Pimp My House?

[RiverDave]

Well as some might know and most others don't, this year is the year we decided to give the old river pad a face lift of sorts.. I know absolutely nothing about construction, tile, granite, appliances, cabinets, and general handiman type things.. Put me in front of a mill and a lathe and I'm right at home, give a skill saw and I'll probably lose some fingers.

Either way, over the next 6 - 8 weeks I'll be taking pictures of what we're doing, where we shopped, what we bought, what we looked at, how we saved money, and how we spent extra becuase we've never done it before. If nothing else maybe it'll save some of you some coin, or some research on shopping for bar fridges, stoves, ovens, microwaves, warming drawers, ice makers, etc.. LOL

1st we'll start with pictures of the house in it's current configuration.

Up 1st the Kitchen..

1. View facing the Canal


2. View slightly left


3. View slightly Right


4. Further Right towards Fridge


5. Over view shot from Dining Room


RD

 

[OutCole'd]

Dave, if I can help you from anything here, http://allcabinetparts.com/ let me know.

 

[Riverbound]

have fun with it. As you know all to well, we just (mostly) completed a total remodel on our house. It wasnt till we decided to have fun witht h project that it became and enjoyble experience. Although we did make the mistake of hiring Local Parker help and that added quite a bit fo stress to the project.
________
CHEAP GALCO TUCK N GO HOLSTER SIG SAUER RIGHT HAND

 

[RiverDave]

Dave, if I can help you from anything here, http://allcabinetparts.com/ let me know.

do you do Cabinet doors? I'm going to be removing all the doors, cutting some inserts for a larger ice maker, beer fridge(s), wine coolers etc.. and then putting new doors on..

I'd also like to refinish all the faces of the cabinets.. any tips/ tricks?

RD

 

[whiteworks]

how deep into it are you planning on going? if you are planning on new cabinets, check out http://www.aristokraft.com/ this is a pre fab line of cabinets with a 3 week turnaround time. if you want some nicer$ prefab cabinets check out http://www.diamond2.com/images/h_logo.jpg also 3 week turn around time. I have had good results using both lines. the prices are pretty amazing compared to custom. you will need to draw out the existing floor plan and each wall, include exact placement of plugs, lightswitches, window placement,drainlines, waterlines. gas lines, dorrways and anything that you see. this step is crucial so take your time and take good notes. from this point you go meet a distributer and pick your details and have them draw up a configuration for your kitchen. it is a good idea to have your appliances picked out and know the sizes at this time. write a check 100% and 3 weeks later the cabinets are shipped to your site. the install is pretty easy screw them together and screw them to the wall. you can save a shitload of money using aristokraft but the diamond line is better$$. I think we talked about concrete counter tops before also a good way to save some $$ if you want to do it youself. if your interested in either of the cabinet lines I can put you in contact with my distributer.

 

[RiverDave]

I looked into some of the pre fab cabinets.. Quite honestly I'm happy with the "layout" of the cabinets I have.. They just need to look "newer" since the house is old schoo, they are all real wood cabinets etc. I think just replacing the doors, and sanding down and finishing the faces is going to be the most cost effective and best plan for me. I'm thinking the whole thing might cost a couple of grand (2 - 3) instead of costing 10 - 15 grand.. (There's a shitload of cabinets throughout the house.

RD

 

[RiverDave]

Here are some pictures of the bar that is just to the right of the kitchen in the pics above. We'll be doing a granite counter top,

Granite kinda looks like this

http://www.italianstones.com/BATIMAGE/CB0103-1A.jpg

Upgrading the ice maker to a under the cabinet (just slightly larger and stainless) and adding a beer fridge / wine cooler deal.

So where I'm at right now..

We've picked out the Faucet(s) we like for the Kitchen and the bar (they match) and I think they even offer a matching lil faucet for the Reverse Osmosis system.

This is what I picked out for the Kitchen faucet

http://www.faucetline.com/item_description.asp?prodcat=Kitchen&prodid=17327

Bar Faucet (same style)

http://www.faucetline.com/item_description.asp?prodcat=Kitchen&prodid=17458




The Bar sink.. Stacy and I decided we want to do something "different" then just the same ole square bar sink. I'm really leaning towards the 33 inch "trough sink" from Kohler



http://cgi.ebay.com/Kohler-Underton...ink-K3155_W0QQitemZ140108607998QQcmdZViewItem

The 1st one isn't too big, but I'm not sure if I like it more then the Kohler.

http://www.vidavici.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=564

This one looks bad ass, but the sumbitch is 4' Long!! Damn near take up my whole bar, which I don't think I'm real interested in..

