After fifteen painfully slow days of impatient waiting, our kitchen remodel picked back up again this past Monday with the arrival of the replacement corner cabinet. It was a small moment that felt huge: the project finally moved forward after a frustrating pause, and the home began to look like the finished kitchen we’ve been imagining.
The installer returned yesterday promptly at 8:00 a.m. and installed the final cabinet. This cabinet had to be reordered from KraftMaid because the first one arrived assembled backwards, so having the correct piece in place was an important milestone. Mike, the installer we’ve been working with — the guy who has steadily turned piles of materials into a functioning kitchen — also took care of several finishing touches while he was here. Those little details really made a difference: he added the toe kicks and shoe molding, finished venting the hood through the attic, and attached the last component of our range hood. They may seem like minor items individually, but together they brought a sense of completion and polish to the space.
There’s something undeniably satisfying about seeing those finishing elements in place. Toe kicks and shoe molding tidy up the transitions at the base of the cabinets, hiding gaps and protecting edges. Properly venting the hood through the attic ensures better airflow and reduces lingering odors and moisture. And finally attaching the hood assembly transformed that area into the functional, attractive focal point it was meant to be.
Tell me that’s not a sexy hood.
In addition to the cabinet and finishing work, the next big step on the timeline is measuring and installing the countertop. For the past two weeks we’d been struggling to get Stonemark Granite to schedule a visit — multiple calls, missed promises, and a continually shifting timeline had us bracing for yet another delay. But in a welcome turn, after half a dozen frustrating phone calls they agreed to come out later today to measure for the countertops, despite originally telling us we would have to wait another nine days.
Once the countertop templates are measured, the granite will be cut and prepared for installation. Based on what we’ve been told, the new granite counter should be ready for installation in two to three weeks after measurement. That timeline may feel like a stretch when you’ve already waited more than two weeks for one cabinet, but two to three weeks for a custom-cut granite slab is typical. We’ll take it. Having that timeline finally move forward feels like progress.
Beyond the cabinet, hood, and countertop, the final stages of the remodel will include final plumbing and electrical hookups, caulking where needed, and a final cleanup to remove any construction dust and debris. These small tasks are often the ones that make a kitchen feel truly finished, and we’re looking forward to the moment when everything is in place and usable.
Remodeling a kitchen has taught us a lot about patience, planning, and the value of experienced installers who sweat the small stuff. Mike’s attention to detail — making sure toe kicks are aligned, the shoe molding fits cleanly, and the hood is properly vented — showed how much difference those small choices make. As the countertop phase begins, we’re optimistic the rest of the project will proceed smoothly.
So for now, we celebrate the little victories: a correctly oriented corner cabinet, a fully attached hood, and a confirmed countertop measurement appointment. The end is in sight, and in a few weeks we should be enjoying a completed kitchen with durable granite surfaces and the finishing touches that make a house feel like home.