The Beauty of Home Ownership - Kitchen Remodel Part 2

Kitchen Remodel Part 1
Kitchen Remodel Part 3

When we decided to remodel the kitchen, we had been in our new home for a total of 2 months. We had already had the windows replaced with double pane windows because... summer in Houston, 'nough said, and we knew we wanted to paint and do the floors. The kitchen was a big deal, though. Financially and logically we knew it needed to be done first or it might never make it off the to-do list.

Let me back up, we KNEW we wanted to do SOMETHING with the kitchen space as soon as we saw the house but fell in love with it regardless - I mean, come on, a character filled mid-century modern home, built in the 1960's, in a fantastic neighborhood, walking distance to the kids current preschool, at an affordable price, with the bonus room and extra bedroom we needed for sweet V and amazing space for entertaining (we are always down for a party), what was not to love? However, the first time we had an actual get together, it was awful. I mean, no one else noticed - I hope - but us. The layout and closed off nature of the kitchen was NOT going to workout.

Here are some pre-reno and pre-move in pictures (that wet bar and built-in, though!):

View from the sink to the pantry (door) and in-eat breakfast area.

View from opening of breakfast area to the sink (gaping hole is where the refrigerator is now).

Another view from the sink/dishwasher area to the doors to the dining room (left), wet bar (opening), and pantry (door). 

View from the wet bar into the living room - more built-in goodness!

View from the breakfast area towards kitchen (left), built-in desk and living room space. 

Okay, now that you understand what we are working with here...

Fast forward a few weeks to the decision to hire the contractor and get this baby rollin'... we stumbled upon some fun news... a major plumbing issue. I mean MAJOR. Sewage backed up, coming out from under toilets, into our step-down shower (1960's remember?), and the entire place smelling like... yep, you guessed it, a heaping pile of dog poo. Oh and what was better, it happened on a Saturday, right before we were about to leave for a day sail with friends.

Me to Husband: "Cancel the babysitter, dear, we have s**t to deal with - literally."

It was awful.

Fun Interesting Fact: Homes in our hood and others built around the same time were built under the assumption that concrete piping was smart. Not. Smart. It breaks. And that, my friends, is what had happened.

So, before we even got to the renovation, we had to replace our MAIN SEWER LINE which totally dipped into our renovation budget. But, we were determined... and probably a little stupid. It couldn't have been something easy, or something we knew ANYTHING about. It had to be this major, stinky, expensive mess. And there is more!

Oh, the beauty of home ownership. Stay tuned...

Kitchen Remodel Part 1
Kitchen Remodel Part 3