A "Sink"-in' Feeling!

Last Thursday and Friday saw some big changes to the kitchen - cabinets are now being permanently located and installed!  First up is the wall under the window.  A 10 ft. wall of cabinets and sink, we had to make a switch on the fly.  Fortunately the builders are very good sports about this!

When we discovered that part of the wall we thought was coming out turned out to be exterior wall (that would make the project WAY TOO BIG...and COSTLY), I lost some space along that wall.  Three inches to be precise and so, although the initial cabinet ordered had been placed...and therefore cannot be canceled, we had to put a rush on another set of cabinet/cupboards - replacing the originally called for 15" drawer base with a 12" drawer base.  

Have you ever seen a 12" drawer?  Probably not - the interior width of the drawer is about 9".  I don't know about you but I wasn't terribly happy about it.  It doesn't really hold much and since I couldn't begin to visualize what I was going to do with it, it was going to amount to about 12" of wasted space along that wall.  So.... while I was organizing my "Remodel Workbook" (putting pages actually into the book rather than stuffed), I saw the plan actually had the dishwasher along that far left wall - with a 3" spacer since having the dishwasher open directly against a wall (that probably isn't absolutely perpendicular to the floor) would be problematic. I cautiously approached the guys (because I really didn't want to be "THAT HOMEOWNER" who has them constantly change things moment by moment) and asked what if we switched the position of the dishwasher (putting it nearer the sink) with the drawer base and eliminated the 3" spacer?  That way we could use the 15" drawer base instead of the too tiny 12" one.  (I'll have to figure out where in the house/garage that beautiful little baby would go - maybe somehow in my sewing room?)

They actually thought that was a WONDERFUL idea (it happens sometimes!) because it would make installing the dishwasher itself much easier (keeping it by the sink water lines, etc.)  All that was involved was relocating the electricity for it (something that took Todd, electrician wizard, mere moments!)  So this is how the wall will look:

Next up - the beautiful kitchen farm sink made its debut!  And posed it own challenge for the guys.  Turns out this gorgeous fireclay apron sink is handmade with a +/- 2% variance in size/shape.  So that opening for the sink to be visible?  There is NO TEMPLATE!  It has to be ever-so-carefully measured and then cut by hand.  

It took Herb an entire day but of course, he got it just right!  (No easy feat considering that a) it has no template; and b) it weighs 160 lbs. bone dry!)

Ain't it a beaut?

Until it's done (I'm guestimating sometime in early May), thank goodness we have the outdoor (or as we call "Gerry's") kitchen.  We're pretty much living on stir-fry (outside) and soup (crockpot) these days.  Which is doubly good since it means that I can keep getting vegetables from Full Circle Farm (and starting this week: dairy from Smith Brothers).  You should try them (and tell them I sent you and we'll both get a bonus!)

~later, tw