It is a nice, big room, but décor and appliances were seriously outdated. Kristi is a wonderful cook; she and Phil had agreed that making the kitchen really usable, with quality stove, refrigerator, freezer, ice machine, dishwasher, etc. would be a major focus of the remodel.
Things like drywall, insulation, rewiring, plumbing took a while and a lot of resources. They're not sexy, but will make a tremendous difference in the comfort of the house.
We were very glad that our friend Gil wanted to salvage the knotty pine paneling for a building he's remodeling. So while we emptied cupboards in preparation for the demolition, Gil was right behind us with his crowbar.
In fact, sometimes it seemed as though he would get ahead of us--"Quit talking, guys. Gil is ready to start on that wall!"
For all these months they have been eating in the carpentry shop out back, cooking with microwave and hotplate, lots of carryout food. Occasionally dinner at my house, bringing things to be cleaned in the dishwasher.
So, here's the new kitchen. Lots to be completed (curtains for the new windows, selecting places for various decorative thingies, some herbs, major decisions on what goes where) but the oven works, the ice maker is making, the fans revolve, and a lovely dinner of braised shortribs in wine sauce was a roaring success.
Don't they look happy and relaxed? Finally.