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My dream kitchen - the rodent factor

• Published September 16, 2009

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No home-improvement job is ever as easy to actually do as you think it will be while you're in the mental planning stage. When I started planning this kitchen up-grade, I thought the hardest part would be the tile because I’ve never done it before. And it still might be, but every step I took over the past two weekends on the beginning of this project lead me to understand that nothing is simple and quick when it comes to making a mess. It’s a process.

The painting went easy enough except that when we first started painting, we were using two very contrasting colors, and one of them was ‘shire’ green. It’s a beautiful green, now that the white is on, and the rest of the kitchen work is done. Well, all but the tile, but I’ll get to that. Everyone that has seen this green has suffered the same physical reaction – eyeballs protruding from their sockets. My husband and myself included. My first thought when the first stroke of green hit the cabinet was “Oh my….this is either going to be really pretty or really really ugly.” I decided to give it a chance and continue with the painting. Once the new hardware was added to the cabinets, I decided I was getting the exact look I was after.

The problems began when I needed to take down the range hood, because my plan was to clean and paint it. My hubby took it down, and immediately we both knew that ‘cleaning’ it might not do. There was a huge hole in the wall (a very grand entry, indeed, for mice) where the wiring was run through, and about a 4-inch gap between hood and cabinet where the mice have been playing for a really long time.

It was disgusting, and in fact, one mouse didn’t make it out. My husband, who isn’t normally squeamish about nasty substances even balked at the idea of just cleaning that hood. So we replaced it, but not before patching the hole with a steel netting and spackle, and cutting a plank to fit that gap between the hood and cabinet – even though by now, we knew were off to our home-away-from-home (Home Depot) to find a new hood. After the modifications, I have to admit I’m loving the look. We went with a stainless steel hood, which by-the-way looks marvelous with my ‘shire’ green, because we are replacing the stove very soon with a stainless stove, and will eventually replace the refrigerator and dishwasher, as well.

I am attacking the tile over the next four days. I’m excited and a bit nervous. I’m kind of mathematically challenged, and I know I’ll be measuring and cutting tiles. Oh well, can’t learn ‘til I screw it up a couple times, right?

Sears has a pink tool box, it’s the ‘pinkbox.’ I’m not normally a ‘pink’ kind of gal, but I definitely am feeling the need to make a statement with my new-found home-improvement learning experiences. I may be learning now, but eventually I will be a woman with power tools, and I will know how to use them without removing fingers or toes, or really important wall stuff.

Ok, I honestly was kidding about the wall stuff. I haven’t removed any walls - yet.

Next up? Kitchen faucet. I'll let you know how Mr. B does with that. I'm not ready to tackle water or electricity.