Seriously, Apple. What the heck. Why do the earbuds that come with your iPods and iPhones suck? Not only that, but why do you charge $30 for replacements!!!! Seriously!?!?!?
Quick update… Got my window installed yesterday… I’m really happy with how it came out, especially the wood trim/apron details… Starting to hone my carpentry skillz 
I know I took more pictures, but I can’t locate them at the moment.
Trimmed out, awaiting flashing.
The installed product from the inside. Still needs casing, but at least the window’s in!
I’ve finally accumulated all the materials necessary to begin building my concrete forms. I am using the Cheng method, including his special formula for the mixture.
Very exciting news… After a couple weeks of waiting, our double-hung window has finally arrived. This will go in this week, depending on whether or not I can figure out how to stucco the outside of the house
And before you ask, yes, that is Britney Spears, 98 Degrees, Spice Girls, NSYNC, and Backstreet Boys on my fridge. My wife did it, I swear
The template process for our counter tops has begun. I have nearly finished mapping it all out. I decided to just use cardboard strips to fabricate the templates for the smaller pieces, but I will likely use something a little more robust like luan board or something similar to fabricate the template for the larger peninsula piece.
I am now just figuring out whether to make the peninsula just one piece or two. I’m pretty sure I want to go big, and make the peninsula one large piece. I think it’ll work out just fine being that the counter top’s thickness is 2″.
Lots has happened since my last post. Actually, nothing’s happened since my last post. I ended up getting sick and Operation Kitchen Remodel (OKR) came to a screeching halt. I’m finally feeling a little better, and I’ll be getting back on the horse this weekend to start wrapping up these projects. Saturday, concrete form fabrication begins.
I’m coming to the end of my much needed period of time off, and am feeling reflective for some reason. Maybe it’s that I’m starting to get a sore throat and I’ve been stuck in front of the computer all day.
Anyway, I feel like I’ve been pretty productive the past week and a half. I’ve demolished a kitchen, fixed some plumbing (plumber did that), laid flooring in the new kitchen, removed a door and replaced it with a window, and built and installed new cabinetry and a sub-top for the counter tops.
Tomorrow I will do a few odds and ends around the house, and this week I will be preparing for the counter top project. I should have enough time to accumulate all the materials necessary for the project this week, and perhaps even have my concrete forms built by Saturday. If all goes well, I’ll have some counter tops curing in my garage come Sunday’s end.
I started taking pictures late in the game this day, but whatever… You get the point
Cabinetry is taking shape…
Cabinetry is mostly in…
Next day… Breakfast.
Applying the sub-tops…
Doggy door test-fit
Took 30 minutes out of yesterday and surprised my wife with some closet doors in our bedroom. We’ve been without closet doors in our room for over a year. It’s weird how just a little thing like that can make a room feel complete.
Took longer than it should’ve, but I removed the door today and replaced it with a low-wall and a rough opening for a window. Also laid the rest of the flooring in the kitchen, which was a pain.
The door before removal…
Poof! It’s gone… Sorry, didn’t take any photos during the demo process… It was some good sawzall fun
Framing begins…
Sole plate is a pressure treated 2×4 secured with construction adhesive and tapcons…
Threw some insulation in there for good measure… Somewhat futile because none of the rest of my house’s exterior walls are insulated. I think I’ll be doing some foam insulation at some point, but that’s another project
Builder’s paper on the outside… Prepping for some stucco netting and patching.
Drywall hung…
Taped and mudded… Ready for some sanding and touch-up tomorrow. Then texture, prime, and paint.
And the product of the day… Also laid the rest of the flooring.
Tomorrow… Cabinets!
Stage 2 – Cabinetry
I rolled the fridge out and took another picture for posterity.
I’m kind of a nerd cause I’m excited about the plumbing the most. My plumber came in and removed all the old, crappily done lines and re-did the copper hot/cold lines and re-did the sewer line.
The cabinetry is all built… It’s staged in the garage until I get rid of the funky door and lay the flooring in the kitchen. Those will happen this weekend most likely, and the cabinetry installation will begin Monday.
