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My Kitchen Remodel Progress Update!

It’s time for another update on the progress of our galley kitchen remodel! For those of you who like to see the in between and progress posts, this is for you. It’s not pretty, but in the initial stages of a remodel it always looks worse before it looks better. So brace yourself, it’s actually looking scary right now. :-D

Contractors have been working on wiring in the electrical and while this step is so important and even kind of exciting to see it all being updated, it’s not one bit pretty. Can I also mention that IT IS SO SO DUSTY! Oh my. The amount of dust is UNREAL. Even though they have been sealing up the kitchen as best as they can while they are working, the dust has traveled all the way though the house and is settling in every room. It covers EVERYTHING (as I’m sure you’ll be able to see in some of the photos hahah).

My Kitchen Remodel Progress Update!

Besides dust on every surface far and wide, it is a bit chaotic in the house in spite of our best efforts to be organized. We have boxes of light fixtures strewn about, a faucet and a sink sitting around on the floor, pet gates propped up to keep the dogs out of the construction area, a garbage disposal is sitting on our mantel…you know, the usual fall decor. :) Inspiring, right?

I think the dust and disorder everywhere are probably the worst parts of remodeling for me (besides the stress of random people being in your space every day, making a lot of big decisions and writing checks that drain your bank account, of course). All in all though, it’s a very exciting time and so fun to have the opportunity to make such a big transformation to our home.

My Kitchen Remodel Progress Update!

I do have something a little more visually inspiring to look at and more interesting than dust to show you today, though. We have the initial framing for our two new archways into the kitchen! I think it is much easier to visualize now since the basic shape of the arch is actually framed in. It won’t have the little bat-ears, though. Hahah. Just the arch.

I have to say, I’m extra excited about the arches now that I can actually SEE how they look and feel. While the doorways weren’t able to be widened much due to the layout and design of the kitchen, the arch itself changed so much about how the space feels. It even makes the rooms feel taller and more inviting.

There’s something romantic about an arch, don’t you think? I can already see how our arches will help make our little kitchen a more charming destination and a special space you will be drawn to from other rooms, too. (If you missed my post with arched doorway inspiration, see that here).

My Kitchen Remodel Progress Update!

My Kitchen Remodel Progress Update!

Remember, once this room is filled back up with cabinets, it is a small u-shaped galley kitchen.

We are adding character, more storage and counter space and all new appliances, but the basic layout will remain the same as it was before.

My Kitchen Remodel Progress Update!

My Kitchen Remodel Progress Update!

You’ll be able to look right through this arch from the hall to see the new Dutch door in the kitchen. You can picture me doing a little jig of joy about that :).

My Kitchen Remodel Progress Update!

You might have noticed that there is a bit of new framing in front of this wall. It’s nothing fancy, it’s just designed to straighten out the wall (where it previously jutted in a few inches) to allow the new range and cabinets to line up flush against the wall.

My Kitchen Remodel Progress Update!

Here’s something I haven’t told you yet, there will be an unexpected surprise design feature on this wall (above) that I am super excited about. I can’t wait to show you when it is installed (it’s scheduled for Monday, yay!).

I have so much more to tell you about the new kitchen, but you’ll have to stay tuned for future updates and the specifics of the materials we have chosen.

Do you want to guess what the surprise feature will be? :) 

Thanks again for following along. Hope you have a great weekend!

UPDATE 2019: See the REVEAL of this kitchen here!

46 Comments

  1. LB

    Lots going on :) I love all the progress photos! Makes it real! One day at a time and you’ll be loving your new kitchen in no time!

  2. Carol

    What a difference an arch makes!!!! It’s charming.

  3. Barb Hughes

    Will your “surprise element” be an arched window on the kitchen wall? :)

  4. Jana

    I love watching the progress Melissa! I built my home 6 years ago and was on the site every day to see what small change had happened. My guess on your surprise feature is a great farmhouse sink!

  5. Barb

    A surprise of great sconces on either side of the kitchen window???

  6. Marguerite

    I’m guessing a “garden” window of some kind ?

  7. Cristina F

    We must be on the same schedule. My kitchen reno started Monday and everything is covered in dust. My flooring goes down this weekend and i’m super excited to see progress everyday when I come home from work. Our garage is filled with cabinets, appliances and tile. Can’t wait to see your progress.

