Kitchen Update

The big, open support truss has been removed from the kitchen ceiling and replaced by a much less obtrusive beam.

The beam has been sheet-rocked and will blend in later by matching the walls. Sheet rock is all hung, but we are waiting for it all to be taped and mudded.

Preliminary electrical work has been completed. New cabinets are stacked in our living room, awaiting installation when the time is right. The only bad news so far -- we had to get a new hot water heater. $$$

We're still camped out in the basement, doing painting and a few other chores in other parts of the house. It's looking as though we may be able to move our furniture in sometime mid-October.

A bit of remodeling

We're living in our new home in Decorah now, but we haven't moved our furniture and most of our worldly goods out of storage yet. We're doing a bit of remodeling and hope to let the sawdust settle a bit before we move everything in. Meanwhile, we're busy getting ready to do some painting, etc. Here are a couple of "before and after" shots to show what's going on:

Living Room BEFORE (with previous owners' furniture). You can't quite see the wall that begins to the left of the stairs up to the dining area.

AFTER: The new kitchen and dining area will be much more open to the living room. The stairs will also be wider.

Kitchen BEFORE with a wall separating it from the dining area.

Kitchen AFTER with no wall. The beam in the ceiling will go next. Openness is the theme.

Stay tuned for more updates on the new kitchen project. It will be at least another month before all is complete.