A New Wrinkle

Today we went over to do more yard work. Tony continued cleaning the shed and I mowed the lawn (I know, totally gender backwards). We couldn't really do anything else because Sam still hasn't worked on the dry wall!

We went over there mostly because we made an appointment with another kitchen guy to get an estimate on the kitchen (this was before we bought cabinets (an we get a free gift card to Target for listening to his schpeel)). He said a lot of pretty stuff and told us 'kitchen renovation is expensive but he was the cheapest guy in town'. Don't they all say that? He went on saying how even cabinet refacing costs at least $14,000. That's funny because just a few days ago we bought new cabinets for $4200. He thinks we're suckers, lol. He took some measurements, made some suggestions and did a little act like he was crunching numbers. He didn't actually tell us a cost but spied and I saw him write $37,000 on his note pad. Now, I agree that's expensive, but this is for cabinets, counters and labor.

The good things about these free estimates is that the people give you ideas that you can incorporate for cheaper. He told us that Formica counters were a cost effective way to get nice counter tops that we can get in practically any shade and not have to pay out the ass like we would granite. And he told us do not get granite at Home Depot, if we went that route, because they don't ensure that there's no cracks in the middle of it. He also suggested a slim counter & cabinet between the stove and the fridge. Both really good ideas that we'll be doing later for not $37,000. Thank you, sir.

I've spent the rest of the night thinking what kind of cabinet I'd like there, as well as over the fridge. I think one of those vertical baking sheet holder cabinets would be nice, but drawers would be more useful next to the stove. And an open bookshelf would be nifty up top. I'm also torn between having a lattice wine wrack over the fridge or a plain cabinet or nothing at all. How often do people really use those things? They're so hard to get to, especially with my cereal and snackie food blocking it. I'm also trying to figure out how the measurements for that built in shelf. Nothing comes to mind yet, because I'm mentally arranging where I want all the kitchen stuff to be.