Kitchen build..... My wife keeps me busy alright. FINISHED !

[nevadatear]

This is really fun to watch. Your counter looks very much like ours across the pond. I will have to find a pic. Nichola was smart to put you to work on this project before you move onto your next paying project. Looking beautiful! Keep the updates coming for those of use not doing any kind of build right now, tttt or big house!

[grizz]

Speeding toward a predictable conclusion now, THANKFULLY.

Goose came over on Saturday afternoon because he needed some breathing space and he had some radio bits he had ordered off Ebay for me.
After a quick chat and a coffee, we got on with fitting the integral door.... While I faffed around with other bits in the kitchen while he marked it out.

Then we worked in "Stereo" with two cordless drills and got that sorted plus a few other odd jobs.






Once done with the door, Goose was all fired up and ready to start building the kitchen again, or at least make a start with the tiles.... I refused.

A drink was in order and then some sit and chat with Nicola.

When it came to be time for Peter to leave, the weather had turned nasty, with rain versus another drink, something to eat and some good recorded telly it did not take a lot to make him stay. There was also the potential prospect of a couple of bootfairs on Sunday morning.





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Sunday morning was a bust with rain overnight so we had an easy start and by 08.00 Goose had convinced me that he needed to stay to supervise and make sure I did not make a mess of the tiles.

He actually cut quite a dashing figure.

Safety crash hat from the Grizz Catalogue.



First thing was some measuring up and calculations....

Down to the garage where Goose made up a great jig to cut the initial 40 tiles that needed to be reduced by 15mm for the top row.



Started sticking them on the one end of the room



Of course with all the plugs and switches there were loads of cuts to be made, consider every plug could have four corners to cut.



Lunch came and went, served by Nicola. Tea and coffee was pretty much on the brew all day.



After lunch Peter started picking apart what I had done so far (and rightly so) so off some tiles came and a fillet was cut so that the windowsills would have whole tiles on both sides.




I am really glad we decided to redo the setup of the tiles to get the windows sorted.



At this point Goose really got going and started plastering the adhesive on and flicking the tiles at the wall like a magician.



At 14.00 Goose had to go home as he had stuff to deal with.

I was so chuffed that I had not kept the job to myself and "allowed" him to help.

His pace and level of finish is the same as mine so you cannot see where we crossed over.


Eventually I finished the tiles at about 17.00 and settled down with dinner and a drink.








Today Nicola and I went back to B&Q to return a couple more bits and to buy paint to paint the very dark wooded panels after I do the grouting (which is now done)
I will post the pics later when I have uploaded them.

Thanks to all those who have watched and given input on this build.

Not sure what I will get up to next......

[nevadatear]

Wow i have major counter envy. Would love to have space like that. Great job.

[grizz]

Wow i have major counter envy. Would love to have space like that. Great job.

Thank you very much.

Nice to see positive responses, rather than a negative thread hijack.

I guess part of the space is that we redesigned the kitchen layout and that we were fortunate enough to find this house to buy.

[grizz]

Next job up was grouting.

Every time I get to the grouting part of the job when tiling, I swear never to do a bloody tiling job again....

What a boring, repetitive job.

Wax on, Wax off..... Grout on, Grout on.....




Then wait for it to dry out a bit, then start wiping it all off and eventually do a first wash.



Next day when it is all well dried, I use a clean cloth for another wet wash/wipe, afterward I then wash the walls and work tops with some detergent.


This morning after washing the tiles again, I proceeded to do some small jobs like fitting the microwave and getting the wires hidden.

I also thought I would be clever and cut a hole in the back of the breadbin so that the kettles plug could fit in there, then just make up a cover for the inside, thus gaining about 20mm ..... all this effort was meant to make the marble cutting board fit in front of the bread bin.

After cutting the hole I realised my mistake.....

Can you tell what it is yet ??






The under unit lights were next.....



Result....




One of the jobs I have been worried about all along was making up the pelmet trims..... as they take a bit of precision cutting.

Mickey brought me a Makita Mitre saw about 18 months ago.... typical "skip find" as he had found a contractord Mitre saw with a 110volt transformer somewhere.

Not used it yet, but a mate use it for a project last year and loved it.





So I got going cutting all the strips and assembling before I ran out of screws, something I never do (the running out of stuff part)







Later on, Nicola inspected and approved.




Even later still she was prepping a very nice chilli.... NOM NOM NOM




That is all for tonight.

Paint tomorrow.

[S. Heisley]

Beautiful kitchen! I loved the backwards cupboard handle. It's good to see that the backwards handle was the worst of it and not screw holes in the wrong place or something. A backwards handle is an easy fix.

[grizz]

Beautiful kitchen! I loved the backwards cupboard handle. It's good to see that the backwards handle was the worst of it and not screw holes in the wrong place or something. A backwards handle is an easy fix.

