PHASE TWO BEGINS

And now for all those fiddly bits! It’s been 2 days since the builders returned to begin phase two of project Nouvelle Cuisine and to be honest I’m more than relieved. I’ve come to loathe microwave dinners, some of which taste less appetising than a bowl of Pedigree Chum. There is more nutritional value in the packaging than in the meals themselves. I really miss not being able to cook proper food.

Installing a kitchen is no easy task. For a desk jockey like me, it looks a logistical nightmare. For starters, there are so many different component parts to co-ordinate. There’s the assembly of the carcasses, wall and floor tiling, worktops, plumbing, gas and electrics, fitting of all the appliances and then a million minor snagging bits and pieces to tidy up once everything else has been done. Watching it all come together over the next week or two will be strangely fascinating.

Our chaps have begun with the right hand side of the kitchen as this is likely to be the easiest part of the installation having less fiddly bits and existing utilities (water and electrics). 

 

Assembling the carcasses

Tuesday – most of the base units and wall hung units have been assembled and positioned according to the detailed plan drawn up by the Wickes kitchen designer. Everything appears to fit where it should although getting the fridge and freezer into the gap at the end of the worktop might be a tight squeeze.

Positioning the base units

Will they all fit in according to the plan?

Wednesday – first length of worktop laid across the base units and hole cut out for the stainless steel sink. A black granite worktop would have been fabulous but in a kitchen the size of mine, would have cost a small fortune so I’ve gone with a smart black laminate one called High Definition Lunar Night. These high definition laminates are hard wearing for the money – just as well as I expect this kitchen to see me well into retirement.

Worktops 3 m long so will need a join on the end

Already the room looks longer

Thursday – tiling has begun. A section of jade metro tiles has been pegged out as a splashback across the wall where the back door once stood. The tiles are a good match for the Soft Fauna painted walls and will look lovely once edged with the gunmetal grey tiling strips.

Tiling between worktop and wall hung cabinets

Jade metro tiles pegged and ready to grout

Hurrah the washing machine has been plumbed in again! No need to pop round to mum’s this weekend for a cup of tea with a basketful of smelly washing.