The End- Last Post

We could keep this going forever, but all good things must end.  There are a few very small odds and ends for the contractor to finish up, but for the most part, our remodel is complete.  This will be my last post on this blog. The end result is beyond my wildest expectations and imagination.  Every time I walk into the kitchen, I am amazed by how beautiful the space is.  I feel like I'm living in a showroom!  We still have tons of boxes to move and unpack.  I've been surprised at how much I use both of the ovens- in the old kitchen, I think I compromised on temperature with multiple items more than I realized.  The simmer burners on the new cooktop are simply amazing- there is more gas coming in, but the Dacor burners control the temperature so much better than the JenAir.   The counter space is perfect, even though I keep thinking the fridge is in the old space!!!

We toasted the end with a sparkling wine from Domaine Ste. Michelle. 

We pondered our final dinner for the last post for over a month.  In the end, we chose crab and brie stuffed halibut with a white wine buerre blanc sauce from my Jake's cookbook paired with  Lange Reserve Pinot Gris.  I've made this recipe many times over the years, but it was fabulous tonight- I credit the Dacor. 

My reflection over the last 13 weeks... there is an "industry standard" for everything.  Know what that is, and if you are going outside the standard, make sure what you want is what you get.  Make sure you don't cause any delays.  Pick the right contractor.  All things being equal, pick someone that you would imagine being friends with.  You will spend lots of time with them, they'll be in your home for weeks.  Picture yourself seeing them every morning.  If there are problems, who do you want to deal with?  If you like them, chances are, you'll like their subs too.  Did our project go perfectly- you already know not so much.  We've never regretted our choice in contractor.  Mike Holmes- do it right, meet Steve Heiteen Portland Remodel- do it right.  We've already asked him to help us with another project.  No regrets.

5S at Home

There are some people who think there is no place for Lean at home.  Just like those who say you can't bake without ovens, I have to prove how mistaken some can be.  I've applied 5S to the kitchen.  It takes a bit longer, but I think the results will be better.
Sort- as I packed everything, I sorted through and got rid of things that were old and we don't use.
Shine- as everything is being put back, it's being cleaned and shined.
Set in order and Standardize- check out the pictures below!  Why wouldn't you keep things together- rice with the rice cooker.  Just saying. 
Sustain- I think we're going to make this work!

Q1

We have officially ended week twelve.  The good news is that it appears to be week twelve of thirteen!  We received a gift for the kitchen of an Angel of the Kitchen (thanks Paula)- I'm thinking it will bring good luck!  All appliances are in and working.  The plumbing is complete.  The floors received their final coat on Thursday.  Yesterday we moved some of our furniture back in- what we can move ourselves.  We had company for dinner last night and ate at the kitchen table in the kitchen!  I am typing this at my new kitchen counter, sipping a freshly brewed cup of coffee and the TV is playing in the background.  The crew is scheduled to return tomorrow to finish up a few final details.  They'll move the larger furniture, and they'll will also haul away the old refrigerator that is still sitting in the dining room.  And now the slow process of moving back in begins.  What goes where is going to take some time!

And The Answer Is...

The first thing I made in the new ovens was cinnamon rolls.  Used my old recipe, but used the "proof" option on the ovens, ready to bake in 20 minutes!  I would have liked to bake more, but I was back on painting duty.  Not sure when construction will be complete, but based on all the boxes I dug through this weekend looking for various items, the reload of the kitchen will not be completed overnight!

While the proofing option on the oven worked really well, the simmer option on the range top was a complete surprise.  How a 18,000 btu burner can also slowly simmer BBQ sauce without boiling for 2 hours is beyond me, but it works!  Never happened on the JennAir.

It was Master's Weekend, which is James' Super Bowl stretched out over multiple days.  I'm not sure if he's really that into watching, or rather enjoying the food fest that he partakes in each year...  Link to the meal log:  Meal Log

Another One Bites The Dust...

Another week down, week eleven to be specific.  We had some significant events this week.  The range top has been permanently installed; gas and downdraft working.  We officially cooked with gas on Thursday night.  How fitting that I made stir fry the first night in the temporary kitchen and stir fry was on the menu for the first night on the new stove.  There is a lot of gas coming out of that 3/4" dedicated line!  I'm pondering what to bake first in the oven.

The range top was a move forward, but we also have re-work too.  The dry wall guy was back to do some patching.  You know what that means...  I'm back in my painting clothes, repainting several walls.  It was much less stressful when there was nothing in the kitchen.

There will be no more delivery people skipping to the loo in front of our house, the porta potty was hauled off as well.  Not sure where the postman will be reading our magazines. 

The list is much smaller than it was, but there are a few key elements that keep us from fully moving back in, like cabinet doors...  The floors need the finish coat.  We are hoping soon, but are trying not to get too excited.

On to week twelve...

The Thrill is Gone

Sorry BB, nothing personal.  As we begin Week Eleven (of we aren't sure how many), it has officially gotten old.  We've conquered all sorts of odd baking in the Traeger, and have run out of new ideas.  We've found some interesting ways to use the rice cooker/steamer/slow cooker.  We've discovered a few times that our dining room was not really wired to run a refrigerator, a microwave and an induction burner all at the same time.  The living room is not wired to support television electronics, reading lights and the coffee roaster either.

Dinner is cooking in the kitchen tonight (in the slow cooker, don't get too excited), we're going to throw caution to the wind and eat in the kitchen tonight, and use real dishes (because we've been using the dishwasher appliance for a few days), and we don't care who you tell!

Today marks the official end of Spring Break here, so we're expecting to see the action pick up dramatically in the coming days.  At our last tally, all the subs will have to return with the exception of the tile and counter guys.  We're thinking two more weeks, but we've been wrong before...

Here's a link to the latest meal log:  http://talesofaremodel.blogspot.com/2012/01/meal-log.html

Handles and Knobs are...

On the cabinets!  Well some of them anyway.  The installer forgot the door from before, and the electricians weren't as careful as they should have been, so a couple doors and drawer fronts will be replaced.  Other than that, we like how the hardware looks on the cabinets instead of just sitting on a shelf in the cabinets!  We decided to go with knobs for cabinets, and handles for the drawers.  We have been cleared to begin to put things back into the cabinets that are complete.  My shoe rack may soon be converting back from it's pantry duties!

We've opted to leave the protective plastic film on the ovens and not use them.  Lesson learned from the electricians and the cabinets...  I have used the microwave a couple times. 

The range top was taken out and put back in several more times this week.  The painter stopped by to get a sample of the trim color he needs to match.  He said he'll be back on Monday morning to paint the  trim.  Today the gas line was run into the house into the shut off valve, the duct work was installed for the downdraft, the pressure regulator was installed, the line was pressurized and now we wait for an inspection before it can actually be hooked up.  We are still waiting to cook with gas...  

Tonight I was able to park in the garage, the first time in over a month.  I might have to wash it this weekend to celebrate.  And thus marks the end of week ten of eight.