Kitchen is Stripped

I have stripped the kitchen in preparation for the renovation.  I removed the counters and overhead cabinet from what will be the main part of the kitchen.  On the other side I removed the cupboard above the refrigerator alcove on the right side of the chimney.   I also spent an unpleasant 90 minutes removing the plaster work on the section of the chimney where that cupboard was fixed.  The result left a sad picture of decrepit walls and tired and worn cabinets that were well beyond reasonable use.

I spent yesterday morning smashing up the cabinets and stacking them at the burning site to await the start of the next burning season in a few months.  I put the stainless steel sink next to the garage awaiting disposal along with the other scrap metal around the property. I stored under the veranda one cabinet which is strong, has a good melamine top, and will be useful in the garage for storing electrical tools.

Cupboard removed from refrigerator alcove

Door to be shifted to right

Cupboards at left to be retained

Everything but faucet stripped from this side

In the photos you will see the doorway that will be moved to the right in order to make room for a U-shaped counter.  You will also get glimpses of the panel work in the dining room that too 5 or 6 days of very hard and dusty yakka (work) of sanding to prepare the walls and trimming for staining and varnishing.  (I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy the hours perched on a ladder and holding a belt sander overhead while simultaneously pressing it down on the surface.)  There is also a photo of the small room next to the dining room that was carpeted and has never been sanded.  The excellent electric stove will go to my friend Reg.

Paul is supposed to visit the house today to finish the roofing work what was supposed to have been completed a week ago.  Tomorrow I will remove the doorway then spend the rest of the day preparing the floors for sanding.  (The front room floor must have every nail punched in, and a repair must be made on the living room floor.)

We will then be ready for the next phases.  I will rent an industrial floor sander and will sand every room in the house and also the large veranda.  I might be able to do the job in 2 days of very hard work.  I will then return the sander and spend another day or two sanding the edges and corners by hand using orbital sanders.

I will then leave all of the floors bare until all work on walls, ceilings, and cabinetry is finished - including painting.  As work in each room is completed I will paint it, lightly sand its floor, scrupulously clean the room, then stain the floor and coat it with two layers of 2-part estapol.

The kitchen work can proceed in parallel.  The cabinet flat packs should arrive within a week.  Before they can be assembled the kitchen space must be prepared with door moved, a new ceiling, new walls, and new GPO's (General Power Outlets, ie wall plugs).

The timing of all this is uncertain partly because Christmas is looming and partly because Paul has a track record of excessive optimism and over promising.  (But Paul means well, does well, and I've learned to not get upset when he doesn't show up as promised.)

Space next to dining room

Sanded section of paneling

So the next 2 months will be the "hump" of getting the house ready for my habitation and it will require a lot of time, energy, and effort from me.  I've got a lot more hands-on involvement in this renovation than I had planned, but it was inevitable because that's just the way I am.  This is certainly a different life than I had a year ago, when I was on the high seas approaching Tristan da Cunha on my way to Cape Town.  Ah well, one adventure is a good as another, I guess.