Kevin Lee Jacobs

Gardening, Recipes & Home DĂ©cor Tips

Kitchen Renovation Diary: Day #3

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 34 Comments

Last updated on May 21st, 2018

Dear Diary: Kitchen work is progressing faster than I’d anticipated. There’s something to be said about contractors who show up promptly at 8:30AM and then work non-stop (with time off for lunch) until 4:30PM. Here’s today’s progress report:

First, the sheet rock back-splash was spackled and smoothed. Previously, this area was paved with subway tile. This time around, I’ll either paint the backsplash, or frame it, ala Julia Child, with painted pegboard. Oh, the pleasant possibilities of a no-tile backsplash!

Next, the wall oven cabinet was set into place. Unfortunately the opening for the ovens was not cut to the vertical dimensions I’d requested when ordering the cabinet. But Mark Wagner, the head contractor, said he’d “fix” the opening to meet my requirements. I want the middle of the top oven to be positioned at eye-level. That’s my eye-level.

More work: Door and drawer pulls were screwed into place on all of the cabinets. I selected simple round, nickle-colored pulls.

A close up of the pulls.

Also, moulding was cut to crown the upper bank of cabinets. The moulding will be installed tomorrow.

Oh. I’ve changed my mind about the “Alpina White” counter top I showed you in yesterday’s diary. The sample I brought home photographed more brown than white. Consequently I’ve selected Silestone’s “Lyra.” Lyra quartz is stark white with pale gray veining. It’s very “Victorian”-looking, too, and appropriate, I think, for this Federal/Victorian house.

I look forward to showing you tomorrow’s progress. I think this kitchen is almost finished!
xKevin

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Comments

  1. 1

    Patricia Cremens says

    Yes ! I love your choice of counter top. I can’t wait to see everything all done.

  3. 3

    Janis says

    That is my choice for countertop on my kitchen too. Love the clean classic look

  6. 6

    Jeremy says

    I’m enjoying reading these updates you’ve provided, they provide fodder for my dream of updating my small kitchen someday.
    I really like your newest choice of counter top. You can’t go wrong with such a classic look 🙂

  7. 7

    badger gardener says

    I like it all. The pulls are perfect, the counters are beautiful. Great choices.

  8. 8

    Susan Bankard says

    Love the Lyra countertops. They will look perfect with your white cabinets.
    Don’t forget LED under cabinet lighting strips that turn on and off with a easy to reach wall switch. There is still time. You can never have too many light sources.

  9. 9

    Tracy says

    Kevin, how exciting! If your contractors continue at this pace, and you end up with a new kitchen in just two weeks or so, they deserve medals. You selected very wisely.

  11. 11

    Dee says

    Yea Kevin. I love the new countertop….that is so close to the marble I suggested and you are so right about mor in line with Victorian decor. You picked the same style and knobs I did, !,! Don’t we have good taste ;-))
    My back splash is done with a grayish glass subway tile that’s offset. Subway tile follow with the Victorian concept too.

    Looking good kid
    Dee
    Can’t wait to see the finish project and I Know you cat wait to get your kitchen back

  12. 12

    Rosiland Ball says

    So glad you switched counter tops. Like this one soooooo much better!

  13. 13

    Penelope Crane says

    The new counter top is more Victorian, This is an incredible adventure! It also is going so fast from my perspective. I’d say you have a real team effort with your contractors!

  14. 14

    Cheryl says

    I love the Lyra! I’ve lived in many places and always worried about crumbs and such when my countertops were darker and a marbled style. I think Lyra is going to look stunning. Great choice!

  15. 15

    Dianetg says

    Just wanted to add my voice to those in favor of the Lycra countertop. It looks so much more in keeping with your home. Your work crew is phenomenal!

  17. 17

    Maraya says

    I wrote my day #2 comment before I read this page. Your quartz choice looks a lot like mine – the one I wrote about! Apparently, I like it very much!

  19. 19

    Janice says

    Wrote my comment, too, before I saw the 3rd day. Love, love, love the countertop you have chosen.

  21. 21

    Cathy says

    Much better choice of countertop! When we moved into our house the countertops were all solid black granite, with a bubblegum pink kitchen – horrible! I wanted to tear everything out, but fortunately my husband convinced me to keep the countertops, which I now love

  22. 22

    Kathy Sandel says

    So glad you didn’t choose that first selection! Love the white second choice. It has a certain elegance I think your house can handle! The first choice had a dated look to it. Not antique, just dated! Not sure how I would like not having a backsplash. Mine is granite, same as the counter top. But much of my sink and counters are under windows that look out on my garden. So the backsplash is only about 3″ high and then the windows start. But in the corners, I have a typical granite backsplash of about 16″.

  23. 23

    Kathy E says

    Looks great. I have to say you have very good taste. Your door style and the brushed chrome pulls are the same as mine. My cabinets are natural cherry though with a “biscotti” island. I love the simplicity of this cabinet style. It looks great.

  24. 24

    Lis says

    I have either Lyra or Lagoon – they are somewhat similar and look like marble. I love it.

  25. 25

    Kathy says

    Kevin,
    Nice counter top choice. You will love quartz counters- easy care and great look.

  26. 26

    Marilyn says

    I love your new counter top choice, too. I had my kitchen redone several years ago and I remember how I agonized over the counter top choice. Happy to report that I’ve lived with and been quite happy with my choice — a very lightly patterned neutral– lo, these many years. I’ve always worried about the heavy design in quartz, for the reason another poster mentioned: hiding spills and crumbs. Your kitchen is looking beautiful — I love the white, and have realized, finally, that when I see photos of beautiful rooms in magazines, what attracts me is light and white!

  28. 28

    Julie R says

    I love everything about your new kitchen, the cabinets, knobs, counters, all of it looks great and timeless. I always lean towards timeless looks also. This new kitchen will look perfect in your home for many years to come. I noticed how light and bright it already looks. It will make such a nice background to your cooking videos. How fortunate you are that you have such hard workers doing the job that they are already so far along with the progress. I can’t wait to see it all finished.

  31. 31

    marion says

    it look so nice and its not finish i like the white finish and every thing will be at your finger tips

  32. 32

    marion says

    it look so nice and its not finish i like the white finish and every thing will be at your finger tips

  33. 33

    Helga G says

    I like your new selection of Lyra, (which gives everything a elegant clean look) a whole lot more then the “Alpina White” which looked to me somewhat Blaah and boring.

  34. 34

    Marcia Colby Truslow says

    Love the newly selected Lyra for countertops. MUCH better than the previous choice!

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