The Back Splash Adds the Color

Hummm….thought I would be able to say that my kitchen is finished today with the pictures to complete this story.  But things have not turned out that way.  I am still waiting for a half page of items to be completed including the back splash.  But, I’m going to tell you about the back splash anyway.

A couple of weeks ago when the floors were installed I stood in the middle of my rearranged kitchen and was a little taken aback!  Medium brown oak custom cabinets, tan (Noce) porcelain tile floors from Florida Tile plus toasted almond quartz counter tops from DuPont were adding  up to a fairly monochromatic color palate in my kitchen.  I wondered whether I had made design mistakes by being too conservative.  But then, there is the wallpaper border above the cabinets with the dark blue stripe.  And, the back splash is still to be installed. So, I decided to reserve judgment of my design choices until completion of that project.

Tree of Life and Willow Tree on the Blue Boarder

Willow Tree on the Wallpaper (Sorry for the fuzzy photo.) 

I admit the bask splash has been a challenge.  There were so many materials to choose from including tile (of course) in glass, stone (too many kinds to mention), metal such as copper, tin, stainless steel,  wallpaper, plain paint or paint with a special application technique, and bead board. Even the counter top materials can be extended up the back splash. I could envision nearly all of these choices in my kitchen.  But, of course there were criteria to consider.  So, I made a list of what I was looking for in a back splash:

·         Cost--Underlining all the choices is cost.  I shopped at five tile (brick and mortar) stores and searched the internet in making my choices. (Being a backslash designer would be a good occupation for a young person with talent in art and design.  I could have used the help in developing my back splash.)  In the end, I purchased some tile from a small local store, some tile from a big box store, and more tile from an artisan located across the state via the internet.

·          Color- was the first “must have.”  With the blue wallpaper border surrounding the top of the kitchen wall, I wanted to repeat the color blue in the back splash.  So, blue was one way to focus the choices.

·         Texture—I wanted something smooth and reflective.  A glazed or glass tile would be easy to clean, reflective and certainly smooth.  These nonporous materials would also be stain resistant. Ease of cleaning is important both over the cook top for cooking spatters and in the mixing area where I often fling batter when using the mixer.

·          Pattern—The wallpaper has pattern.  If I used pattern in the back splash it needed to repeat or blend with the wallpaper pattern. There are house and tree motifs in the wallpaper, so I looked for these motifs when I was shopping for tile.

·         Focal point—I wanted to have the space between the cook top and the vent fan as a focal point in the kitchen.  So far there was no place to attract or lead the eye and this rectangle shaped blank space was the natural place to focus.

The Focal Point

I began by choosing glazed porcelain 3 X 6 subway tiles for the main background of the backsplash.  The color is “Crema,” a creamy light color gradient of the floor color from the Renaissance Collection of Florida Tile.  These were purchased at a small local store, G & G Flooring in Greenville, Ohio. 

Next I began searching the web for tile that might have a house, a willow or a tree of life.  These are all motifs in the wallpaper of my kitchen. To my amazement I found exactly what I was looking for at www.emu.com.  The tiles are hand made by crafts person Emily M. Ulm of Emu Art Tile located in Kent, Ohio. You can find her website at http://emutile.com/   I am so pleased with the decorative tiles and they are the exact color (Watercolor Blue) I wanted. However, the willow tree and tree of life tiles came in a 4 X 4 inch size.  This created a problem for the layout with the 3 X 6 inch field tiles. So I launched another search for 4 X 4 tiles needed for the field tiles within the plaque I planned for incorporating the handmade tiles over the cook top.

Tree of Life Handmade Tile--Watercolor Blue

Willow Tree Handmade Tile--Watercolor Blue

The focal design or plaque is composed of a frame formed by glazed chair rail tiles the same color as the floor, the six handmade watercolor blue ceramic tiles with tree motifs and ten fairly plain tiles that would coordinate with the frame and the subway tile. The six blue tiles are in a staggered arrangement with field tiles of a mottled cream and beige picking up the cabinet and floor color and the cream in the subway tiles.  Jim and I found these field tiles as remnants at Home Depot.

Picture Frame with Handmade Tiles

Glass Mosaic Tiles

Finally, I chose one inch square glass mosaic tiles in varying shades of blue to form a horizontal stripe around entire room.  These are from Mohawk.   Glass tiles would have made a beautiful back splash, except they were cost prohibitive.  If I had used this beautiful glass tile for the entire back splash, it would have cost more than the tile for the entire kitchen floor.   So, we made a little go a long way by using four 1 inch tiles to form the stripe.  Each square foot allowed 3 one foot lengths of the stripe.

I’m sure that if I had more imagination, I could have solved the backsplash problem in another way.  But at some point I had to stop gathering information, make a decision, take action and then take my lumps.  There is still more grouting, sealing and finishing to come, but the decision part is done.

Next time don’t miss the finished kitchen. I hope!!!!

