the cabinet maker came in today to work on the folding doors for the baking center and breakfast bar. i love the hinges we found for the baking center (non operable) but we need a few more for the upper glass front cabs.

i think the appliance garages for the breakfast bar look cool, but i can tell already that i went a little crazy with all the doors. while it will be nice to hide that section away when company is here it will no doubt remain open for business the other 363 days of the year!

we're waiting on the flooring to be completed to install the legs for the island. while i initially thought it would be a little too big, i find the size is comfortable for the space. it affords a lot of extra storage as well as houses my turbo-chef oven. while i HAD to have that oven, i'm not hot on the look of it. -i know, everyone loves it. except me.

i also thought i'd include a pic of the mudroom pendant. i bought it from an ebay vendor. it may sound crazy, but it is one of my most favorite things about the house! it's absolutely stunning IRL!

they finally started doing the millwork on the fireplaces and our stairs are being installed. as soon as they're complete we'll go over our punch list, paint and do the floors. while some lighting is in, i wouldn't let them hang any more until the floors are sanded. yeah, i'm crazy like that.

i'll be back soon. i have to break into my bottle of happy pills.

Keep things in perspective... you know how "life stuff" can jump up and bite you. How blessed we all are to even be able to do a remodel though, yours is SOOOOO much more spectacular then mine! You will be fine... I promise

I wouldn't be taking pictures, because I think I'd be lying across the island top, petting the marble and gazing at all the beauty around me.... The 2nd place I've wanted to transport myself today. First Worldmom's pantry and now this. ;-D

Hang in there!

I love your Moravian Star pendant. I have been trying to figure out were I could fit one in my house for a few years.

I keep all your photos as inspiration and drool over them several times a week.

Keep 'em coming, and hang in there -- the end is in sight!!!

Are the mudroom cubbies stained, or are they waiting for paint? What kind of wood did you use?

I have to say this, though...Stunning. On the rare occasion that my mouth can actually form words instead of drooling, that's what comes out of it.

/it's really, really beautiful. Even as an unfinished room.

even if by some miracle the builder manages to "bang out" (as he says) the interior -we won't have water. it just seems that even without this little set back there is STILL so much to do.

i'm sorry to come here and complain. sometimes i need to keep myself in check.

questions answered: the cherry cabinets are stained "colonial" with brown glaze. painted cabs are maple, paint is SW dover white. the floors are american black walnut and run throughout the house. they will not be stained, but treated with waterlox w/ tung oil.

rhome: i was very nervous about choosing the stain and glaze for the baking center and island. i had always envisioned them as being very dark but when i brought all the sample doors home (and there were many!) the darker stains looked a bit too formal, and also seemed too stark next to the white cabinets. i made several more trips to the cabinet makers shop trying to come up with the perfect stain combo, until i finally took notice of a set of cabinets that had been in the showroom. he removed a door off the display and i took it home and -voila! BUT i was again stunned when my cabinets went in as they are still lighter than what i chose ...but the cherry will darken. of course i knew this but i never pass an opportunity for a good, old-fashioned FREAK out.

things never seem to work out as i expect but they always turn out better!
you guys really cheered me up! i needed it, so thanks. really!

This too shall pass!

And vent away - where else will you find a group of people who both understand and CARE!

How large are the pendants over your island?

BTW, I've been looking for some pulls like you have. Can you tell me about them please? AND....what do you have planned for those interesting short horizontal shelves to the right of the cleanup sink?

Keep your chin up!

Sorry you're having so many headaches with this build, though.

Oh I'm such a ding-dong. I was looking and drooling over your kitchen last night, busy adding it to my "clippings", aka my "just in case" file. And I realized that I didn't even leave a comment! How rude!

I just wanted to say what everyone else is saying, that this is already so gorgeous, it's hard to believe it is going to get any better! Hang in there, I know you want to get it over with, but it will be done soon. If the pills run out, I would suggest getting out the Margaritaville machine--it will lift your spirits and who can't use a little summer right now? You do have a dedicated spot for it in your appliance cabinet, right?

