Blog Enhancement - Running Project Item Tally

I aim to set up something to track progress and cost as this project materializes. Something to show our initial estimate of scope and cost with the comparison as the renovation progresses.

Stay tuned.

Kitchen-Aid Range: Good Design, Suspect Knowledge

Today, Saturday, we went back to a Kitchen-Aid studio in Buckhead called Insperience to look at a range that we like. We had been there previously for a guided tour of their products, including Kitchen-Aid and Whirlpool.

We are interested in a 30” slide-in / freestanding duel-fuel range. The Kitchen-Aid Architect line has two reasonable ranges that are relatively inexpensive. When I say inexpensive, it is relative to other “professional” ranges like Viking or Dacor.

Kitchen-Aid has some models with steam assist, which is something to add steam during the cooking cycle to prevent the need for basting or water baths when baking or roasting. It seems like nice idea, but we are still not sure if it warrants a $400 premium, when other high-end ranges do not have this feature.

These models have 4 15,000 BTU burners, which is hard to find. All ranges seem to have a simmer burner and one or two high-powered burners. We would prefer powerful burners. The model with no steam assist is around $3,100 and the model with steam assist is $3,500.

KDRP407HSS – No Steam Assist
KDRP707RSS – Steam Assist

The “experts” did not rate well in product knowledge. We have studied the stats on these ranges from both the internet and the actual Kitchen-Aid documentation that is given to dealers. We asked innocent questions like does the simmer plate come with the range? They looked at each other and then said no. We said that it did and they shrugged and looked it up and said it does come with it. I asked another question about the timer on the oven. My question was does the oven shut off after the time expires. Again, a hesitant answer of I think it does. Simple question, because if the cooking time is not known you might not want the oven to shut down if it needs 5 more minutes.

The moral of the story is, never buy anything on the first trip to the store. Ask questions and then go back home and look up reviews and detailed product documentation on the web to get the real answers.

First Purchase (Fridge) - Delivery Delayed

We made our first project purchase last weekend (4/1). We went to Sears to look at a fridge that we really liked. It is regularly $2500 but was selling for $2099 with 20% cash back. We pulled the trigger with a delivery date for tomorrow (4/8).

Sears Kenmore Elite, Side by Side

After reviewing the dimensions, the refrigerator doors will have to be removed in order to get it in the house. Since we have an upcoming project, that means the doors will have to be removed in order to move it out of the kitchen and once more to get it back in. We just thought the chance for scratches, etc would be greater.

We are putting it off for a little while, like when we get the floor finished, so we do not have to move it at all.

Prologue and History

I may be a little too ambitious and crazy to try to keep this up. I am away from most of my digital pictures.

The project has not been started. We started toward a kitchen project last June. I had been extremely resistant to starting a kitchen project for fear of crazy costs and not knowing what the heck is going on. Last summer I started looking at refinancing our ARM into a fixed. During this process, my wife said it should be $20 - $25k. At that point I was cool with it, because I was assuming it was going to be $40k at minimum.

We started with magazines and walking around Home Depot and Lowes. We started with a Home Depot consultation and $60 measurement service. We balked at the cost of the plans and put them on the shelf for a few months.

We then visited the new Ikea in Atlanta. We saw the cost of cabinets and then thought we are back in business. We went to the Ikea-sponsored installation company. We again paid a measurement fee and had plans made. The best thing about Ikea is the design software with prices and layouts for endless obsessions on layouts. Download Planner.

We then quit doing that project for some reason.

We visited a new Lowes on Moreland Avenue. We were impressed with the kitchen showroom and once again paid for a measurement. I called to set up an appointment and got voicemail. They never called back and I never got around to it either.

We have spent approx $200 for three designs, none of which will ever see the light of day.

We then got hooked up with a neighborhood Yahoo Group. A post came across with kitchen designers. We called all 3, 1 called back. We are now working with a designer.

This is the first time in the process that my wife and I are in agreement with the cabinet layout and other pieces.

I will add some more details later on where we are on specific pieces as well as other frustrations in this process.