Thursday, December 12, 2013

Counter Deconstruction


It's been a long week of playing nursemaid to the cat.
Warum had a little bit of a complication with is surgery but
after two visits to the ER and a second procedure at the dentist,
I'm relieved to say he's doing much better.  Poor little thing.
He has no idea why he has no teeth or why he hurt so much.
Thank you all for the thoughtful comments.  They really helped.

Anyhoo, I've had very little time to get anything done around the house
and the wet polyurethane really put a damper on things anyway so I thought
you might like to see the store counter outside of the cramped Darby Road
warehouse where it was really difficult to get good photos.


Here's the full monty--all 12 feet--of the front side.  It turns out that the top which we thought was
solid walnut isn't really solid.  It's a pine frame with an thinnish piece of walnut set in to that frame.
It was also heavily glued down so there's not a lot of walnut that can be reclaimed for the project.
My goal is to get the finished kitchen cabinets to have the "flavor" of this side of the counter.


All of the drawers have been taken out for the move but the back side has all of these
drawers and shelves that will be put to use as part of the kitchen cabinets.


Once in Sam's shop, the entire piece was broken down.  Here are a few of the drawer units. 



All of the decorative columns have been removed leaving these panels which will become cabinet doors.


So here's a first round of CAD drawings that Sam drew up of the stove wall elevation.
You can see the panel detail is replicated in the doors of the cabinets and one
of the drawer units worked in to the right of the stove.

Ignore the wall above the stove.  We haven't worked that out yet.  I would like
some glass fronted cabinets but they may not be in the budget right now.


This is the sink wall elevation.  Two columns are flanking a farm sink.  One of the drawer units
again being used to the left of the sink and a cabinet with paneled doors to the right of the dishwasher.
You can see the side view of the refrigerator on the very right and the planked wall on the side of it. 


And here's the refrigerator elevation (which faces the stove).
There's a built-in above the counter where I'll put
the microwave, a little TV and cookbooks, etc.

And there was a little room left over next to the fridge where I
thought a wine rack would go.  I'm hoping to use the little bit
of walnut reclaimed from the store counter top as the shelves.


Here's the planking that just went in yesterday.  This is in the
space between the dining room and kitchen.  I'm looking for
old armoire or cabinet to use as a pantry in this space but I 
thought it would be nice to repeat the planking that I used in
the bathroom in this transitional area.

We're supposed to get snow all weekend and I'm kind of looking
forward to it.  I'm going to crank up the hot plate and heat me up
some soup.  And hopefully get some painting done.

46 comments:

  1. The elevations are hinting at a really gorgeous kitchen. I am sure many, myself included are envious of the new look and reclaimed cabinets.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It might be difficult for everyone to find the right person to do the deconstruction and rebuild of such a thing but it should save a lot of money on cabinets too.

      Delete
  2. That counter really is an incredible find. How lucky you were able to find someone to help you reimagine it a bit. I'm interested in hearing about the counters you are considering.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! And it was in the first place I went to look for ideas too! The store said they could imagine who would use this or what they would do with it but they're excited to see it get a new life. Since the piece will be new and old wood combined, it will have to be painted, probably gray, and I'm considering using marble for the countertops. Carrara or something of that ilk.

      Delete
  3. I'm sure it would have been easier to build from scratch but you wouldn't have had the inspiration you are getting from this old piece. It's going to be great. Poor kitty. One of my MOm's dogs had to have a bunch of teeth pulled this week. It was Marcus...Harvey's brother. He and Marcus had terrible teeth. Very weird cause the rest of my dogs have good teeth. Just genetic. I hope the cat is better soon. If only we could tell them what was going on. My Mom said Marcus was in her lap staring into her face...telling her to do something. She noticed he wasn't himself at night and the next morning...he was just staring at her to do something so she scooped him into the car and went the vet early in the morning. He had her scared. But he is doing fine now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe easier but I've never been one to take the easy road. This is also much cheaper than buying the cabinets new.
      Warum was doing the same staring into space. I'm not sure if it was the anesthesia or pain meds but it was a little alarming. I was sure he was seeing butterflies or ghosts. Glad to hear that Marcus is doing well.

      Delete
  4. It's going to be stunning! I'm so glad you found that counter..love all the drawer space...Sam is also amazing...after our experience with the addition, I know it's so wonderful to have someone that can work magic in making a vision come to life :)

    I hope your baby feels better soon.
    am

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel lucky to have someone who's willing to help me do this. It's not something that everyone would put up with.

      Delete
  5. Wow, even in the middle of madness, you and Sam create some magic. Befor I put my glasses on I thought the post was title "counter decoration". And I thought, really, he has time to decorate counters?

    But now I see, literally.

    Very BCBG, as always.

    xo J

    Love to the big guy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No counter decoration going on yet. The big guy sends love back at ya.

      Delete
  6. Counter Boy: Oh how I love that old counter. Can you incorporate brass in (as a nod to the,what I imagined, Brass rail in the front)? Hoping your fur friend is feeling better...and even loopy and happy.

