Our circa 1995 Kitchen had been looking rather tired and worn out for several years and last year, about 3 months before my wife died, we started to discuss replacing it. We briefly talked about any layout changes (none as the current layout had worked brilliantly over the previous 27 years) and what design changes we would include in a new one, and agreed on replacing the wooden top with stone but that was about as far as we got.
After Amanda died I did not have the energy to face going through with any sort of complete reno, but back in March just passed I felt good enough to get ball rolling and got a few quotes. Interesting that they were all close to or more than what we paid for the whole house in 1978! and all within a couple of grand of each other. I chose the most expensive one because they had also recently done my Son's kitchen and he said were very professional about the whole thing. However, they did warn me that they were flat out and it could take a month or so before thy could start.
I paid a deposit in late march and yesterday (13 weeks later ) they finally started! Well so far I am impressed. The plumber to disconnect and seal plumbing, sparky to do likewise for the electrics and demo team were all scheduled for yesterday. The sparky and plumber all turned up at they allotted 2 hour time slot, but the demo team turned up 4 hours late (4:30 pm) but by 6pm they were done! One of the bloke must have been ADHD because he moved like a frenzied demon, but all good. The other one was Mr Chill and built like a brick outhouse carrying 2-4-5 panels of broken up MDF top the awaiting skip like they were feathers. No damage, minimal dust, excellent clean up afterwards, and very cheerful and happy to boot
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I was going to do my own demo but after doing the bathroom demo in 2021 that layed me out for about week afterwards so decided to get it done.
A few Pics.
This is the plumber doing the disconnect. Don't be fooled by the apparent good looks of the kitchen. The low down cupboard doors were all water damaged ie cracked and swollen, as were the cupboards under the sink and the coffee machine which had spilled its guts many times over the last 20 odd years. The oregon bench top was also cracked and damaged in places - I had resanded and recoated it 4 times in 28 years and every time I cursed getting such a soft timber for a bench top. I'm keeping the top and will select bits of the least damaged sections to make cutting boards out of.
Attachment 528024
The main appliances, induction cook top, stove and dishwasher, are all still less than 5 years old and in good nick so I'm not replacing these.
What I am getting is a much more powerful and quieter range hood as the old one which was hopeless at these two specs.
Completed strip out
Attachment 528025
Attachment 528026
