Things are looking pretty in the Apple Hill Cottage Kitchen. Amazing, but true. Excitement abounds. We can actually see over the mountain top — we might even be descending through the slippery slope of final details and finish carpentry! This past weekend not only did I do a load of dishes in my new sink, the next evening we did a load of dishes in the newly installed dishwasher. Life is good.
In the last post I promised some pictures. The tarps are still on the floor, protecting its new beauteousness, and some cabinet doors aren’t yet in place. The tile backsplash isn’t in yet, and neither is the stove. That is actually the next project. We are trading stoves and bringing the electric stove to Pittsburgh and taking my much-beloved gas convection oven to Apple Hill. Also I want to preface some of these photos with this: You will see a lot of green. That is because we painted the whole wall to the left of the sink. But once the tile backsplash goes in (small subway tile — American Olean in Biscuit) the only visible green on that side will be above the cabinet.
So for your entertainment, I’m also including some pictures (of the same spaces) that were taken in August of 2011, right after the cottage became ours.
This…
is now this!
Yes, we took out the little room that was the pantry, so half the wall you see in the first photo is now gone.
This…
is now this.
The cabinet at the far left will eventually be put on the wall and used as part of floor to ceiling bookcase for cookbooks, bowls, tins, etc.
This…
is now this.
We had several landmark events this past week, but one of the best was water in the new faucet coming out beautifully into the new sink…
And another was actually installing some cabinets that have been sitting around everywhere since last summer! In fact, here are just some random shots.
And my favorite —
No plumber’s butt here.
No plumber’s gut either!
It’s a good thing too, or he wouldn’t have fit.
the circle of life 
So fun to watch your cottage come to life!
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Some of the most fun is taking the pictures! But you know that…
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What a transformation :)
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It is, except the word transformation implies immediate change… ;-)
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I just love to see your progress! It is coming along beautifully! Just love your sink too.Miss you guys:)
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Gina!
I recognized your email. I knew it was you!
We miss you guys as well! and think about you often!
(I love the sink too)
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This is not anonymous it’s Gina G!
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Beautiful! Thanks for sharing the pictures. I am wondering why the soapstone was light in one picture and dark in the others…
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Natural soapstone varies in colors, but ours was a light gray. If you don’t want any upkeep, you can leave it like that and it will darken with time and contact from other natural oils, like hands, fingertips, oils in food, etc.
The darkened soapstone was rubbed with mineral oil — instant black with gorgeous veins of other minerals. At first it should be treated every couple of weeks or so, but supposedly, after it ages, you don’t have to oil it as much. I read an interview with a woman who has had hers for a year, and she oils hers every two months. But it is just personal preference as to what look you want. It doesn’t have to be oiled at all. We just wanted ours to be dark.
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Hey! This is looking really good! Nice progress, and I can only imagine how nice it is to have a working faucet and dishwasher in your kitchen again! It looks like a lot of very hard work, but I know it is so encouraging when a project is finished and is successful! Keep up the good work! Looking forward to the next completed project! :)
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Thank you! It was getting old washing dishes in the bathroom sink! The stove is next, and then there are some specific shelving projects, and the French doors. We’re probably still 6 weekends away from calling it finished. But the fact that we can see the end is wonderful! The Bathroom is next!
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Everything is looking so wonderful. I feel the excitement!
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Thank you! After so long of seeming like nothing was happening, it IS exciting to have much happening at once!
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I love that you’ve mixed the cottage vibe with a hip colour. The checkered floor is very whimsical too. Looks great. We just moved from a country cottage and we’re looking for a house. We’re going to try and avoid reno’s because we’ve done it twice and I don’t think I want to do it again :D
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It really is all-consuming…
You’ve done it twice???
The thing is, we are basically cheapskates, and we can do a few things, so we always end up thinking we can do it better ourselves…
Thanks for the good comment — nice to meet you! :-)
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Oh, I LOVE your kitchen. It’s gorgeous! I adore that green door. You’re making me want to paint something green! And the black and white tiles on the floor are so beautiful. You must be SO happy and pleased at how it’s coming along. Definitely worth the work, right?
Thanks so much for joining us and linking to Saturday Night Stars. I’m so glad I didn’t miss this post!
~FringeGirl
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Your comment made me smile. Thank you! I was hesitant to paint the door green: I originally planned on apple red. :-) But I love green, it is just my favorite color and I kept coming back to it. I’m glad I did, I love it.
Thanks for the affirmation!
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Wow. I love the black and white with the apple green! What a transformation. We’re just starting to look at houses, and I wish I had the vision to see that kind of potential. But I’m not sure we’re brave enough to be the renovating kind. :)
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Thank you!
Truth #1 We are old and have lots of experience between us.
Truth #2 My husband can do anything…
Truth #3 This cottage fell into our hands in a way that couldn’t have been anything but God — so we are assuming this is where he wants us to be and hoping He gives us time to get the house ready before He tells us what it is….
:-) And we’re learning patience!
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Wow, it looks like you’ve done an incredible amount of work. I love how you are embracing colors in your kitchen. It looks happy! Thanks for visiting my blog, too. I hope the rest of your renovations go well!
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