...but nobody knows for sure. There has been speculation as to where cooking was done originally. We know that there was a summer kitchen out back (see the History page)...and that a big gas stove occupied the space the woodstove now fills.

This kitchen has been painted so many times...but I finally got to a color I can live with.

I always think I want bold color first, but have learned that I like nuetral better. Then I can add pop, color, interest and change things around when I get bored with the decor as seasons change.

• My brother moved the sink drain to the corner, and replaced the old pipes in kitchen and laundry saving me $600.
  
  
• Gutted the room and insulated the walls as best we could with the beaded board paneling still there for the most part, added beadboard, shelves over windows.
  
  
• Pulled acoustical tile off the ceiling to reveal the beaded board which was in good shape.
  
  
• Waited for cabinets and retiled the floor with new viny
  
  
• Installed cabinets, made a template for counters and sent it away. To hang the cabinets I had to put up 1x4 to screw into since the wall studs were never where I needed them to be.
  
  
• My brother temporarily installed the sink on plywood and 2x4's so I'd have running water in the kitchen. Had my first gathering to show off my work.

• Waited a month for the counter top. Rejoiced when it arrived. Installed it.
  
  
• Faced the exposed cabinet ends with plybead.
  
  
• Took back unused trim and small cabinet which prooved too tight for the new fridge I knew I'd eventually have to buy....and that paid for a dish washer.
  
  
• Put up plybead wainscoting in the dining room with my brother's help. I put up the wainscoting and he brought his trusty table saw over to cut the rabbet edge for the top molding. A fun project.
  
  
• Took the ceiling fan out of the dining room and eventually put track lighting in there. Bought a hanging track fixture for over the table. Can't remember exactly when that happened.

• An inexpensive corner carousel cabinet was located at Lowes, purchased and installed, then faced with plybead and painted to match the other cabinets.
  
  
• Stove plug was moved
  (yes I moved it myself). I turn off the power to the whole house when I do wiring. Even the little stuff. Makes me real nervous)
  
  
• Moved the plug again because I measured wrong. Its sitting ON the wall behind the stove, housed in protective channeling that runs behind the corner cabinet...not IN the wall...and I placed it 1 inch too far to the middle of the stove, right where the stove back juts out. Measure twice...measure twice.
  
  
• Little cabinet was purchased for other side of stove and then...

• Leftover tile from bathroom covers the countertop. I got the tile from Habitat for Humanity. $75 for 3 milk crates full of 12"x 12" porcelain tile, plus some small natural stone tiles left over from wood stove hearth pad.
  
  
• Ordered a door and drawer face for the stove cabinet to match the ones installed in Phase 1 of the renovation. I still need to order the corner wall unit's new door. The corner floor cabinet will have to stay like it is...or gussied up some way to make it look like I intended it not to match. I'll let you know when I get the right idea.

Winter 2009... into Spring

• For lighting I've purchased under cabinet lights and finally put them up and added some tracks for counter lighting. I had some leftover track lamps from the dining room installation. Ended up switching them all around to get them matchy...and ended up with a BUNCH of light over my kitchen counter. Suddenly you can cook in there!
  
  
• Added some wood trim to the counter edge to tie it all together. REALLY like that touch.

Still need to add crown molding and I've figured out how to make it interesting and still within my skill set. Maybe this summer I'll finish it.