Thoroughout this entire process, I really thought, by the time the backsplash goes up, we’ll be just about wrapped up.  Put a bow on it and drive to the party.  But, it’s really not the case here.

Some of the cabinets were sent incorrectly and we are waiting for them to be installed so, the tile work can’t really be completed until then.  But, at least one side can be completed.

The set up is nice, we have a covered porch so that he can set up outside yet be close to the action.

We decided on a Florida Tile, Retro Classique Lily.

It is a great quality tile.  Doug, the tile professional said that the finish is really nice.  The weird thing about this tile, are the sides.  Some are uneven and when you go to out grout in, it will look uneven. I think they look great so far though.  I guess we’ll see when the grout goes up.

They layed out the frame for the potfiller and are working from that to put on the wall.

Slow and steady hands completed the project.

What’s a thrawl you ask, well, it’s stone slab or shelf used to keep food cool in a pantry, in the days before refrigeration.  So I guess it’s really not a stone slab, more like a brick wall.  But, still pretty thrilled with it.

Jeff saw a brick wall and wanted to incorporate that into the design.  So, what better place than in a pantry. It’s not real brick, mind you, but a wallpaper.  It looks quite convincing.

Jeff found it on Amazon.  It’s a Faux Rustic Wallpaper in Grey and White.

This is all he had to go on.  Oh, and the finished look.

So, he ordered it and so happy he did.  He ordered three rolls, just in case we made a mistake.

I remember the brick wallpaper from the 70’s like this…

And there was some the look “real” and paintable.  This wallpaper isn’t that at all.  It seemed ok on the price, around $40.00 per roll and quality seems great.  There are some rolls up to $160.00 and probably more, but, for one wall, in a pantry, hidden by pantry shelves, this was good enough.

It only took a few hours to put up.  After measuring the wall, cutting the sheets from the rolls, and filling the pan with adhesive, it went pretty quickly.

The level helped out a great deal and laying it out to see exactly where the repeat was on the bricks helped also.  I just had to make sure the debris on the floor was wiped off thoroughly before I added the adhesive.

The final piece was a little tricky because it needed to be trimmed before and after it was hung.  It went pretty smoothly.  I put a piece of trim at the base just to envision trim on brick.  The finished wall looks really good and a lot like real brick!  I’m so glad Jeff thought to do something different.

There is a break in the action.  The cabinets have been installed, except for one wall because they sent 2 right  cabinets.  (now you know where the title came from…what were you thinking it meant?).  So, for now an empty space exists where the cabinet will go.

I also ordered the wrong sink…right size, wrong sink, so, Ed fixed it so we can use the one we bought.  Just waiting for shorter doors and it will look so good!

Also, the cabinets in the island have top drawers.  Some will open and be used, but, the ones underneath, where the granite will extend, just won’t be usable.

So, new doors have been ordered and will be added when they get here.

The counter tops have been measured and now we are waiting for the counter top to be installed.  It’s about a week turn around.  Our question for the day though is where to put the seam.

Option 1 is straight across the entire island.  Option 2 is the pink line and to the side of the dishwasher.  Option 3 is just to the left of the sink.  Just not sure which one would be best!

We are using a dark color and if we go with option 1, it’s right underneath the pendant lights.  The light could shine differently on one side of the seam compared to the other.  Plus, that’s quite a long seam.  Seam 2 or 3 is by the sink and isn’t quite as long.

I just want to keep the line inconspicuous and can’t wait to see the finished piece.  So option 3 looks like the best option.

The countertop material we chose is an Antiqued Absolute Black granite.  It has a leather look finish and we just liked the look.

I’m hoping that the seam will be almost invisible, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Now that the walls are painted, it’s time to weave those new wood floors in.  Lots of open space from underneath the cabinets and the old island.  Now usually we wouldn’t care about having wood underneath the cabinets, BUT, the appliances we purchased, well really just the oven, has legs so we have to have finished wood underneath.  Plus, the new pantry, needs a floor too!

Well, after day one, a whole lotta hardwood is gone.

After day 2, this weaving in was more difficult because it wasn’t straight!  For some reason, the planks weren’t angled correctly and it was much more difficult to keep them straight.  But somehow Vicente did it!  He’s a craftsman!

It’s hard to imagine that this will all be one color, but, it will and it will look great!

After day 3, everything is weaved and ready to be sanded, stained and finished.  We aren’t going to do that until the cabinets and appliances are all tucked in!

It’s painting day! We decided to take this project on because it’s something we can do!

Trying to figure out paint colors has been fun!  I’ve left patches of paint blocks all over the house.  Who knew grays could be so difficult.

We always use Sherwin Williams and used Requisite Gray on bedrooms, thanks to Pottery Barn in Portland!  (They had a painted wall of that color so we could visual it).

I tried the lighter shade, called Alpaca…it painted on nice but had a purple tint to it. Back to the drawing board!

I heard that Joanna Gaines had Magnolia Paints from Miller Paint.  Once again, I grabbed the sample can and painted yet more swatches on other available walls and it was unanimous!  Wedding Band.

First, we painted the ceiling with A Sherwin Williams Ceiling White.  We used a foam roller with 3/8″ nap and wasn’t happy with the results.  So off to Miller Paints and I purchased new textured rollers.  Pretty spendy, but, worth it if the end result is free of streaks, etc.

We finished the ceiling first and then took on the walls.

We were able to finish up on 2 days.  Ceiling first day and then walls the 2nd.  I still have trim paint to touch up, bit, I’m so happy the bulk of the painting is done!