The before photo of the cabinets that were
falling apart and off the hinges onto my foot

If you have been following my kitchen renovation saga, it has finally ended; the kitchen is complete. The faulty stove has been replaced with a finer stove that works, and it can be lightly wiped down without the finish coming off!!

There was an issue with the freezer door finish as well, something not expected or tolerated for such a unit and Miele was extremely responsive, sent someone right away, the part arrived almost immediately and the technician returned and installed it. Great service.

I also treated myself to a new set of dishes to replace the present ones that were becoming chipped and marred after more than 25 years.

Here’s where we are now.

It is amazing how much more space we acquired by having the cabinets go up to the ceiling, the room feels much bigger.

There is now an island/bar as a divider between the dining area and the sunken den behind.

Sir Clough’s wife, Susan, was an artist and she designed pottery based on old botanical prints from the late 1800’s. The dishes were designed with a classical appeal and each plate is different. When we were there we managed to bring a few flower cache pots and canisters home in our suitcases and amazingly most arrived intact, and all now fit in beautifully; the set I longed for more than thirty years ago will be on my table for Thanksgiving.

reply sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Nov 21, ’10 The kitchen is simply fabulous…it must be a delight to work in this space that is so beautiful and functional. Love Portmeiron and Botanical Gardens makes any meals special. Congratulations…you survived a kitchen renovation.MWAH!

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 21, ’10, edited on Nov 21, ’10 Woohoo, I’ll say–until it was finally, totally finished it was over 4 months! THANK YOU!!

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 21, ’10 Come over and make pumpkin pie cheesecake with me 😀

reply astranavigo08 wrote on Nov 21, ’10 Sis, that’s a fine piece of work – and I’m glad you replaced that oven/range – oy!The Portmeirion pattern is a good one – that, and Desert Rose are two of Franciscanware’s finest. The red birch is awesome. I’m glad you got that all straightened out, too. (Now, let’s go find Arnold, and things will be complete!) (HUGS)

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 21, ’10 Thanks, bro, I knew you’d come to give your final stamp of approval. Onward to Little Arnold… Love you

reply starfishred wrote on Nov 21, ’10 wow and wunderbar love your dishes they are the same as mine hehehe

reply greenwytch wrote on Nov 22, ’10 WOW, what a wonderfully sleek, modern new kitchen you have! the plates are just too gorgeous for words. how fabulous, and a huge sigh of relief for you and your family. congrats, and thanks for the pics. ; D

reply moniquemkk wrote on Nov 22, ’10 It looks great and so does the Portmeirion ware. I haven’t been back there for years.

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 22, ’10 Thank you!!

reply bogieface wrote on Nov 22, ’10 wow – what a showplace now!

reply kathycustren wrote on Nov 22, ’10 greenwytch said WOW, what a wonderfully sleek, modern new kitchen you have! the plates are just too gorgeous for words. how fabulous, and a huge sigh of relief for you and your family. congrats, and thanks for the pics. ; D I have to echo Deb’s words here – very well done. You’re all set for the holidays ~ Blessings!

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 22, ’10 Heidi, you too????

reply sousonne wrote on Nov 22, ’10 Love your new dishes…they’re wonderful and I’m sure that you’ll enjoy using them! What a marvelous change in your new kitchen…very high tech looking but with a softer touch. What a joy it must be to cook in there now! I’m so happy for you!

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 22, ’10 Yes, Sous, and this new stove works! That’s helpful I guess. 😀

reply sharons7th wrote on Nov 22, ’10 Gorgeous! Love the color. It’s a very nice, warm feeling. And I think your choice of dish pattern is very complimentary to the overall feel, aside from being just a lovely pattern on its own.

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 22, ’10 Sharon, you know at first I thought I should stick to modern, but this classic pattern is a nice clean juxtaposition. Picks up the green in the counter.

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 22, ’10 Everyone is is invited over for cyber lunch!

reply moniquemkk wrote on Nov 22, ’10 You’ll never stop ordering things to add to the dinner set. They seem to ahve thousands of different bits and pieces.

reply kathycustren wrote on Nov 22, ’10 sanssouciblogs said Everyone is is invited over for cyber lunch! It’s my first visit, but okay, I’m there–as long as we get to use your pretty new china while we’re at it. 😉 Vegetarian whatever for me, please? ~ Blessings!

reply jazzmanic wrote on Nov 22, ’10 Portmerion is a place I’ve yet to visit. Perhaps now that I live in South Wales I’ll get to see it.Great kitchen as well. We have had a quote for the demolition of our utility room, now we have to work out if we can afford to modernist the kitchen at thew same time. ;-))

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 22, ’10 Jim, you must go visit!It is a Welsh Disneyland…well not quite, but so interesting, and the grounds are gorgeous.

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 22, ’10 Hi Kathy, join the group! Come over!

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 22, ’10 Actually, Portmeirion is not related to Franciscanware, it’s an entity onto itself from Wales. Franciscanware is from California, 1934.

reply moniquemkk wrote on Nov 22, ’10 jazzmanic said Portmerion is a place I’ve yet to visit. Perhaps now that I live in South Wales I’ll get to see it. Rent a villa or stay in the hotel on weekend, maybe for wedding anniversary no. 1? It has its own bookshop by the front door as well as a shop selling nothing but episodes of The Prisoner and also a mini-market so you can self-cater.

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 22, ’10 It’s a fun place and so very unusual! Remember #6 (The Prisoner) We bought buttons with the numbers that became people’s names. Catch that show, must be on the net somewhere.

reply moniquemkk wrote on Nov 22, ’10 I think it’s just been remade.

reply starfishred wrote on Nov 23, ’10 sanssouciblogs said Heidi, you too???? yup me to hehehe

reply nomadtraveller wrote on Nov 24, ’10 Good choice of pottery, Sue! And the kitchen looks fabulous!!

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 24, ’10 Thanks very much, Neil, stop by for a spot of tea!

reply nomadtraveller wrote on Nov 24, ’10 sanssouciblogs said Thanks very much, Neil, stop by for a spot of tea! You might regret that invite! Or is this another one of those virtual teas?

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 24, ’10 I think for now virtual is the way to go! We are still digging out of boxes, can’t find so much stuff it’s ridiculous. Doing the kitchen was so disruptive.