New Year, New Projects!

Happy New Year All - I'm sure many of you might have a renovation planned in 2011. Or maybe that plan is still just bouncing around in your heads at this stage but nonetheless, this is the time of year I start to look ahead at my 'To do' list. My list is expansive. It not only has seasonal projects such as gutter cleaning but it also takes me right through about 15 years of future expansion and addition ideas. It can be intimidating. I like to do at least one house renovation and one landscape improvement per year. For 2011 It looks like I'll be doing a biggie. We are going to knock out the wall dividing our dining/living area and kitchen to create one open concept living/eating/cooking area.

For those of you that don't know, we completely gutted and renovated our kitchen less than 4 years ago. So, what the heck are we doing now?

Well, at the time we were expecting our daughter's arrival and our first goal was to create a usable kitchen. Call that reno 1.0. Now that some time has passed and our daughter is almost 3, we are onto reno 2.0. This is where we create a perfect integrated living space.

The list is not long but it is precise because I'll be relocating some cabinetry and dissecting a fairly new kitchen, then putting it back together and adding a few things here and there.

I'm going to blog and post updates here so those interested can follow along. All the way from design/inception to finished product.

Here's the rough blueprint so far:

• Consult with a structural engineer - the wall is load bearing so I want to get specific ideas/drawings on beams and methods we can use. The span will be 12'-17' depending on the load points and what the engineer recommends. (safety first !)
  
• Remove all upper cabinets and store during demo/construction.
• Relocate microwave to new pantry area - electrical wiring
• Move existing pantry to new location
• Demo wall, install beam (researching reclaimed barn beams)
• Build new seating/bar counter to bridge kitchen/living areas
• Measure for granite
• Redo most baseboards/trim and finish with maple accents/architectural details.
• Research heating/cooling options and designs
  

There's actually alot more but that is roughly what we have going on. Wish me luck and stay tuned.

Happy New Year,
Deyano