A testimonial

By far the best, or luckiest, decision we made on this project was our choice of contractor. We are not DIY people, and we didn't necessarily want to re-do the kitchen on the cheap, so our priority was to find a company who would handle the project, from start to finish, with professionalism, skill, and creativity.

We found that company in Hurst Remodeling. From the initial proposal to the final Presentation Meeting, they handled the project, with all its ups and downs, with a great attitude and the utmost professionalism. We felt we were in good hands no matter the challenges that presented themselves.

Of course there were challenges and some "downs" (though plenty more "ups"), but our gauge of the company's character was in how they dealt with each issue as it came along. Always they were respectful, cheerful, helpful and informative. They were quick to address any problem the moment we brought it to their attention and had often solved it before we even noticed it was there. With a project this complex, I expected problems and we had our share. But each was quickly resolved to our satisfaction.

The final result exceeds our wildest expectations. The craftmanship is superb and we would not do a thing differently in the design. The suggestions from Hurst, its principals and employees, as well as from the outside vendors they directed us to, helped bring our vision to life.

We would not hesitate to recommend Hurst Remodeling and plan on hiring them again in the future.

Thanks again, Brian, Pat, Bridget, Dom, and everyone else for all your great work!

Before & After

Not much to say...the pictures speak for themselves!

The Keys to the Kingdom

Yesterday was the momentous occasion of our final meeting with the contractor. Even though we've been using the kitchen for a week already, they call it the Presentation Meeting and they officially turn it over to us. We would have had it a week ago but had to reschedule.

The company principal and our project lead were here, and it was an opportunity to ask any final questions, review the terms of the warranty, and answer a couple of their questions.

We had three questions:

1. Was there any way to stop the lightbulbs in the chandelier from humming when the dimmer was turned down? Probably not. It often depends on the individual bulb whether they hum or not.

2. Are the cheap mats I bought from Walmart going to damage the floor with their non-slip backing (we had read about not putting rubber mats on the floor, but these aren't really rubber)? Not sure, but they'll check with the manufacturer.

3. Can we get an itemized cost for the big-ticket items--the cabinets, granite counter-top, and floor? Just out of curiosity, a la HGTV's "Bang for your Buck." Sure, no problem.

They had two:

1. What is our favorite part of the kitchen? Very difficult to answer this! All of it. But if push comes to shove, we'd both have to say the granite. During construction, I was mostly able to stay out of the kitchen except the day they installed the granite. Then I just couldn't stay away, it was so awesome!

2. What is our least favorite aspect of the whole project? Certainly the inconvenience of not having a kitchen for 6 weeks. Whatever noise, dust, and assorted daily problems there were paled in comparison to the overall hassle factor.

All of the workmanship and the materials they provided are warrantied for one year. Even after that, they said, just call if something's not working and they'll come fix it or direct us to the vendor who can.

Then they took copious pictures, oohed and aahed, allowed us to congratulate them on a job well done a few times, and left. And believe it or not, it's sort of a letdown. Like when all the guests leave after Thanksgiving. Not that I want people in my house any more, banging and sawing, but still...it's all over! Nothing left to look forward to...

...except the pleasure of using our new, beautiful kitchen!

Moving back in

Well, I was looking forward to this part, but by the time I got to the 37th box it was getting pretty tedious. Where did we get all this stuff? And where am I going to put it?

I think we have as much or maybe a little more storage than we had in the old kitchen, but it's arranged differently. So things don't fit quite the way they used to, or the way I think they should.

There's drawers all over the place, but not in the right place. The hot-pads can't go next to the stove because the spatulas and ladles are there. Which is where they were before, so we're used to them being there, but now the drawer for the hot-pads that was there isn't anymore.

Does it sound like I'm complaining? I'm not, really, it's just a matter of getting used to a new kitchen layout. 99% of it works beautifully, and the other 1% we'll adjust to. Who cares if it's a little bit of form over function? The form is too gorgeous to worry about a little problem like function.

Day 27

We're done! Finished! It's over! It's ours!

This was a day of fixin' and cleanin'. The plumber came with brand new oil-rubbed bronze sink flanges. Don't know where he found them, but they fit, so they're obviously not Kohler. Then we got a new threshold on the door into the garage. They broke the old one, many moons ago (well, just weeks, really, but it seems like a long time) while taking out the old refrigerator. Now that the new fridge is inside, and nothing else heavy has to be moved through the door, it was time to put in the new one. Too bad he didn't wash that dirty white door while he was at it!

One final touch to the island--feet! Aircraft carriers do not generally need feet, but as a purely decorative accent, they look good.

The best and most exciting final job was to complete the outside of the window, i.e. putting the siding back on the house. They not only put that siding back on, but found matching siding to cover the window frame. The original idea was to simply cover it in white vinyl cladding, but at the last minute, the company principal (and principal idea-guy) decided the siding would look better. As good as it matches, I assumed ours was a pretty standard siding type and color, and it wasn't that hard to find. The project lead said yes, the color was easy, but the type--some kind of 3-in3 (three slats by three inches)--was difficult. He had to go to three places before he found it. Otherwise it would have been a special order which could have taken several weeks. Anyway, it looks great, as if it had always been there.

