Time to paint the kitchen......because the cabinets are ready to be delivered!

George rolls on the ceiling paint...sweat equity!

And so another week has passed... sort of a hurry up to wait kind of week.  Tape and grout the lines- two coats feathered out to a beautiful edge.  Then dry time... mid-week the "orange peel" spray went on to give a slight texture to the walls and help disguise any little imperfections in the finish.  I had used this same technique in the "Little house" addition and really liked the softer quality it gives to the walls.  that, of course, had a longer dry time so it was Friday before the "primer" could be sprayed on.  That gave me the weekend to paint.  Fortunately I had help... with only a little instruction and a quick demonstration, George was soon up and "rolling".  I did the edges and moved the lights, masking, and ladder as needed but he rolled the paint.  We did the ceiling in a warm white- lighter value than the cabinets but warm and clean.  Next came the walls... I rolled the paint on for the entry and pantry but George did the second coat making it smooth and beautiful.  Finding the right color to work with the tiles, not compete with the dining room colors, and to feel welcoming- a bit of a trick.  We settled on a soft fern green/grey color.  It is a nice match with the tile that will be going in that area.  Of course, in the kitchen I knew I wanted some version of red but I swear, I tried at least ten colors before picking this "tomato" red.  

Rolling on the wall paint- a tomato red - full of warmth and celebration.

I have a photo I've used as my inspiration for the kitchen.  I bought it several years ago from a photographer in Oconomowoc by the name of Jill Bedford and it hung in my bedroom to remind me of summer and my garden.  It was my way of trusting this kitchen would actually happen and all I had to do was keep on saving and planning and know it would happen...someday.  And now.... it has!  It hangs on the log wall just inside the door where I can see it every morning.  Please check out her website for truly amazing photos that will bring inspiration from the garden to your home- amazing photos of vegetables, flowers, and all that is lush and wonderful.... http://www.jillbedfordphotography.com/Portfolio/ 

 We had a week of "off"- a nice break from the hammering and people everywhere.  A brief respite from the noise and dust.  Since then- it's been fast and furious.......

The front entry- gutters installed!  I've got gutters!  Just in time as we also got some major rain- I was out adjusting the downspouts and adding on the run-out tubes as the rain poured down but finally the water is away form the foundation and out giving some much needed water to the lawn and gardens around the house.  The front door is still not installed- waiting on delivery from Oregon.

The floor was poured!  They arrived mid-morning and by noon I had a floor covering all the heat tubes and solid.  I was able to walk (carefully) on it the next morning.  It really creates a solid feeling under my feet and it should only be MORE so once the tile goes down on top of it all.....

The insulation is batt's in the wall but foam filled in the ceiling-  I had them foam fill the old door as well since it is so shallow and I wanted the higher R-value.  As they were working on the ceiling one of the hoses busted open and suddenly I had a small mountain in the kitchen.... They got it all cleaned up by just lifting the plastic they had put down for protection but it was pretty exciting for a moment or two!  The material is really interesting- a closed cell foam, expands about 2-21/2 times it's size when sprayed and then dries to a HARD surface.... no mice getting in here!

 

The installer, Jose, fully suited up in protective gear to spray the foam and everything carefully masked off for protection!

After the insulation was complete I had a few days to spend on cleaning the walls and re-chinking.  I used soap and water and lots of scrubbing but the walls really cleaned up well.  I chinked over any cracks and where I had pulled chinking for the electrical runs.  Looking good!

Drywallers arrived with delivery of drywall on Tuesday and then installation the next morning.  I had to folks drywalling and they just smiled when they looked up and saw the ceiling.  I think they must also like to have a challenge in their work.  They were very neat and cleaned up nicely after themselves.  Miquel was the lead installer and they had it done (beautifully) by mid afternoon and all trimmed out for the mudders to arrive.