-Bee

lolab: the mudroom cubbies are maple and will be stained. no idea what color, yet.

trailgirl: the island is waiting for the floors to be finished so we can install legs. there is also support under the built-up edge on the counter.

parislove: the pendants are 14" wide but they look a LOT bigger! i got them at williams-sonoma home a while ago so i'm not sure if they still have them but i've seen them around through other vendors.

sandn: yes, the island has a built-up dupont edge.

breezygirl: i've got my hardware selects in a file so i can just cut and paste it for you! ...i love the hardware and have gotten many compliments on it.

schaub traditional pulls (4", 6", 12") in polished nickel (homehardware4less.com)
1" drop pull in polished nickel (vandykes.com catalog ID: 204527 item ID: 02024822)
bin pull polished nickel (vandykes.com catalog ID: 202513 item ID: 02016637)
1" crystal round knob, polished nickel (M25 cal crystal http://www.knobs-etc.com/calcrystal/calcrystal-leadcrystal.htm) -not in love with these. too small.
cliffside industries icebox latch IBCL-PN $25 (regalhomesource.com)

and wouldn't you know it? it's SNOWING AGAIN. more delays! there's nothing i can do about it though. i'm so grateful for all the generous comments. thanks guys. you make my day ;*)

Thanks for showing us the progress.

(Hand me my smelling salts. I'm going down!)

Seriously amazing.

You are almost there and it will all be worth it in the end.

Cj

thank you again for the compliments! tomorrow will be a better day.

caronlinesmom: the ebay vendor is randybell2118 -or you can just search ebay for moravian stars and he'll come up. he makes several at different price points -depending on the number of points, beveled glass and size. mine is 16 or 18" (?) with 26 points and beveled glass. the more points the better, imo! the star canopy is sold separately, otherwise it comes with a round canopy. the quality is excellent!

sombreuil_mongrel, i understand perfectly as i myself am sometimes considered the "turd in the punch bowl". and i (of course) realized the hinges would never look authentic without some modification to the doors -but they were an after thought, so the doors were already built. my bad. and lesson learned: work out ALL the details BEFORE you build.
in the end i decided no one was going to be as persnickety as me. or so i thought. ;*)

I hate to ask this.....why is your gorgeous floor not covered with rosin paper or something? I cringe seeing all the dust and boot tracks. I realize it's unfinished, but it still seems like a necessary precaution.

nice to see someone making some progress with their kitchen! yes that's you!

The kitchen is magnificent. It is easy to forget the
prettier the kitchen the more time, energy, sweat, tears
and frustration behind all the beauty. I can only imagine
how you must be feeling. You just want it to be done. You
just want to move into the your space, touch your finger
tips to the smooth surface counters, sip your coffee, open
up a cook book, log in to GW and enjoy being in your dream
Kitchen. Enjoy the space. And today not tomorrow!

Every snow flake, every late or no show contractor,
Every painstaking delay ... is pushing you over the edge of
aggravation. You are not alone. And you have every right
to feel sad at times. This has been a long haul. I am
amazed at your fortitude. If some days you feel angry,
stymied, overwhelmed, irritated, discouraged, and
beleaguered ...come to GW and pour it out. Truly there are
others on here that do understand. And I say go ahead and
scream at the GC. He needs to understand you are doing the
best you can. You want this done too.

One thing that has helped me on the worst days of a reno
has been humor. Rent a funny movie, go out to a comedy
club, laugh with friends, and be good to you. You deserve
this beautiful kitchen and you deserve a little laugher in
your heart right now. And while praise may not make your
situation any better your space truly is magnificent.
A dream kitchen that you have designed with perfect
combinations.
~boxer

tinycastles: i have to find out the source for the hinges. the cabinet maker found them. they were not my first choice however, as i wanted something much more utilitarian looking -these are very decorative.

sadie: our idiot GC tries to talk me out of everything. he told me three times he would not "allow" me to put in a white kitchen. (!) he even went so far as to order and install DIFFERENT windows than what our architect spec'd and was approved by us. i had a little discussion with him about who's house this was and ...let's just say after that, he toes a very straight line.

and i forgot to answer those who asked about the small shelves in the corner by the range: they're for spices. i like to use those aluminum tins and thought that would be a good place for them. of course i won't be able to reach the very top -so they'll be decorative, or i can get one of those geriatric "reach" tools. silly i know, but you'll have to give me a break. i can't work out everything. : )

Your kitchen is absolutely stunning! I can't wait to see final pics :)

Can you tell me the dimensions of the island? Also the depth of the overhang and if you are going to need a support in the center?

i hope this answers everyone -if i missed anything i'll post full specs with the final pics. TY again for letting me vent. it really helps.

You are almost there, so just relax and enjoy the home run. Congratulations on such a work of art:)

Just try to imagine the sun shining (it's spring? summer?) and all the people you love standing around that gorgeous island, celebrating with you. Hold that thought!!!!!

Thanks! rexroat