So far, so good: Day 4

Well, the demolition was done in one day, so Thursday was spent framing out the new island and adjusting the size of the "window" between the kitchen and the family room. I also took a ride over to the cabinetry supplier, and picked out the drawer pulls and hardware. There weren't too many choices, because we're going with the ones that are included with the cabinets. We have so many cabinets going in, it would have been ridiculously expensive to get custom pulls. Maybe in a few years when I get bored with these? We shall see.

(pictures to be added soon--waiting for Rich to upload them)

Friday was a quiet day here, construction-wise. The plumber isn't scheduled to arrive till Monday, with the electrician to follow soon after. Our designer, Sheila, showed up Friday morning with Grant, our contractor, and they laid out the lighting plan. It was a good day to have some peace and quiet, because the kids were off from school.

So far, I have to say, this process has been very pleasant. Between the breakfast prep area I have set up in the dining room and the makeshift-kitchen area downstairs in the basement, I've still been able to cook and serve meals without much disruption.

Of course, we're only 4 days into this process. We'll see if I'm still singing the same tune next month!

The only headache we're experiencing is trying to find lighting that we like for over the kitchen table and above the island. We've finally narrowed it down to a few choices, and will hopefully get it all ordered by Monday.

Kitchen Renovation -- Day 1

We started the kitchen renovation on Wednesday. I've decided to chronicle the process here for the next few months, so let's start with the obligatory "Before" shots, accompanied by how the kitchen looks today, after the demolition.

Before shot of the kitchen

After demolition


Office Area "before"


Office area now

Sidewall before


Sidewall now

Cakes for a Cause

Pink Velvet Cake

Just recently, I wrote a freelance article on Nancy Finkelstein, the co-founder of Carousel Cakes in Nanuet, NY. Last year, Carousel's Red Velvet Cake was featured in O Magazine as a favorite pick of Oprah and her staff, and Nancy donated of portion of the proceeds from the cake's sales to the American Heart Association.

This year, she's doubling the stakes for another worthy cause: the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Whenever you purchase a Pink Velvet Cake or Pink Ribbon Cheesecake from Carousel Cakes, $3 will be donated to the BCRF.

Pink Ribbon Cheesecake

Now you can have your cake, AND support a great cause. What better way to mark Breast Cancer Awareness month?

Carousel ships anywhere in the United States, and packs the cakes with dry ice and a lot of care to make sure that they arrive safe and sound.

It was a pleasure meeting Nancy, and helping to spread the word about her efforts to support breast cancer research.

The profile I wrote on her will be featured in an upcoming issue of Garden State Woman magazine. I'll let you know when it appears!