GUYS! IT'S HERE!
After a MAJOR project just to be able to get this refrigerator delivered so that the REAL project can begin, this delivery that just took place makes me feel like we are at least ma... View MoreGUYS! IT'S HERE!
After a MAJOR project just to be able to get this refrigerator delivered so that the REAL project can begin, this delivery that just took place makes me feel like we are at least making headway.
Quick recap: New super-duper expensive kitchen gut and remodel with all custom made cabinetry was done 5 years ago, complete with a full size full freezer next to a full size full refrigerator unit taking up the entire wall beside the stove where this new model sits. Said fridge and freezer (Frigidaire, both, for those who are curious, because it was less than half the cost of the Subzero I really wanted) both LEAKED numerous times, completely ruining the hardwood floor underneath to the point where it was actually rotted through in the one spot.
When I felt like I finally had enough money saved up to fix it, we contacted a contractor, Jason, to give us an estimate. Which he couldn't do, of course, because he had no idea what was going on UNDERNEATH the hardwood, but by that point, we knew we just had to do something before we awoke one morning to find that the massive beasts had fallen through the kitchen floor into the guestroom below during the night.
And so, several weeks ago, the long-awaited project commenced. Jason replaced the rotted subfloor, the new fridge was to be delivered the next day, and the rest of the project - complete with rebuilding/redesigning the cabinetry surrounding the new sized fridge - would begin.
Can we say, "HURDLES?" One after the other. First, the flooring had no maker's mark on the back, and would have to be custom made to match. The cabinets, which were originally custom made by a local cabinet/kitchen center, also. The new refrigerator I tried to order (over the phone, ala Covid mode) was not in stock, and I was told it would be a MINIMUM of 6 to 8 MONTHS until we could get it.
A week later, the appliance store called to say they could get me one that was almost identical within the week. Gave them my credit card and scheduled the delivery for a few days later.
HURDLE: The entire delivery crew gets Covid, reschedule for a week and a half later.
The day comes. We live in the middle of the woods on a dirt road that is a steep hill. It is winter. Roads are ice. Delivery crew gets to the top of the road and won't come down. Leaves to go back to the store WITH MY NEW FRIDGE. :(
Waiting on the weather to cooperate. Decide to measure the front door to see if new fridge will fit (why now? who knows!) and find that it will NOT. 2 inches too narrow. Thankfully, we have French doors on the side of the house. On a lark, I go over to open them just to glance at the size of the opening, only to find that one of them DOES NOT OPEN any more.
Contractor Jason comes several days later (braves the snow, though the delivery guys still have not rescheduled) and has to completely remove said door, reconfigure the frame and put it all back together. While he has the door off to do the frame, the wind blows the door over and it smacks Jason in the HEAD. HARD. He lives. Thankfully.
While putting the door frame back together, it is discovered that the side porch (which is a deck) is actually coming apart, and now Jason needs to fix that. All this "extra" reminding me of what our previous contractor, who moved to Delaware a few years ago, always used to say after his final price didn't match up with the estimate at the onset of a job - "it'll be a little extra."
All of this backstory just to share that, while this has all led up to just waiting for the new fridge to arrive so we could get started on the actual project at hand - to replace the damaged area of the kitchen floor and install a new fridge with cabinets around it, that day has finally ARRIVED.
And NOW, the real project can begin! We are breathing a sigh of relief (but still kind of holding our breath until all is done) here at #thelittlechateauinthewoods !
Just sharing this pic of my daughters and myself to announce that TOMORROW, we should have a refrigerator delivery here at the Little Chateau in the Woods!
Yes, it's a BIG DEAL! Those who have read ... View MoreJust sharing this pic of my daughters and myself to announce that TOMORROW, we should have a refrigerator delivery here at the Little Chateau in the Woods!
Yes, it's a BIG DEAL! Those who have read my posts over the last week or so will understand and rejoice with me! :)
#thelittlechateauinthewoods
We are doing the HAPPY DANCE here at The Little Chateau in the Woods! Why? You know.....KITCHEN PROGRESS!!!
Well, not really "kitchen" progress, but progress TOWARDS the kitchen, nonetheless.
Today ... View MoreWe are doing the HAPPY DANCE here at The Little Chateau in the Woods! Why? You know.....KITCHEN PROGRESS!!!
Well, not really "kitchen" progress, but progress TOWARDS the kitchen, nonetheless.
Today Jason, our contractor, came and was able to get the French door on the side of the house to OPEN (see previous posts for why that makes such a huge difference to our kitchen redo), and relieved a HUGE burden of stress for me!
BUT, like everything that happens here, it was not without drama.
