July 2021:

A leaky duct led to finding asbestos led to removing three layers of vinyl flooring led to a full renovation of our kitchen and den.
Took us a few months to make some decisions and begin planning.
Below is the original kitchen and the photos from the online gallery used to sell the house. I always knew the kitchen had potential. It was only when the leak happened that we had to make the decision to move forward.
Original cabinets were built in place, 50 years old and unsalvageable. A coat of paint couldn’t save these.

Feb-Mar 2022 - The Plans: Details of the cabinets, layouts and design.

I colored in the plans to get a better idea of how the different colors would look together.
Not totally sold on the quartz choices, but it’s a start.
Accent Cabinet Inspiration: I follow Tuscan Blue Design religiously and was inspired by Meredith’s bar cabinet with the metal punch out. We will have an accent cabinet in the color Cloud in the corner where I’ll probably keep baking supplies. (I also did her headshots for her website!)

Kitchen Contract REVISED 3-10-2022 - signed.jpg

I colored in the plans to get a better idea of how the different colors would look together.

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6/26/22 - Beams and Bulkhead Removed

In order to open the kitchen into the den we removed the beams and the bulkhead that was once over the peninsula. A lot of the wood used on the beams was still good. Long 14’ runs of quarter round was also still usable. We removed all the nails and are saving it for future use.

7/2/22 - Pantry and Cabinets Removed

This area will be converted into the large vertical pantry, cabinet depth fridge and a storage cabinet above. I refurbished a piece of furniture I bought from a friend so we could use it as a pantry. We moved dishes and food into the cabinet int he dining room and removed the cabinets.

Found some old playing cards, a photo of some teenagers lifting weights in the early 80s, Monopoly money with little mouse bites and a chunk of the original counter/backsplash. Needless to say 1971 is alive and well in this house - brown on brown with some orange and more brown. We haven’t even discussed the wood paneling in the den. That’s all coming down, too.

We will be removing the bulkhead and will have to move the air duct into the ceiling. We need to cut into the ceiling to see if this is even possible. Might need an HVAC person to come help with this one.

Removed the door trim into the dining room and it opened the pass through about 3 inches. We’ll try to open it a bit more, but are limited to the width of the cabinets. For now, we remove the glue and stain and prime the wall a couple times to just cover up the grossness. This area will be fully covered, so not much patching and painting needed because the plaster is in great condition.

The guys took the trash to the dump while I ordered food and updated this website.

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7/9/22 - Along the Fridge Wall

Removed more upper cabinets, put the enormous microwave on the counter. Eventually, we will get a smaller microwave for a built in under a new cabinet to the left of the doorway going into the dining room. We pried the top layer of flooring to make way for hardwoods to run through the kitchen. There was some previous water damage from a leaky sink basin on the opposite wall in the laundry room. We might replace a couple pieces of subfloor due to a bit of water damage. We’ll see though. It doesn’t look too bad.

Found a little mouse hole behind the oven. Very groovy chartreuse veggie contact paper inside a cabinet that I forgot was there.

Next, we need to start taking down the bulkheads and assessing the workload to move the AC vent, wiring, wallboard and plaster work. I also want to move the island cabinets temporarily into the kitchen to gauge their exact location and measure out where the recessed lights will go. We need to book an electrician to install a new electrical panel, add recessed lights and additional outlets in the walls.

7/16-7/22 - Bulkhead and Wall Removal

We’re getting to the point where we need to start calling in contractors to help with some of the specific jobs we can’t do ourselves. It’s time for the HVAC team to move the AC ductwork into the ceiling in front of where the refrigerator will be. The stove vent will also have to be moved up in between the joists and to the right about 16-18 inches.

Why are we removing so many walls? The previous owners allowed the laundry room sink basin overflow for years which caused water damage to the wall on the opposite side of the wall with the stove. There is mold and it need to be remediated. We’re going to put in some insulation and firewall drywall on this wall. In the end, plaster is fantastic, but it wicked so much water it’s no longer salvageable. If budget allows we will hire someone to come into help feather in the new drywall with plaster so it is seamless.

If this were drywall we would have been done removing it weeks ago. But this is 52 year old 3/4” thick plaster. It’s very dusty and very heavy. A 2x4 board clad in wire mesh and plaster fell and cut my leg.

What’s up with all the yellow popcorn-y spray foam insulation? This is the beginning this ENTIRE project. The house was originally built without air conditioning and the ductwork was never properly insulated to account for cold air going up three stories and out a HOT attic. That caused a lot of condensation, which lead to the wet wall, which lead to us finding asbestos in the kitchen flooring, which lead us to this entire renovation.

We’re trying to keep the dust to a minimum, but there is no way around it. When this is all done, we will have to hire a cleaning crew to come in for a whole day to scrub this house from top to bottom. I’m insisting on it.

A/C duct needs to be brought up and into the ceiling.

Keeping the plaster dust contained as much as possible.

Stove vent duct will be moved up in between the joists and a bit to the right.

Rudy now enjoys climbing up into rafters.

Rudy’s new favorite spot is on top of the fridge.

He’s LOVING this renovation.

7/25 - Bulkhead Begone!

The last of the bulkheads are down thanks to the boys. We have been lucky to have Fletcher’s brother visiting us this week. He jumped right in and got to work yesterday.

Electrician comes on Thursday to edit our original plans and schedule the work - new electrical panel, recessed lights, updated outlets for the oven and refrigerator. Once they are scheduled we will take down the remaining walls and groovy wood paneling in the den for easier access.

