Three's a Charm?

Happy New Year, friends. While the celebrations have ended (finally and thankfully) the New Year is hopefully off to a successful start. After a long break from the Manchester, I'm back to work. I looked back in in my photo library to see when this project started--January 2021. In my mind, it really should not have taken this long, but I seem to have a time making permanent  commitments, especially to the kitchen. You will remember the work that I put into building all the cabinets, but once I finished all the pieces and them in place l was so disappointed the results. I realized that I had too much in the kitchen, especially with the sink in the center island, so I'm redesigning and rebuilding the kitchen. 

I decided to take the existing cabinets and remodel them. I also decided to eliminate the large cabinet that had the built in oven and microwave, so save money, I removed the ELF kit pieces that were in the built-in cabinet that took up too much room and competed with the same size refrigerator. 

Then I took the second stove cabinet base that I built and removed the double cabinet doors that I never could get to fit.

I inserted a new front for the oven.

The ELF kit Eazy build oven is a perfect fit and goes nicely with Jodi Hippler's custom cook top.

I will create a faux drawer underneath the oven.

So, on the right wall, I've removed the built-in oven and microwave wall unit and will place the refrigerator there in place of the tall cabinet, creating a much cleaner look.

Next I decided to rebuilt the short wall where I planned on the cute coffee bar, but decided that I needed to eliminate the center island all together where the sink was because it was just too crowded. I would replace the coffee bar cabinet with a long counter with sink, with newly constructed upper cabinets. 

Inspired by Julie Warren's method of building upper wall units, I set about designing cabinets that would fit on that short wall. I used lumber from my wood stash and avoided using the Cricut to cut the doors, basically for one reason: The Make cuts only 1/16 inch basswood and I'm finding that the bass wood does not hold up after painting as it tends to swell and warp. In addition, 1/16" is just too narrow to insert hinge pins without splitting the wood, so instead I used 1/8" lumber.  Works great.

I used the cabinet in my work area as more inspiration.

The cabinet doors went together very nicely.

I used 3/32 basswood that I hand cut for the cabinet itself and I'll use pin hinges for working doors. 

So far so good. I measured and cut pieces as I went for a good fit, unlike my Cricut Design Space method of remeasuring and cutting everything and then not have accurate measurements and good fits.

Next I inserted the shelves then painted the entire unit. The doors have not yet been hinged, but they look good and fit nicely--at this point.

And now the hinges have been installed, not without a bit of drama. To finish the doors, I cut acrylic for glass fronts to the doors.

Next I installed the tiny wood door knobs. I cut a paper template to locate the holes for the knobs and for even placement, eliminating tedious measuring.

For me, paper templates work well to for drawer pull and door knob placement. I use a small drill to make the hole then glue the knob in place.

The doors did require sanding around the edges get a good fit so that they would open without sticking. I use a fingernail  emory board to gently sand the unpainted edges.

Play time. Digging in my stash of dishes that I've been collecting for the Manchester, including Jodi's test pieces (the mixing bowls) that will add great color to fill the tiny shelves

I have glassware, too, for the tiny cabinets, but ran into problems getting the glasses to stand up on shelves, so I used museum wax to fix the glasses to a piece of clear acrylic to keep them in place. It will slide right in place in the cabinet, but the clear glassware does not show up in the cabinet, so I may not use them.

The next project on the kitchen remake was to build a new center island in the shape of simple work table. You will see my inspiration piece soon. I dug in my lumber stash looking for bits and pieces that I could use.

I measured out my pieces and cut them on my little table saw. I'm really beginning to learn how to use this little saw instead of relying on the Cricut that takes so long to design and cut. The bar to the left allows me to adjust to just the right length so that multiple pieces can be cut same length. Fast and accurate.

I had wanted to use spindles for legs and ordered 4 but they weren't tall enough so I'm using 3mmx3mm lumber for legs.

I wanted working drawers, but build one and then decided that it would not be a working drawer.

On the left is my newly created work table inspired by the one I purchased for the Blue Farmhouse.

And here it is in the kitchen. I like the work table much better than the sink cabinet that took up so much room.

When I rebuild the final base cabinet for the sink, I will have to order a new dishwasher kit unless I get the old one removed without destroying it. 

After 3 rebuilds in this kitchen, I may get right soon. 

I think I like the newly designed kitchen pieces. I started out with a great idea, but once I located all of these pieces in the kitchen it was just too crowded, so I think I have a better design going. All built from my stash, all built by hand.

Thanks for stopping by. I alway appreciate your kind comments.