In My Kitchen – December 2013: YES! I have a Working Kitchen

It’s hard to believe that I last posted a month ago.  Thanks to Celia for graciously hosting the IMK series and keeping me going with the In My Kitchen Posts, otherwise we could be into a new year before I realized that I need to catch up. Thanks Celia, you’ve got a great idea that helps keep us all on track and connected!

Now, in my kitchen is a working kitchen!  Other than a few very minor things my kitchen is finally done.  Want to see?

Remember when it used to look like this:and then for a while it looked like this:

I absolutely love the entire kitchen.  It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of and very functional but there are some features that I’m really getting a kick out of.  One day though you might see me run out the front door, pulling my hair out, screaming “EVERYTHING‘s beeping at me!  Make it stop!”

I’m embarrassed to admit that this is the first time that I’ve had to read the instruction books on every new appliance.  I’ll clue you in on some important tips that I’ve come across too – just in case you were thinking of reheating your pet ferret in the microwave.

The flat top stove and vent hood are great, especially since all of the burners work and the oven consistently turns on.  It has a warming oven underneath but I haven’t figured that out yet.   Since we moved the fridge to the other side of the room, I absolutely LOVE having all that work space to the right of the stove.  Before I only had about 8″ or enough to set a ladle down.

Tile backsplash with glass accents, slide in  Bosch flattop stove

Well not so easy to slide in (electric cord position was a little difficult.  The guys figured there was a German engineer laughing his butt off )

Obviously, the stove has the most pages of warnings in the instruction book.  If I had to guess, I’d say stoves get the most lawsuits.  You all probably know not to dangle scarves or wear loose clothes when cooking but did you know you shouldn’t spray hairspray on when you’re standing near a stove that’s on?  Wicked split ends doing that I guess.  Other important tips that someone must have tried, hence the warnings:

– “Do not place food directly on oven bottom”
-” Plastic containers or cling wrap can melt permanently onto the bottom of the warming oven”
– “Pet birds have sensitive respiratory systems.  Keep them out of the kitchen where kitchen fumes could reach them.  Overheating margarines & cooking oils may be harmful.”  (If you have a wild bird in your kitchen, he’s on his own.)
– “If your stove catches on fire, do not reach through flames to turn off the fan but if you can do it safety you should.”

Super sized sink & a very confusing faucet (I’m sure I’ll figure it out once I read the book).  I love the sprayer – it can do 2 different strength sprays or a stream but damned if I know when it decides to do any of them.  Theoretically after using the spray, shutting it off is supposed to default back to the stream.  Is Hansgrohe a German company too?

Note:  The counters are granite.  Granite is harder than glass.  I broke the first coffee pot on Day 2.

Granite topped island in black with silver tone hardware to contrast with brown on the white cabinets

Important things to know about the microwave drawer:
– “It is for food preparations only!  It should never be used to dry clothes or newspapers.” (newspapers?)
– “Some products such as whole eggs and sealed containers – for example, closed glass jars – are able to explode and should not be heated in this appliance.”  (Some of you may remember what happened with my friend who tried to warm his golf balls in his microwave & ended up with a pocketful of exploding balls).
– Glenda, this one is for you…have you been using your microwave drawer to store your cookbook collection? “NEVER use the microwave drawer for storing cookbooks.”  Don’t you wonder why they had to be so specific on this?
– And, of course:  “At no time should anyone be allowed to lean or swing on the microwave drawer.”

Top Loading, push button slide out microwave drawer

In the second drawer of the island, I added in a nifty peg system to store my everyday dishes and cups.  I don’t have to move at all to unload the dishwasher into this drawer.

Bosch dishwasher with silverware drawer on top & a water softening system. My dishes actually are clean!

I know this is crazy, but again, I have to warn you about the dishwasher door – what’s with doors & drawers?
– “Do not abuse, sit or stand on the door or dish racks of the dishwasher”.
– “To reduce the risk of injury, do not allow children to play IN or ON the dishwasher”.
– Since this is another Bosch appliance, failure to heed these warnings will result Angela Merkel knocking on your door and smacking you around.

And my bank of narrow cabinets, also known as the landing area for mail, cell phones, wallets, and of course cats..

Landing area for wallets, phones, and cats

It’s been a long process, but I am so happy to have my dream kitchen in time for Christmas.  A few recommendations if you are considering a major renovation:
– Plan the project for warm months.  You will have all sorts of workers in and out all day and if you are having tiles cut, it’s best they do that outside.  In the case of the wall tiles, they were cut one piece at a time so the door was always open.
– Plan a slush fund of 10-20% of the total cost for unexpected expenditures.  No matter how well you plan, there’s always a chance that once a wall comes down or a soffit gets knocked out that wires or surprises will come up.
– It’s well worth hiring an expert kitchen planner to guide you through the process and to coordinate the subcontractors.  One guy can delay a project and you really don’t want to be scheduling plumbers, electricians, plasterers, or building inspectors on your own.
– Don’t try to cut corners thinking that you’ll save a little.  My thinking on this is that if you’re investing in a major re-do, why try to save a few dollars by putting something in that will be an eyesore.
– Practice deep breathing and relaxation exercises and be ready for the phone call that your entire tile shipment was smashed.