…someone’s in the kitchen, I knoooowww… it’s still my sister and her hubby! They hung around for another day of brutal work in our kitchen and have decided to go see some relatives tomorrow. I don’t blame them in the least! We gave them a workout today and even though it looks like we did less today, I think we made it look more like it’s really going to happen. I do believe we are committed now! :o)
There was no time to answer your comments individually, but I did read them and answered in one comment at the bottom! I’m so glad everyone is liking what’s happening so far. Well, everyone but one… I lost a subscriber today… she must not have liked my kitchen posts! :o( Maybe I can win her back when I get back in my sewing room… soon!
My hubby had to do some electrical work again this morning, moving the porch light wires in the right place through the kitchen walls. There was a small hole about the size of my hand outside in the siding on the porch and I was trying to help fish the wire through. It truly was scary when my hand and wrist got stuck in that hole!! I was standing up on the riding lawn mower to reach into the hole and was sort of at a weird angle anyway, so when I couldn’t get my hand out, I sort of panicked. Finally after pulling and pulling and scraping it against the hole in the siding, I got it out. My mom said something like, “I don’t know what we’d have done if you couldn’t have gotten your hand out!” And do you know what my hubby said??? He said, “Oh, no worries, I have a sawzall!”
Today we tried to uncover more of the shiplap, but it was a bit discouraging. You might wonder, what’s the big deal with working so hard to reveal the shiplap boards. Well, you see, our house was built in 1892 and this shiplap is authentic, not something added 20 years ago, and I just thought it might be worth the extra effort to try and salvage it. Under the drywall, to the left of the back door, we found joint compound on top of the glue and it was really hard to get off. We used a heat gun and it would come off, but it was very slow going.
Here are a couple of links that Cindy found that might spur me on when I think I can’t do that heat gun another second!
Magnolia Fixer Upper Shiplap wall
Cindy did most of the work, and said it would be wonderful to have a whole wall full of the shiplap as a statement when you walked in the front door. So she worked and worked and worked! Now that she’s left, I guess I’ll be the one working and working and working! I didn’t get a single picture of Cindy working on it! :o(
She did get one of me and George…not the greatest but nonetheless, it’s me working…
The guys worked on filling in the spaces all around the top of the walls where the soffits used to be. They got it all finished and it looks great! (Susette, that wasn’t a window up there… that was just a hallway that goes to the basement and the light you were seeing was the lightbulb!)
When the soffit areas were all filled in with plywood, it was time to think about the ceiling… Cindy says you work from the highest point and work your way down. I’m assuming everyone already knew that. I’m going to put the bead board on my ceiling, but not just to cover up all the cruddy marks and holes up there… it’s going to be a little different. I won’t spill all the beans just yet, but here’s what we got done today! 5 half sheets were screwed to the ceiling! 5 sheets to go! I promise, it’s going to look better than what you’re seeing… just hold on a little while longer!
Things are a wreck around here… everything has mostly been moved to the back of the house, stored in my new cabinets and a few of the old upper cabinets, the microwave is on top of the dryer, drywall pieces and dried glue slivers are everywhere, and it looks like an episode of Hoarders as you walk to the back of the house… as the hallway gets more crowded the farther you go!
My hubby gave me some serious looks today, like, “What have we gotten ourselves into?” Then the looks kind of went from that to, “This is all your fault!” I’m trying to figure out how to “keep the love” in the middle of all the mess.
Maybe brownies…no… he’s not eating sugar! Maybe a new tool… no… he’s got just about everything (and it’s all on the dining room table!) Maybe a vacation…no we can’t go anywhere till this is all finished! Maybe just a sweet flutter of my eyelashes will let him know how much I’m going to love my new kitchen!
I’ll see you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Getting there, Jeanne! Love the beadboard on the ceiling! Are you putting beams up there too? My biggest question is, are you actually using the kitchen now, or eating out? I can’t imagine all that mess while trying to cook! I’m sure you have it figured out, maybe just microwaving your meals?
Another big question, how is Rueben doing amid all this going on? I was wondering if he gets underfoot, or is scared to death of all the commotion and noise of the tools, and hides.
Well, here’s to more excitement to come, even though the finish line seems a bit far away now. Once you start getting the cabinets in, you will feel much better about the whole thing!
Hi Linda,
Yes, we are using our kitchen right now. We left the bottom cabinets still intact and I have a cooktop stove, so that makes it easy to cook things on, the microwave is on the dryer in George’s office, and we still have the fridge.
The crock pot is getting a work out. We plan to do things in stages so part of it will mostly be functional for part of the time.
Reuben is a big chicken when he sees power tools, so he’s been spending lots of time in the bedroom…
I don’t have a single cabinet up on the wall, but I feel thrilled already!
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
This whole thing is wonderful and going so quickly, honestly. It looks like the kitchen is still totally functional? Too bad as I’d at least be having take-out for dinner. The bead board ceiling is a great addition and goes so well with the shiplap. Leaving the shiplap natural? I’d like that. I know whatever you do will be amazing. Can’t believe you are doing all this yourselves with some help from family. No excuse for anyone now, ha, ha. Decades of experience that George has explains this as well as courage it takes to tackle this project. Hurray!
Hi Susette,
If I can get all that glue off with a heat gun and maybe some paint thinner, I’d like to leave it natural…maybe just some hemp oil on it.