Delivery expected today from Home Depot which has all the drywall, plywood and lots of other stuff.

7/30 - More Walls are coming down

We spent a lot of time sealing off the kitchen to make sure no plaster dust entered the rest of the house. It’s SO dusty it’s making me crazy.

Took down some more walls so the electricians can have easy access. Plus, it’s easier to put up new drywall than it is to match and feather in drywall to plaster. We’ve going to need some help, so we’ve put in a call to a guy to help us with matching up the ceiling.

Found lots of mouse poop and the culprits that did it. I’m surprised the previous owners didn’t notice any signs of mice because we noticed immediately when we moved in. Greydon discovered where the previous owners marked their kids’ growth over the years. They raised five children in this house and we are the second owners, but we did have to get rid of this 2x4 and will replace it with another. It pulls at your heart strings a little bit, but they had painted over it anyway, so I didn’t feel too bad.

Electrician came last Thursday to review the plans with Fletcher for the last time. Getting a quote this week. It’s time to schedule. We also need to schedule the HVAC and Plumbing contractors. Trying to get this done prior to vacation in a few weeks. Once scheduled, we’ll be ready to take down the last wall which is currently holding the dishwasher and sink. We just aren’t ready to give those two up yet!

Height Markers

Greydon peeling off paint to reveal the previous owners’ kids’ height measurements throughout the years.

Where it all started

The yellow spray foam covers the duct work that had never been insulated because the house was built without air conditioning. The condensation created a lot of mold, which lead to multiple fixes which lead to finding asbestos which lead to this entire renovation. A new wall will be built.

So long small pest

August - December

After this point I slacked off on the upkeep with this page. While trying to salvage what was left of the summer, going on vacation, school starting up again and my fall photo season always booked solid from Sept-Dec, we fit in the work where we could. Fletcher undoubtedly did the majority of the heavy lifting. I did most of the anxiety and exhaustion induced yelling, crying and questioning every move we made.

Once we removed the sink, stove, and dishwasher the logistics of cooking and cleaning up became tougher.

How did we eat? We’ve been without a stove and oven since August, so it’s been take out, microwave in the garage, grill in the backyard and an electric wok.
Where did you keep your dishes and food? In a cabinet I bought and renovated from my friend Kelly.
Where did you wash your dishes? In the laundry room sink.

This was pulled out from under the corner cabinet. Over time, mice had been making nests with rubbish! When in doubt, replace the cabinets. ICK.

Starting to replace the subfloor due to mice damage. Lots of bracing from underneath, as well, to control the squeaky floors.

At least one fire in the outside electrical box at some point.

After removing the bulkhead, Gio’s team added drywall and mudded it to meet the plaster. Fletcher was checking the levelness of the mud, and it looks like we needed more!

Hardwoods going in!

Old, orange hardwoods.

Hey look! Cat toys and extra grossness!

Newly sanded and stained. Color: Special Walnut

New, brooding green: Sage Stem

Color: Soft Landing

I’m not usually a fan of yellow, but this one is so great.

What’s Left? A few things are left to check off our punch list.

Small cabinet in the corner by the entrance to the dining room
Upper bookcase/microwave cabinet which will be built by us
New base cabinet for the island to be replaced due to a structural issue
Two maple legs to be stained and installed for the island counter overhang
Installation of the countertop for the island
All trim work (I think we have a guy to do it for us because we’re very, very tired now.)
Final drywall patching and touch ups
Finish up putting on drawer handles
Having the couch reupholstered. I bought the fabric, so it’s off to the workshop in the new year.
Have the area rug cleaned

THANK YOUS!

Brooke at Mid-Atlantic Tile and Bath - cabinets and for going through one hell of a year. Here’s to a wonderful 2023!

Jaffee Electric - new panel and wiring

Mallick Plumbing - the work here never ends

Christy Brothers Remodeling - putting on those finishing touches that we just couldn’t do outselves.

AirTron - thank you for taking on our project that was “too small” for other companies

James A Wheat & Sons - duct sealing and that one time in 2006 you fought the county on behalf of my parents and won

Gio’s Painting - drywall and paint. Let me know if you need his number.

Marcelo at Architecture Stone - counters and putting up with my visits to “rethink my decision for the seventh time”

AG Construction - hardwood floor installation and refinishing

Archways and Ceilings - range hood - coolest vendor around

Marcus - mover - Let me know if you need his number.

Home Depot/Lowes/Ace Hardware/Hyatt True Value - you should know us by now

Maggi’s for all the subs

Lu & Joe’s for the pad see ew with extra broccoli at least once a week

Young Chow more like “Yum! Chow!"

Jazmin Cuisine Tex Mex Grill - the BEST place to pick up dinner on the way home from the dump

Wawa - for Robin who always helped us start off our construction mornings with a smile and good cheer. She’s the sweetest!

Green Valley Wine & Spirits - you know how you helped

XPN Radio for all those sweet jams and reminding Fletcher of home

Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste - we went over the limit with our plaster walls every time. We apologize.

Orkin who got rid of all the ants and mice inside and out, and the guy who loved to poke his head in once a month to check the progress.

Family and friends - for those who helped, inquired and gave us great recommendations and advice.

Rudy - no one embraced this renovation like Rudy did. He was there every step of the way watching and helping and testing the weight limit of the cabinets and shelves.

Ginger - Who only came out when she wanted food. I thank her for her tolerance, but don’t get me wrong, she didn’t help at all.

Tylenol and Ibuprofen - without you, this project would have never gotten this far.

Our Kitchen and Den Renovation 2022