Anyone have honed granite......................

chicagoans · Post by **chicagoans** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:35 pm

Pia it sounds like it's all coming together! Very exciting!

You mentioned that your fixture choices are just about final. If you haven't yet, you might want to compare prices on http://designerplumbingoutlet.com/

I like Kohler and used all Kohler faucets and fixtures for our remodel, and this site has good prices for comparison (cheaper than the MSRP shown on the Kohler site, so I could inform the plumber that I would not be paying those prices.) (Have no idea about shipping to VI though.)

Cypress: regarding big refrigerators... brace yourself. There was a big cost jump going from 36" to 42" for the stainless models we looked at. Like from the $2500 range to the $6000 range and up. Ouch.

I had the appliance breakdown discussion recently with some friends. We all remember the washers and dryers our Moms had that lasted forever. Now our fancy computerized front loaders seem to be finicky and not nearly so durable.

cypressgirl · Post by **cypressgirl** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:54 am

That's great. Mine is 46". Hopefully it's just an expensive repair.

The frig part does not cool at all and the freezer part gets about as cold as the frig should. I've never heard of such a problem. We also have a wine rack right next to it that hasn't worked in years and I'm thinking about what I can do with the space. Does anyone have a warming rack? I'd really like to just turn it into another cabinet with drawers, for pots and pans, but I'm afraid I'd never be able to match the finish on the doors, or the hardware either, so a warming rack (they might have a better name but I don't know it) is the best use I can think of for the space. We don't want or need a wine cooler. Does anyone have any other ideas? I've decided to keep my dishwasher and use the Jet Dry stuff and convince myself it helps. Not sure it does, but the outside of the DW looks great still, so I don't want to waste the money.

Sorry to steal your thread, Pia. Threre are so many backsplash options, I'd be like a kid in a candy store. Have fun with the redo. I with I could start over. Styles change almost as fast with home remodeling as they do with clothes, but if you buy what you love then it never goes out of style.

That's what a designer told me once and I think it's good advice to live by.

Will you be far enough along by the first of Nov. to give us a tour?

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:07 am

We are hoping to be done by Nov/Dec but you never know - if I can learn to post pictures I'll do so (or have CG post for me - hi CG

)

Removal and build of walls probably will start this weekend as we need to extend the kitchen wall by 12", run a larger gas line, install a water line to the new fridge, prep for pocket doors, move/install electrical and begin painting (at least the beams and ceiling over where the new cabinets will be - don't want to splatter paint on my new cabinets) before the cabinets arrive - should take us just a few weeks

(that was a joke

)

Thinking of a blog so if anyone wants to follow us along I might do it - any good blog sites??

Pia

flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:35 am

PLEASE blog!!! I use blogger.com but have friends who love wordpress. I just have too much crap on my blog to move it over.

cypressgirl · Post by **cypressgirl** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:47 am

Pia, I think you're going to be on HGTV on one of their redo shows and you're waiting to surprise us.

If I had my choice, I'd take Candice Olsen (Devine Design), but Designer's Challenge would be pretty cool too. I know it's not Design on a Dime.

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:42 am

That is tooooo funny (great minds think alike

)- I had researched Candice Olsen but she only works in Toronto Canada and does not travel

cypressgirl · Post by **cypressgirl** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 10:27 pm

Oh boooo! She does the BEST makeovers....I love her style, taste, budget (lol), everything she does, and Chico, her lighting guy...I could put him to work for a few day!!! So high end without looking over done. I just love her. That's what I dream of....not what I have, of course.

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:15 pm

Pia - I just got back from being in San Francisco all last week, so I'm just now getting caught up. You know I'll post pictures for you!

A blog? I'd love it if you blogged your experience!

chicagoans · Post by **chicagoans** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 2:28 pm

cypressgirl wrote:That's great. Mine is 46". Hopefully it's just an expensive repair...Does anyone have a warming rack?

Cyp I hope the repair is not expensive! Appliances should last alot longer.

I have a warming drawer that I use quite often... everything from keeping pancakes, pizza or appetizers warm, to warming the plates before a nice dinner. I don't know if that's what you mean, though, because it's a different size then a wine fridge would be. What size is the space?

Pia: It would be fun to read your blog!

cypressgirl · Post by **cypressgirl** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 3:10 pm

I'd love to read a blog from Pia too.

Chicagoan,

My repair for the frig and freezer was only 203. Yipee!! Bad news...I need a new microwave at 700. More bad news, my baby girl (17) backed out of the garage to go to school this morning. Only problem is she forgot to open the garage door, so now we need a new garage door. That's on top of the new ac we bought last week.

My wine rack is 24" wide and goes from floor to just under the granite counter top. I don't know what to do with the space. Any ideas? Right now it's just an empty wine rack. I guess I'll leave it like it is and love it. I've got more important things to worry about at the moment.

chicagoans · Post by **chicagoans** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 3:56 pm

Cyp: sorry about your tough week! Sounds like right now you need to fill that space in your kitchen with wine... then empty it.

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:06 pm

I am so sorry Cyp - when it rains it pours huh

I will try to blog, I just need to figure out how to do it - anyone know if you can post pictures on a blog from an iPhone?? (never posted a picture before - come to think of it never even downloaded pictures from my camera to my computer

) and if so what blog site.

I have not had time to look at the links - I might do it now - as I just finalized the kitchen layout today as changes needed to be made when Les found a small mistake with the micro not being centered over the oven base (you would have thought the "designer" (oh wait that's me

) would have spotted that)

Talk soon

Pia

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:07 pm

I forgot to add that I am now thinking of Soapstone - boy countertops are really, really hard to figure out

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 10:38 pm

Pia - I don't have an iPhone but I'm pretty sure that Ruth and Deb both post from their phones.

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 10:41 pm

You're going to think I'm nuts, but I've seen some very cool concrete countertops. Indestructible, I think!

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Anyone have honed granite......................