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kswl3

Renovation Updates

yesterday

We now have two 25’ x 15’ air conditioned spaces to store all our furniture and stuff on the basement level of our house while the flooring is replaced. There are minor foundation cracks from settling that need to be fixed and we are replacing the carpet with LVP everywhere. (Packing that will be a nightmare. Good thing our next packing will be the kids’ problem.)


Everything ordered or being made for kitchen except countertops. Dekton is out, no available installer through our contractor (and I’d rsther have him in charge than jobbing it out myself). Next choice (actually my first choice before I saw the Dekton) is Corian or one of its clones. Bucking the conventional wisdom, I’m looking for something with no movement or ”interest” whatsoever. Black walnut island top and bar top procured from local cabinet maker.


Sink and induction range top chosen.


Need to choose new cabinet pulls and faucet, probably chrome or nickel. (No need for lighting choices as I got rid of all hanging lighting in the kitchen when we moved here, replaced it with—another trend bucker— recessed ceiling lights for a cleaner look.) Still trying to decide how to transition from cabinets that will now go to the ceiling and be trimmed with 3” crown molding to the room’s crown plus flat piece plus picture rail that is a total of 10”. We’ve (me and gc) agreed not to decide until cabs are in place.


Construction of permanent stairs to attic and lift system installation scheduled for mid September.


Two complete HVAC systems have both been replaced with more energy efficient models / technology.


New LG washer/ dryer tower (one set of controls between the two!) with ventless heat pump dryer will be installed Saturday.


Getting close to carpet decision for spare rooms and MBR.


Many decisions yet to be made, all this is phase one. Once completed we will go to phase two which is master bath reno and constructionof additional bath downstairs.…..because for some reason DH thinks we need six bathrooms,

Comments (28)

  • yesterday

    WOw you wil be busy!


    I think white Corian will be lovely, What about unlacquered brass?


    Getting close to carpet decision for spare rooms and MBR.

    Why not wood, esp in your climate?


    ventless heat pump dryer

    tell me more

    Kswl thanked mtnrdredux_gw
  • yesterday

    WOW - you hav e been busy!


    What will your cabinets look like? Trying to envision the double crown/flat piece/picture rail - 10" space will look with crown on walls.


    We are adding another full bathroom downstairs (shower only- I thought we should just add a half bath) - but SO wants a full one - as if we need four full bathrooms when there are only two of us! Men!

    Kswl thanked dani_m08
  • yesterday
    last modified: yesterday

    A lot going on! Can’t wait to see afters. Hoping everything goes smoothly.

    I thought of you this morning, seeing this Spode ad for blue and white spice jars. (I’m thinking about getting the brown ones.)

    https://www.birchlane.com/home/pdp/spode-blue-italian-spice-jars-spd1766.html



    Kswl thanked Jilly
  • yesterday

    I’m interested in the LG tower, too. Why did you choose it? Tbh I’ve read mixed reviews and am hesitant. And the ventless option seems odd in your climate. Not questioning your decision—just curious about your reasoning.

    Kswl thanked Feathers11
  • yesterday

    The unvented dryer is impossible to get dry clothes. We had one for a month at our VRBO in FL. I couldn’t believe that there was NO setting that got towels dry. I tried every possible combination on that thing. It was a very expensive useless set up.


    My best friend has one at her family vacation cabin in the Catskills. I was up there for 10 days and wish I had a recording of what she said every single time she used it. Moisture has to go somewhere…venting is where it is supposed to go. If there is no vent trust me you will have damp clothes. c / trailrunner

    Kswl thanked HU-113737678
  • yesterday

    Our pied a terre has a ventless dryer. It will dry your clothes, including a full load of towels. But it takes about twice as long. With clothing, I find it can feel very hot but slightly damp when you reach in, but then is in fact dry when you take it out and it cools off. Weird. I fear it must be very bad for fabrics.

    Kswl thanked mtnrdredux_gw
  • yesterday

    We love our - gasp - Corian. I’ve never put hot things directly on the counters. Have some scratches, but they aren’t bad. No chips. Still going strong since 2012.

