Ladies and Gentlemen...

...we've got a backsplash! (and range hood).

the backsplash is courtesy of tweedledumber, who tried to weasel out of cutting the tile to fit around the edges at the underside of the cabinets. instead, she wanted to put up some sort of molding between the base of the wall cabinets and the backsplash tiles - though she kept reiterating that she would do "whatever we were comfortable with".

so then why are you even asking us about this molding ???
dude, if we'd wanted molding, we would've asked for it.
we wanted tile, we bought tile; put up the cotton-picking tile!!!
I don't care if it's hard to cut; that's part of the job, so cut it and shut it!!!

tweedledumb in the meantime came by yesterday to install the stair rails he claims to have been "working on at home" for weeks... a brief summary of a lunchtime phone conversation just about sums it up:

me: so are we getting new stair rails today?

the hub: well, he and his helper are here but so far they've just been the in "backyard" cutting and sanding stuff. I don't know what he's been working on at home this whole time.

me: I know what he's been doing - [to quote my niece] NO-THIIIIIIIIIIIIING.

You would've thought...

... that we were probably getting one of the tiles I posted yesterday for our kitchen backsplash; but you would've been wrong. After many hours of handwringing, we're going with these glass tiles:

The plan is that the black and gray will tie the floor and counter together and the reflective nature of the glass will prevent it all from being too dark. Now let's see if tweedledumb and tweedledumber will actually show up on Saturday to install them...

I'M BA-ACK!!!!

Explanations, shexplations, I didn't post for a while, now I'm posting again. Nuff said. Now on to what you've missed:

The kitchen, she is almost finished. Need to install backsplash, range hood and new dishwasher - the old one is kerplunkt and it makes more sense to buy a new one than to pay $300 to fix it. I know what you're saying - for $300 you could buy a whole new dishwasher; but you're wrong. Well, you could buy a new 24" dishwasher, but alas our kitchen was designed around an 18" dishwasher and somehow, despite the fact that they're SMALLER, 18" dishwashers cost more. Still, it makes more sense to buy a new one than to repair the old one.

Also needed: a couple adjustments to base cabinet doors, spice racks, and a paint job. We're getting there.... Before and during photos here and here.

The Embiggening of the Kitchen IV

More later when we get out from under all the boxes.

The Embiggening of the Kitchen III

To recap; first it looked like this:

Then it looked like this:

And now, it looks like this:

I think there might be a kitchen at the end of the tunnel. (click on the photos if you want to see them larger)

Tiles are here!!!

They're going in this week.

More kitchen bits

Undermount stainless steel kitchen sink from Overstock
Chrome faucet, also from Overstock
and we're picking up the cabinets this weekend!!!

The Embiggening of the Kitchen II

BEFORE

DURING

The Embiggening of the Kitchen

BEFORE

DURING

Kitchen bits coming together

Cabinet doors in Adel Beech from Ikea.

Recycled tiles from Olean in Park Avenue Liberty Green or Amber Valley Bowl Green from the Environmental Home Store.

Countertops made from recycled paper (cleverly titled "Paperstone") in obsidian. Also from the Environmental Home Store.