The final before and after photos

A bit late

Here it is -- just after Thanksgiving. And I'm finally updating this blog.

Such is what happens when you teach. But the bottom line is that the kitchen is done.

In September, the contact paper for the soffits went up with some difficulty. But it was easier than removing the wallpaper, repairing the walls, and then painting. The goal was to complete the kitchen efficiently as well as economically.

The metal tiles took longer than expected -- but they were done in a day. Metal tiles are so much easier to cut than ceramic. One doesn't need a tile saw! Or nippers!

The problem was the metal tile instructions said to use the included double-sided tape. In the last paragraph of the instructions, they talked about using ceramic mastic. I wish I had started out using the mastic. The tiles kept popping off. The double-sided tape did not hold that well.

In October, I used mastic to fix the tiles that came off. And all are now sticking.

The kitchen is finally done. It cost less than $2000 for the lighting ceiling, flooring, counter tops, and backsplash. And it held up well under the rigors of Thanksgiving.

The Costs

I ordered the contact paper for the soffits and the metal tiles for the backsplash. The total cost, including 10% figured for supplies and such, is just over $1700. Friends came over yesterday and they thought I had real granite counters. They stayed at the house watching the critters, so they know the old look. The new look got their approval!

The Ceiling

The kitchen looks so nice now.

I searched for black contact paper to use for the soffits. No one has it, so I'll be doing another online order. I also need to order the metal tiles for the backsplash. But once again, I am so pleased. And I can't believe how ugly the kitchen was before we did this work.

The cost right now is at about $1300. Not bad for a new sink, new counters, new flooring and a new ceiling.

The Ceiling Is Done

This is only a part of the ceiling. I am so pleased. Mark, who had a lot of doubts about this idea, is also pleased with how it looks. Next comes the backsplash and the soffits. My internal debate relates to the color for the soffits. Paint is out -- the soffitts have wallpaper and to do them right, I need to use an oil-base primer and oil-base paint. I am leaning towards Contact Paper. But the question is color. The major projects are done. I can wait a bit.

Starting the ceiling

The ceiling tile arrived this past week, so I began to try and figure out out to arrange them. I had talked with a friend, Alan, about how to start them. He's done a lot of home restoration/remodeling. The instructions gave two ideas: find the middle of the room and start there or start at the corner farthest from the main entry. I thought the farthest corner would be fine and Alan concurred. But he said the corner had to be square.

I went to the corner with the carpenters square and found it was not square. I thought the quarter round used as crown molding may have been a problem, so I took it off.

I discovered the wallpaper on the ceiling wasn't as secure as I thought. The quarter round was holding it up! So after the quarter round was removed, I started taking off the wallpaper. This worked because I was a bit stymied as to how to end the tile where the dining area met the living room.

As I was peeling off wallpaper, I learned more about the house. At some point, the ceiling in the dining area was textured. But plaster was used to smooth it out so wallpaper could be put over it. And then when I got to peeling the wallpaper off the kitchen ceiling, I discovered even uglier wallpaper.

In the kitchen, the wallpaper was more securely attached. I stopped there.

But I went back to my corner with my trusty carpenters square, and it is not square. I will have to start in the middle of the ceiling, whereever that it!

This is such appropriate work to my teaching geometry this fall!

The ceiling tiles are on their way

The ceiling tiles were ordered on Tuesday and are en route. The final choice comes from http://www.antiqueceilings.com/. The style and color are Alfa Antique Copper Chocolate.

In the meantime, since we were in a lull, we went to Arches National Park to camp and hike.