The Microwave Saga

February 17^th I lit out for Sears to do some appliance shopping.  I had already made my list and knew exactly what I wanted:

·         One Kenmore cook top—induction

·         One Electrolux double oven—regular and convection

·         One Frigidaire microwave

I had all the measurements and knew which model (and their numbers) of each appliance had the features I wanted and would fit in the space available. The measurements of the spaces that each appliance needed to fit were also on my list.  I was loaded for bear.

When I got to Sears I found a sales lady and told her what I wanted.  She was a happy camper!  She was a new employee just learning the ropes, so I knew that patience would be a virtue.  (I had been a new sales person once, trying to figure out the cash register, etc.)  I understood.

So, we began the process. First on my agenda was the oven because they only had two that met my criteria and I was worried that my first choice would not be available.  It was.  Then we worked out the details for the cooktop.  There was more than one cook top I could be happy with, but again my first choice was available.  Finally, on to the microwave of which there was only one model which would fit in the space and was in the right price range.  We would pick up the appliances and save the delivery charges.

I wanted the microwave to go under the counter for a couple of reasons.  One, I did not want to use up any of the valuable counter space by placing the microwave on the counter.  Previously, it was located above the oven.  Second, when I was having problems lifting things above shoulder level, I was unable to place items in the microwave. So, I wanted the microwave low enough for my needs in that situation and also accessible by wheel chair.  The cabinet maker had installed the cabinet with space for the microwave.  I had the measurements and this was the one microwave I could afford and that fit. It was available too.  I was on a roll!

The Microwave Space

Then we began to ring-up the purchase:  first the cook top, then the oven and finally the microwave.  They would all arrive on the 28^th of March.  What!!!!!  So, the sales person checked on the cook top.  It would arrive on February 21, in just three days.  The oven would arrive on February 28, in a little more than a week. And, finally the microwave would arrive on March 28^th.  Then she rang up the sale and announced that everything would be delivered on March 28^th to the store for me to pick up.

What?  I had to wait until the end of March?  My question was, “Why were the oven and cooktop not available now until March?” So, the sales lady voided everything, called the manager for approval and started in again.  This time, I suggested that she separate the microwave from the other appliances and charge it separately.  Well after three or four tries (the manager had to be summoned each time), she finally got the delivery dates to match my time table.  After all, Jim and I could put the microwave on the shelf under the counter, but we needed the expertise of our contractor for the other two items.

So, appliances were arriving on time.  I began to worry about whether the microwave would fit in the space.  I must have checked the measurements listed on the Sears web site every day to reassure myself that all was well with the microwave.  Then one day on the web site I noticed that there was a frame to fit around the microwave to give it the appearance of being built-in.  Ah hah!  So, I ordered the kit listed for the microwave…only instead of ordering from Sears, I saved $100 by ordering from Amazon. 

In three days the frame for the microwave arrived.  I was very excited.  I opened the box, drew out the frame and held it up to the microwave space.  It was way too big! Installing that frame would cover parts of the drawers below and beside the microwave space.  So, perhaps they had a smaller frame?  Yes, there was one 3 inches smaller and one 7 inches smaller.  Surely one of these would fit.  That’s when I decided to bring in reinforcements for the microwave project.

I gave Jim the specifications for the microwave and ask him to measure the cabinet and see what size frame I should order for the microwave.  He measured and immediately announced that the microwave on order would definitely NOT fit in the cabinet we had constructed.  Therefore, a different microwave would have to be selected.

At that point, I started looking on line for a new microwave.  I checked Consumer Reports again, because by this time I couldn’t remember what the recommended brands were.  I assembled my list of models with the features I wanted.  Then, Jim called from H. H. Gregg in Richmond to tell me about a microwave he saw there.  He thought I should look it up on the computer and see what I thought.  So, I started to work on that.  The second phone call came and he was at Best Buy where he saw another microwave I should consider.  (I was still working on the first one when he gave me the model information on the second one.)   A few minutes later he called again.  He was at Mennards and had another microwave for me to look up.  Then, about a half hour later, Jim called again.  He was in Dayton at Home Depot and had another great microwave for me to check on.  I still had my list of choices from earlier in the day and none of them were ones Jim wanted me to look up on the internet.

Later when Jim came home from work, he suggested that we go to Lowe’s in Greenville and see what they had available.  So, we picked up and headed for Lowes where we found a GE microwave with all the features I wanted.  Jim measured and determined it would fit the space by 1/8 inch.  We made the purchase, brought it home and slid it into the space—thus ending the great microwave saga.  

The microwave slides into the space with a hair to spare on each side.

Notice the two inches at the top for continuation of the saga.

Today I canceled the order for the microwave from Sears. I am not sure what the moral for this story is.  Maybe it is that things are as complicated or as simple as we make them.

A Nap Interrupted and an Oven Wrestled to the Ground

Late Friday afternoon the phone rang waking me from a power nap.  A little groggy, I answered the phone to find it was the counter top fabricator.  His great news was he will be here this Monday morning to install the counters in my kitchen!  Yeah!!!!! That means everything else will fall (not literally I hope) into place. 

