Kitchen Remodel

If you've been following my sparse posts, you know I have moved and am having a house built.   Well, we got the keys to the house.  Hurrah.   This is what the kitchen looked like when we got the keys.

This is what the kitchen looks like now:

Sorry about the blurry cell phone picture. The wall is opened up so we can wire for cabinet lighting.  The tile is chipped up, the cabinets are (almost) gone.  In 10 days we get some fabulous cabinets.  I put free stuff on Craigslist and was happy to give things to people who couldn't afford much and were really excited about upgrading their kitchens and carpets.

Below is the door that Mark, a real craftsman, made up as a sample for me.

In the mean time, I have lots of decisions to make.   I have a Jack and Jill bathroom that needs some jazzing up.  Here's what I am thinking about:

It is calacatta marble tiles, 3" x 12"  Above it is in a diagonal herringbone.  Listed below are options of how to lay this type of tile.  What pattern would you pick?   I am tired of the herringbone, because I have done it a number of times.

After the house closed, we did take a break so we could feel like we had a summer.  We had thought we'd be in the house for a couple of months when we originally planned the trip. So we headed to Maui.

 My favorite place to go is the Grand Wailea.   It's hard to stay tense about remodeling in this beautiful setting!

When we land on Maui, like everyone else, we stop at Costco to get suntan lotion and sundries, and of course, tuberose leis. My daughter and I had fun spending the afternoon in a cloud of tuberose. (Grand Wailea gives you orchid leis on arrival)

I don't really know how to relax, but I did have fun taking walks on the beach and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Now it is back to work.  I can't wait to get out of this apartment into the house!