Kinda debating between the one directly above and the Kohler
http://www.vidavici.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=565


Which one do you think?

RD

 

[whiteworks]

The new doors and hardware will do a lot. I am going to assume that the drawers dont have runner hardware. You might have to make new drawer boxes to accomidate such hardware and new drawer fronts "just thinking out loud on this one"

paint grade or stain grade?

the kohler trough sink is pretty trick but it doesnt seem as functional as the elkay mystic.

I just had a customer pick that same sink faucet, I liked it alot and the price is good.

I dont know if you have an RO stystem already, I have been using the SQC3 for water treatment in my area.The SQC3 runs about $300. I assume you will filter the ice maker as well a second or larger tank might be something to consider. http://thewaterstop.com/certified_2.cfm

 

[OutCole'd]

You can buy doors from company like this http://www.decore.com/doorsgroups.asp?product_category=Doors&view=all They sell direct to the public for the same price as they would sell to a cabinet shop or retailer. Problem is they come raw (not stained or finished). You would need to sand down all your excisting cabinet frames, then restain everything including the new doors then finish/seal everything. That's a big deal.

I like the Whiteworks idea, get all new modular premade cabinets that have the cool euro hinges and ball bearing drawer glides. There all finished in the color stain you are after and screw right in.

I can help you with the drawer pulls & knobs though.

 

[RiverDave]

I'm 95% sure all the drawers that I have are ball bearing drawers. The boxes themselves and the "rollers" for lack of a better term work very well so I don't think I need to replace those?

RD

 

[RiverDave]

How much do you figure for the doors to outfit my existing cabinets?

There's a few more in the master bath, and a couple in the laundry room as well?

RD

 

[OutCole'd]

How much do you figure for the doors to outfit my existing cabinets?

There's a few more in the master bath, and a couple in the laundry room as well?

RD

I have there price list. I would need to know which door style & wood specie to quote it. That and dimensions of all the doors & drawer fronts.

There is a square foot price for all the doors and drawer fronts, we would just need to calculate how many square feet you are going to need.

 

[RiverDave]

Ahhh the bar fridge and the ice maker. This is turning out to be one of the largest Pain in the asses of the whole project. It would seem that most companies out there believe that if you have a bar deserving of a real Bar Fridge/Wine cooler or beveradge center (as some would call it) then your gonna have to spend 3000'ish bucks to get it and an ice maker.

Where they come up with these prices is absolutely beyond me.. A mini fridge is 100'ish bucks anywhere you go. Apparently a stainless door, or some glass on the front adds a zero and then some on that program. Forget about it, there's no 2 ways about it.

So we've done our homework, and thanks to the Flyin Vee's have found a pretty good website that has decent pricing called Us-Appliance.com which I'll be referencing alot. (For some reason they don't have monogram pricing listed, you have to call, but I've already called so we'll just use that pricing.)

Now I'd like to primarilly stock this full of beer during the summer time so the "wine cooler" only deal is out.. It's going to be a beverage center, or a fridge. (Beveradge centers have wine and other near as I can tell)

The Jenn Air - http://www.us-appliance.com/jub248lbrs.html = 1219.00

GE Profile (ugly) -http://www.us-appliance.com/pcgeprbece.html = 1049.00

Marvel - http://www.us-appliance.com/6bma24dubean1.html = 1379.00

Dacor - http://www.us-appliance.com/ef24rbcss.html = 1701.00

KitchenAid - http://www.us-appliance.com/kbkiariisebe.html = 1099.00

And finally my personal favorite the "monogram" -

http://www.us-appliance.com/zdgemounwire.html = 1029.00

The monogram has a black glass door (liquid crystal) when the light illuminates from inside, the glass goes perfectly clear.. It's bitchen. But none the less I refuse to pay 1000.00 for a dressed up fridge. Off to home depot we go.

They sell this model (couldn't find it on their website)

http://cgi.ebay.com/EVERSTAR-2-DOOR...ryZ71264QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Brand new for 549.00!!! It comes with 2 sets of shelves so you can remove the wine racks and put in normal shelfing for beers etc.. Little baskets on the bottom for limes etc. . Needless to say it was the winner. going to pick it up today!

