The counter top is done (24 hours from order to completion!) I'll pick it up tomorrow. I bought the shelf materials today and will start as soon as you send me those dimensions I asked for (unsubtle hint). I'm looking to come down on Saturday July 1 to finish it up.

lookin' good! you should think about renting your Dad out to others in need of kitchen restorations.

Dad:
I have some work at my house as well. Can you build some cabinets for me?

He is available for birthday parties and Bar Mitzvahs, as well.

Now that I'm famous and have hit the big-time I'll only do building with elevators or with clients who will act as mules for the the materials.

so did you guys (i should say, your dad) work on the other cabinets too? and how is the quality of the ikea cabinets?

Oh yeah, I guess I didn't explain the whole thing. We didn't wind up getting IKEA cabinets. Bascially, we dropped the ball and never called to see if they were in stock. It turns out that you need to order them ahead of time. I never got to see the cabinets (pops went without me), but Papa T was not happy with the quality. In the end, we wound up getting probably the same not-so-high quality type of cabinets from Home Depot. My final decision was for lower quality because a) they would match my current low quality cabinets and b) this is not going to be my home forever- I wanted to increase value and have a place to cook...but didn't need to drop $600 on it. Anyway, we opted for the pre-constructed type of base cabinets and then got new hardware (for all the cabinets). Perhaps, if I remain the single gal that I am for the rest of my life, I will stay in the apt longer than I think and reface all of them...

Dear - you must raise that pots and pans thingamajig so as to fully utilize the peninsula.

Yes, I totally know. Hopefully when we install the countertop...

is that a license plate potholder?

haha-- no! those are my race numbers. for some reason i've always hung them there.

The low end Home Depot cabinets come knocked-down ala Ikea but are a bit better constructed IMHO. The drawers have metal sides and built-in rollers that are pretty solid and the drawer bottom is 3/8 inch laminate covered particle board, not cardboard/masonite as in some Ikea stuff. The hinges are adjustable and of okay quality, too. The real cost is in the doors as the cabinet carcass is the same for all. Better doors cost A LOT more like 4 - 10x as much as the least expensive door.