Our New Kitchen

The cabinets and counter top.

After the new kitchen windows were installed and after the pantries were built, John began building the kitchen itself. We bought a few new cabinets to add to the old cabinets, which John rebuilt so that they are now better than when they were new.

Planning the travertine tile layout for the kitchen counter.

We spent a day at Home Depot in Littleton deciding which tile to use for the kitchen counter. We chose this travertine tile. I had originally wanted to paint the cabinets white — I have always admired white cabinets. But after seeing the tile placed on the counter, I realized that the oak of the cabinets was a perfect complement to the ivory of the tile.

The pantries in relation to the cabinets.

The custom cabinet for the double oven is at the
end of the kitchen and next to the breakfast nook.

John had to build a few more oak cabinets for the double oven (above) and the microwave. The old sun porch was cut in half and the half you see above is where we will eat when alone. The sun is brilliant in this room every morning, every season. The windows look out over the beaver bog so we can watch the moose, deer, beaver and otter. The old door to the front yard was moved to the side of the porch, where the other half of the porch will be what it should have been — a porch!

Cutting the tile for the kitchen counter.
February 13, 2011

The thinset for the tile is spread on the counter.

The first run of tiles is set in the thinset.

The counter is finished and the sink is installed.

After the tile was laid and grouted and sealed, it was time to install the new sink. We chose a quartz sink that glitters in the sun. One basin is deeper than the other.

The new sink under the new windows.

I can tell you now that the kitchen is almost completed, that it is a joy to work at this sink. I can easily monitor the goings-on in the bog. The sun is magnificent in these windows. I love the glitter of the quartz in the sink in the sun. The sink is easy to keep clean — I only have to wipe stains and they just come off!

Grouting the counter and backsplash.

John is so detail-oriented that he matched had to plan the tile layout so that tiles with similar markings flowed into each other. It is difficult for me to explain this. But when you work on this counter, you become fascinated by the natural design that nature created when the stone was created in some far off mountain.The color of the tile changes all day long as the color from the natural light changes.

Almost done!

The other side view of almost done!

This kitchen is a work of art. I can't wait to show you how it has turned out! I am quickly finishing the editing of the most recent photos (getting up to date) so you'll see it soon. John knows how to plan kitchens so that you have the least amount of movement for what you need to cook when you need it. His skill and knowledge are unsurpassed anywhere. More to come!

_/\_/\_