Snaps ‘n’ Crackles #8 – Blog break for kitchen reno

June 14, 2018
floor plan, floor plans, plans, kitchen
floor plan, floor plans, plans, kitchen

NB: Not my actual kitchen floor plan

The heart of the home is the kitchen …

In a couple of weeks, on 29 June, my household will be thrown into a wee bit of chaos as the heart of my home (our 90’s kitchen) is ripped out and removed and a new kitchen installation begins.  Plumbing and electrical will be disconnected.  The new cabinetry and appliances will be installed.  And so it continues …

  • Five days later the template for the stone benchtops will be done. 
  • The next day the new cornicing around the bulkhead will be done and a couple of little areas of floor tiling.  
  • About six days later the stone benchtops will be installed. 
  • The next day the plumbing and electrical will be reconnected.  Our kitchen will be functional now but not complete. 
  • A few days later the glass splashback template is done, and then …
  • a couple of weeks later that will be installed (we’re now up to 31 July)
  • The kitchen is complete but we will still have some painting to do (bulkheads, cornicing, ceiling, walls etc). 

Before all this starts on 29 June, I need to pack up my kitchen, deciding what we need access to and what we won’t need access to.  I will also need to set up a makeshift kitchen in my family room.  I will need to work out where to store food, crockery, cutlery, glasses, mugs, etc.  The laundry tub in the laundry will be where I’ll be doing ALL the washing up (no dishwasher for around 2 weeks!!).

I’ll be trying to keep meal preparation simple and will be using the microwave, slow cooker, electric frypan and barbecue for cooking meals and maybe even throw in the odd takeaway!

barbecue, bbq

So, things are gonna be a bit busy around here.  I’ll be:

  • packing up my kitchen (it’s a BIG kitchen)
  • setting up a makeshift kitchen
  • chained to the laundry tub washing up by hand (no dishwasher!)
  • living with dust sheets over many things to protect them from the demo phase in particular (including my computer and desk area which is very close to the kitchen)
  • dealing with Ava (my dog who is likely to escape if I don’t keep a close eye on her) while we have a houseful of tradespeople traipsing in and out of the house off an on for a month
  • on the floor in shock at how weird it looks when they rip out my old kitchen
  • beside myself with excitement as each new element of the kitchen is installed
  • painting – once the kitchen is all installed and the flow of tradespeople has finished
  • and catching up on a heap of other non-blog related jobs that have built up and need to be done!

Because I will have all this additional stuff on my plate, I’ve decided to take a sort of/kind of break from the blog.  What do I mean by sort of/kind of?  Well:

  • I’ll still publish Skin Care Saturday posts each Saturday
  • I’ll pull back on posting on Thursdays.  I could easily prepare posts and schedule them to publish but it will be a bit too busy and chaotic here for me to respond to comments or read and comment on Lovin Life linker’s posts, and I couldn’t have that, so I just won’t post for a bit.
  • My next Thursday #LovinLife post will be on Thursday 28 June as that is when I’m due for another Taking Stock post.  It will also provide an opportunity to update on how things are going around here!
  • The next post after 28 June (apart from Skin Care Saturday posts) won’t be until 19 July, but from this date onwards, I’ll be back to posting regularly on a Thursday.

I’ll save all photo’s of my current kitchen for the inevitable ‘kitchen makeover’ post in the near future.  I love a good before and after, don’t you? 

Ciao for now,

Link up here at WOTM or with another of us in the Lovin’ Life Linky team:
Leanne of Deep Fried Fruit Kathy of 50 Shades of Age  |
Deborah of Debbish  |  Jo of The Hungry Writer – Joanne Tracey.
It doesn’t matter where you link up as it will magically appear on all five blogs.

 


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24 Comments

  • Reply Joanne Tracey June 14, 2018 at 8:07 am

    See you on the other side! I’m looking forward to the before and afters…

    • Reply Min June 14, 2018 at 12:21 pm

      See you there! I’m looking forward to the afters! 🙂

  • Reply Lydia C. Lee June 14, 2018 at 8:28 am

    Have a good break…your reasons and commitment to occasional posts are far grander than mine. I’m taking a total break so I cn watch the soccer! Ha! I will see you late July!