To get the door to open, Jason had to REMOVE it entirely to be able to reconfigure the door frame, which had somehow shifted over the years, and that was what had been preventing the right hand side door (which we never open because there is no need normally) from opening. When he removed the door, he leaned it up against the porch railing while he was lying on the porch doing whatever he had to do to the bottom of the door jamb, and suddenly, from other parts of the house where we were working, my daughter and I both heard a loud shout of "OWWWWWWW!"
Apparently Jason the Contractor, not having lived here at The Little Chateau in the Woods for the past 21 years like the rest of us, was not aware that we live in a WIND TUNNEL. The door caught the wind, fell over, and proceeded to catch Jason's SKULL. Hence the "OWWWWWWWW!"
Thankfully, being a medical professional, he had gotten his noggin slammed at the right place, and after checking to see if he needed stitches (he didn't), ice (he refused), or some Helichrysum essential oil (he decided to tough it out), Jason shook the stars out of his eyes and proceeded to fix the door.
Then, he went over to the little house next door where I have my office to put in some new outlets for our old fridge and freezer to be plugged into when the new model arrives. Which it still hasn't. Not even a phone call. But the ice on the driveway is starting to melt, so as long as that keeps up, we will hopefully get the kitchen back in order and newly configured soon.
Never a dull moment at #thelittlechateauinthewoods !
(Oh, and those cuties in the attached pic are my six beautiful children, who took this series of photos for me for Mother's Day a couple of years ago.)
ANNNNDDD.....the kitchen drama continues at The Little Chateau in the Woods (see below), as after having the kitchen floor ripped out in preparation for the new one to be put in, we waited for the new... View MoreANNNNDDD.....the kitchen drama continues at The Little Chateau in the Woods (see below), as after having the kitchen floor ripped out in preparation for the new one to be put in, we waited for the new refrigerator to be delivered, only to find that the delivery crew all had Covid and had to postphone for 10 days.
Last Friday was day 11, and when they got to the top of our road, they were afraid to come down on the ice. That's what happens sometimes in the winter when you live in a Little Chateau IN THE WOODS. :(
No matter really, because after putting my entire day of working in my wellness center on hold to be here for the delivery that didn't happen, I went to test out the French doors where we plan to bring the 36 inch wide fridge into the house, only to find out that one of them WILL NOT OPEN. At all. And so, we have an already paid for 36 inch wide fridge that needs to fit through a 34 inch wide opening. It just keeps getting more and more interesting here at #thelittlechateauinthewoods.
(Pic of my youngest a few years ago when the yard looked much like it does today, because now he's 19 and won't let me take his picture.)
There's nothing like a dog or two to keep your days interesting. These are the dogs that live at The Little Chateau in the Woods - Trek, a Pitsky, and Gus, a French (of course!) Bulldog. They are bo... View MoreThere's nothing like a dog or two to keep your days interesting. These are the dogs that live at The Little Chateau in the Woods - Trek, a Pitsky, and Gus, a French (of course!) Bulldog. They are both five years old, and are not allowed on any of the furniture except the furniture in our TV room, AKA "the dog living room." Do you have a dog or dogs? Share a picture below!
#thelittlechateauinthewoods
Kitchen redo at the Little Chateau in the Woods!
5 years ago, we had a custom kitchen built, which cost as much as our house and acreage when we bought it 16 years prior. It was a "once in a lifetime... View MoreKitchen redo at the Little Chateau in the Woods!
5 years ago, we had a custom kitchen built, which cost as much as our house and acreage when we bought it 16 years prior. It was a "once in a lifetime" thing, or so we thought. Until the freezer leaked and ruined the hardwood floor, necessitating a complete floor replacement in that area, as well as custom cabinetry being ripped out to accommodate a new replacement fridge/freezer because the ones we put in 5 years ago were an odd size (full freezer next to full fridge), and because of the poor quality of the seal on the doors, we opted to not replace them with the same models.
Enter Covid. Got a call last week from the manager of the appliance shop to tell me that the delivery crew guys ALL had Covid, and the delivery of the new fridge would have to be delayed by 10 days. This AFTER the contractor had ripped out the cabinets and flooring in preparation for its delivery.
As of now, tomorrow is the day. We are having the floor repaired as soon as the contractor can have new flooring made to match the existing unusual sized planks (of course!), then new cabinets reconfigured around the new fridge, as well as a coffee bar area, which we didn't have before. I'll share pics as we go through the repair/rebuild process. Praying it's MUCH cheaper than the original kitchen from 5 years ago.
#thelittlechateauinthewoods
My oldest daughter with one of our fur babies here at
#thelittlechateauinthewoods
One of my son Luke Queen's drawings, so fitting for today.
#thelittlechateauinthewoods
Oh, the things we see as we turn out of the driveway here at the Little Chateau in the Woods!
#thelittlechateauinthewoods
Christmas morning at 8 AM at The Little Chateau In The Woods. My loves.
#littlechateauinthewoods
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