

Rebunky - You know, the counter is like the sawdust paint. :) Depending on how & when I look at it, it's a different color: greyish brown with some gold, green and purple in it is how I'd describe it. Blue, I don't know about.

At least Maddie cat has broken in the counters - she was up there before the tops were even installed. I don't know if Moishe's made it up on the new tops yet, but he will!

The Mexican plate is my favorite idea so far, but every new idea has been my favorite idea so far... until I have a new favorite idea. I do like the bright pop of color that the plate would provide in an otherwise pretty sedate/neutral colored kitchen, and I like the idea of something (fairly) two dimensional and round.

I noticed that the fridge link I provided was to the discontinued one, but I think the new model is basically the same. It comes is SS, white, and, I think maybe black. I'm just not a fan of SS, though I'll tolerate it in something small like a toaster.

As I recall, your AirBnB guests get kitchen privileges, do they not? Won't they be surprised to find out that "kitchen privileges" means "standing in the kitchen without touching anything but agreeing heartily and at length that every incremental aspect of the kitchen is beautiful".

I've been surprised how much having a kitchen that is dark and dreary makes me NOT want to cook, when I've always liked to. I hope it works the opposite way for you:)

Also, you know we won't stop you on anything... we're here to egg you on! Yes, yes, you need more kitchen stuff!

You know, Jillius - my Airbnb has been shut down since somewhere around August 10. I have it set to re-open November 1st, and I've been thinking about the kitchen privilege thing... whether I'll be nervous that someone might bang or scratch or dent something. I THINK I'll be OK with it, and I don't want to remove that privilege as, well, I just think it's nice if you're staying somewhere to be able to microwave something or to eat breakfast. Plus, if I give kitchen privileges, I can advertise "breakfast included" and I don't have to even be here to provide that service!

I've been unloading the bins from the basement, and one thing I realized is that I have a LOT of pretty ceramic pieces - bowls, cups, mugs, vases, trays, vessels of all sorts, and not much space for display. I think that's one of the things that first drew me to the shelf-above-the-window idea - especially because I lost so much over the microwave shelf space b/c of the vent.

I suppose I could just keep rotating the items above the microwave - it will force me to keep things cleaner AND I'm more likely to actually notice & appreciate them if they're always changing. I remember hearing that you should move the art in your home every so often for that reason, and I believe that to be true. Here's the microwave shelving right now (though I don't know that they meant several times a day. :)

looks fab so far!!...love the pic with the b/s tile, it all looks SO good together!! love earth tone colors, its right up my alley!!!!! Lagos "blue"?

cannot wait to see it all finished!!!!

You have to be freaking out...In a good way!

Those Talavera plates are exactly what I was envisioning up there.

Not perfect yet...

Clueless - I didn't know that's what they're called. I love them!

I love everything about your kitchen so far. All terrific.

Awesome! It's really coming together beautifully!

I like your last mw shelf display the best. I love the colors! I do think rotating them in/out every few months would be nice. You'll get to 'see' more of your treasures - and clean up there too. Changing out the 'pretties' will make the cleaning a lot more fun.

I threw out some of my kitchen things that were really, really old (some 30-40 yrs old). Maybe I thought they'd become antiques soon... anyway, one day I just decided life is short (mine's getting shorter at my age) and why keep using these old, old things. Or do without something I want/need (if w/in reason), so I pick up something (replace usually) about once a month. Not major things but a few new towels, new ice cream scoop, cutting board, hot pads, measuring cups/spoons (got a set in hot deep colors!), measuring pitchers (could hardly read the measurements on mine). 2 new slotted serving spoons (I like them for cooking). I just pick something up while at W or stop by BBB to see what they have.

So, splurge a bit! I found I like it. I don't cringe as often now when I reach for a towel or utensil.

your counters are beautiful! and I love the rounded corners - more people should do that rather that sharp corners.

I hope you find you like spending more time in your kitchen - even if cooking easy things. I don't do even slightly difficult cooking anymore myself. I stay busy enough with the easy stuff these days.

And I like the second last display on your microwave shelf (the one at 4 hours ago). You have so many options. Lucky you.

You may have to put a kitty cushion by the window for Maddie. Can you reach the crank handle easily?

Desertsteph - I really like the idea of replacing an item/getting something new about once a month, it's a way to always have things getting better, a little gift to oneself on a regular basis, without that one very big outlay of money. I put my pots & pans in the new lower drawers & almost cringed at some of them.

blfenton - the over the micro display has already changed again! :) I'm going to try to not post EVERY time I switch things around these next few days & weeks.

bpathom - easily? Well, not exactly, but it's not too bad. It's a stretch - I can just do it without standing on my tippy toes, but standing on toes makes it easier. I'm anticipating window will stay open all summer, and closed all winter, so only spring and fall (like right now!) will have me messing with it multiple times a day.