  8. Dori Mikszta

    You think the dust is bad now, just wait! I’m a week further in and drywall is the REAL dust maker. Luckily, I’ve done this before so I know it gets better! But my nose feels a bit like someone poured plaster up it. Love the arches, they are charming! My guess is that you are going to put in very special bay window of some sort. Too soon for anything else to go in!

  9. Linda Stoll

    Oh … those arched doorways just might end up being the highlight of the whole project!!

  10. Kris

    A stained window!

    Why wouldn’t the contractors tear down all the drywall instead of cutting all those holes and then having to patch them all. Seems the latter is much more work. More expensive but I would see all those patched holes guaranteed.

  11. Gina

    Enjoy watching your progress! Our family lived in a constant cloud of Sheetrock dust when the kid’s were growing up! Can’t wait to see the finished project. :)

  12. Marcia H

    I am very interested in the arches. Years ago hubby was putting in 2 arches. One was quite wide, and hubby used a piece of drywall to make the actual arch. But the other was narrower (although wider than yours) and the drywall kept snapping when he tried to put it up. He finally used a piece of exterior siding…which worked. :) Yours looks like it is wood. And obviously it works!

  13. Jann from Newton Custom Interiors

    Melissa, yes, renovation dust and disorder are the worst! But, it’ll all be worth it in the end. Love the arched doorways!

  14. Tina

    It is looking great! The arches add so much character to your space. I want to guess the new surprise you are getting might be a unique range? I enjoy your posts so much. Thanks for sharing! Hang in there the dust will be gone once it is all done.

  15. Caroline

    Hang in there-it’s going to be fabulous, and oh, so worth it! Our own kitchen addition took nearly a year from start to finish, but the days of disruption will soon fade into a dim memory when you are enjoying your amazing, beautiful new space. Thanks for the front row seat–I LOVE seeing the progress!

  16. Lu Ann

    I love the bird print in the pictures above do you remember where it’s from. Thanks..

  17. mary lou

    i’m guessing a coffee station for the “wall”! good luck with your remodel!

  18. Judy

    Hi Melissa, how exciting! Can’t wait to see more…As for the surprise feature, I am going to guess an extra sink (a small one) or a wine fridge….Whatever it is, I am sure it will be great! Happy Weekend! Judy

  19. Richella Parham

    Girl, I just love the “in progress” posts! Your kitchen is going to be a stunner. I LOVE the addition of the arches. Are you going to do something arched on this window wall? Or maybe you’re going to set something back into the wall? I don’t know; I guess I’ll just have to check things out on Monday to see what you’ve got up your sleeve. :) So excited for you!

  20. Patricia

    Great to see you’re making progress. I’m awaiting a start date from my new kitchen contractor, any day now! Due to supply delays it looks like Thanksgiving dinner will now be at my daughter’s home. Not sure if I should cry, because of the delay or jump for joy for not having the stress of a large gathering.

    I love your Dutch door idea, may have to borrow that! Since our door opens out to a BBQ patio it would be too perfect!
    I’m guessing you’re putting in a bay or garden window???

  21. liz

    My guess was a new window – an arched garden window would be perfect.

    Will the dutch door have a screen? We have many critters (wasps, mosquitoes, crickets) during the year, I would hate to have an open window though I do love the fresh air going through the house.

    • Carla

      That is my question too. While I think Dutch doors are really cool gotta have the screen.

  22. Sylvia Heacock

    Our new stove and sink arrive next week and will sit in the garage as our kitchen reno still has no start date. I am thankful for the photos you published….it gives me an idea of what to expect. I am excited for our changes too, but hope it will be concluded by December! Please keep posting…..it’s really helpful to see what is involved in a reno.

  23. Lisa E

    Had our kitchen renovated last winter. Amazing how that drywall dust seeps past plastic barriers, right? The worst part for sure but oh so worth it!

  24. Mandy M.

    I’m guessing a garden window mainly because I want one!

  25. melissa atkinson

    LOVE the arch. Can’t wait to see everything moving forward.

  26. Carmel Welch

    A pair of sconces! What a grand idea that is!

  27. Marla

    An apron-front farmhouse sink with gorgeous faucet? I’m wildly guessing here, Melissa. Thank you for sharing the good, bad, and the temporarily ugly bits of remod – doesn’t it make the end product that much more lovely! (Yes, even the dust – the result makes it all worth it) Oh, getting so excited for you! One can just see that Dutch door in that breathtaking blue!!!:)

  28. Diane | An Extraordinary Day

    A new large beautiful window? After all… you can never have enough beautiful windows in a kitchen. Whatever it is… I’m sure it will be wonderful!!

