The stove, fridge and dishwasher I consider cost effective kitchen updates. No question about the gas stove. The fridge and dishwasher are 18 years old. Nothing lasts forever but also I’d like for the dishwasher and fridge to match the stove. I’ll probably end up replacing the wall oven too but not the microwave.
I want this bar to be level with the countertop. I want a big place for rolling cookie dough and making pie crusts.
It doesn’t seem like a big deal to me to whack the top of all this off, put the whacked off part back down even with the countertop, and new laminate and be done but the cabinet maker who did all the cabinets when the house was built says “No. We cannot use the same panels.”
All these beautiful oak panels would have to be torn out and tossed I guess. I’m fine with cutting 6″ off the top, putting a piece of trim up there, adding the countertop . . make it a bit wider if needed to cover up that the tops have been cut off. Who’s going to be under there looking?
From the way they were talking, I don’t think they think this is as easy of a fix as I thought but . . what do I know?
Another issue is . . can I match 18 year old laminate with what’s already here. I don’t want to replace all the countertop and I certainly don’t want granite so I told Vince . . I’d probably be happy if you could put an electric outlet at the end of the bar so I could use the Instant Pot there. There’s no place where I can use the Instant Pot that there isn’t a cabinet above the pot and I don’t like having all the steam going up under those cabinets.
If I had said to Vince “Can the electrician come out and put a plug here?”, he would have said NO! Now that he knows it might save him lots of money if one plug will solve my problems, he’s happy to say yes. In fact, he said “the electrician will be here tomorrow and I’ll have him look at it!”
That still won’t give me a big place to roll out cookie dough or pie crusts but for the cost, I think I can find another place to do that. We’ll see once we get the estimate back but I’m guessing I’m going to have an unpleasant surprise when I see the cost.
Toni Anne says
What about adding an island, maybe something with wheels, or something that could fold up? You can use it for rolling out cookie dough and pie crusts and put it away when you don’t need it.
Judy Laquidara says
I don’t want an island. It’s hard enough walking around in the kitchen with a blind dog without adding another obstacle but Vince and I seem to get in each other’s way often. The kitchen is a pass through to get from the family room/dining room and bedrooms to the garage and we mostly go outside with Rita through the garage so I think an island would be terribly in the way and there’s no convenient place to put it when not using it. The extended counter top would work great if the cost isn’t too much. We’ll see. Honestly, Vince and I don’t need cookies and pies so maybe it’s a good thing it may not work.
Barbara miller says
I am not a craftsman but why can’t cut the higher part off along where it connects to shorter part and then drop that counter where you want it. You would need edge on the lower cabinets even but with gluing it with the other counter it would be an exact match. It already has brackets to help hold it there just re- screw down lower . Might have to seal the joint where two counters meet. Wish I could just show you what I mean
Judy Laquidara says
I wouldn’t want a seam in the middle. I think I know what you mean. I don’t like seams at all in laminate and I don’t think it would cost that much for a totally new piece of laminate since that’s not terribly expensive. I think it’s the idea of having to totally replace all the oak panels and oak trim. We’ll see what the estimate is when they send it to me.
Janet Orr says
I was going to suggest an island also. I love mine. Is your kitchen large enough for one in the middle?
Judy Laquidara says
It is large enough but I don’t want an island.
Nelle Coursey says
I am like you! I think the guy just wants to have a bigger job so you will have to pay more! They would have to put a board at the top to reinforce the cabinet, but I don’t see how this is impossible! Try another estimate and see if they can’t do that for you.
Judy Laquidara says
This is the guy who built all the cabinets in this house so I trust him and Jeremy was pleased with him. If the estimate comes back too much, we just won’t do it. It’s not like I can’t function with things the way they are . . I just thought it would be an easy fix.
Donna says
The oak is beautiful. It would be a shame to just toss it. Is there anywhere in the house sewng room or shop it could be used. I love wood cabinets!
Judy Laquidara says
I doubt we’re going to do it because from what they were saying, this will be a much bigger job than I was thinking it would be and for what I’m gaining, it just isn’t worth the money, but I’ll hold off on my decision til I hear what they say.
Liz says
… I use a couple of those cloth drying mats that are the same color of my kitchen tops to hold my heavy mixer, coffee pot, and the instant pot. The mats are easy to pull out from under the upper cabinets to use the items and then push back after use. Having them under the mixer and instant pot also helps to catch drips and it is easy to toss them into the washer. I also have some fun mats to use during holidays.
Check the web for instant pot steam diverters. There are a bunch of them – some very practical looking and some funny. I saw a unicorn and a rooster version.
Judy Laquidara says
I did have some of the diverters because I had the same problem at the Texas house but I prefer to not use the IP under a cabinet. I can pull it right to the edge of the counter, which concerns me that it might get knocked off but the steam still goes right up the cabinets. I think the electrician will be able to put an outlet on the end of the cabinet for me and that will work just fine.
Wanda Jordan says
Have Chad look at it. He might can figure a way to fix outside the box. CABINET Men are set in their ways they don’t want to change. When I said I want cabinets 39 inches tall the bulked I said I don’t care if I am 5’3 I want cabinet that tall. Griped the whole time. There is a way they just haven’t done it and don’t want to learn new. Set in their ways I’m telling you. i can see ways bet Chad can do it..
Judy Laquidara says
Chad can do a lot of things but he’s not touching my cabinets! Nicole’s dad is a cabinet maker and he makes beautiful cabinets but he’s kinda retired and he’d have to get all his tools here so I wouldn’t even ask him to do it.
JustGail says
What about turning the IP after you’ve set it so the controls are to the side and the vent blows steam in front/away from the cabinets? It seems like once it’s set and cooking, the only thing to be done is press the pressure release at the right time????
And speaking of IP, I just got one a few months ago – are there any accessories I should think seriously about?
Judy Laquidara says
That’s what I’ve been doing but the outer edges of the cabinets still get steamed and I use the IP several times a week so I don’t want to damage the cabinets. I would rather be able to use it over near the sink so I’m not carrying ingredients across the kitchen. I’ll be fine if I can’t get the outlet there.
Elle says
Oh I am so with you on getting rid of that bar! Why did people ever think it was a good idea? I’m at the stage of life, I’d do it regardless of cost since we’re never leaving this house and barring catastrophy, I’ll be around another 25 years. Too much time to “put up”. I’m with you that the cabinetry could simply be cut and not the full finish they currently have. Heck, everyone and their dog is pulling out beautiful oak cabinets when they “upgrade” so it’s not like you’re ruining something considered highly valuable
I’m with you on the IP. I set mine up on the counter behind my sink where I have corner windows-no cabinets to get steamed.
Best of luck to you!
Judy Laquidara says
I doubt I have 25 years but it all depends on the price. I’m not spending $10K to do it but it .. we’ll see.
Sheryl says
We watch a lot of home improvement TV and one thing that seems to be constant is that double height countertops are almost always changed back to one height. That could be considered to be cost-effective in resale value aka “upgrade”. Just a thought. 🙂
Judy Laquidara says
I don’t think resale is on our radar. 🙂