    THIS kitchen....I have been waiting a long time for...can you speed it up a tad?

    signed,
    Slug

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would definitely make a great bar. Painted black with a brass rail would be beautiful. I don't think I'm doing black but there might a little brass.

      Delete
  7. I love the design and that planking on the wall, going to be gorgeous when it's all done! What a great find on the cabinet. Hope your kitty feels better soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Nathan. It would be easy to get carried away with the planking. I know, I feel to have found this. I'm not sure what I'd doing without this.

      Delete
  8. Poor kitty! And you--that sounds stressful.

    I love that counter and what you are doing--it's so cool that you are using something old.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jen. I think it's cool too. I hope it looks like something that's been there for 100 years but was just updated with new appliances.

      Delete
  9. Wow, Steve! You're moving at a good clip. I'll bet it doesn't feel like that to you, but I'm impressed by how things are moving along at a steady pace.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It feels it now, Mark, that we're maybe in the home stretch but it's been four and half months.

      Delete
  10. Oh, Steve! I can see it in my head and it's breathtaking! How nicely it all seems to be coming together! I can't wait to see what meals you crank out once it's all completed! I'm oh so glad that your fur-baby is all better!

    Tim

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Tim. I'm really looking forward to cooking too!

      Delete
  11. Steve this is going to be stunning and so original! Very excited for you! Can't wait to see more.

    ReplyDelete
  12. LOVE LOVE LOVE it !
    ( The kitchen, not the poor kittah woes. Glad he's better!)
    Your house is so happy with your decisions...I'm sure marble will be fab in the space, but when I get to do another kitchen, I want to use this stuff-I saw it in a show house in TX and it was gorgeous.

    The irony of it being named "Snow Flurry" is not lost on me.
    http://icestoneusa.com/product/color-palette

    Back to packing....

    PS-you doing a tree this year?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like the Ice Stone. It seems very beachy to me, like crushed shells and glass. I wonder how it's priced compared to stone. Sometimes they're more expensive.

      I'm not doing a tree this year. The house is just too much of a mess. I'm a little bummed; I miss the glow of the lights.

      Delete
  13. Sorry to hear about your little friend Warum, thankfully he's on the mend!

    The kitchen will be a stunner! I can't wait! I think the first thing you should make is my chocolate pecan pretzel pie! ;)

    Thank you for the visit & I enjoyed mine also!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary,
      I'm SO looking forward to cooking ANYTHING but that pie looks awesome!

      Delete
  14. Steve that is a phenomenal piece! I can definitely picture it painted gray with a white marble top!

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow, wow, wow, this is going to be amazing. How much longer do we have to wait?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thank goodness for hot plates, huh!!! :) franki

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh your kitchen is going to be amazing. I can't wait to see it finished. I am sure all the hot plate gourmet meal will be worth it. Have a grand weekend. Bonnie

    ReplyDelete
  18. I think it's going to look great. It's amazing how craftsman can "stretch" wood to make it fit properly. I'm curious. I count eight of the columns (not sure if this is the correct term) and I see four in the drawings. What creative role do you have for the remaining four? An island perhaps?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I call them "columns" too. You're right, there are eight. Sam took two out of the ends of the stove run of cabinets just to maximize cabinet space but I'm putting two back in. I'd like each section of cabinet look like a piece of furniture on its own. The remaining two are reserved for future use. I have a pantry-type cupboard and some upper units that will be built if and/or when budget allows so stay tuned.

      Delete
  19. this is getting tremendously interesting.
    oh my, the scale and the shared creativity is brilliant!
    happy snow weekend, exactly what is happening here

    ReplyDelete
  20. Steve, we finally get to see you! Your shadows, at least :) That kitchen is gonna be very handsome and absolutely one off.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Why did you have to go to the ER twice with Warum? and then a second procedure? Did a tooth break and they leave a root? or what the H?! I would have been freaking out and not very nice about it. I guess that I am very fortunate to be able to be looking over their shoulder during such operations. Still I'd want answers!
    OK, I'm climbing off my soap box now and I'm very glad to hear that he's doing better.
    Your cabinet drawings look amazing. You blow me away with your vision.
    I hope to redo my kitchen this coming year. Nothing as elegant as yours, although the thought of marble does makes me drool.
    But I'm too clumsy and messy for marble. I'd have coffee stains all over it in no time.
    I love seeing the steps of progress. So exciting!
    XOXO to Warum.

    ReplyDelete
  22. In awe about the cabinets. So glad that they are getting a new life. Very envious too. Glad Warum is better.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Everything looks beautiful. I love all the details from the old counter. Wouldn't that store counter have made a fabulous island in a very large kitchen? One bit of advise if you have not considered it, wherever you have doors instead of drawers, use pull-outs. They are so much more useful that open spaces. Happy to hear Warum is on the mend.
    Best...Victoria

    ReplyDelete
  24. steve - im so sorry to hear about your cat. youre so good to take such wonderful care of him. thank you. i am just loving all of this (and the proceeding color wars!!)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Damn…this kitchen is gonna rock. Your attention to detail is always so well thought out….:)

    ReplyDelete