Tomorrow morning we demo the kitchen. WOOT!

A few updates to the space have been made over the past 3 years. At closing, the floors were covered with a light wood-like laminate, there was no dishwasher, and the upper counter had a bar overhang.

Here’s the very (VERY!) beginning “Before’s”

The laminate was ripped up and the floors were refinished before we even moved in. A dishwasher was purchased ASAP. It’s a Bosch and I still love it. The 30 minute quick wash comes in particularly handy for parties & holidays.

The island never made sense to me.

The bar height top was cut out so only the overhang was bar height. At counter height, a cracked piece of green marble was held up by some 2×4’s. There was no storage whatsoever and – oh yeah! – the marble was broken!

Within the first few weeks of owning the property, we added some rolling storage bins so there would be at least some under the counter storage.

The overhang & bins stayed like that for about a year, until late one evening in July 2010, I couldn’t take that stupid counter with the stupid overhang (which I kept running into because it intruded on the dining room table) anymore. So I took it off.

I found a large piece of butcher block on craigslist and cut it to fit the entire top of the island with no overhang.

The piece was large enough to add a second shelf and still have room for the rolling bins.

And this is how it’s looked for the last 2 years. In that time, I’ve learned a few things.

1. The general layout works. Sometimes you have to really live in a space before moving things around. It gives you time to discover how you use the space and how it could work better for you.
2. The bar height island is too high for me. At a generous 5’3″, I feel like I’m chopping at boob height when I try to work over there. It hides the kitchen mess when you’re sitting at the table but practicality would indicate it really should be lower.
3. 4 upper cabinets are not nearly enough. Duh. I didn’t need to live with it to tell you that but it will make me appreciate the new storage the new cabinets will bring.
4. The “Nook” (below) could be utilized much better. Right now it’s kind of a waste of space and catch all for papers I should file but haven’t.

Last night was spent cleaning things out in preparation of DEMO DAY. (rharrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!)

A makeshift kitchen has been set up right inside the living room, so hopefully I won’t starve.

And why yessssss, that is my new fridge (still wrapped in it’s protective blue plastic).