8aug - George installs the puck lights inside the bar cabinets and under the cabinets over the sink.
9aug - that's my hand holding up a sample of drawer-pulls we're using. I'm trying to decide which size to get for the narrow (12") drawers to the right of the range. We decided to put the widest-possible handles everywhere, for a running-bar effect. Notice how this kind of handle can double as towel bar.
9aug - Jon gets started on the tile floor in the kitchen. After much playing-around-with-tiles we decided on a square-on-corners (as opposed to running) diagonal pattern.
George has installed a chunk of plywood (with alder facing) over the dishwasher opening to support the granite countertop.
The cabinets are out of the old dining room finally, but it's still a mess.
Because the countertops are going to require a little bit of a 3rd slab, there's the rest of the 3rd slab of granite extra. The fireplace's ugly 1970s baby-@#$% brown ceramic tiles are soon to be history--George has already 86ed the hearth tiles. Pause to absorb just how amazing ugly those tiles are.
Range, range at the home... where the deer and the raccoons play...
Jon's tile-cutting and thinset-mixing station on the back deck. This is the saw he uses to make those incredible outlet-hole cuts I describe in the blog.
Like laws and sausage: "One of those things clients aren't supposed to see," as Jon put it. Turns out that the Kohler double sink for 28" base cabinets is... get this: 29" wide at the bowls, and 31" wide total! How exactly is that supposed to work?!
Jon and George had to route out both sides of its cabinet to make room for the sink bowls. Notice how Jon also routes out a groove for the top bit--a nice little detail that makes for a tight seal between granite and cabinets.
The routed-out part for the little sink on the right.
George is reattaching the plywood that goes over the dishwasher opening.
George previews how the tiles on the backsplash will look next to the granite.
We wet down the tiles to get a sense of how they'll look when sealed with lacquer. Granite Guys did a beautiful job putting in the undermount sink. It's amazing to watch them do those curved cuts onsite, with just a handheld grinder fitted with a diamond blade.
10aug - the granite is sitting in place everywhere, but the bar sink cutout hasn't happened yet.
The granite is all in here. Notice the alder support under the bartop - the exact size, curve, and amount of overlap of these pieces are among the many picky little details that get baffling.
We also had enough extra granite from the 3rd slab to replace the wide window sill where I have kept my mug collection.
11aug - The truck to deliver honking-heavy appliances arrives while Jon is working on tiles and Granite Guys are working on the fireplace.
Heap o' appliances--microwave, range, and hood. Love those red knobs. Love the Box box. (Jon's last name is Box.)
Granite Guys did a beautiful job on the fireplace. I almost can't believe how much better it looks now. The hearth is especially impressive looking--that's one honking slab of stone.
13aug - Jon works on the backsplash behind the bar
He finished grouting the floor yesterday.
George has installed the undercabinet flourescent lighting.
Jon's finished the backsplash behind the bar.
This is his clever answer to "where does it stop?": two border pieces laid square on, with their outside edges beveled slightly for a more finished look. Check out the fancy mitred corner! Even more impressive, notice the tricky cuts around the outlets.
He's also finished the backsplash along the pantry wall, including two more outlets. Bookshelves below are where cookbooks are going to live. The cabinet above is where the microwave will be.
Yesterday they painted and finally installed the covers on the recessed lights.
Where the range will go. George whinged, "Jon's such a perfectionist, he made me put in baseboard, and caulk it, and paint it, BEHIND the range and the refrigerator, where nobody will EVER see it!" Also notice that Jon took no shortcuts with the tiles that won't even be seen.
There are also no shortcuts under the refrigerator.
He did cheat twice under the dishwasher. He calls this his planned imperfection--like how Oriental rugs always have a few mistakes on purpose because it's arrogant to attempt perfection.