We finished all the pieces of the bead board today!! Tom and Cindy came back this morning before they took off, to help us get that finished. It really took 3 people to do it…
We were so thankful they stayed 3 extra hours!!!
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, just wondering if you are going to stagger the top cabinets, so that they aren’t all the same height along the wall. You certainly can do that with 9 foot ceilings. Then George can do some pretty trim along the top, if he is feeling up to it! Michael did the trim above and below the cabinets, but I wished we had staggered the upper cabinets. Too late for me now!
Hi Linda,
Cindy said I could decide about the tops of the cabinets later…they are all 30″, but I am planning on building a wood hood range and it will go all the way up to the ceiling, so who knows!! Stay tuned to find out!!
Blessings, Jeanne
It’s so exciting to see your creative minds and hands at work. I think the whole project is exciting but, then again, I’m not doing any of the labor…but…am cheering you on from the “sides”. I’m sure the outcome will be heartwarming and you’ll be so glad you did it.
Blessings.
Oh good, Becky,
We could use a few good cheerleaders!!! This morning I felt like I had been run over by a semi! Everything hurt…even my little fingers!!
Thanks so much, Becky,
Blessings, Jeanne
I can’t believe that in the middle of this kitchen and all through the church kitchen, George stuck to his resolve not to eat sugar. If he can do that, he can do anything, which is a good thing because between the 4 of you, it looks like that’s what you’ve been doing. I’m nearly sure he would have used the sawzall to enlarge the hole so you could get your hand out rather than using it to make your hand smaller.
I’m glad that wasn’t a window that Susette saw — cleaning a window after all these years would have been worse than cleaning the shiplap.
Like Linda, I’ve been wondering how you are managing meals with the kitchen in pieces and the dining room table full of tools. Food is important in times of stress. I’m glad you have the pictures. When people see the finished product, they’ll never believe the work that went into it without evidence. Good luck for a safe and productive day and some good food, wherever it comes from.
Ho Marilyn,
Yes, still no sugar…I wish I could say the same for myself. I went to a bridal shower and had homemade tirsmisu!!! Great decision!!! :o)
I’m trying to keep a little bit of order to the chaos here. I think it helps with the stress. I have some stew meat in the crock pot for tonight…things are simple, but still tasty!
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
I must be odd. I love seeing all of the DIY you do. You take great pictures and do a great job describing everything. I look forward to seeing your finished kitchen. Keep up the good work.
Thank you Marti,
I’m glad you are enjoying my kitchen remodel… I thought maybe it was just me!!!
:o)
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, let’s see. Looks like you are covering up the old ceiling with the fresh beadboard. Good call. Perhaps some beams will cover the gaps. I wondered why you had the board cut in 1/2 and now I know. 🙂 Love the special prop too. Beats standing there holding it up above your head forever.
Wonderful the pic of the two skinny workers stringing wires. All of this work is going to be so worth it. It will be an amazing kitchen envied by many.
Hi Joy,
Oh good… I’ve got you guessing as to what I’m doing! Gotta keep things interesting.
I’m not sure about your “skinny” persons comments..I’ve gained a few back! 😮 (
Now that I see my kitchen starting to take shape, I’m pretty excited! Glad you seem excited too!
Blessings, Jeanne
Love the bead board! I’m looking forward to seeing what you do on the seams.
Snaking wires through walls is so miserable. Congratulations on finding that wire!!
Keep up the great work!!
Have a great day!
Take care —
Thank you Charlotte,
I’ve snaked quite a few wires before, but this was definitely the worst… well, actually it might be tied we did with one at the church kitchen…we ran it under the floor…
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
The kitchen is really coming along. Love the beadboard on the ceiling and the shiplap on the walls. I’m sure it’s hard work but hang in there – as you know, you’re going to love it when it’s through. It’s so exciting to see it come together through your pictures.
Take care and may blessings fill your day.
Thank you Paula,
It was hard to get out of bed this morning, but when Cindy texted me and saI’d they could help for a few more hours, I knew I could make it. We really appreciated it!
I’m really looking forward to seeing it all finished!
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, wow, you have done a ton of work.
When my imaginary husband and I want to rekindle, we put some old records from the 60s and 70s on the turntable and dress up and make believe we are at the prom and dance the night away. Sighhhhh. If only he were real, we could actually do that (smile).
Hi Dorothy,
I loved your “imaginary” hubby story! It made me smile! Thanks so much for sharing.
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh my, what a job! I don’t envy you on all the hard work or the mess remodeling creates, but I will probably be envious of your new kitchen. I’m glad George didn’t have to saw your arm out of the wall. I know it will all be so worth it when you are finished, and it will look great!
Thanks so much Carolyn,
It’s starting to get pretty exciting around here! I never dreamed the day would come when it would start looking pretty…. but it is looking nicer every day that goes by! I’m so glad you like it!
Thanks Carolyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wonderful progress on the dream kitchen, Jeanne, and so glad you have had help! Love all the details, and every day brings you closer to the finish. Keep your eye on the prize, and we will, too! Thanks for sharing the process. For now, sleep well and sweet dreams!
I am also enjoying the remodeling, Jeanne–the doll sewing/pictures are fun, too, of course, but now and then it’s nice to get a glimpse of “real life”! LOL
I wouldn’t worry too much about that one reader who “left” your blog; perhaps she has become seriously ill, or had to go back to work full time, or is getting ready to move, or there is some other circumstance in her life, totally unrelated to the content of your blog, that would cause her to have to cut back on computer time.