House Decency - part 7

A huge home urgency is the kitchen is when you are without one. Ironically, once it is to a completely functional state, the details become hardly a priority at all. For over 6 months.

On our list for the kitchen:

1. Filler strips for the gaps on each side of the dishwasher


When we installed the dishwasher, we pretty much just plugged it in and rolled it into place. There were gaps on either side that exposed the insulation surrounding the exterior. We could just remove the insulation so it would be more inconspicuous, but then it wouldn't be as quiet or as heat efficient. So we rolled out the dishwasher, ripped some filler strips, installed with metal brackets behind them, and wheeled the dishwasher back into place. I think it gives a more polished look. No?

2. Install dishwasher air gap

Technically, our dishwasher model doesn't require it (I think most newer dishwashers don't). But it's always a good idea to build and install to code, so when you decide to sell, you won't have to explain or argue this. Just do it. And plan for it (we had an extra hole cut in the granite for it, during the installation). An air gap connects between the dishwasher to the disposer and prevents dirty drain water from backing up into the appliance. To install, connect a flexible hose from the dishwasher drain to the disposer's inlet (or if you don't have a disposer, to the sink's drain trap). You can also form the hose into a high arc for bonus points or if you're not using an air gap but want to take precaution.

3. Install last cabinet filler strip above fridge


I've been pondering what to do with this last gap. Ideally it would be functional, squeezing one last bit of storage out of this tiny kitchen. The only thing I've been able to think of is a place to put cookbooks, but books are heavy. And making this little sliver of a space strong enough to hold heavy books while keeping all brackets and hardware discreet would be a challenge. So for now, we wedged a piece of filler strip there. Should we keep it like this? Any other ideas?

4. Mount ice maker water filter

It was just lying in the back of the sink cabinet. It came with mounting brackets, so why not use them and get it out of the way?

5. Install toe kick under base cabinets


You may have noticed from the icemaker waterline installation that we hadn't put in the toe kick. It just wasn't a high priority. But had we done it right after we installed the waterline to the freezer, I'm sure there wouldn't be massive dust bunnies under there. Or the random garlic clove. Or baby carrot. Or two.

6. Burial for found creatures

While doing said home projects, I discovered a dead green leaf bug in the garage (I think it's called a Katydid). I took this opportunity to bury him, along with the hummingbird that's been in our freezer for 9 months. I put the 2 together in the deep hole left by the For Sale post in our front lawn. I hope that hummingbirds and katydids get along...

So now the kitchen is complete. Almost. I would deem it 99.5% finished. The last 2 things to do are install crown molding and some corner shelves. We have the materials for both projects, it's just figuring out how and when to do this...

Sink or Toss

We still have the old kitchen sink in the garage because I'm not sure what to do with it yet (I always think twice before sentencing anything to a landfill). Possible ideas for repurposing include:

1. Outdoor bar
2. Outdoor potting station
3. Garage utility sink

Or maybe I just toss it.

Advice?

That Sinking Feeling

Dear sink,
I can't wait to use you after months of oggling, touching, and pretend using. You're the reason we installed new drain pipes.
And faucet,
No need to worry, I haven't forgotten you. I know you've been left in your original packaging and have never been let out, but I will free you soon. And take good care of you. You are the reason behind the entire plumbing phase. We welded copper pipes for you. And picked out just the right undermount host for you.
And garbage disposer,
Wait till you meet your matches. You'll soon forget that old white porcelain we first shoved you in. And the fact that you've been forsaken in our dump we call a garage.

We hope you will all love each other as much as we love you each individually.

Stepping Up to the Plates

Do you remember being a kid, waiting for Christmas morning to arrive so you could open your gifts? Not being able to sleep the night before because you were so excited? And you were good all year for it, because you wanted that My Little Pony so badly? Or the Cabbage Patch doll? Or a Sony Walkman? Ok I am starting to date myself.

Anyway, I feel kinda like that. Because the granite counters are coming this weekend! This is exciting for many reasons, and because I love lists, here they are in list form:

1. it's the last major thing to complete our kitchen remodel
   
2. our new lighting will finally have something nice to reflect on
   
3. we're not responsible for the installation of it
4. ...therefore it will be done in a day
5. it will add to our home's value
6. we got an awesome deal on it
7. some rich homes in Malibu have the same counters (I might have a celebrity kitchen counter twin?)
8. it will mask crumbs better than white laminate
9. it can't be stained by wine rings or curry spills
   
10. it will have a rounded edge so won't poke my gut when I lean against it
    
11. it will be the first time I see it larger than sample size
    
12. it will be the first time I see it in a kitchen setting
13. it will be the first time I see it in my kitchen setting
14. after it's installed we will have several square feet of additional counter than the old kitchen
15. no more 2x4's and raw drywall edges will be exposed
16. I will finally have a kitchen sink (which will be undermounted so I can sweep crumbs into the sink without any interference)
    
17. which means we can install the kitchen faucet (which is beautiful and does things our last faucet couldn't)
    
18. which means we can install the garbage disposer
    
19. which means that we can also hook up our new dishwasher!
20. which means no more washing dishes by hand
21. ...in the tub
22. ...upstairs

You get the point. Sort of. Right? Well hunching over a tub to do dishes wrecks your back, exacerbates your excema, causes wet bathroom floors and wet person doing all this, and just takes a long time. And makes me angry.

Here is the evolution of dish washing in this household:

Past: Caloric who-knows-from-when model with broken off and rusted wire parts, circa 1989?

Present: 2009 TT analog model with 2 hands and opposable thumbs

Still present, but not for long: 2009 TT analog model malfunctioned and turned aggressive

...but got the dishes clean

Future: Whirlpool Gold Energy Star approved Built-In Dishwasher with Adaptive Wash Cycle
(in stainless steel and no exposed buttons, be careful not to drool on your computer)

Most importantly this means I can finally drink my two buck chuck out of real wine glasses rather than dixie cups. Life is about to get a lot better.

Kitchen Guts

I was so naive in my last post. We were so not close.

This weekend we completely gutted our kitchen down to the concrete foundation. This was an unexpected step, we didn't plan on removing the flooring. But while trying to remove our range, we realize it was caught on old linoleum flooring. We also realized that there was a smell under all that flooring. The smell of dampness and mold and all kinds of nasty bacteria.

And we discovered the source of it all, evidence of an old leak that had a clamp with screw... and scorch marks on the stud all around the copper pipe. That explains the horrible smell under the sink! Who fixes a hole with a clamp? Did I mention that all the plumbing was running through the old cabinets. That made for lots of holes through cabinets, unusable cabinet space, drainage noises, and unsightly drain pipes - I will not have that in my new beautiful cabinets. And I will not have smells under my floor.

We purchased some copper piping, learned how to weld, and created a new route for the drain pipes (through the half wall behind the sink). So in addition to being electricians, we are plumbers now.

And the fun doesn't end there. The next surprise was removing the adhesive from the linoleum flooring. That stuff is thick and bonds to bare concrete really well. It was instense labor. We tried all 'green' methods such as boiling water, wet towels, a blow torch, and old fashioned manual labor with a floor scraper. Finally, we resorted to chemicals. And when it comes to chemicals, this stuff was hardcore and highly effective.

On a side note: welding is fun, we encourage you to try it.