January 6
Countertop people measure for countertops, but it will be at least four weeks before they’re installed. No sink or plumbing until then. The worst part of this temporary kitchen business has to be washing the dishes in the bathtub.

January 31
Cabinets are nearly installed. I love the cherry island but not sure I like the mix of cabinet finishes in the mudroom.

February 14
Countertops installed today—my Valentine present. The two colors look beautiful together.

February 25
Tiles arrive. Color is perfect. I’ll feel much better when I see them all installed. Hopefully the tile installer will come soon.

March 3
Paul, the tile installer, and I spend the morning trying to figure out the range backsplash and hood design. We lay tiles on cardboard to see how it will look. I can’t wait to see it on the wall.

March 7
Plumber sets the sink and faucets. We can wash dishes standing up now. I especially love the mudroom. The farmhouse sink with bridge faucet and the two cabinet finishes (now) look super.

March 17
I come home to see most of the tile installed. I love it. Paul is finishing the framing of the vent hood.

April 4
Paul plasters the top of the hood, giving it some texture—just what I wanted. Cobalt blue 4x4-inch tiles with the gold branch trim are the finishing touch.

April 8
Dave and I waltz around the kitchen to celebrate. It’s done. It’s ours. We love it. Sigh.