Incidentally this is the EXACT same unit that Franklin sells for close to 1200 bucks..

http://www.compactappliance.com/xq/...oductID.13494/qx/shopping/product/product.htm

Franklin produces it for Home Depot under the Everstar label.

Home Depot also has 3 more that are seriously worth looking at for the money! They have a glass door Fridge made by "magic chef" looks good, only 350.00 (digital thermostat etc..) Same fridge with wine racks that opens opposite way also 350.00

Then they have another one that looks similar to the other 2 just mentioned, except it has all the digital controls and displays IN THE GLASS of the front door, dual zone etc.. It's 550.00.

Ultimately I liked the Everstar the most, and the price is 1/2 that of everywhere else that I could find for something comprable.

RD

 

[RiverDave]

Ok so does anyone know where to get an Ice maker (preferably drainless, but if it has to have a drain going to need the pump as well) for any kind of reasonable price?

I'd like an ice maker that opens laterally (fridge style) stainless front, preferrably with the towel rack style handle on it. Needs to produce 50'ish (45 is fine) pds of ice per day, with a 25lb storage?

I really like this one

http://www.us-appliance.com/zdis150wss.html

But it is 1100.00 bucks + 400 for the pump = 1500.00!!

This one is peaking my interest as well..

http://www.us-appliance.com/cluecseclice5.html

Any alternatives to spending that much money?

I looked online and found the franklin for 800 bucks, but it's not a freezer! Which means whatever ice it makes, melts in the bin?? Dumbest thing I've ever heard of..

RD

 

[Phebus]

Dave, have you considered a Kegerator rather then a refrigerator for the beer?

 

[RiverDave]

Dave, have you considered a Kegerator rather then a refrigerator for the beer?

I've owned a couple of them in the past.. For a live in home their great! But for a house that might sit for months on end, their kind of a pain in the ass. Filling up the CO2 bottles is a pain, that and even if it's pressurized if you let it sit for months I'm pretty sure the beer still goes flat etc..

RD

 

[RiverDave]

Well I wish I got some better before and after pictures, but unfortunately we lost the camera on friday and couldn't find it until it was loading up time on sunday so this is all we got.

1st weekend out we focussed on Moving a wall in the master bathroom, and moving a door. Forensic and Everett (aka Grandpa) moved the wall, and the FlyinVee's plumbed up the shower already.

Here you can see where we pushed the wall back (background wall) and cut the hall way wall down to a pony wall. The door will be inserted into the openign closest to us, which will open up the whole bathroom and let in more natural light.



Here you can see the plumbing work done by Mr. Vee himself (Said he had alot of fun getting out there and torching it up again) They had to install the drain, change the vent, install the shower valve and a diverter. You can see where the 4 Body sprays will come through the tile, the main shower head, and a "daisy" coming out of the roof. I wanted the "carwash" style shower.





This used to be where the bath tub was.. This will all be filled in to flush for the walk in shower. I was originally going to do a "roman tub" kinda deal, but with the parents getting older it's not worth taking a chance on somebody slipping and getting hurt.





The green shit on the floor is just a wood sealant, that helps to protect wood on concrete. Also keeps out termites and other stuff.



RD

 

[OnlyMoney]

This thread is SO much fun! Thanks for sharing all your research and even putting the links up on those cool applliances. Very cool!

 

[Scott E]

Are you going to have a bench in the shower? Everyone I know that has one loves it...

 

[RiverDave]

Originally with the roman tub Idea we were going to have the bench on the side with the window leading to the outside. Now that we are going flush we really don't have a wall that we could put a bench on.. If I put it on the glass (leading outside the house) wall it'll look like shit from the patio, plus people will be leaning on the glass which is a bad idea. if I put it on the shower head side it will make the entrance to the shower smaller, if I put it on the either side of the shower it'll "thin" the whole shower up too much. So we are going to put a little 45 bench on the opposite side of the entrance, but it's not going to be the big "kick back" and relax bench I had originally envisioned..

If your wondering why there is a clear peace of glass on the back of the shower going to the outside, there is a Patio out there with a 7' wall around it, that was originally built as a nude sun bathing area (70's ).. It's kinda cool though becuase when you shower you can look at all the surrounding mountains etc..

