Demolished

Welp. We've finally made it. After 3 1/2 years in our home talking about our "upcoming" kitchen renovation, we have finally taken the plunge! Cheers to a new and functional (and beautiful) heart for our home. As we look at the chaos that fills our home today, we have to remind ourselves that deciding to do this was absolutely a conscious decision... but our house is an absolute WRECK.

Wednesday a week and a half ago, Elliott and I turned our kitchen over to Virginia Tradition Builders here in Richmond. No sooner did we get the heck out of dodge and headed down to Sarasota, Florida for a great vacation with our family. It was a nice week to be away from the destruction happening in the house, and much to our contractor's pleasure, out of his way for a busy week of demolition.

We are planning to share pictures of the progress because many of our friends and family have asked how things are coming along; and though we have not been bloggers for some time, this is the easiest way to share the progress.

I hope you all enjoy these photos, be thankful you aren't living through a kitchen renovation... it is not as fun as it looks!

Before shots:

Challenge 1: Mini closet...

Challenge 2: Stairwell wall...

Challenge 3: Window to the den

 Challenge 4: Opening up the space and making it more functional

 Challenge 5: Keeping the dogs sane and healthy through the process....

Demo Day 1:

Look what we found! A radiator hidden behind our cabinets! We were not feeling any heat in the counter or in the cabinets around it so we opted to have the contractor remove it rather than try to rework our cabinets around it... You have to love the surprises that come out of a house built in 1949... Also note the asbestos tile.

Demo Day 5:  Electrical wiring and plumbing have been completed! (what-up recessed can lights!)

 There were 6 layers of flooring in our kitchen. Two layers of laminate, ceramic tile, 1/4" board, asbestos tile, and hardwood. Seven if you count the subfloor...

 Status updates... the house is DUSTY, the dogs have no idea what is going on, and we want to go back on vacation. This coming week we will begin drywall, which means we are in for another messy week... or two. After drywall, things will (hopefully) be a little less invasive and crazy (read,  less dusty). All in all, our contractor is great and we are thrilled to be getting a new kitchen in our home. So blessed!