After we got the keys to our house...

the first thing we did was move the washer and dryer from the kitchen. (Yes, I'm entering the contest that Houseblogs.net is offering! I could sure use that $300 gift certificate from True Value!) I've never been a big fan of spaghetti sauce near my clean clothes, and so the weekend after we moved in we moved the washer/dyer hookups from the east side of the kitchen to the back room. Moving the water hook-ups was relatively easy, as the back room shares the wet wall with the sink/dishwasher from the kitchen; moving the 220 electrical line for the dryer was a trickier reroute and fish from the attic. Luckily, we had help from family with the project!

Here's the new laundry center (with a pretty puppy in the middle of her shave down on top):

Here is where the laundry center used to be...

The fridge used to be where the nice hutch is in the second picture. The rest of the kitchen counterspace and appliances are off to the left. We think that THIS is a much better use of space!

And, of course, the rest of the kitchen; you can see that stained glass window in the laundry picture, too:

The laundry room is through the door on the right (with the white gate); the current fridge/pantry is to the right.

This post was written for Houseblogs.net as part of a sweepstakes sponsored by True Value.

Water Pouring Out Of A Sink Cabinet Can't Be Good

At least, that's what we at Tiny Old House think. We would prefer to keep our draining water INSIDE our pipes. The water draining from our washing machine had other plans this morning, and plotted an escape route into the kitchen. (Good thing we have a water efficient front loader!)

Upon inspection, we noticed that the sink drain was about 1/2 inch away from the actual drain pipe. We don't believe this was the case 2 months ago when we reinstalled the sink for the 4th time into the new granite countertop, but we also don't believe the sink magically decided to move 1/2 inch inside a solid granite countertop...



We've obviously been living on borrowed time for a kitchen flood!

We weighed our options. We could do a temporary band-aid fix, or re-plumb the entire sink. We opted for the band-aid this time, with the knowledge that some time in the next few months we will re-do all of the plumbing down there.

Here's our band-aid:

It's a new FLEXIBLE sink drain.

We affixed this new sink drain to the sink and to the drain apparatus, using teflon tape to secure and seal all of the new joints.

The finished product:

A sink that drains AND doesn't leak!

I'll keep you updated on how long this actually lasts... we were warned by the floor person at the hardware store that these clog up with food in about 2 months. Hopefully we will find time before then to do the full replacement.

Two Small Projects

I found time yesterday to complete two small projects left unfinished. It's amazing how small projects pile up, with just a little bit of time needed for completion.

First, I painted the backsplash for the kitchen the same color as the walls.

Before:


After:


We still want to put some sort of tile or metal backsplash up instead, but spending for things besides structural integrity has been put on hold. With 20 minutes and a bit of the leftover paint, I have a nice looking kitchen. Temporary, but well worth it.

I also hung the bathroom vanity light. I bought it in January on clearance, and just haven't put it up. It's been sitting on the floor outside the bathroom for 6 months.

Before:


After:


Now, of course finishing the walls in the bathroom would go a LONG way to making it look nicer in there, too! Perhaps when it is too rainy to work outside...

It felt good to check off two more small projects... especially as we toil on the much larger project of the exterior. I need a little "instant gratification" every once in a while!

Our New Countertops

My father-in-law graciously spent his Father's Day installing our granite countertop. (The one he created for us out of salvaged granite). I was away most of the day for a concert, so I apologize for lack of play-by-play.

Here's the workbench...


When We Bought... After Cabinets...


With Granite!


Notice the super fancy edge... I'm sure it was expensive when new.

We aren't finished yet... as you can see, there is still a gap between the stove and the counter/cabinets and no backsplash. The gap we intend on filling with a piece of butcher block counter with knife slots and a small door to hide our baking pans...

and here is one idea for the backsplash. The GREAT part about this backsplash is that we already have all of the materials, so it would be free.



The hexagonal tiles I picked up at Habitat a few months ago for cheap!
Here's an "up-close"...



I can't decide whether it looks REALLY good or REALLY bad. I also thought that replacing a few of the tiles with a color would look nice... I tried red below:



Any thoughts? I think cream subway tiles would look good, too... and so would white/torquiose/red glass mosaic tiles... but both of those options cost money, so it would be at least 4 months before we could start the backsplash.

Bamboo Window Shades

I installed a few bamboo window shades in our kitchen and living room today. It's amazing what nice window coverings will do for a room.

Before:


After:


The living room after:


The curtains ended up VERY purple in the picture... they are actually the same color as the kitchen walls. That's what using the backlight function on your camera will do for color, I guess.

If you have never installed bamboo shades before, it is extremely easy: they hang from two hooks you screw into the upper part of your window frame. Simply hold the shade in place to mark the holes, drill two small holes, screw in the hooks, and hand the shade.

We are excited to use them this summer to keep our house more cool (by keeping the sun out).

The Great Kitchen Remodel- 70% done

Before:

Notice the white Melamine lower cabinets...

...the window into the laundry room, the badly painted wood upper cabinets, the formica countertop...

...the impromptu "pantry" cabinet and appliance shelf and aging white refridgerator.

After 70% of the work:

What we did:
First, we painted the whole kitchen a nice brick red. It's actually a brown color, but it looks so red! (Hint: Paint AFTER you rip down the old cabinets, not before)
Then, we ripped down all of the existing cabinets. And then we stared at the mess we created!
(hint: ALWAYS use screws to put up cabinets. It makes life so much easier on those who will take them out in 20 years!)

We decided that it would be better to remove the huge window above the sink altogether. This window is on a wall that use to be an exterior wall... and taking that window out took 2 days of carefully hacking away at that exterior wall, and then carefully prying out the NAILS that held it in (ALWAYS USE SCREWS!). Actually framing in the new stained glass window, drywalling, and painting took just a couple hours.
Putting the new cabinets up was much easier than carefully ripping down the old ones.

• MEASURE THREE TIMES before drilling the holes. We have quite a few random holes in the back of our cabinets to fill because the studs "moved" on us.
• Use good clamps to hold the cabinets together.
  
• Take the doors off first... it really is easier to install a cabinet without doors.

Where did it all come from?

• Cabinets- Came from a wholesaler in Denver. We searched for about a year for salvaged cabinets that fit our measurements and our requirements, and unfortunately were unable to find any. They are Merillat Cabinets... the cheapest they make, in maple.
  
• Microwave-Freecycle
• Refrigerator- My in-laws. They remodeled their house this past summer, and bought new stainless steel appliances. We got their old almond fridge WITH ICEMAKER! It matches the existing almond and black stove.
  

• My gorgeous kitchen light that I drooled over for months- Lowe's... on clearance the week we were redoing the kitchen!
  
• Pot Rack- Pier One (a gift card purchase)
• Table- My in-laws again!
• Jigsaw- Pawn shop
• Stained Glass Window- Ebay
  
• Nails, screws, drywall, drywall tape, shims, spackle, paint- Lowes
  

Cost:

• Cabinets $1450
  
• Ceiling Light $45
• Above Sink Light $15
• Jigsaw $10
• Drywall, Screws, Nails, Studs, Shims, Trim, etc-$40
• Stained Glass Window $50
• Microwave, Fridge, Table, Chairs- FREE
• Paint $20

Total: $1630

But it's only 70% done... what is left?

We have granite countertops to make, using a salvaged countertop. This will require us to get up off the couch, drive down to Denver, and use the shop. Here's a picture of the granite... notice the dark red crystals in it (same color as the walls).

We also have flooring. Should have done that first. Post about the flooring (which isn't done yet) soon. Hindsight is so 20/20!