    Kswl thanked 1929Spanish-GW
  • yesterday

    Oh my goodness, you've been busy. Meanwhile, I have been dithering about new drawer pulls for a week : )

    Kswl thanked deegw
  • yesterday

    Big project! We have an LG Wash Tower at the lake. Really like it. We didn’t go with ventless because of the dry time. We’re generally doing laundry on the last day and need to get it done quickly.

    Kswl thanked porkandham
  • yesterday
    last modified: yesterday

    We don’t dry any clothing except socks and DH’s tee shirts and tennis shorts. Everything dries on hangers and is sent out for ironing. Having used one of these before I am aware that it takes about twice as long to dry, but it also cuts energy consumption 50%. The energy audit our electric coop conducted for us revealed that our existing dryer, when on, pulls as much electricity as our electric car while charging. A longer dry time is not too much of a concern in light of that. Spanish, I chose the tower because we already have a stacked Maytag set and I wanted something that would fit in the same footprint. The tower is actually shorter than two separate stacked machines would be and because it is ventless it can be pushed up against the wall. I waited for the Labor Day sales and between the mfg incentives and buying through Costco we saved over $900 on it. (Costco also has a liberal return policy and extends the warranty.)

    As to flooring: our wood floors are the original engineered wood selected by the couple who built the house. It’s no longer made and we could not match the color exactly. DH likes carpeted bedrooms and I don’t hate the ultra low pile type. I am looking at some commercial carpeting as well as the Flor options.

  • yesterday

    KSWL, I had white Corian in a prior house. I LOVED that counter. I'm usually almost a little embarrassed to even mention it here because there is usually a subcontingent of people who are all like, "eww, it's plaaaastic" - and I usually then want to reply, "yes, and so is most of your phone, tablet, or laptop that you're using to post here, along with a good chunk of your car, etc..."


    I had no problems with that counter. The worst thing I can say is that things like tea bags will leave a stain...which promptly comes right out with a little soft scrub. It had a very soft, matte feel to me and I loved that stonewear didn't clatter in my bones when I set it down on the counter.


    Anyway, I've seen your prior work and there is no doubt this too will be lovely. I'm looking forward to photos, and yay Corian. LOL. :-)


    Kswl thanked Ally De
  • yesterday
    last modified: yesterday

    Ally I am looking at these brands and colors:

    Avonite:

    Pebble Saratoga

    Pebble lane

    Vanilla

    Whipped cream

    Bone

    Ice cap



    Corian:

    Abalone

    Alabaster

    Almond

    Cameo white

    Bisque

    Dune prima

    Hazel cream

    Tranquil



    Meganite:

    Antique shell

    Antique white granite

    Bone

    Canvas mist



    Wilsonart gibraltar:

    Europa

    Grey moonstone



    Livingstone:

    Ariston

    Fleece

    Parchment

    Sea pearl



    Hanex:

    Athena



    Lotte Staron:

    Beige granite

    Dandelion

    Magnolia

    Natural bridge

    Pebble tea rose

    Sanded Sahara

    Affinity

    Bisque

    Clean



    LG himacs:

    Bologna

    Cobblestone

    Coconut

    Crystal beige

    Egg white

    Ivory white

    Merino

    Moon mist

    Vathi



    Mystera:

    Chardonnay

  • yesterday

    You are making incredible progress. I can't wait to see the finished product.

    Kswl thanked Fun2BHere
  • yesterday

    Wow what great progress! Wishing you well as the work continues.


    Also, SIX bathrooms? That sounds like a decision from someone who doesn't clean toilets in the house. (And maybe that's fine if you have someone to help.) As the primary bathroom cleaner in the household, I was so glad to downsize from 4 to 3 bathrooms.

    Kswl thanked pricklypearcactus
  • yesterday

    pssstttt... don't tell my DH but I wish we'd gone with corian. It's not cold like stone or quartz, things don't clank when you put them on the counter. It has a somewhat satiny feel which I like.

    You are moving along at a fast clip!

    Kswl thanked DLM2000-GW
  • yesterday

    We had Corian countertops in two bathrooms for about 20 years. I wish I had gone with that again when we remodeled. Thankfully, the previous owners of our vacation house installed Corian countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms:) It's 30+ years and still going strong. I love it; it's just a great material. We remodeled our PBR a few years ago. I asked the contractor about Corian for the shower? He said well, it will cost $$$$$!