LOL, one handle was found to be about 5mm out.... it will be corrected.

Thanks for the comments and compliments.

At last.....

Many interruptions and other tasks later, the dark panels and skirting boards, cabinets, switches and plugs are masked, remaining wall mounted tut has been removed.....
First job will be blanking out the dark with some magnolia, then painting it in a new colour to create the two tone finish Nicola has asked for.
The top parts of the kitchen are getting a fresh coat of the same colour that is on there now.



First job.....



Now at a point where I cannot wait to get done.

Need to spend some time doing "nothing"

[grizz]

Close up inspection by Marmaduke.... Headbutted the camera shortly afterwards.



Surprised Harley did not end up with some go faster stripes down her sides though.

Loads of cutting in and then also getting inbetween the grooves between the knotty pine.




Some changes in the utility room...



Kitchen followed.



Done.




Now got to leave it alone till morning, then cover over with the new colour.

After which the top half gets a coat..... then hopefully done.

[grizz]

OK, so I lied..... :biggrin: :biggrin:

It is 01.00 now and long past my bedtime, but I feel wide awake.

At 22.00 Nicola was just getting ready to be off to bed when I thought I would do a tester of the bottom colour.....

OOOpppsss??



Well, she changed her mind..... and decided the rich cream colour of the top half was not right.... the plan had been to give it a fresh coat of the same paint.

Now she wants a lighter colour that is about 20% lighter than the plan.....may be a two coat job.

Basically she wants the same paint and colour that I used for the undercoat (It is full strength masonry paint) on the top half now.




So tomorrow I will start doing the next lot of cutting in, and I remember from the last time, it was a lot of slow painstaking work.

Why do we create these obstacles for ourselves?

Done with panel section......



Off to bed now....

The cats know better, sleeping 20 hrs a day, Harley has a significant headstart on me.



It's Over and Out from me for tonight.

[CarlLaFong]

I am well into my kitchen redo, so I know what you're going through. Mine will involve some reconfiguration of walls and counter layout, some minor rewiring and re plumbing. Since I am stubborn and cheap, I will be doing everything myself, framing, drywall, cabinets (I'm a retired carpenter) electrical, plumbing, floor, paint, etc., etc. I'm trying to do it in phases so the kitchen and the marriage remain intact during the process. There may be a day or two where we have no sink or stove, but that will be the only real hitch in the deal. Phase one is almost done. It's taken about a week. Since I'm at home and I'm the boss (don't tell Wifey I said that), I do work at a more leisurely pace than I did in the field.
We've hated this kitchen for 27 years, so, now that I have plenty of time and no money, we're going for it. Of course, this has put my TTT plans on the back burner again.
Some pix on my blog. Click on the link below

[grizz]

I am well into my kitchen redo, so I know what you're going through. Mine will involve some reconfiguration of walls and counter layout, some minor rewiring and re plumbing. Since I am stubborn and cheap, I will be doing everything myself, framing, drywall, cabinets (I'm a retired carpenter) electrical, plumbing, floor, paint, etc., etc. I'm trying to do it in phases so the kitchen and the marriage remain intact during the process. There may be a day or two where we have no sink or stove, but that will be the only real hitch in the deal. Phase one is almost done. It's taken about a week. Since I'm at home and I'm the boss (don't tell Wifey I said that), I do work at a more leisurely pace than I did in the field.
We've hated this kitchen for 27 years, so, now that I have plenty of time and no money, we're going for it. Of course, this has put my TTT plans on the back burner again.
Some pix on my blog. Click on the link below

I have mentioned before, I am fortunate to have Nicola, who understands "process" and the need for temporary chaos, followed by the clear up and calm along with a new area in a tidy house.

Just going to have a bath, some toast and then come load the last few pics.

[campmaster-k]

I love the Grizz Show. Keep up the good work. I will always watch.

[grizz]

I love the Grizz Show. Keep up the good work. I will always watch.

Thanks Mate, I write up for guys like you.

[grizz]

Few pics.

The old colour that was meant to have been left on, with the lighter cream colour that Nicola decided (fortunately and thankfully) at 10pm that she wanted.



Colours together.....



While I was at it I thought I would catch a pic of the next task.... ceiling needs a white-out.




Last pic, I did a panorama on the mobile, stitching sucks, but it may give an idea.



Right, time to relax.

[rmclarke]

Great job, Grizz! Thanks for the ongoing commentary on this big job! Since Elaine and I are just now in the planning phase of our complete kitchen 'do over', it was real encouraging to see and read about all you went through; if brother Grizz can do it, so can I!
Nothing more conducive to peace and harmony than a happy woman in a new kitchen..

Richard