It’s Christmas Eve and the appliances are in!
Everything but the cooktop ventilation which needs to be routed up through the roof. The HVAC company came out on Friday and performed half the job but the roof has a super steep pitch and it had rained all night so it was too risky to get UP ON the roof. That can wait. At least we can now eat some real food from home…I’m getting sick of eating out…everyday…and it’s getting expensive…and we’re eating a lot of stuff that’s not good for us.
SO yeah all around!
It took Wes about 3 hours to get the feet on both units and us both another 2 hours to get the units tied together and installed. 5 hours total. But oh so worth the time. WE LOVE OUR NEW FRIDGE AND FREEZER
Lots of space which we NEVER had enough of before and since we ripped out the entire kitchen and started over completely with a huge space that was completely wasted before I don’t feel bad about taking up this much room for these appliances because we need more fresh food storage than pantry for boxed, prepackaged foods. I think in the long run we’ll be more successful at healthy eating. Eventually.
So that’s the fridge and freezer. Looks like a $10,000 set but was only $3000. Frigidaire from Home Depot with a 5 year protection plan for an extra $150 each — which is worth it to me because the reviews on every single refrigerator and freezer I looked at had reviews that made me not want to buy anything but these had the least amount of bad reviews so these are what I got. We’ll see how it goes.
The microwave/oven/additional oven went in last week. We are loving that set. Kitchenaid combo where the microwave is a microwave but also an oven so you can actually cook/bake in each but don’t need an additional separate microwave. Perfect space saving idea: double ovens and microwave in only the double oven space! Love it.
We had to set the cooktop and vent so the HVAC company would know exactly where to drill the hole in the ceiling and attic. There happened to be a rafter right in the way but the flexible tube gives a little and it totally worked out so I got the vent exactly centered in the middle of the box beam ceiling. THIS is why I like designing and building as I go. Everything can be adjusted so EVERYTHING comes out EXACTLY like I want it to. It’s been an adventure but so far it’s coming along pretty nicely.
This is where I wanted to be by Christmas and I’m actually amazed that we made it. I didn’t even come close to pulling this off alone. It takes a village!
My electrician, Sontero had his work cut out for him because we cut and capped wires and just pushed them through the floor when we took the wall out. He had to figure out where everything went …but he did and got everything hooked up exactly like I wanted it to be. He’s awesome! I’ve been really lucky with the tradespeople that have done work for me. The’ve all been really good. I think it’s a fluke. I’ve never had things go so smoothly and maybe I should stop talking before I jinx it!
Definitely didn’t plan on having so many handymen doing work that I normally do myself because I need to baby my back until this sciatic pain/issue is resolved. I had my MRI yesterday so we’ll see if there’s something to see but I’m on the mend either way.
In the mean time, I’m building but not lifting. I have whoever is in the house come turn or lift and everyone around had been keeping me on track. If Luke or Sontero have seen me lift anything (even an empty box) they jump over and take it from me.
Luke keeps telling me, “You feel good right now because of your medication but if you do too much you’re going to hurt worse than ever once you finish it!” And I know he is right which is why I have been being incredibly careful.
I promise. Would I lie?
No, no I wouldn’t!
So this is where we are on the kitchen remodel. We have functioning appliances and are going to set up some card tables and just enjoy the holidays. We’re not going anywhere. Just taking it easy and enjoying some sawdust free moments before the chaos continues.
There’s still a LONG way to go but it’s beginning to look a lot like a house I’ll be excited to live in! It’s getting really exciting! This is all I wanted for Christmas — which is why there are like 2 presents under the tree. LOL We haven’t had time to wrap…in fact, Wes and I are just now going shopping — today. So I better run!
Merry Christmas Ya’ll!
Pam says
Wow! It looks amazing! Another beautiful job.
Merry Christmas!
Pam
Victoria says
Way to go! Glad you hit a bit of calm before the chaos continues. Merry Christmas!
Jim says
Looks fantastic. I would be interested in how you did the ceiling. Is it plywood boxes wrapped in drywall or something else? I would like to do that in my own kitchen.
Jennifer says
It looks fantastic. Great work. Merry Christmas!!!
JennB says
I’d love to know the model of your Micro/Oven combo unit. It looks very nice!
kristin says
That is one mammoth fridge/freezer! So glad you made it this far and how sweet of your workers to watch out for you. All I wanted for Christmas was to finish our bedroom so I asked for a chair to lounge in (I hope I make time for that!) and a desk. I had a vision and just want to see it through, be done with the house, and enjoy. We are finally getting a REAL bedframe! Nineteen years of marriage and finally growing up to a real bed! Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and New Year filled with health, joy, and no bad backs! 🙂
Jake's a Girl says
Fan-dang-tastic! I think you can fall in love with a fridge! 😉
Merry Christmas and hope your back is muchly better soon.
JaG
chris kauffman says
It looks like it is going to be truly amazing. I just completed a ceiling similar to that in my family room just in time for Christmas. I did mostly all the work other than the initial framing by myself and it was really hard on my neck and back and arms,etc, but it was so worth it, its a show stopper. Merry Christmas.
Liz VanKirk says
It’s looking fantastic! Wish I had room in my kitchen for that refrig/freezer combo.
kim massa says
It looks great. I’m so happy you met your goal.
Looking forward to seeing more progress.
Merry Christmas Sandra!
[email protected] design studio says
I had the same fridge and freezer for the past 5 years…….LOVED them and never had any problems. We recently moved and now I can’t wait to get the kitchen redone so I can buy a new set.
Cheers,
Janis
Nora says
I love this option! What are the dimensions of your fridge/freezer? I am finding that most of the decent size fridge/freezer combos stick out way way past counters. (30 cu ft sticks out 39+ inches!)
Jeanne fraga says
We are building a new home and need to pick appliances. We want a fridge/freezer like this but add scared after reading so many bad reviews. What model did you get and are you still happy with them?
Bliss says
This is an oldie but a goodie post of yours that I found while researching single door fridge/freezers. So you got the 5 year protection plan, have you had any troubles? I’m like you – never enough fresh food space in my fridge, and our range took a crap a week ago so now I have to put a kitchen remodel to the front of the list which includes separate freezer/fridge. Tell me your whole opinion on the Frigidaire, separate units configuration.
Sam g says
Hi,
I’m looking to replicate your refrigerator idea. But am at a loss. What did you do to assemble the two refrigerators . Is there a separate kit that you bought ? Wheres the top and bottom panel available ? Any help is much appreciated
Thanks
Sandra says
The newer models are not exactly the same as when I purchased these. On mine, there was a separate trim kit that was needed.
Anna says
Love it! Mind telling me what size fridge/freezer that is? We are looking at the 19 cu ft but afraid it’s over-kill. Yours looks nice.
Sandra says
That is what there were and we loved them.