Well it wasn’t me!!! I don’t need a new home. But instead of trashing the old upper kitchen cabinets I’ve found a new home for them. Also, all my stains, dyes, and finishes in turn found a new home. It just worked out that both could help each other out. A couple coats of paint and a french cleat on the back and we were in business. Kelly had a great idea to try chalkboard paint on the panels of the doors so I could use them as a chalk board. I purchased some chalkboard spray paint and put a couple coats on. After the paint dried I attempted to make a to do list for myself… but to my disappointment it was very hard to write on it.

I think I’m going to pick up some brush on chalkboard paint, lightly sand the surface and try rolling on a final coat and see if that helps. I did however provide more than enough storage for all my finishing products.

Another step down in making the old shop a little more organized. I was also able so save one of the other smaller upper cabinets that I will eventually slap a couple coats of paint on. I did put a french cleat on it and it fit perfectly over my dust collector.

As far as the home improvement projects are coming it can be summed up in one word… SLOW!!! We started putting baseboards and shoe molding in the half bathroom today and got the toilet and sink installed.

The sink went in with no issues. Even with the floor raised a little because of the tile I was still able to use the original holes to secure it to the wall. The toilet on the other hand needed a spacer to make up for the difference of the new flooring. All that and a new toilet seat and we were in action.

Unfortunately the project will have to take a little break because of my upcoming work schedule. But I’ll be back at it before you know it.

So today I was able to sneak out of work and go get the lumber for my countertops. Originally we were going to make the countertops from 8/4 solid walnut. Rough cut lumber thickness is measured in quarter inches. So eight quarter (8/4) is two inches. After doing some research and looking around we decided to go with solid hickory. Not only is it a harder wood than walnut but also cheaper. I was able to borrow a small trailer from a friend of a fellow woodworker who was coming along for the trip. Several other woodworkers I know had recommended Steve Wall Lumber for purchasing the material for the countertops. I can get Red Oak and Poplar from a local Saw Mill here in Raeford but if need anything more “exotic” I’m going for a drive.

Wall Lumber is located about 25 miles north of Greensboro, NC. We hooked up the trailer and off we went. A short two and a half hours later and we pulled into their parking lot. At that point I felt like a kid in the candy store. The clouds parted and angels even began singing. Before me stood a huge warehouse full a kiln dried goodness. The smell of fresh cut lumber permeated the air. From just about ever domestic hardwood to some of the most popular exotics there was lumber for as far as the eye could see. Not only did they have a huge selection of lumber milled from thin stock project packs to huge slabs with live edges. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. They also offer milling services, moldings, and a wide assortment of sheet goods. This was a pure field trip for a couple of woodworkers. But business called. I selected a little over 120 board feet of Hickory, some Hard Maple, and a little Sapele. This was my first time buying real “exotic” hardwood. It is marketed as a good alternative for Mahogany. The Hickory is for my countertops and the Maple and Sapele will be for a frame for a couple of American Flags flown over Afghanistan (upcoming project).

  After a couple hours of drooling at the thousands of board feet of lumber in stock we loaded up the trailer and strapped it down for the long drive home. We had to drive a little slower on the way home due to the load on the trailer. But finally made it home with the same amount of lumber we left with. With all the home improvement projects ongoing lumber storage is definitely an issue. We did get to put the kitchen back together the other night so…

Now I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this lately but I have the most amazing and loving wife EVER. What wife out there openly allows for the storage of over a 120 BF of Hickory on the kitchen table? Mine does!!! I can’t wait to mill this lumber down and hope it turns into kitchen countertops. At least the easy part is done. Thanks again to guys at Steve Wall Lumber. I will definitely be back (maybe with a bigger trailer).

So I am happy to say the tiling is finished. I think it came out beautifully if I do say so myself… BUT what an endeavor. Once we had tackled the learning curve things moved pretty quickly. Well, as quickly as two people with full time jobs and one of them traveling for work a lot can do.

The only step to finishing the kitchen floor is baseboards and shoe molding. The half bathroom still needs some touch up paint and then the baseboards and shoe molding. Then we can get the toilet out of our living room and put it back where it belongs. You never realize how nice it is to have a toilet so close until is is out of order and you have to run all the way upstairs to take care of business.

Once the flooring in the living room is finished  I can start working on all the small tasks like:

1. Upper kitchen cabinets
2. Kitchen island
3. Wood counter tops
3. Laundry room cabinets and drying rack
4. Mud room cabinets
5. Kitchen table and benches
6. Stools for kitchen island
7. Wanes coating for back-splash

I am sure I’m missing a half dozen to a million other things I need to cross of my list till I can call this project complete. The good news is that as we complete each step along the way you can watch the transformation from blah to BAM!!!

Ok, so that might of been a little over kill but whats a guy to do. Well I am off to work and will keep you posted as the project moves along.