Weekend Update: Kitchen Renovation And More

Under construction: French doors from kitchen to backyard. Details at une femme d'un certain age.

Dispatches From The Construction Zone

I’ve struggled a bit to keep up with my posting schedule this week. Aside from some appointments and obligations, I’d underestimated how disruptive this stage of the renovation on our kitchen and bathroom would be, even with being able to shut myself off in one room of the house. The noise and dust are one thing, but it seems there’s always a question to be answered, placement of a light switch to be decided, hardware to be chosen. It’s exciting, but at the same time, requires a lot of focus.

Above, we’ve widened the doorway going from the kitchen to backyard, and installed French doors. It will let so much more light into the kitchen! Don’t worry, that stoop will be rebuilt to accommodate the wider doorway. It will look much prettier once the surrounding walls are repaired too.

The good news is that we passed the first framing/electrical/plumbing inspection yesterday, and they’re able to start closing up the walls. And we’ve made most of the decisions on materials and placed orders, so a lot of the project should now be on rails. I think. I hope.

A Different Kind Of Renovation

One of my appointments this week was a routine visit to the dentist for a cleaning and x-rays. One of my front teeth has a root that was compromised back in my ‘tweens when a permanent canine tooth, instead of coming down into place went wandering in my upper jaw, and decided it wanted to be front and center. Fortunately it was discovered and removed (via oral surgery) before the front tooth was lost. Braces sorted the rest.

But a few years ago my dentist warned me the root was so small that eventual loss of the tooth was almost inevitable. This week’s x-rays (first in a couple of years) showed that both the root and the bone surrounding it have receded further. She recommends having a plan for an implant in place before the tooth either becomes a problem or I lose it. Ugh.

I’ve had one implant, a molar, and the process wasn’t bad at all. But it also wasn’t visible, and while I know a temporary tooth can be fitted, it’s not a prospect that fills me with joy. The good news is that I have both a dentist and oral surgeon I know and trust. So this may be one of my projects for 2018.

Holiday Cheer

Navy lace top from J.Crew on sale. Details at une femme d'un certain age.

If you haven’t yet sorted out what you’re wearing to that New Year’s Eve party, this lace top is currently 40% off at J.Crew with code TIME2GIVE. (Also in Petite and Tall.)

Neiman Marcus has 20% off a large selection of items with code FRIENDME. Here are some Eileen Fisher pieces up to 40% off.

Talbot’s has 40% off one item or 50% off two or more (excluding new arrivals).

Chico’s is offering 40% off your entire purchase with code 29152. This pleated velvet jacket is a party-worthy piece that could also be styled casually with jeans.

AG Jeans: 30% off select styles plus free expedited shipping.

Saks has a promotion going too: up to $250 off your purchase with code FESTIVE.

Bon weekend!

Stay in touch

Sign up to be notified of new posts and updates from une femme d’un certain âge.

Affiliate links in posts may generate commissions for unefemme.net. See my complete disclosure policy here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

20 Comments

  1. Currently waiting for front and center implant to heal. There was an unavoidable week with no temporary, now I have an Essex retainer, which looks fine. Can’t eat with it in too well- lost 3 pounds on reduced snacking and needing to cut everything up before chewing – every cloud has a silver lining

  2. You must be thrilled to be remodeling your kitchen. It’s amazing how changing one’s space can change one’s outlook. I chuckled when you mentioned having to decide where to put a light switch. We built a home a few years ago, and I can remember spending HOURS with the architect and electrician determining the placement of every outlet and switch. I’m glad now that I did; it’s surprising how many outlets one needs in today’s world.

    One thing I did that I’m glad of, is to spend extra to get colored switch/outlet covers that blend into our backsplash. Our backsplash is a rusty looking blend of glass tile and I was afraid that standard color covers would stick out like a sore thumb. The extra cost for the few covers we needed was well worth it.

    Hope you have a peaceful weekend.

  3. Susan, sending you best wishes that your dental and domicile renovations go successfully and quickly.

    When do you expect/hope your home renovation will be finished and you’ll be Home Alone (which is what hubby and I call our favorite place to be)?

  4. We are probably going to remodel our kitchen in the next year, a project I have put off for several years because of the dread of living through it (I have done this once before, in a differnt home). My house, like yours, is a one level, under 2000 sq.ft. space, and much as I might look forward to seeing how you have designed yours, I would love to hear how you are living in it during the construction, how are your pets managing, etc?