I think I'm not going to encourage Maddie to hang out on the counter (though not discourage her, either.) She just this moment climbed out of the sink, and she's exploring the counter. I used to feed her on the counter, and I think I'm going to stop that, though I haven't yet figured out the new food/water location. Planning around the cats just seemed like too much planning for my little space... but, now... what to do about food...? Moishe just now jumped up - so, two cats on the counter. Ooops. Maddie just kicked Moishe off. There's no question around here who's in charge.

Looks like the counter next to the fridge would be a good cat cafe. I used to feed one cat on the 11" space between range and pantry cupboard...the other cat ate on the floor, and would scarf down the other cat's food, too, given half a chance. Same cats who made it to the shelf above the OTR! That kitchen had a deep window sill, perfect for Swedish ivy and geraniums, and that was their spot. I gave a picture of them to my mom, and her neighbor made me a lovely plate of them. Hmm, now remembering that the golden cat didn't eat on the counter, that was his predecessor. This one held off the marauder quite well and they dined side by side in peace.

Since starting our s..l..o..w remodel, the changes made already have made me enjoy cooking again. Even though my kitchen certainly isn't pretty, it's functional. Your kitchen is pretty and functional. I predict you will be adding vegetable and berry gardens to your lovely flowers and cooking like crazy because it will be so fun to be in your kitchen. :)

I haven't been able to follow your progress for a day or so, and I'm happy to see that every decision continues to be a home run. Not only are all the individual elements fantastic, but they all work together so well, and I love that you have so many great options for above the window and microwave. I love little old bottles, so my vote goes for keeping some of those on the shelves, maybe balanced but not necessarily symmetrical (if that makes any sense).

As mentioned above, one of the MANY interesting things about your process is how hard it is to discuss color online, which is really too bad. The astoundingly-impossible-to-work-with retailer/fabricator of Neolith that I've been courting for a year has finally made me give up on that idea for countertops, and I was going to post photos of a couple of new Dekton patterns for opinions, but I don't know that it'd be of use. In the meantime, our walls are coming down and decisions must be made!

How are things coming on the bath? I hope you're aware that you're going to have to start a new project so we don't all go into mourning and Carrie B-withdrawal.

" I really like the idea of replacing an item/getting something new about once a month, it's a way to always have things getting better, a little gift to oneself on a regular basis, without that one very big outlay of money. I put my pots & pans in the new lower drawers & almost cringed at some of them."

that's it exactly! When I moved here and started looking thru old boxes (some not unpacked in 20 yrs or so) I kept asking myself 'why do I still have these old x y z's?' My steak knives (40 yrs old) were disgusting. I just couldn't put them in the drawers (and I didn't have a new kitchen or newly remodeled one either). They were icky. The grunge continued with other things and I opted to toss rather than use an electric sander on them. It got easier too. I only put in the drawers what I really needed and what was still fairly decent (and still cleanable).

and yes - it's an on going treat. And so many items are updated versions (anything would be as old as my stuff was/is), new colors and materials. Like silicone spatulas instead of plastic.

Be sure to post pics of your Ikea drawer inserts too.

Thanks, you guys. You're making this process even more fun than it would have been, and your existence, even now, is getting me much better kitchen!

AvatarWalt - I STILL don't have a shower! Contractor said Wednesday he hasn't gotten a call from tile place that replacement white bullnoses are in. I encouraged him to call & check. I'm hoping it gets done this week. Given that my project went over, and that contractor has now started other jobs & my kitchen will be functional today(!) I think maybe he's not in a huge rush.

I tried to plug my new toaster into the new outlets and, for some reason, I can't even get the plug to go in. I can get the little night light in, and the coffee maker. The outlets on that side of the kitchen work, but the toaster oven... I don't want to force it, though.

DesertSteph - fridge drawer:

The IKEA liners fit almost perfectly. Caveat being that my drawers have a few screw heads in the internal front edges, and that screw head prevents the inserts from fitting where there's a screwhead - so I had to work around them, leaving a few small gaps in the sink drawer.

And here's what it looks like over the microwave, now (bottom is the same as it was a couple photos ago.)

The outlets are probably the child proof ones, so they will loosen up after you use them a while. Just harder to plug things in at first. There was a thread on this a few weeks ago.

It looks amazing! What a difference! The counters look great. I'm not sure you'll be able to keep those kitties out of the window area, especially if it's open.

My new outlets were extremely difficult to plug things into, too. Keep trying. They'll get easier to use the more things are plugged and unplugged.

I think the most important thing about these new adultproof outlets is to know that the plug has to be pushed in evenly, not at an angle, they presume a kid would try to put something in one side or the other or at an angle and are designed to stay closed unless pushed on evenly head on.

I have running water! (and a working gas stove, and a dishwasher!)

Now THAT is something to celebrate, water in the kitchen!!!

Dishwasher doesn't seem to be working. Plumber said that outlet wasn't hooked up yet (or something) but that he found an extension cord. I wasn't here when he left, but I'm pressing buttons and nothing is happening. I lived without a DW for 30 years... I can wait the weekend.

