Functioning Kitchens = Happiness

It's been over a month since I have blogged and I do apologize. Finally getting back into a semi-regular life style kept me from blogging. There still is quite a bit to do, but things are really coming along. Here is the kitchen in it's remodeled state:


This cook top was actually a freaking nightmare. The concrete counters were done before I got the cook top, but then whole ended up not being big enough. So Jake spend like 8-10 hours using a circular saw, sawzall, and a grinder trying to get the hole big enough. After that was all said and done, then there was a TON of dust to clean up. Now that it is in and functioning I can completely repress that experience from my mind... cause it sucked!


Here is the new hood with the new Jenn Air electric stove top. I got them both through KSL. The hood was $60 and the stove top was $100.


Here is the new sink and I absolutely love it! I got the sink at Lowe's and the faucet on Overstock.com. Needless to say, it looks tons better than the old stainless steel sink that was in there before.


View from the kitchen into the dining room. I used part of my tax credit that I got back to buy it. Thank you Uncle Sam! I got the dining set at Bed Heaven in Layton. Now I just need to decide if I want to put a rug underneath it... Also, in this picture you can see the new wall color.


If you don't remember what the old kitchen looked like, click here. Here is the view from the dining room into the kitchen. The concrete counters are waxed and the wine glass racks are installed. My mom and Wes go the dishwasher running. I'm really thrilled with how the kitchen is looking (and functioning)! There are a few projects left like putting the trim up, getting pantry door back on, and getting the bead board on some of the cupboards.

To finally being able to use my kitchen all the way,

Boomba

Like a Rock

I can't remember where I originally saw concrete counter tops. I just always knew that is what I wanted to do in my house. Then when I found out that a family friend did hers and that they looked awesome... well, I could hardly wait.

Concrete? Really? Yeah, it's about a billion times cheaper than granite and can be stained to look just like it. Last weekend the concrete was poured and finished, but they still need to be stained and sealed. Here are some pictures:


Old kitchen counter tops


Framed in with 2 1/2 inch melamine on bottom and 3 1/2 inch melamine on the side. Then the counter tops have to have chicken wire secured to them. This keeps the concrete from cracking.


Everything framed in!


Concrete getting poured in. When you do concrete counter tops, it's best to have it as dry a mix as you can get.


All poured!


Rounding out the edges


This is Matt doing the finishing work. After a few hours when the concrete it set up, then it has to be finished. I don't know much about this since I hired Matt to take care of it.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Mason and his parents, Kelly & Kelly, for letting me borrow their cement mixer. It saved mucho time and dinero! I desperately need to pick a stain, but it has to cure a while before I would actually be able to use it. However, there are lots of things around the house I desperately need to do. Has anyone found me appliances yet? ;)

To desperation at its finest,

Boomba