When we moved full time to the land in 2006 there were so many systems that had to come together; water, heat, power, propane, to name a few — that they took precedent over all else. I had a sort of functioning kitchen space, but really as the years rolled by it became more and more un-user friendly and it was just plain ugly.
So sometime around the holidays 2019 I started thinking seriously about putting in a proper kitchen.

This was always to be temporary!

And then this happened: Tear Out – wall shelves

Tear Out – base shelves

All that was to show you how I got to here. Just re-doing a kitchen / kitchen remodel generally assumes that there were cabinets and counters. It’s a big deal to me to be able to function, cook, can and hopefully when Covid-19 let’s up, entertain and to have a clean – well lighted space to do it in.

I worked with locals, Brian Harper of Specialized Woodworks in Redway helped me design the cabinet layout. He and his son Zuma did the install, very quickly I must add. They were moving fast (they live 2 1/2 hours from here and only wanted to come one day, and I don’t blame them on that at all).

Brian took on getting the under cabinet lighting installed, after the uppers were up, so lots more work for him. We also switched out the cabinet over the stove for a shorter one, as I needed more room for my pressure canner and to be able to lift a quart jar out of it without knocking my hand on the vent fan.

Brian held my hand if I started freaking out about something and was really wonderful & fun to work with.

Alan Ivey, who built this house and every addition to it, hooked up the quartz aqua-divide sink & faucet and installed the vent fan. He also did the window trim and will be back again to do some more trim sometime. The best handy man in the south county.

The countertops were installed by Arcata Countertops – they are quartz and I love them.

New Cabinets Installed!
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The pantry unit to left of the fridge, Brian installed that 3 years ago. The cabinets are maple.

Now to get it personalized, some bright touches of color, a back splash of some sort for above the stove. I am still sorting stuff into drawers and cabinets.. so much of my kitchen stuff was almost inaccessible that I never used it. A lot of it is out now, and if in a year or so, it still isn’t in use, I will purge.

Working Kitchen