Keeping perspective...

There ARE some things that need work.

• Infamous Wire Basket thing (see yesterday's entry). In order to fix, we might have to lose the plain-vanilla drawer above that area. I can live with that.
• · Vent hood and ductwork. He kind of lucked out on this one. Because there is a “false ceiling” at top of cabinets, the perceived invasion into cabinet space is only 1-2 inches instead of 3-4. The cut into the wall/ceiling join and into adjacent room for the ductwork - turns out the Kitchen ceiling is almost 4 inches HIGHER than the ceiling in other room. So he may be able to skim the ductwork right alongside the inside of other room’s ceiling for an invisible encroachment into that area.

• · Hardware for a couple of drawers have to be placed higher than normal so they don’t interfere with another drawer at a 90 degree angle. This isn’t a big problem, one of those things that just happens.
• · The microwave cave 1 – door is hinged on top for sliding up and inside, out of the way when MW is in use (think garage door). That’s a great idea. However, there is not enough clearance between top and door track to fit any hardware. Ideas are cutting a groove at bottom underside of drawer, just enough to catch with your finger; rerouting track so it comes down slightly at outside edge, making enough space for hardware.
• · Microwave cave 2 – at one point I sent L a message yesterday saying that the shelf looked kind of narrow, like MW might not fit “…but I decided that I should just shut up myself that I was trying to think up more problems.” MW cave is 21 inches across. MW is 22 (we are re-using existing). In order to fix, that entire wall of cabinets would need to be redone because there is very little clearance in fridge opening and broom closet at edge is already very narrow, like 8-10 inches deep. So, I think we're getting a new MW, if we can find one that small.
• · Sink is not centered under window; it’s about one inch off-sides. He can probably fix this by moving the two vertical inside panels of the undersink cabinet. But not too far, or he’ll hit the DW supply line.
• I was kind of annoyed with the spice rack insert (molded plastic, just set in place). However, this means I can pull it out once a year and wipe it down. Figuring out how to organize them because there is so much space – alphabetical (top to bottom, bottom to top, so I don’t have to slide whole drawer out) – savory vs. sweet, frequent vs. inactive. I was expecting to cull down to about 25-30 jars and there’s space for nearly 100. I will NOT use up all that space. And that’s OK.
• Broom closet is small, but I knew that. There is a shelf up top for spray cleaners, etc. and L can put in some hooks to hang broom, mop, swiffer. It is also at very entrance to kitchen and next to central hall so easy to access for cleaning up anything on main floor.
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• I like the double-decker utensil drawer and knife drawer. The custom “clamshells” on either side of sink are pretty cool for vitamins (L must have had a dozen vitamins, ibuprofen, etc. bottles next to sink – drove me nuts)
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• Other changes:
• Added more outlets along backsplash.
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• Electrician wired up outlet built into new sideboard, finished the wiring for stove and range hood, and put in the undercounter lighting.
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• Craig will start tiling the floor Thursday; I assume he will be off on Friday for the holiday. Once floors are done, cabinet guys will come back and install base shoe to finish installation at toekick.