RD

 

[RiverDave]

Ok so does anyone know where to get an Ice maker (preferably drainless, but if it has to have a drain going to need the pump as well) for any kind of reasonable price?

I'd like an ice maker that opens laterally (fridge style) stainless front, preferrably with the towel rack style handle on it. Needs to produce 50'ish (45 is fine) pds of ice per day, with a 25lb storage?

I really like this one

http://www.us-appliance.com/zdis150wss.html

But it is 1100.00 bucks + 400 for the pump = 1500.00!!

This one is peaking my interest as well..

http://www.us-appliance.com/cluecseclice5.html

Any alternatives to spending that much money?

I looked online and found the franklin for 800 bucks, but it's not a freezer! Which means whatever ice it makes, melts in the bin?? Dumbest thing I've ever heard of..

RD

I ended up picking up the GE Monogram at Pacific Sales.. they charged me 1536.00 total (including tax) So I spent 36 bucks more then if I would've bought it through US Appliance.. Us Appliance had a 4 - 6 week delivery time though, and we're not waiting that long to install this, so I needed one now.

Picking it up today!

RD

 

[Riverbound]

Lookin good RD!!!
________
CUMSHOT LONG

 

[Cole Trickle]

TTT

the place should have a second story by now:beer

 

[mrs flyin vee]

lookin good RD.. we will be back up this weekend to do the other bath and the shower outside. I think.? I know for sure the guest bath.

 

[RiverDave]

TTT

the place should have a second story by now:beer

Sorry for the lack of pictures.. I left the camera at the granite yard and didn't pick it up till late last week. Here's some of the pics from the week before. The 1st week(s) was Demo, and framing the walls I moved in the bathroom. After the framing was done I got the opportunity to see the Flying Vee's do what they do best! Pretty much kick ass and take names on the plumbing for the master bedroom shower, drain etc..

These are the next set of pictures.

Now that the wall was framed in the guest bathroom it was time to put the door in and dry wall the wall.

 

[RiverDave]

While Forensic was banging out the Door Everett got handy on some trick little can lights in the master bathroom

 

[RiverDave]

Some other highlights from that weekend was Taren's (Flying Vee's daughter) big ass cat fish that she caught!!

And the sunset on the way home was stunning.

 

[RiverDave]

I also hauled the tile out that same weekend and some other supplies (bar fridge etc, cooktop, down draft etc....)

Taylor (Jamie's son, and one strong ass kid I'll tell ya) unloaded all the tile in the morning.

The soft sitting on it's side is the floor tile, and the smaller whitish squares (various sizes) is the tumbled stone for the showers.

RD

 

[RiverDave]

So now we move forward to this past weekend. Forensic came out and was handling the dry wall, Everett came back to install the can lights in the guest bathroom, and Jamie and Char came out to put in the outside shower. They would've knocked out the guest bathroom as well, but we're not far enough along yet and we still need one functioning shower in the house for the tile / stone guys. I'd like to wait until the master is almost complete to rip out the last shower.

Here's where were at as of last weekend.

In the 1st pictures (there side by side, just looks weird) you'll see the can lights up top, and in the picture to the right the light switch box..

In the next series of pictures you can see the plumbing to the outside shower, where the rain head comes out of the wall, then a lower view of where the shower valve is.

In the last pictures you can see the can lights installed in the master bathroom.

RD

 

[RiverDave]

The tile guys had just started on the entry way and my master bedroom, when we showed up (they had to stop because of the people walking everywhere, plus they needed some special slip sheet?)

Here's where their at so far..

 

[RiverDave]

I ran into a little "snag" on my cabinet situation.. My mini bar fridge and my ice maker weren't going to fit side / side the way that I was going to put them in, so we called in the professional (Extrm22 aka Chuck) from Havasu. He came down and made rather short work of my problem. Definately a good cabinet guy! You can see the Ice maker we're taking out. I wanted to mount my new ice maker (wider) in the same spot with the mini fridge to the left of it. So he cut out what needed cutting, and then made a little "spacer" for lack of a better word to get it to all fit up, and have a nice oak trim peace between them.

In the mean time (since I pretty much suck the big one with construction) Stacy and I have started on the sanding of the cabinets to refinish them.

 

[mrs flyin vee]

Damn you guys.. Lookin good Dave. Sorry we couldn't stay longer. Had to get back to the kids. We will finish up soon.