    • Reply Min June 14, 2018 at 12:38 pm

      Haha soccer – can’t say I’m a fan but glad you’ll enjoy it! See you late July! 🙂

  • Reply Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond June 14, 2018 at 8:28 am

    Very exciting Min, even though disruptive it will all be worth it in the end. We are wanting to renovate our kitchen at our apartment on the Gold Coast so I’m interested in your timeline on how long it takes. Can’t wait to see the finished product and I’m sure by then you will be very ready to move back into the kitchen! You never know you could be next in line for My Kitchen Rules! Enjoy the renos xx

    • Reply Min June 14, 2018 at 12:41 pm

      You’ll have a better idea of the process and timelines after my kitchen reno Sue. I’m excited about the new kitchen but a little nervous about the chaos and intrusion. It’ll be worth it in the end hopefully. Haha – I don’t think I’d be a good candidate for my Kitchen Rules! 😉 xo

  • Reply Jodie June 14, 2018 at 9:33 am

    How fabulous Min. It’s smart to take a break because otherwise it’s so stressful. In fact, my stepmom (the 60+ model) is taking a sabbatical from the blog for a month soon because she’s moving houses!!
    XOXO
    Jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    • Reply Min June 14, 2018 at 12:42 pm

      Moving house is very stressful! Been there done that! First time with a kitchen reno but I think it’s gonna be a bit like camping around here for a while … plus tradespeople in the house a lot. Lucky for the prize at the end! 🙂 xo

  • Reply Natalie June 14, 2018 at 9:54 am

    You’re smart to take a break, Min. Kitchen reno is a big undertaking. I’m looking forward to your updates and photos.

    • Reply Min June 14, 2018 at 12:43 pm

      Thanks Natalie – yes bigger undertaking then I had realised! I’ll be glad to see the final results! 🙂

  • Reply Leanne June 14, 2018 at 3:52 pm

    I can’t wait for the before and after – the before pics I’ve seen glimpses of still look pretty good, so the after will be pretty spectacular. Feel free to still link up with us at #MLSTL if you’re feeling lonely 🙂 Good luck with all the mayhem over the month or so ahead – just keep your eye on the prize and the time will fly x

    • Reply Min June 15, 2018 at 1:30 pm

      I’m looking forward to the after! I’m a bit sad about pulling out the old kitchen. It’s a nice kitchen. It’s just the green benchtops have had their day (and frankly I hate them!) and there is a burn mark in one spot from where an electric frypan had a sudden sizzling death and there are other features that date it and as the heart of the home, it was time to update it and add some value to the house. Not sure that I’ll link up with #MLSTL if I don’t have time to reply to comments and read and comment on other blogs. I like to have good blog etiquette so would feel bad linking up and not participating. I will though – when I know I will have time for it. Thanks Leanne! xo

  • Reply Donna June 14, 2018 at 4:39 pm

    HI, Min – Good luck with your kitchen renovations. Like Leanne, I look forward to seeing the before and after pics.
    Taking a blogging break during that time sounds like a wise idea. I also am taking a blogging break (full month of July…she says with confidence)!

    • Reply Min June 15, 2018 at 1:32 pm

      Thanks Donna! There will be plenty of before and after pics coming up. I needed to lighten my load a bit because I know the chaos will stress me out somewhat and my computer will be covered with a dust cloth and the noise and well – yes a bloggy break seemed like a good idea! Wow – a full month off from blogging – hope you’re doing something exciting! Enjoy! 🙂

  • Reply Deborah June 14, 2018 at 5:38 pm

    My current job is infrastructure and capital works project management and I think it’d help if I had to do something at home as I’d be more comfortable dealing with contractors and tradies etc….

    I hope the renovation goes well – so exciting!

    • Reply Min June 15, 2018 at 1:34 pm

      Thanks Deb – it is exciting! Your current job sounds like lots of responsibility! I’ll have to let you know after my kitchen experience how I found dealing with contractors and tradies etc.

  • Reply Candi Randolph June 15, 2018 at 4:08 am

    Yes, pictures, please! It’s going to be messy, yucky and something will manage to mess up the schedule just a bit (it always does), but the end result will be amazing! Looking forward to seeing the finished, remodeled Kitchen.

    • Reply Min June 15, 2018 at 1:35 pm

      Messy, yucky, noisy, chaotic, yes probably a schedule blow out. Hopefully the end result will be worth it! There will be pictures, that’s for sure! 🙂

  • Reply Sue June 18, 2018 at 1:18 pm

    Oh Min, I could relate to every one of the things you listed there, even about the dog – our “sometimes” dog loves tradesmen, but I was always so anxious they would forget to shut the gate!! I hope it all goes really smoothly, and can say without hesitation that the end result is SO worth the temporary chaos! All the best xx

    • Reply Min June 20, 2018 at 5:37 pm

      Thanks Sue! I’m sure it will all be worth it. Certainly hope so! lol xo

  • Reply Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit June 19, 2018 at 8:01 am

    A friend of mine redid her kitchen. They were eating from an electric fry pan in the laundry for weeks and weeks. I think BBQ chickens from Woollies became the go to!

    • Reply Min June 20, 2018 at 5:38 pm

      I quite like a good ‘ol Woollies BBQ Chook! 🙂

  • Reply Janet Camilleri aka Middle Aged Mama June 22, 2018 at 12:35 pm

    How exciting – can’t wait to see before and after pics Min1

    • Reply Min June 26, 2018 at 5:57 pm

      It sure is exciting. All happening soon and yes there will be before and after pics for sure! 🙂

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