  29. Denise Kass

    Having remodeled I know what the dust feels like. My husband and U returned from work in our suits and climbed through a plastic hole for sanctuary upstairs in our “dusty bedroom.” It was so worth it and now we laugh! I love the arched entrances and I love your voice in your blog! I enjoy your look and style so much. Your blog messages make my day. Is the surprise a farm sink???? ? Denise

  30. Erin

    I love seeing your progress. We can’t make big changes in our kitchen at this time, so it’s fun to live vicariously through someone else. :) Also, I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you are making a beautiful, functional kitchen in a small footprint. Ours is very tiny and I have to remember that a kitchen doesn’t have to be giant to work well. I’m guessing that the surprise is going to be a new window/windows over the sink that open up to the little side deck/patio.

  31. Carol

    I think it’s going to look AMAZING! I have archways and love them. I’m also suffering with the dust flying through the whole house as we renovate our laundry room. Oh my gosh what a mess. I’m very OCD when it comes to my home so it’s been very difficult but I know it will be worth it in the end as it will be for you…hang in there…….

  32. Carolyn

    1) Love the arch (I even kind of like the bat ears!)
    2) love galley kitchens, like mine, and
    3) love everybody’s guesses about the surprise feature!

  33. Christi from Charm & Grace Cottage

    Wow, that’s a mess, but you can definitely SEE there is progress being made. Can’t wait to see the finished product… I so admire you and others (like my mother) who can take “what is” and see “what can be” and then have the courage to do make the changes necessary. :)

  34. Patricia

    I remember our last dusty remodel. The worst part was the dust kicked up by sanding the drywall mud. This was in the basement, near the furnace, and we had the dust blow out the heat vents on all three levels of the house. Had to wait to clean until the carpet was put in. Then my husband and I started on the top floor and cleaned every horizontal surface in the house until it was all cleaned.
    Dust is the worst part of living through remodels. That and eating all your meals out of the microwave. That got real old fast. But the pain is worth it.

  35. Ana

    I say ur getting one of those cool faucets over ur stove.

  36. Julie Wolfe

    Hi Melissa…I’m guessing you’re doing a beautiful tile wall? :)

  37. Carla

    Be sure you change out your furnace filter. With all that dust you will need to.

  38. Judy

    Perhaps a beautiful stain glass window?

  39. Micah

    Love how those arched doorways look already… can’t wait to see how they look when they’re done!

  40. Claire

    Love your posts & your ideas … I often think we are kindred spirits in so much of what I see in your style & the stuff you love! We are also in progress (read long & slow!) with a reno project that has required changing wall configurations in one entire section of our boring 60’s bungalow. My aim is to inject some character while at the same time make way for a new kitchen, which is the primary purpose of it all. A couple years ago – before we embarked on all this chaos – I saw an idea for containing dust & mess & bookmarked it in my brain. We ended up using it & wow what a difference it has made! We are a long way from being done, definitely a work in progress. But this nifty invention has already saved my sanity more than once. All you need is a temporary wood frame, some heavy poly & a special zipper. Quick & slick to install. There are different brands such as Tarp Zipper, Zip Wall, etc. that all work on the same principle. We purchased ours (2 side by side to form a faux doorway) at Home Depot here in Canada for $7.50 each. Similar ones appear to be available in the US. Between project sessions & when not in use, I just roll the center section up from the bottom & secure it at the top out of the way with a couple clothes pins. Would post pics here but doesn’t seem possible. Anyhow, much less work than the extra cleanup. Maybe it would work for you too!

  41. Kathy Hardess

    The arch looks amazing. I can’t wait to see how it will look in the end. I’m sure it’s going to be great

  42. melinda moulaison

    Are you installing a round window?

  43. Jo Jo

    Progress! Yeah! Love your new arched openings! Especially the one where you’ll be able to see the Dutch door! As far as your surprise design element….hmm…could it be an arched surround around the existing window….or…a garden window?!? I’ve a garden window and it’s great for my herbs and crystal figurines..sun makes hem sparkle. Whatever your ” surprise” is going to be I know it’ll be beautiful as all your fabulous design choices always are! Can’t wait to see more!

  44. Wendy Cruttenden

    If this is where round window was installed a farmhouse sink. If it’s stove wall then a water pot filler.

 

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