Heat-N-Glo Twilight II Indoor Outdoor Gas Fireplace

We turned on the gas fireplace for the first time yesterday. It actually heats the porch quite well (and provides super ambiance as you can see below). My Mom enjoyed her cocktail in front of the fire, but she's not completely sold on it's efficiency indoors. We'll keep you posted...

Kitchen Update

The kitchen is almost done - just a few odds and ends to complete. The cherry door and drawer fronts are installed. They have curved cut-outs instead of door and drawer pulls. The sides of the island are tiled in the same glass tile as the backsplash. We plan to unpack our kitchen boxes this weekend, so we will have something to put on those shelves...

The pendant light fixtures are from Niche Modern. The cherry shelving and door and drawer fronts are custom made, but the cabinets are from Ikea. The glass tile on the island and backsplash is Genoa Champagne 2"x8" from Medici Mosaics.

The Riga wall sconces are from Fontana Arte. The counter tops are Bianco Romano granite from Brazil.

The indoor/outdoor see-through fireplace is the Twilight II from Heat & Glo (it's not finished yet).

We re-used all of the appliances from our previous kitchen.

Counter Tops & Light Fixtures

 



We're progressing slowly but surely. On the first floor the counter tops and light fixtures are in and the painting is pretty much done. Today they started the floors, and the gas fireplace and cherry cabinet doors will be installed soon.

The pendant lights are by Niche Modern.

The stainless steel sink is by Blanco.

 The Purist pullout faucet is by Kohler.

The granite is Bianco Romano from Brazil.

Interior Progress

This view at left is almost the same as the one in the upper right corner of my blog title. You can see the new archways (where the old exterior wall was removed) and extra space. We moved the sliding door to the new exterior wall.






Below are the Ikea cabinets that make up the new kitchen island. This island seperates the kitchen and living/dining areas. The cabinet fronts are temporary - a cabinet maker is making custom door and drawer fronts in oil-finished cherry. The walls at the ends of the island will be finished with tile (the same as the backsplash) and there will be square cherry "legs" at the corners. The wall shown below is 6" higher than the counter and will wrap around the back side of the counter top to shield the sink from the living/dining area. It will be topped with a granite bar top.

The side of the island facing the living/dining areas (in progress at left) has open cherry shelves and wine storage. I higher bar top on the left side of the column will shield the sink counter from view. The granite counter top at the right side of of the column will overhang the shelves to allow for counter seating.

There will be two open cherry shelves above the range (between the overhead cabinets) on the back wall of the kitchen.

We moved the old bar top to the screened porch (right now it's holding some of our plates and glasses while the new kitchen is under construction). The porch ceiling has yet to be installed, but the screening is in and we've been using it often.

2nd Floor Progress

Above is the dressing area between the master bedroom and bathroom. The tall black cabinet frames in the alcove are Ikea Pax series wardrobes. These will have sliding doors and lots of drawers and other accessories.

It was so much fun picking out all of the interior parts for these closets. Ikea's Komplement system has super cool drawers with all sizes of compartments for different kinds of storage, shoe organizers, baskets, bins, shelves, rails, etc. The possibilities are endless!

Exterior Progress

The shingles are almost done - just a few more are needed above the bay window. The stairs from the sliding door are in lieu of a deck. Hopefully we'll build a deck next year when the coffers have been replenished. You can see the air conditioner under the window. We installed this instead of central air on the first floor. Because the interior is so open, it cools everything done quite nicely and cost only $600. We did install central air on the second floor, but to add it to the first floor would have cost another $10,000.

Kitchen Progress

These photos are from the day our contractors started assembling the Ikea cabinets. Our old kitchen was also an Ikea kitchen, and I put together all of the cabinets myself. It's easy - anyone who can assemble furniture can do it. That kitchen didn't have many cabinets, though, so I'm happy that someone else is doing it this time. If you are going to put together your own kitchen (or any other furniture) a cordless drill or screw driver is essential.

The Ikea kitchens have improved in the 10 years since I installed my first one. The drawers now have dampers that prevent them from slamming shut, and there are more cabinet sizes available.

Things are a bit of a mess - carryout and the microwave are helping us deal with dinner!

We were able to find the same 12x12 slate tile that we installed in our old kitchen, pantry, hallway and bath. The tile installer continued the original brick pattern. You wouldn't be able to tell where the old and new tile start, except for the fact that the old grout is dirty - I'll have to look into cleaning it.

Internet Shopping Resources - Plumbing Fixtures

FaucetDirect sells a huge variety of plumbing fixtures and accessories. Their prices beat the trade pricing at my local plumbing supply store, and they offer free shipping on orders over $99. Their processing and shipping was efficient and quick.

WSCdirect is an internet kitchen and bath supply company that also has great pricing. They offer free shipping on orders over $199 and that offer applies to freight items as well.

For the daring there is Number1Direct. This website sells plumbing fixtures, appliances, furniture, and all kinds of stuff. Their pricing is rock bottom, but you have to be prepared to wait for your items. They advertise that you should receive your order in 2-3 weeks, but I found this estimate to be optimistic at best. If you are are ordering 4-6 weeks in advance and don't mind your credit card being charged immediately, give it a try (you can't beat their prices.)

Master Bathroom Progress

The shower walls are tiled in a 12" x 24" porcelain tile in a brick pattern. A fixed piece of frameless glass will serve as a shower enclosure.

The shower will have a bench with a stone top (above). There will also be a bench with storage built-in under the window. A niche (below) tucked into the wall above the shower bench will have stone shelves to hold soap, shampoo, etc.

  

There will be a wall-mounted vanity cabinet with two sinks on the wall opposite the shower (below). 

 

Modern Vanity Sinks

I've chosen a wall-mounted vanity for the master bathroom and I considered doing a simple counter top with under-mounted sinks, but it was seeming a little too boring. At the same time I didn't want to use the now ubiquitous vessel style sinks, because I couldn't quite imagine having to wash my face in one every day (and splashing water everywhere). I've found some larger, lower vessel sinks though, that are the perfect balance between practical and cool.

I would have loved to use Duravit's Puravida above counter basin (above left), but it was a little too big to fit two in the space I have.

Kraus makes some very nice sinks in all sizes and shapes. At left is their rectangular ceramic sink.

I ended up going with the Kohler Vox square vessel sink at left. It's a generous 16"x16" and is only 3" high above the counter. It's competitively priced at $214 list.

Celys Ceiling Light by B.Lux

I am using the Celys ceiling light fixture by B.Lux in the master bath dressing area, closets, and toilet room. It is a very diminutive 4" in diameter by 7" high and ships with its own eco-friendly fluorescent bulb. My electrician pronounced it "very cute", which sums it up nicely.