Kitchen è Finita!!

Yes, that's right - the kitchen is FINISHED! Can you believe it? I can't...it seems crazy that we actually finished such a huge project. And I'm SO happy with how it turned out! Here are some pics from our super fun "Kitchen Open House" where we showed off our hard work to all our friends and family!

Break it Down Now!

Now that we are nearing the END of the kitchen renovation (which I still can't believe we're so close to being DONE!!!) I figured I would break out the costs. I'm actually a little scared to see how much over budget we went...here goes!



Demo: FREE!
Dumpster rental: $215 BGI Waste Services
Cabinets: $3411.58 Ikea
Extra stuff: $103.63 (Drawers that were out of stock when we purchased the cabinets, plus dish drawer organizers and spice drawer organizers) Ikea
Cabinet installation: FREE!
Cabinet pulls: $161.59 Ikea
Cabinet dividers: $38.83 Ikea
Countertops: $1,280.40 (Including installation – awesome deal!!!)
Faucet for sink: $147.66 Lowes
Fridge: $1622.98 ($1593.10 plus $29.88 for delivery) - We splurged. :) Brandsmart
Oven: $754.32
Microwave: $234.20 Over-the-range venting microwaves are expensive! Brandsmart
Stovetop: FREE! (We kept our old one)
Materials for new wall: $100.06 Home Depot
Labor for new wall: FREE!
New door for pantry: $83.51 Home Depot
Pantry shelving: $161.98 Ikea
Installation for pantry shelving: FREE!
Paint for pantry: $37.64 (Including supplies and chalkboard paint for the door.)
Plumbing: $550
Appliance electric work: $140
Flooring: $638.27
Flooring installation: FREE!
Misc charges: $153.96 (random things like nails, paint rollers, caulk, hacksaw, etc.)
Grand Total: $9,835.60

Wow! I really thought we'd be more like $12,000 in right now!

Of course, we still have the following to do:
Lighting electric work: ??
Backsplash: ??
Backsplash installation: FREE!
Labor to vent dryer: ??
Lighting: ??
Ceiling patchwork: FREE!
Ceiling paint: FREE! (A gift from our real estate agent)
Labor to paint the ceiling: ??

So I know we're not going to come in under our $10,000 budget. But I'm still pretty impressed!

When we met with a contractor, his quote was $8,071 for labor alone. Then, when you add the rest of stuff we would have paid for separately (the cabinets, countertops, flooring, appliances, etc.) to the $8,071 - it comes to around $16,600! So I think we've saved about $6000 doing the kitchen ourselves. Sweet!!
Josh's dad is coming down tomorrow to help us finish up some stuff. Woo hoo!

I'm so ready for my kitchen to be DONE!

My Week off from Work in Pictures

My 11 days off were fabulous!!!

I snuggled with my pups.

I went out with friends and drank yummy tiramisu martinis.

Josh and I made an extremely unhealthy but incredibly yummy Christmas morning breakfast.

I watched Jack tear into some presents from Santa.

I spent time with my family, including my adorable niece and nephew.

I opened my Christmas present from my sister, only to realize we had gotten each other the exact same thing!  

I played Life with my husband...and I had twin girls. :) 

I went out for New Years and had yummy drinks and even got to dance. 

I helped Josh start installing the laminate flooring in the den. (Can't wait to have my house put back together!)

It was awesome! Can't wait until my next long stretch of vacation time!

Kitchen Renovation - Weekend #1

We started the kitchen renovation this weekend!

Step 1 - Wall off the breakfast nook to make a walk-in pantry/laundry room. (Our washer and dryer are in the basement right now - NOT convenient.)

My father-in-law is awesome. He threw the wall up in just a few hours. Josh and I will be breaking out the paint tonight. Then we'll install the door later this week and cross this step off the list!

Plus - Our NEW refrigerator be delivered tomorrow!!! I am soooooooo excited!! It's BEAUTIFUL!!

P.S. We HAVE to buy a new camera battery charger. I still can't find our old one and I really want to take pics during the renovation. :(

Here are some pics taken with my iPhone - please excuse the quality...and please ignore the mess that is our kitchen.

Here is the rest of the kitchen renovation plan. (I'll just be happy when it's all over!)

Step 2 - Call the plumber and schedule them to come out to move the washer and dryer into the laundry room.

Step 3 - Tear out the old cabinets

Step 4 - Put together new cabinets

Step 5 - Install new cabinets

Step 6 - Have new countertop installed

Step 7 - Have new microwave, new wall oven, and old stovetop installed

Step 8 - Vent new microwave to outside (it's an over the range microwave)

Step 9 - Backsplash

Step 10 - Flooring

Step 11 - Lighting