We recently did a full kitchen renovation with new flooring, cabinets, granite,
copper sink, etc. I should have been prepared, but when you're working on your own home you see things a little differently. Besides removing the old and installing the new stuff, we also moved a wall to make the kitchen open to a family room and extended a doorway to make a larger opening to the dining room. These two things sound simple on paper, but made an already long process take even longer. I didn't realize moving a wall meant reinforcing the beams in the attic, moving electrical, patching and retexturing the ceiling and reframing behind the cabinets. Also, widening a doorway means repainting the other side, reframing the door, repairing moulding, etc. Another thing to be prepared for is that things will often come damaged, scratched, need to be modified and generally make you pull your hair out!
This reno took about 3 months total and we more or less stayed within budget. However, some things we forgot to consider are the inconvenience of living with drywall dust (having plastic from ceiling to floor did little to help), wasting so many paper cups/plates/utensils because there was no kitchen sink hooked up, and eating out for almost every meal for 3 months! The latter of which added a hefty amount that was not in the budget.
In the end, it was definitely worth it, but I don't want to renovate anything for quite awhile! I love my copper sink and the extra counter space. My kids also hate eating out now so I guess it's a good thing we have our new kitchen...
before/during renovation
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Living through a kitchen renovation....some uncalculated costs
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Memories of a Mom: I remember the way the dust settled on every piece of furniture thoughout the house, the way the kids would run through the hanging plastic like it was their personal playhouse and it was especially fun to watch husband & wife work together! (Yes, you did have good ideas but he just wouldn't listen) (Of course he did know what he was doing even though you kept telling him that he didn't) It was fun to watch but I wouldn't want to have lived there! Oh, by the way, they're still married!!
i hope you get this comment. .
we are looking at purchasing a copper sink. i would love to know your pros and cons now that you have had it for a while. i did a google search of copper sinks and your blog popped up. i'm trying to find out the wear on them.
thank you! you can email me at:
cloud-stepper@comcast.net
Hi Jessica,
I've been very happy with the copper sink. The only drawback is that if things are left in the sink it will discolor. Starchy foods will react with it also. I like the rustic look on the outside but use "Barkeepers Friend" to keep the bottom shiny and clean. Also, it will scratch if something heavy and metal like a spoon or knife is dropped on it at the right angle. One of the main reasons that I got it besides the look is because of the anti-bacterial properties of copper.
Hope this helps! I got mine off of ebay so you may be able to find one cheaper there.
If you are doing a kitchen remodel, you should check out this kitchen blog called “Kitchens in San Luis Obispo”. It has great information on Kitchen Cabinetry, and “How to get started”.
www.kitchensInSanLuisObispo.blogspot.com
The Kitchen Guy
Very very nice article. I hope that you will post more and thank you for sharing.
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