2011 ...going, going, gone!

I had good intentions to post something for the new year.  We're still in the first quarter of the year, I call it good.

I spent most of this time planning.  How much planning, do you ask?  Incredible amounts.  I made a binder.  I really should have made one ages ago but I was busy knocking down walls and so forth.  The binder is wonderful by the way, highly recommended.  As much planning as I did though, there were still hiccups.  Our trip to IKEA was the first (let's just say we should have opted for delivery).  YES, we went with IKEA cabinets after going back and forth between IKEA, HD and a local cabinet company.  Honestly, it came down to price, it was half of the cost of HD (we were looking at the Martha Stewart line) and it was exactly what we wanted - frameless, slab doors + white.  We are making progress.  Jason installed our only wall of cabinets and our microwave/wall oven combo is also IN!  Yay!  Thanks for the hard work J ♥  He wasn't able to finish it all but I am going to have the contractor finish the rest.  *fingers crossed*  I would really love to show off our progress but I've decided it would spoil the dramatic "BEFORE & AFTER" shot I'm soo looking forward to.  If have to wait a little longer, so do you.  ;)

 I won't deprive us completely -

 Our new kitchen!  

Easy assembly.  Most of our trouble came during installation.  Extra perk with IKEA cabinets, you can google almost any ? and the answer pops up.  ikeafans.com = awesome

 Tip:  Organize everything into piles and label.

It's amazing how many pieces there are and they all look the same.  

We filled up six flat bed carts. 

 Our very first cabinet.  I had to capture this BIG moment.


I'm still working to hit my goal of completion in May!  All I have to do is.......the to-dos are too long to list, I tried.  Current focus is on counter tops.  I'm about 95% sure I'm doing laminate.  Budget is a major factor but it's also just a great product.  Easy to clean and low maintenance, it has my name on it.