Meanwhile in all my extra spare time I've been cleaning my old cedar siding and priming it in the house stain- a beautiful gray.  I measured the new walls and created a cut list so I would know what lengths I would need- then it was just a matter of sorting thru the stacks of siding to cull out anything split or unusable, making piles of the right sized pieces and staining it all (front, back and sides), re-stacking and labeling it for where it is to go.  I have enough siding from what I saved off the old house, combined with what I have in the barn left over from when we put on the little house addition, to completely re-side the new kitchen and entry.  What a cost savings!  Yes, it's been a lot of work but it is recycling perfectly good cedar and using it all again for the same purpose.  Having the time to paint it BEFORE it goes up has been a luxury and the weather has been perfect.  I try to be up and out painting, cleaning, sorting by 7:30 and am able to work in the shade until 1 when I stop for lunch and to check out what is going on with my "workers" in the kitchen.  And when they see me working on this I think it has also created an opening to talk with me and not just have me be the owner of the property and them the "workers".  I am very aware that I am extremely lucky to own such an amazing piece of property and to live in this incredible home.  I know many of the folks who are coming here to work have no idea of what it has taken to have this home or the work I've put into it but I do think they have a small glimpse into all that when they see me scrubbing away on the cedar to clean it all and then the careful painting, stacking, labeling.  They get it... and they appreciate that I am "working" as they do their job.  At the end of the day or as they are cleaning up to leave we usually find ourselves chatting for a moment and they are supportive, appreciative, and caring folks.  I've enjoyed having them to my home... and they take pride in what they have brought to the project.

Stacked, labeled and ready for installation.

Sonya and Miquel came Thursday to mud the joints and install the mesh- clean neat work.  She did most of the tall stuff on her stilts- working overhead smoothing and feathering it out.  It won't require much sanding!  We are to have nice 70º + days thru the weekend so it should dry nice and slow making a durable blend to the drywall.  I've chosen to do an "orange peel" texture since that should be easier to clean than a stucco or sand finish and I want some texture for "breakup"....

I spent all of Friday morning at the table saw ripping the cedar that was too broken to be used as siding into all the trim pieces for the windows, door, eve edge, etc.  first I trimmed off the "tongue" from the edge of the siding and then was able to rip down the board to the right width for all the trim.  Nancy BichaDale came to help me paint it on Saturday.  By the end of the day, all the siding and all the trim was primed with at least one coat of the stain and we are ready for installation!

And on Sunday... we rested...and I updated the blog.

HVAC roughed in..... the guys put in the tubing for the HEATED KITCHEN FLOOR!  Did I say HEATED FLOOR!!!  No more wearing three pairs of socks in the winter to keep my feet warm.... yeahhhhhhh.....  Also dropped in under cabinet vents in two spots for forced air heat and central air conditioning.  The forced air is from the old system but it works good when you need to bring the house temperature up fast...and then the other heat system can maintain the heat easier.  I dislike the noise and dust of forced air but it does heat the house faster....and if we continue to have summers like this one the air conditioning is a must-have.  In summers past we have gone most of the summer without even turning on the air conditioning...but not this one!~

 The "sun tube" brings in a lovely light to brighten up the central kitchen area.  I loved my skylights and the wonderful light they had in the old kitchen but they were cold in the winter and leaked..... so.... a compromise with the sky tube.  Once the cabinets, floor, and wall treatments are done it should also be quite a bit brighter...

        Wiring is all roughed in- I did some small revisions with the electrician after I saw what they had initially installed...moving to balance the sconces on the windows instead of just nailing them up to the most convenient stud and making sure we have switches to the outlets I wanted switched, etc....
Rough inspection was Friday and WE PASSED!!! so now the move is on to pour the floor, start exterior siding and finish the front deck, wait for the front door to arrive for installation, insulation will get added (and then we will be able to keep the house cooler - plastic walls really aren't all that helpful in 100º heat.) After that is drywall, cabinet installation, floor tile.... a long ways to go yet it feels things are moving along nicely.