We are about to embark on a major kitchen refit. It is something we have been thinking about for a few years but when push came to shove it felt like such an upheaval... it's a big kitchen, so it will be a big job. And of course there is the cost, on top of three years which has seen more than its fair share of unemployment in this house. Every time we decided it really had to be done, we changed our minds!
On the face of it and looking at these photos it would be easy to think that it is unecessary but one thing after another has broken or gone wrong so with the launch of my new business the time seemed right. We have an integrated fridge that stopped working ages ago, doors have fallen off cupboards and taken half the casing with them so are impossible to put back. Door knobs are missing or mismatched.
The cooker has been a nightmare since day one. The doors don't close properly despite several repairs so the heat escapes and melts the knobs which have been replaced dozens of times. And for the past year I've been down to one oven as the fan oven packed up again, having already had the element replaced once.
But it has served us well for over twenty years, seen four small boys grow up and learn to cook, provided thousands and thousands of meals, been the centre of parties and celebrations and so finally the time was right!
I've spent the past week or so emptying cupboards and sorting stuff out... so much stuff! In my "plastics" cupboard there were 17 lids without containers and two containers without lids... how does that even happen. (We won't mention how often I clear out my cupboards... okay?)
So in one final flourish I made a cake. I have an order for a chocolate and peanut butter birthday cake next month so thought I ought to have a trial run... just in case it was disgusting!
But it has been tasted and consumed and declared a success!
It was my intention to put the recipe up with this post but I've run out of time and there are still a couple more cupboards to empty. I really do not know where I'm going to put all this stuff for the next couple of weeks!
But I will share the recipe in my next post... so please pop back and see me soon.
And I will also come back and tell you how this lot is looking!
The fitter is saying a week to ten days... I'm not holding my breath!
Oh my! You have a heck of a job on. Maybe you could do what we did and go away while they're working on your kitchen. You've certainly earned your new kitchen and I do hope it goes well.
ReplyDeleteWow, fabulous cake!!!! I love love love love love peanut butter cups! I hope that your new kitchen is a dream to work in and that you will soon be turning out more wonderful creations and that there will be lots of cakey business coming your way! xx
ReplyDeleteat least it is all delivered and waiting.
ReplyDeleteOurs is in, but there are still undecided bits that need sorting.
Good luck, hope you stay sane while it is going on.
ReplyDeleteIf you ever find out why plastics end up mis-matched, I do hope you'll tell us -- mine are never in sync! Your green tiles look like the tiles we had before we did our kitchen re-do -- classic 1990's tiles. Good Luck with your kitchen -- I'll bet it will be beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWe're currently mid-refit. The floor's down and a few cabinets are half built but that's all until next week. Fortunately we haven't moved in yet so it's minimal upheaval so far...
ReplyDeleteThat cake looks incredible - hope your new kitchen provides plenty of inspiration for your baking!
S x
Been there, done that. It is horrible during the refit, then I was in tears because I thought I couldn't fit all my stuff in the different shaped spaces available - and Bill was furious after we had spent all that money!!! All turned out well and we have loved the new kitchen ever since. That cake looks like to die for. Cheers
ReplyDeleteVery excited for you, but not envious. Yet. Maybe when I see it all finished but having spent the past 8 months in upheaval and still awaiting the two bathrooms I can do my own version of chaos. Yummy cake as always.
ReplyDeleteWell, I can't help thinking you don't look after things! My oven gives no trouble at all. It never overheats, just needs an occasional dust!
ReplyDeleteMind you, if I could produce the wondrous results you do, I might occasionally be tempted to switch mine on. I Look forward to seeing the new kitchen and sampling it's delights! X
Good luck and hope it's done in time.
ReplyDeleteAnother fabulous cake! Good luck with the kitchen, you don't realise how many things you have in your cupboards until you empty them. :-)
ReplyDeleteOoo! Exciting. I hope the refit goes well and look forward to seeing pics. Fab cake!
ReplyDeleteThat's a stunning cake!
ReplyDeleteI don't envy you the work in your kitchen though, I had a new one fitted once and have said ' never again' since it was too much upheaval.
And I hought that you must have super-duper cooker to do all that fabulous baking. Now I can't blame my (themostat's broken) oven for my iffy baking. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteReeses cups on a cake - the ultimate fantasy! The cake looks amazing Gina.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to seeing your new kitchen, hopefully the refit will not be too traumatic. We have been talking about getting an extension and new kitchen for years but every time we decide to go ahead, something else pops up. Maybe seeing your new kitchen will give me nudge in the right direction. Have a lovely weekend. x
I would love a new kitchen but the thought of all that upheaval puts me off. We went for new worktops and cupboard doors about 10 years ago but the shells of the cupboards are 35 years old so I shall have to bite the bullet soon. Looking forward to seeing yours come to life - I am sure the disruption will be very worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the kitchen Gina, I'm sure it will be amazing once it is completed. Looking forward to seeing the results.
ReplyDeleteThe cake looks spectacular.
Gina,,,I am in total awe at the thought that you actually created that cake! You are an amazing baker, with so many great ideas...it's grand that you all have decided to do this kitchen renovation.
ReplyDeleteI guess that you just have to sort of suspend a certain attachment to reality for the next couple of weeks. then all will be well as a new chapter begins.
Your mis-matching plactic containers and lids bear some resemblance to the concept of the disappearance of socks.
Best wishes to you as the Voyage begins. xo
Good luck with the refit! We did ours a couple of years ago, I won't pretend it was easy but it was worth it in the end!
ReplyDeleteThe cake certainly looks like a success to me!
V x
That cake looks amazing! Hope the kitchen refit goes without hitch. I'd love a new one here but the existing one isn't that old and the Man from Del Monte says 'No'!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the kitchen refit - it won't be much fun while it's being done but I'm sure it'll be fabulous when finished!
ReplyDeleteTalking of fabulous - oh my, look at that cake!! How on earth have you been able to produce such amazing baking with your dodgy oven?! You'll be a baking whirlwind with a fully functioning cooker!
Grit your teeth and think of all that wonderful baking to get through the next week to ten days (or should I say two to three weeks?).
Hope you didn't pack the wine glasses...
ReplyDeleteAx
Oh my goodness! That cake looks absolutely scrumptious and stunning too! Good luck with the kitchen work which will be more than worth it in the end.
ReplyDeleteStephanie x
Good luck!! We're about to start on our garage conversion, not such an upheaval as a kitchen refit but I know it will launch a cascade of other jobs like redecorating the living room, which leads to doing the stairwell, which leads to our room. And then our kitchen will need doing too...and then probably all the floors will need redoing too....!!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the cake recipe :)
It will all be wonderful once it's finished and then the upheaval and hassle is very quickly forgotten in my experience.
ReplyDeleteCake looks fantastic. Izzi will be delighted - as will the rest of the family when we get to eat it!. Good luck with the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't tossed the lids - a bit cheeky, but do you have any spare Tupperware size x,y, and z? Mine have all broken! The bowls are still okay though.
ReplyDeleteI would be happy to pay if you did have them. LOL ;-)
Sandy in Bracknell
Sounds like a good time for a kitchen.
The cake looks fantastic, I'm never sure about peanut butter. Good luck with the kitchen, lm sure it will be great.
ReplyDelete