Dinner: one final Crock-Pot, just so we'll have some leftovers while we figure out how to use our new kitchen!

Day 26

We are definitely winding down.

The project lead finished the trim around the inside of the window and then installed the remaining appliances. I have to get used to hearing the hum of a refrigerator again, not to mention the ice-maker. The first time it dumped a load of ice, it scared me half to death!

This fridge is "cabinet-depth," so is not as deep as a standard refrigerator. It makes it look built-in, more or less. It still sticks out, though, as the doors have to open, and it still has a one or two inch space at the top. I haven't put anything in it yet, so I'm just hoping its shallow depth doesn't equate to less usable space.

The microwave looks decent, though it's GE and not Electrolux to match everything else. Electrolux did not have a shallow-depth, or "space-saver," microwave that would fit in an upper-cabinet installation. This one is 800 watts, so I'm hoping (again) that we don't notice its lack of power (our old built-in was either 900 or 1100, we can't remember which).

The carpenter spent the day finishing up the trim work around the baseboards and cabinet toekicks. We now have all new registers over the heat ducts. Isn't that exciting?

Actually, everything is exciting, and we're almost there, which is the most exciting of all!

Day 25

And let there be light...

Can lights, under-cabinet lights, rope lights, and, miracle of miracles, natural light! Yes, we have a window again. It's not wider, only taller, than the old one, but it seems much bigger. Now the faucet, sitting in front of it, doesn't seem so big.

It was one of those very busy days in the kitchen. I've grown used to the project lead being here, doing most of the work himself, so having four guys here seemed very crowded.

The project lead spent much of the day installing the window, but since the electrician was here, he also put in the cooktop and oven. Which has a clock, so another light!

The electrician was very busy finalizing the electrical. He waved some kind of magic wand and now we have two outlets in the island (I still don't know how that was possible, with the island fully finished and capped by a 400-pound piece of granite). He installed the cans for the main lighting, put up our new light fixtures, and installed switchplates and assorted other details, including these nifty little dimmer switches. 

The carpenter spent the day installing the toe moldings around the baseboards and against the toekicks of the cabinets. The paint specialist painted the final wall areas, burnished the texture on the hood, and finished the grout on the backsplash. It's some of those little details that make such a difference.

Two days to go!

Skillet-Seared Salmon with Curried Pineapple Essence

This was a stunning combination of flavors, though I would use less vinegar next time. I froze two dinners' worth and it was excellent as leftovers.

1 1/2 cups (1-inch) cubes fresh pineapple
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1/2 t curry powder
1 garlic clove, minced
1 t cracked pepper
6 (6-oz.) salmon fillets (1 inch thick)
1 t kosher salt
1 T ground cinnamon
1 T ground coriander
1 T black pepper
1 T ground allspice
1 T ground cardamom
1 T ground cloves
1 T ground ginger
1 1/2 T vegetable oil

Combine first 4 ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool slightly. Place pineapple mixture in a blender; cover and process until smooth. Stir in cracked pepper. Set pineapple essence aside.

Remove skin from salmon, and sprinkle salt evenly over fillets. Combine cinnamon and next 6 ingredients. Rub one side of each fillet with spice mixture.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add salmon, spice side down, and cook 4 minutes on each side or until salmon flakes easily when tested with a fork. Serve with pineapple essence. Yield: 6 servings

Source: Cooking Light 1998 (Oxmoor House)

Day 24

This was plumbing day. And only plumbing, so the project lead left soon after the plumbers got here. We now have a cabinet full of shiny new pipes and a new disposal.

Check out this faucet! It's what we ordered, of course, but it looks like we stole it from Hagrid's hut at Hogwarts. It's huge! I don't understand why Kohler would create a perfectly normal-sized sink and then design a faucet that's more appropriate for a swimming pool. As with the aircraft carrier--I mean island, and the super-sized cabinet pulls, I will get used to it. But it is sort of this giant sentinel, standing guard over our kitchen...

Experienced a big uh-oh when I looked inside the sink. The plumbers had installed a chrome flange on the disposal side instead of the oil-rubbed bronze one that matches the left side and the faucet. Hummph--either it didn't fit or it was defective. Jim and I figured we'd take up the issue with the project lead first thing Monday morning, and we headed out for some late afternoon cycling.

But no. The project lead called me on my cell phone at 4:30 when we were about five miles down the bike trail. Sure enough, he said, the Kohler flange does not fit the Kohler sink (how dumb is that?) but he already had two possible solutions for us. The first was a set of oil-rubbed bronze flanges from a different manufacturer. Unfortunately, they were bronze in name only and were actually made of plastic. That didn't sound so good. The second choice was a set of metal flanges in the same biscuit color as the sink. On the spot, we decided to go with that. It may not be quite the same color as the sink, but it should be close enough.

I have to say, I am not as impressed with Kohler as I thought I would be, but I am more and more impressed with our contractor. Did I mention I loved this guy?

Not to be outdone, we also have a shiny new dishwasher, hooked up and ready to go. Well, not quite, as the final electrical happens on Monday.

End of week 5--and what a week!