Dave and Stacy you guys are going to be so happy with the end result. It is already looking like a new house. You guys rock.:beer see you soon.:beer

 

[Cole Trickle]

Cool deal

Place looks great. It's gonna be like a new house when all is said and done.

When you refer to the bathroom/walls by the laundry room ,what all are you doing in there?:hmm

 

[djunkie]

Looks great Dave. With all this remodeling are you gonna put a urinal on the side of the house now? J/k
________
Alaska dispensaries

 

[RiverDave]

Cool deal

Place looks great. It's gonna be like a new house when all is said and done.

When you refer to the bathroom/walls by the laundry room ,what all are you doing in there?:hmm

It used to be that you'd walk in to the laundry room / bathroom and the sink would be straight ahead, and the door would be to the right of the sink. It made for a small toilet / shower area. Literally if you were sitting on the toilet you had to sit at kind of an angle because it was so close to the wall.

We moved the door so that it seperates the laundry room from the sink area, opening up the whole bathroom. The wall between the toilet and the sink is now gone, and we'll be putting in a standing vanity. I already ripped the old sink and cabinets out.

RD

 

[DeltaSigBoater]

It used to be that you'd walk in to the laundry room / bathroom and the sink would be straight ahead, and the door would be to the right of the sink. It made for a small toilet / shower area. Literally if you were sitting on the toilet you had to sit at kind of an angle because it was so close to the wall.

We moved the door so that it seperates the laundry room from the sink area, opening up the whole bathroom. The wall between the toilet and the sink is now gone, and we'll be putting in a standing vanity. I already ripped the old sink and cabinets out.

RD

LOL, my last apartment was like that.

Great pics!

I take it the re-open house warming party/bash is sometime in '08 :beer

 

[RiverDave]

LOL, my last apartment was like that.

Great pics!

I take it the re-open house warming party/bash is sometime in '08 :beer

You take it right.. Early next season I'll have the house warming party to stock the new bar.

RD

 

[Ari]

Great pics Dave, keep the updates coming.

 

[Nord]

Wow, looks like alot of work Dave!!!! Its going to come out great

 

[Angry Inch]

It used to be that you'd walk in to the laundry room / bathroom and the sink would be straight ahead, and the door would be to the right of the sink. It made for a small toilet / shower area. Literally if you were sitting on the toilet you had to sit at kind of an angle because it was so close to the wall.

We moved the door so that it seperates the laundry room from the sink area, opening up the whole bathroom. The wall between the toilet and the sink is now gone, and we'll be putting in a standing vanity. I already ripped the old sink and cabinets out.

RD

That's only cause your fat.

 

[mrs flyin vee]

That's only cause your fat.

then I am fat too. oint

 

[Angry Inch]

then I am fat too. oint

HAHA I think the only one who doesn't have to is NORD. :beer

 

[RiverDave]

Ok these pictures are from 2 weeks ago. Unfortunately on sunday last weekend when I went to take pictures, I had left my camera in a friends car. I only got one picture of the master shower last weekend and that's in the next post.

All the "field tile" is in now, and they should be finished with the granite border by this weekend.

RD

 

[RiverDave]

The only pic I got of the master shower last weekend.

 

[RiverDave]

Well I have a few minutes here while I eat my sandwich (really busy at work right now so not much time to post on the internet) so I figured I'd upload a few of the pics from last weekend.

The granite is now in the kitchen.

 

[RiverDave]

We ended up going back to the original idea of a granite border around all the floor tile.. Unfortunately when we decided to not do this, we laid the border out at 6 1/2 inches, so when we decided to go back to the granite (12 inch tiles) we could only use one tile per foot, as opposed to 2 tiles per linear foot.

Here's some pics of the border. The grantie compass isn't in yet, but will be cut in this weekend.

 

[RiverDave]

I'll post pictures of the shower, and outside shower etc... in a couple hours, have to get back to work right now.

RD

 

[Cole Trickle]

Counters look great!!!

You replacing all of the wood doors with new raised panel stuff?:beer

 

[RiverDave]

Counters look great!!!

You replacing all of the wood doors with new raised panel stuff?:beer

Absolutely..... NOT!!! I love my wood doors! I'm going to restain them darker though.

RD

 

[Cole Trickle]

Absolutely..... NOT!!! I love my wood doors! I'm going to restain them darker though.

RD

serious??

6 panel hollow cores are pretty cheap,less work and will look better