The Tile Floor Finally Finished and Grouted

I Am Liking the Floor

The counter will have the sink mounted on the underneath side.  The cook top, now in a box in the garage, can be installed on top of the counter.  Once the sink is attached to the plumbing, the dishwasher can be hooked up again. These things all have to happen in a certain order to work.   I am truly excited!!!

Space for the Dishwasher

Space for the Cook Top

Sometime during this process the 300 pound double oven will be hauled in from the garage and maneuvered into place.  Getting that thing into the garage was a real adventure.  The contractor, Tod Carroll, offered to pick it up from Sears in his truck.  This was great because the 5 foot tall package would not have fit in our small truck or the SUV.  Tod arrived with the tall cardboard clad oven standing in the bed of his truck and backed the truck to the garage door.  All we needed to do was get this 300 pound box from his truck into the garage. 

300 Pound Package in Garage

What the Oven Is Supposed to Look  Like

Patty, Tod’s wife, and I climbed up into the truck and began inching the oven toward the edge of the bed. We are both women of action.  Patty teaches Family and Consumer Science at Arcanum High School.  Meanwhile my husband, Jim, and Tod discussed how they were going to lift this thing down from the bed of truck without breaking themselves or the oven.

Several years ago Jim purchased some aluminum ramps. The purpose for these is still a mystery.  But I thought about these and wondered if he knew where they were located.  I ask whether they could be used to create a ramp to slide the oven down rather than trying to lift such a big carton.  (I had visions of the two men in traction with multiple trips to the physical therapist.) Miraculously Jim not only knew where they were, but produced them in less than 30 seconds. (If you knew what our garage looks like, you too would be amazed.)

Within minutes the ramps were in place, and Patty and I pushed the boxed oven to the edge of the truck bed. The men steadied the box allowing it to slide down the ramp.  Then they walked the box into place inside the garage.

I’m not worried about getting the oven from the garage to the kitchen. There should be several men around for wrestling the oven into place.  I’m just envisioning a finished kitchen and a house put back in order.

I love it when a plan comes together, don’t you?  Hope I wasn’t dreaming about that phone call!

First Things First

It’s hurry up and wait in the Johnson kitchen!  Sometimes when you have a big project, one small item can cause a big back- up. In this case it is the thermostat for the floor heating system causing the problem.  It is a very small device, but you can’t finish the floor until it is in place.  So, Friday the thermostat was installed and hopefully tomorrow grouting will begin. 

Adding the Thermostat

Waiting for Grout

So today I’ll tell you about one of the new appliances going into the kitchen.  Appliances are a surprise, because we had not planned to replace the cook top, oven or microwave.  But, when the sales began for President’s Day, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to save money.  After all, how long could we expect our aged appliances to continue?  There would be some economy of time and personal energy by having the installation completed while the kitchen is already in a state of upheaval. Plus, if there are cabinetry issues to deal with, the cabinet maker still has work to complete.

I’m very excited about the new cook top. Although I love cooking with gas, the new cook top will not be gas.  I grew up with a gas range and have always liked the instant response to raising and lowering the flame. Although we heat the house with propane, a gas/propane cook top would require some new plumbing.

The cook top will not be traditional electric with coils or even a smooth cook top that heats by radiant heat.  (I have still not mastered cooking with electric.)  I’m looking for something better than traditional electric heat with the continuous guesswork, and the burnt and boiling over pans.   

Kenmore 30 inch Induction Cooktop

The new cook top will be electric induction. Induction is an electromagnetic process which heats the pan instead of the cooking surface. The electric current produces a magnetic field which heats the molecules in the metal pan to heat the food.  Of course you need to have cooking pans composed of iron or steel to heat anything.  (You can test pans by seeing whether a magnet is attracted to the pan or not.)

Induction has the advantage of instant response to raising and lowering the temperature. Induction has other advantages too.  I can still have the smooth glass cooking surface that I have come to love. However, the surface does not become screaming hot.  (I’ve melted lots of plastic bags and containers over the years by placing them on a cook top which didn’t look hot.)  I have found that I like the sleek look of the smooth surface and it is easy to keep clean.  With induction the surface is not hot, so even if you do spill something, it will not burn. 

One thing that has been an issue in the past for consumer acceptance of induction cook tops has been price.  I found that there are several companies offering induction models and the cost difference is down to $200-$300.

Here is a video to click on to find out more about induction cooking.

The new cook top will go into the same space as the old one, so I won’t have to learn my way around that part of the kitchen.  There might even be more space for the cookware stored in the drawer below the cook top, because these units are not as deep as conventional cook tops. I expect it will take a little time for me to learn how to cook with inductions, but I’m up for it.

The Cook Top Goes Here

Expect to read more about my adventures with induction cooking and the depth of my learning curve in future posts. In the meantime, I’m still waiting for the floor to be finished and the stove top is sitting in the garage in a box.  Oh wait, the cook top cannot be installed until after the counters are in place. Hmm.  First things first!