We’re back with a quick kitchen update since we promised to share every step of the process, just like we did more than four years ago with our first kitchen makeover, which took 113 days from start to finish. The latest news is that the electricians came by, as we mentioned last week. We’re comfortable with many DIY tasks—painting, demo, drywall, building furniture and even a bit of plumbing—but we call in professionals for risky work like electrical in an older house. Faulty wiring can lead to big problems, so we hired a two-person electrician team who came highly recommended by friends to make a few changes that will help our new kitchen layout function properly. Here’s what they did:
- Located the mystery wire above the pantry and discovered it was a dedicated line for the fridge that had been looped out of the wall and back in to be grounded.
- Rerouted that wire back behind the wall and turned it into the outlet for a built-in microwave that will hang next to the pantry.
- Converted the hardwired connection behind the cooktop into a standard plug for the new stove (more on that here).
- Terminated the hardwired connection for the old wall oven (details here).
- Added a dedicated line and outlet for the fridge in its new location across the room; previously we’d been running it on an extension cord.
The main takeaway: renovation often means a room has to get worse before it gets better. Before the electricians arrived, we’d shuffled the fridge and pantry for a new layout (more on that here). We also had our new counter-depth fridge and oven in place where the old cooktop and cabinet had been, with some granite counters still missing.
We don’t have a wide shot of that stage, so the photos we do have show the stove and fridge in place (more on that phase here):
Here’s how the kitchen looked while the electricians were working:
It was messy, but once they fixed the wiring and sealed the opened wall everything got pushed back into place. Towels came off the appliances and we were left with a functioning oven and stove, an outlet ready for the microwave (so we can start building its cabinet), no more exposed wire above the pantry, the old wall-oven wiring safely terminated, and a fridge that runs without an extension cord. Hooray!
The electricians charged approximately $80 per hour for two guys: the first hour was $87 and the following hours were $70. For locals who asked, we used S.J. Ryan Electric. They did a clean, efficient job at a fair price. They don’t know us as bloggers—we’re not being paid to mention them—so this is an honest recommendation.
Admittedly the kitchen still looks chaotic, but we’re making steady progress. Once the fridge is boxed in with white wood (no more bulky black sides), the exposed paneling and beam edge are painted, and the lighting and cabinetry work begins, the space will start to come together. New floors, counters, backsplash and the peninsula will move us even closer to the finished kitchen we envision.
We were fortunate that much of the kitchen’s electrical had already been updated by the previous owners: GFCI outlets and other safety features were in place. Because our house is a ranch, the electricians could access much of the wiring through the attic, which makes routing and pulling cables simpler than in a two-story home where drywall damage is more likely. The exception was the attic area above the old fridge, where the roof’s original pitch made access difficult; that’s why a section of wall above the pantry had to be opened and later repaired.
Next on our ongoing kitchen to-do list (order subject to change):
- Build in the fridge
- Build in the microwave
- Demo the old backsplash
- Install the new dishwasher and sell the old one
- Build in the new stove so it sits flush with the cabinets
- Create the peninsula with built or purchased cabinetry
- Remove the rest of the old counters and install new ones
- Add an 8′ doorway between kitchen and dining room (with a contractor)
- Buy and install a vent hood over the stove
- Remove upper cabinets along the accent wall and extend counter-to-ceiling backsplash
- Buy or build floating shelves for the accent wall (install after tiling for fewer cuts and a cleaner look)
- Buy or build matching doors for new cabinetry so everything blends
- Replace hinges and hardware
- Redo kitchen lighting (remove fluorescent fixtures and fan, add recessed lighting in work areas and pendants over the peninsula)
- Install cork floors
- Add crown molding to the top of the cabinets
- Prime and paint cabinets
- Create a cozy corner by the fireplace with seating and built-in shelves
Breaking a large project into smaller, manageable tasks is how we stay sane. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed—just typing this list did that—but focusing on one small project at a time lets us adjust plans as needed instead of rushing decisions. Step by step, we’ll turn this chaotic kitchen into a space we love for years to come.
What did you get done this weekend? Any electrical updates or long renovation lists? Is anyone else tearing a room apart just before the holidays? For some reason, every year around this time we tackle something major that doesn’t get finished before Christmas. In late 2007 we gutted our first home’s kitchen, at the end of 2008 we refinished more than half our hardwoods, in late 2009 we gutted the bathroom, and at the end of 2010 we packed up and moved (more on that here). Maybe the renovation dust feels like snow—very seasonally appropriate.
Psst—We were invited to speak at Haven, a big DIY and blogging conference in Atlanta this coming June. We’re excited and nervous, and we hope to meet some of you there (fingers crossed we don’t embarrass ourselves on stage!).