    Kswl thanked maddie260
  • 22 hours ago

    We put Corian in one of our two bathroom renos. Wish I had used it in both.

    Kswl thanked sas95
  • 17 hours ago

    Wow, very surprised to read all the love for Corian. I admit I was never a fan. Never a fan of granite either. If/when I redo my kitchen, finding the counter will be the hardest part. I love marble but would not put it in my kitchen. Did put it in both bathrooms we redid the last couple of years. No regrets.

    Kswl thanked jsk
  • 16 hours ago

    Corian isn't for everyone, mainly because its plastic resin composition leaves it vulnerable to heat damage from hot pans. I’m a big fan of natural, organic materials myself and love the look of walnut countertops or natural stone. Even with quartz or the backing on granite, the base material isn't entirely plastic, which makes those choices feel a bit closer to nature for me."

    Kswl thanked NiCOZ5
  • 16 hours ago

    I love the look of soapstone but it chips too easily for me. I know myself. I will be miserable when it chips. The same reason I can't get marble. First stain and I'll hate it.

    Kswl thanked jsk
  • 16 hours ago

    C, I loved that Alabama house and miss the pictures!! : )

    Kswl thanked Tina Marie
  • 16 hours ago
    last modified: 15 hours ago

    When my SO was in contract design for institutional food service facilities (university dining halls, executive dining rooms etc.), they had a couple jobs where a Corian clone did not perform very well, and replaced with Corian, and then would not spec anything but Corian after that. I know a residential kitchen is less demanding.

    Also Alabaster is Corian Quartz. Use the visualizer on the Corian website to view them in L shape. Some of them do not seem to have a lot of movement until you see them in the L shape configuration.

    Kswl thanked palimpsest
  • 15 hours ago

    C, those counters are gorgeous. Did you have chipping along the edges? Did you oil often?

    Kswl thanked jsk
  • 15 hours ago
    last modified: 15 hours ago

    We had a combo of Corian and granite in the kitchen we remodeled in our last house including an integrated sink. Since moving into a house with a stainless sink and one with silgranit, I realize I prefer those more bullet proof, stain resistant materials for a sink. Other than that I liked Corian and functionally, wish I would have put it on the island because it was so cold when you leaned your arms on it in the winter. The only other thing I didn't like was that the matte finish got glossy over time and you had to work it over with something abrasive to get the matte finish back - minor issue. Next year I hope to replace the ugly granite counters at our lake place - thinking about something like Cambria. But you never know - may go back to Corian.

    I like the appearance of the new LVP in my walkout level but the sound of it drives me crazy which I was pretty sure would be the case. It'll be better when we get our rugs moved up here and I'll get used to it in time. Much prefer the wood on the main level but not an option in our humid basement.

    Yeah, can't imagine having six bathrooms for two people - probably three would never be used - but I do think you need one on each level which you probably already have.

    Kswl thanked 3katz4me
  • 12 hours ago

    You have been busy, @Kswl. I’m looking forward to watching the progression. My parents put Corian in the last house that they built, and it was a great product that held up well.

    Kswl thanked texanjana
  • 10 hours ago

    My goodness @Kswl, you are on a roll! Keep us posted and don't forget the pics!


    Kswl thanked gardener123
  • 9 hours ago

    Thanks for the info, c. My knowledge of soapstone chipping is from those I follow on instagram. They’ve shown pictures of the chips. They don’t mind them. Just like some people don’t mind the etching/staining of marble. In addition, I know I don’t want black counters again.

    I appreciate the info you shared and enjoyed seeing your pics. Love the veining on yours.

    Kswl thanked jsk
  • 46 minutes ago

    I want back through all my list of solid surface possibikities and ordered nine samples. (Unfortunately I can’t get the Lotte Staron product.)


    Some mentioned white Corian— and while I love that product (had it two kitchens ago) it is not under consideration for this one. I am looking for a putty color that will also be the color of the grout between the brick. I am going for zero white in this kitchen; in fact the prime directive, in this kitchen is to avoid white.