Building A Soffit

The frame that's ready for drywall.

My friend Bill came over yesterday and helped me finish installing the ducting for the hood over my range. The stove is in a new location but we reused the same exit so we needed to go out a few feet along the ceiling.

We also installed the hood. I saved money by reusing my old hood. After a deep cleaning it sure doesn't look like it's 11-years-old.

Bill also helped me build a frame around the ducting so that my ace drywall finisher, Anthony, can come in today and work his magic and create a seamless soffit. Once painted, I think it will be a pleasing architectural element.

Drywall finishing is a real skill and something worth paying an expert to do. Anthony is so good with the drywall mud that I keep telling him I'm convinced he's got the skills to be a world class cake decorator. He just laughs, but I'm not kidding.

Plugging Away

There is still much work to be done before my kitchen remodel is finished.

Some of the tasks are small (touch up painting on the windows and sealing grout) and some are large (installing the hood over the range and building a soffit to hide the venting).

Nevertheless, I'm keeping very busy plugging away and scratching items off my to do list.

Prepare for undermount sink installation - check.

Assemble and install wall cabinets - check. (Note: The blue is just the color of the protective plastic over the cream finish.)

Assemble and install pantry cabinet - check.

Today I'm putting the cover panels on my cabinets and deep cleaning the hood for my range so that it is ready for install. One of the ways I'm keeping the cost of my remodel down is by reusing my appliances and the hood is one of them. It just needs a thorough cleaning.

Next Monday I'm scheduled to have a template made for my quartz countertops. The installers are running behind schedule so unless there's a cancellation, they won't be installed until July 30. After that I will just need to install the cabinet doors, drawers and hardware and add my pretty blue mosaic tiles to the back wall.

Doing the work myself definitely adds time and effort to the project but it saves a lot of money and is satisfying.

According to a recent Washington Post article, the National Kitchen & Bath Association says the average cost of a 2013 kitchen remodel is $47,308. And according to Remodeling Magazine (2010-11 report), the average cost in the Pacific Northwest is $65,686.

The end is of my kitchen remodel is near and I'm still well under $14,000. When everything is done, I'll share the breakdown of my budget.

Wired And Ready For Drywall

The walls of my kitchen are ready for some insulation and drywall now that the electrical boxes are up and strung with wire.

My kitchen was in dire need of more outlets and new circuits. I previously had only one outlet over my counter and the poor thing was seriously overloaded. I could only run one appliance at a time plugged into it or I would blow the fuse. For nearly thirteen years I haven't been able to make toast with the coffeepot on.

There also wasn't enough overhead light so I've added three additonal light boxes. Since the walls are open, now is the the time to dream and do it right. Plus, electrical boxes are cheap - single-gang new work boxes are 76-cents each.

The light boxes cost a whopping $1. 96 each. Granted the 12-gauge and 14-gauge Romex wire isn't cheap due to the rising cost of copper, a 240-foot roll of 14-gauge cost me $42.82, but well worth it.

The drywall is coming soon and that will change everything. Then it's onto the fun decorative stuff like flooring and cabinets.

I'm going to save money (about $10,000) by using Ikea cabinets but I'm going to add touches like Italian mosaic tiling and high end knobs and pulls that hopefully will keep the space from screaming - I'm an Ikea kitchen! At least that's my hope.