Which faucet is that? I like it. Not too big. Simple.

Yay!!! Sorry about the dishwasher but the counters, the sink, the shelf above the mw, it all looks so wonderful!!!

How is the shower going?

I know how exciting running water is! After 10 wks I now have a sink with running water & a working DW. Congratulations…small things but big return on happy living. Good looking sink & faucet….

Lol. Carrie, the kitchen looks great. The wall color is nothing short of fabulous! Kitchen layout will stand the test of time. Your entire kitchen will have started and finished while I stayed stuck in Tileland. Lol. I knew you would not let grass grow under your feet when you went to a store to get a new flooring choice and actually came out with product. How I admired your ability to be decisive! Enjoy

Dishwasher's not plugged in to electricity yet, but I realized that I could: A) Do actual dishes in my actual kitchen sink! and B) use the dishwasher as a drying rack. I washed a bunch of dirty glasses that had spent the past few years in the basement, then went out. When I got home, my clean glasses had dried & I put them away. How cool is that? :)

Jillius - faucet is Kraus KPF-2220-KSD-30SN. I also liked the simplicity of it, and the fact that it's not too tall. The reviews were good, and it's not too expensive. The plumber today said it was a good faucet.

Texas_Gem - the tiles for the shower are in... don't know when they'll finish the tiles, but I know that GC is planning to come the week after next to do the backsplash, so maybe I can expect the shower to be done that same week. It'll almost feel strange to take a normal shower after all this time.

Mags! - Where ya been?

Electrician is coming Monday to finish up electrical, so: dishwasher, dining table pendant light, outlet on fridge side, flood light over sink window & sconces on either side of back door, oh, and UCL's!

Contractor may send his son on Tuesday to finish up painting, and, hopefully, builder guy(s) will be here mid/end of next week to finish exterior window/door and to build my new back steps.

What a process it's been! I can't believe it's almost done. May I bring you all on my next journey?

Nice! I know you are looking forward to your shower.

Of course we will come on your journey, especially if we get to sit and admire your kitchen and garden with a glass or two of wine! ;)

Everything looks so good! I'm pretty sure I would set up my cot and sleep in the kitchen :)

I've had a crazy busy week and haven't had a chance to catch up with your progress until now, but the kitchen looks amazing!! I love all the pics you posted, and everything looks beautiful, especially the crown molding, wall color, and countertops. The shelf over the microwave looks great with all of your pretties, and you must be so excited to be getting everything organized and put away! I do hope you have a working dishwasher soon though...

What a thread! I'm very late to the party, but wanted to throw in my congrats on a beautiful space!

The 'Sawdust' looks green/gold on my monitor. Really pretty, actually!
Your countertop looks green in one picture, then gray, then finally blue. I, too, am taking out an old window (eventually) to put in a counter height one. (Thx GW!)

I love structural changes, too. Makes life interesting. It's wonderful that it's my own $$ and time, and no one is around to piss and moan that I want something changed. I just widened a doorway, adding a(nother) pocket French door to the mudroom.

Your kitchen is much better since it involves cats. You don't have to plan around them. They make you accommodate them in the space you create. Don't even begin to think it's for yourself. :)

I love the progress you're making. And your choices! Keep up the great work. You're in the home stretch.

(Hmmm.... I still need steps outside my two back doors onto the porch..)

I remember you asking a few weeks ago if anyone would be interested in going on this kitchen journey with you and if you should keep us informed on a daily basis as to what was going on and now you want to know if we'll go on your next journey with you. Ohhh.... I think you know the answer to that one! :)

I bet you actually had fun washing dishes in that lovely, deep single sink!

Yes! With your good taste, I'd follow you anywhere!

Reserve me a spot for your next journey!!!

CEFreeman! - So nice that I don't have to take anyone else's preferences into account! I'm still feeding the cats in the guest room to facilitate locking them away from contractors (who are both allergic & prone to leaving doors wide open.) I think I won't know where to feed cat food/water until the workers are out of the house for good. You were one of the ones who was there for me very early in the planning process... I think we talked about stairways full of *crap* and we definitely talked about major kitchen renovations for the *non* cook.

I'm very, very pleased with my choices! Not that there aren't things I wouldn't do differently were I to do it all over again, but the big things (overall layout, back door) are perfect. I've been having fun (but taking regular breaks) figuring out where to put stuff, washing dishes, and trying to get the LR back in to shape.

The living room really needs re-structuring, and most likely new furniture... when I'm ready to post it on the Home Decorating forum, I'll post a link here...

Dreary day from the steps:

I started to follow your journey, when you first started on the layout. I looked forward each day to seeing all the ideas and suggestions evolving into the plan you finally came up with. Then there was silence for a while and I truly missed your posts. I would check in to see if there were any updates. Low and behold you were back and offering to take us along as your plan came to life. Your kitchen is fantastic. It is so hard to believe what it was before and is now. I hope you do take us along on your next adventure as I will miss your posts.

Enjoy your new kitchen!!