Time to Modernize!

Jane and I love our condo. We moved into our fifth floor, two-bedroom condo three years ago. When we found it, we knew that the buildings in the complex were not new. In fact, they were built over 30 years ago. While a few items had been updated through the years ( new owners upgrading specific items), we knew that as time went on, we would make some changes to fit our lives.

The first ones were fairly easy. Our closets were decent in size, but could not allow for the orgamization we needed ( or the number of garments either), so we did our closets and as many of you know from previous articles, it made a great difference. We also took a closet in the kitchen/laundry room area and had it converted into a pantry, allowing us to store items with east and neatness.

Several weeks ago, we noticed that the wood in our kitchen cabinets was starting to look funny. The color was becoming splotchy and the wood supports between were starting to look shabby. We also had found that the previous owner had made some repairs and adjustments that were not holding, so we discussed updating the kitchen. Went to a few big box stores and looked around with the idea of replacing our kitchen cabinets. After speaking to several others, we learned that a kitchen remodel could cost much more than our budget could handle.

Our next thought was painting the cabinets. I spoke to several paint contractors who specialize in this work and found them to be costly as well. I also learned that after a few years, this has to be done again, and while the “boxes” would remain, the carpentry to repair the portions that had been so-called fixed would have to be done as well. We then started to talk about a new concept that we were hearing about, re-facing. This is using the existing cabinet “boxes” but putting new doors and drawers in place of the originals. It also involves bringing the old exposed wood cabinets down to bear wood and covering them in matching laminate to the doors and drawers to comple the picture. This sounded good!

Using the computer, I requested companies that do this type of work and found three that had decent credentials and some proof stories that sounded real. Each of the companies offer to come to the house meeting where they see what you have and then show you how their system works as well as samples of the products they use and the warranty on same along with their credentials. We listened to all three and waited for their quotes.

The quotes were fairly close, but only one of the companies offered to incude a warranty that was transferable ( being seniors and looking to perhaps selling our unit in the next 20 years, that is a nice add-on). They also had a color that worked with our countertops and the back splash tiles so there would be no need to change these items that are perfectly fine. ( a way to keep cost down). The comany we selected, Modern Kitchens USA also included self closing hardware so slamming cabinets or drawers would never happen. That is great!

We finalized the agreement and set the date for the work to begin. September 10th, so on the 8th and 9th, we began to empty out every cabinet and drawer. We will also have to have everything off of the counters as they work, so our living room and dining room looks like a rummage sale or garage sale. Thank God, this will only be for a short period of time. Modern says they can do the job in roughly 3 days if all goes well, but we are also on the fifth floor, almost a block from the elevator so the workers needto have an extra day or two to finish the job.

Wednesday, September 10th, 8 a.m.- let the fun begin! Day ONE

A lot has been done since Josh arrived. All of the drawers and cabinet doors have been taken down and removed. All of the new doors and drawer faces have been brought up and placed in safe areas while the work on the old is done. All hardware is being removed and then the “sanding will begin”. They have some very cool equipment that allows them to sand and vacuum at the same time, thus, not mess. So far it is going smoothly and as today comes to an end, we are looking forward to what we will see as day 2 begins.

DAY TWO

We buzzed Josh in this morning to start day 2 of our kitchen transformation. He is a one-man army, working on his own, knowing what to do and doing every step quite methodically. We are aware that with only one person doing the job, our kitchen will not be done in three days as the ads suggested, but a day or two will not make a difference. In the back of our minds ( in particular Jane’s mind), it is the putting everything back on the shelves, so we can get our living room and dining room back to normal, and have Monica come over and clean the condo. Once that is done, normalcy can return to Northbrook ( at least in our condo).

As the day progressed, Josh kept working away, always doing the vacuum as a section was completed. For the most part, Jane and I did our normal things, always making sure that one of us was around should a question come up.

At one point today, we walked into the kitchen, more out of curiosity than anything else, and somehow, the room started to transform. The gray tones from the backsplash and the counter tops now jumped out and the room began to look brighter.

Day 3 will bring more gray, and if all goes well, perhaps the doors will be put up as well. If not, come Monday, we should see the job very near to its finish

We are starting to see the transformation that we were told would be quite amazing.

DAY 3 Today, we begin day 3 of very little kitchen use. Josh does clean up after each day, so we can use our coffee machine and microwave ( Seattle Sutton can still be our meals), and he cleans up. It looks like we will make it by Tuesday, but for sure Wednesday. One of the problems of being in a high-rise is how far we are from where the workmen must park, and each time he goes back to his truck, we allow for 20 minutes and we have to buzz him in, so if you are in a single family or town home or even a smaller building, I am pretty sure that the time needed to complete would be a little less. I will say this ( and Jane will concur), they are neat as can be. There are no particles of dust or even residue to get in our way.

As you can see , the kitchen is turning gray and the color goes well with the gray in the countertop and backsplash. The room appears brighter and even a little bigger.  Monday, which will be day 4, Josh might bring a helper to get the trim all done as they prepare to do the drawers and doors. Jane saw the handles and hardware today and is quite happy. Of course, as we near the completion of the project, her mind is on returning everything that is stacked in our living room and dining room to their places, having Monica come and clean it all up and then return to normal life. I know Jane though, so I am pretty sure we will start entertaining more so she can show off the new kitchen and wow our friends and family with how efficient Modern Kitchens is, what a wonderful job they did and how our condo is now worth more!

DAY 4

Josh arrived this morning with another worker and they immediately went to work. Today, they are putting up the doors. The new hardware they are putting in is far superior to what we had before. These will not allow the doors to ever “slam” which I am sure saves a lot of wear and tear as well as keeps the doors in the right place forever. It is starting to look like they will finish in 5 days. If not, they may need a portion of the 6th day to complete and finalize trim and clean up ( although Josh has been great at keeping the kitchen cleaned up as he goes along).

DAY 5

Last night, Jane and I noticed that the doors were not even, and so did many of you ( I was sent 5 notes). Josh assured us that this was the nest step along with the mouldings to close the gaps from cabinets to ceiling, They have been adding the hardware as well as the door handles ( oops, it seems that they shipped one box of black/ the original order, so this may delay the total completion by a day), but it sure looks like all will be complete and ready to refill by Thursday, or sooner.

Jane has agreed that this was far easier and less cumbersome that she had anticipated. Our lives have gone on as usual with the exception of getting up earlier and eating breakfast before 8 a.m., but we both agree, as we look at our fantastic kitchen, well worth it. They are still working, but the mouldings look great, the doors are even and we are happy.