  5. We just finished a “mini-facelift” on our kitchen – cabinets painted, new counters and tile backsplash…much like childbirth, you forget how awful it is when it’s over.!

  6. Brava, you’ve done it again! I just ordered the J. Crew top. I didn’t see it in navy, but I got it in “burnished moss.”
    Best wishes on your dental issues.
    We remodeled our kitchen a dozen years ago and it was a wonderful change. I don’t know that we’d still be in this house if we hadn’t remodeled. Kitchens in 1925 weren’t what they are today.
    Happy Chanukah!

  7. You’ll be so happy with the results! Ordered the Ganni leopard coat, it’s beautifully made, fits perfect , love the a line shape, large pockets, and bracelet sleeves ( no hemming, I have short arms!!!). Note: the lining is polyester, not silk. Unfortunately the leopard color wasn’t as complimentary to my complexion…. boo hoo… but thanks for showing it, I would have worn it a lot!

  8. Glad to hear your kitchen reno is going well. IT is surprising how disruptive these renos are! You must be happy you are working from home during this time so you are available for the numerous questions.

    I am not sure if you have seen the electrical outlets with the built in USB ports but you may want to consider one of those for a convenient charging area in your kitchen. Or “while you are at it”, have the electrician replace an existing one in your home office. We first saw those on holidays in Scotland this summer and thought they were brilliant! We plan on swapping out two of ours in the near future.
    An example: https://www.amazon.com/TOPGREENER-TU2152A-W-2PCS-Receptacle-Tamper-Resistant-Included/dp/B01J6JJD8A/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1513441713&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=usb+outlet&psc=1

    Thank you for posting, Suz from Vancouver

  9. Just saying that I had an implant about 30 years ago, next to my top front tooth, and it has behaved beautifully ever since – just make sure the color you choose matches perfectly, and you will be fine!

  10. Haha, this post has just reminded me of a house we built at the beach. The project manager thought I’d lost the plot when I asked for a power socket where I planned to put our Christmas tree. I don’t think she’d ever had someone quite so forward planning obsessed!

    1. I asked for similar things; sockets in certain spots, dimmer switches, a special closet in our living room to store ornaments and even insisted on higher ceilings so I could get taller trees!

  11. Your dental dilemma sounds exactly like what happened to me – permanent canine wandered away too far to be brought back with orthodontia, so was removed when I was a teen in the ’70’s. At the time my dentist was also quite young and had his eye on developing future possibilities such as single implants… fast forward 30+ years and I had moved back to my hometown and back to that dentist. He thought it was time, so my oral surgeon did an extraction and immediate implant, then dentist put on a temp crown which looked absolutely perfect, unless you looked close enough to see that it was ever-so-slightly less translucent than the rest! A few weeks later the permanent crown went on … that was 12 years ago and I’ve had zero issues except that my natural teeth have changed color a bit so I may consider whitening to match the crown.

  12. The kitchen redo will be worth it. You will find yourself wondering how you ever managed in the “old” kitchen. I have found a new dentist I really like (after auditioning several) to replace the former one who moved away. I am very picky about dentists, and I’d almost rather have to find a new hairdresser than a dentist. (Almost…)

  13. If it’s not too late, our contractor placed all of our kitchen outlets on the underneath side of the upper cabinets. They are totally invisible (unless you lean over and look)and I am thrilled with the uninterrupted backsplash!

  14. I was hoping you would have a mention about lace as I have seen so many women wearing it at functions I have attended since the beginning of November. It is always black – long sleeve T tops, short and long skirts (broomstick), dresses and dresses with lace insets. It is quite trendy in this area of the U.S.

  15. A few years back my husband had to have both of his front teeth replaced with implants due to a teenage skating injury that had been fixed with caps and then long ignored :-/ Luckily if you have a good oral surgeon you have nothing to worry about other than the awkward in between period while the work is being done.

    I can sympathize with the mess associated with home construction. We have been renovating our Master Bath for forever it seems, and now in the home stretch. Once the finally paint and caulk touch ups are done, I cannot wait to give my bedroom and bath a deep clean to get rid of months of dust!

  16. Lovely to see the progression of the kitchen. Do show us when everything is finished, won’t you?
    The dental work? It has to be done I agree, but indeed ugh.
    Greetje