It’s been nearly two years that I am working on my
apartment and it is soon going to be a year since the blog started. And yet –
so difficult to reboot after holidays!
I have outlined a number of hot topics, but am still so
reluctant to put them to paper and share. Why? Outcome is not quite like the
project…
For one, there is the presentation media which is not
reliable. If you’d start with 2D believing this is what you’ll be looking at –
well you’re so wrong! 2D is Egyptian papyrus, and our life is at the very least
3D renaissance painting.
So, 2D’s were good to lock measurements and run the
alignments, but it is not what your project will look like.
Then we have the 3D presentations – and here it is the
colour which may fail us.
It is with great nostalgia that I look back at mysecond blog post: Before after and encore. In brief – it was only my second
post and I was already so contented to have in first place changed the
appalling violet colour of my kitchen, but also to have identified so many
things which needed tackling – and therefore the encore.
Then, more recently, in July, in the blogpost
One two three … testing
I proudly demonstrated how I was midway there! In the
process I most certainly shared the difficulties I had with the handy men,
materials and more. Today on the other hand I am happy to report progress, but
also I can carefully examine the result and work out whether it is the
showdown. So, bear with me.
Given that my goals were clearly set in my initial
post, I can easily estimate where I am today:
It is a bit comical that I have the question do I
really want to keep this same kitchen on top of my list. It is not a bad
kitchen, and indeed in the limited space not many improvements are possible. (I
can surely think of some). But, yes, I hope the kitchen will be good for a few
more years, especially since I do not cook regularly.
And to the list:
1.Tiles very
ugly – you must have agreed with that – for a full view of the original tiles,
go to the original tiling dilemma.
Worse than tiles were the uneven, lopsided brown
joints. And on top of all that – so hard to clean … I think I should have them
removed even before I knew how to replace them. Utterly disgraceful. The new
tiles unfortunately were a bit of a cheat – the original shade I wanted was
gone. So, those are light grey tiles – not the cream colour which tied with the
walls and the cabinets.
On the positive side – it is much cleaner job and
given that I also have innox in the composition of all – not so out of place.
It is also a question for designers in principle: what do you do when your
ersatz material doesn't live up to your original choice? Please, don't be shy –
go to the comments and share your thoughts!
2. Lights
missing – got some terribly expensive lights from IKEA, packed with a blue
tooth switch. I love their sleek design and adaptability. Negative sides: I
wanted something brighter. In fact – and important area of the work surface
remains in the dark. Another trip to IKEA is due, then.
And that's about it – compared to the original list –
I have only gotten that far. Oh, and of course got rid of the gas stove, and
got a fantastic new tap. And managed to complete skirting, among other smallish
things, of course. But back to the original list:
3. Still no
extraction through chimney – obviously it is not worth the job if chimney won't
function – so maybe schedule a check, or have a chat with the neighbours?
4. Saloon
doors still there – I so much need an efficient way to be able to lock kitchen
smells in, when necessary , but got used to the cowboy outlook of the kitchen,
so called (otherwise just an end to a corridor)
5. Hide pipes
– indeed will be happy when it is done – but is it possible?
And now, if the same method should be applied – maybe
I should be asking for an encore- encore list. I wholeheartedly retake
everything from the original list, but will be happy also when:
6. Radiator
is cleaned and restored to a nice shape (no rusty stuff insight please)
7. Joinery is
also cleaned
8. Seating
area improved – ideally table decluttered
9. Adorn
walls ? that is something to study! In general storage is scarce but will
mounting things to the walls give me also a sense of order? (I associate open shelving with clutter)
10. Reorganise storage – with/without
dryer for clothes?
So, here is my list – in spite of my near satisfactory
result – I have it doubled. The kitchen at least will keep me busy for some
more time, but the accomplished points do create some sense of satisfaction. Do
you agree? Or would you rather have it all done in one go?
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