From an apartment into a home (part 5)

Just a few days before our wedding, my then-fiance brought me to an apartment to decide if we like it to be our first nest. I was not really into cooking that time, but upon seeing the nice kitchen, I immediately nodded in agreement.

I knew that I'd take kitchen seriously. So, designing (and dreaming) about the new kitchen started even after we signed the S&P for the purchase of the new apartment about 31/2 years ago.

Only a few weeks ago, the design was finalised and it must be from Ikea;). I didn't know how it actually worked, as this is my first time buying kitchen. After getting the quotation, I had to call a company that was appointed by Ikea to do the measurement and assembly. Had to wait for a week to get the appointment only to get the measurement.

Once it was done, I could then do the purchase. I had to make another appointment to do the assembly. I was thinking it would be great and more sentimental for me and hubby sweating ourselves on getting our kitchen fixed. But a friend who had the experience insisted that I just spent some money and let the 'expert' do it.



I had to wait for another week, maybe due to the Ikea kitchen promotion that is going on now but the 'kitchen' had to be delivered within 3 days.
So, this was how my kitchen looked for 5 days.

Finally, we had it done on last Friday. The guys were a bit late. And I had to attend a resigning colleague's (used to be my guru) farewell party, send Bea1 to babysitter's but they said I could just leave them there.

I had earlier decided that I would just the tap as it was, but the guy said since the position was a bit low, he had to cut part of the legs and made my countertop a bit lower. I agreed as I so wanted to save some money for another tap. After making sure a few other things, I left but little worries lingered.

In the car, the Friday noon traffic started to build up and that gave me some time to think or rather to change my mind again. I called them up, asking them not to cut the legs, I was getting new tap.

I came back with Bea1, and found part of our kitchen started to take shape. But it was just dusty as they started to hack the walll to make additional power points.
Left again to send her to babysitter's and do the normal stuffs with the other two girls. Back home again, and the guys mentioned that in addition the the tap, they found that I got a wrong door delivered, some dents on another and an unused cover panel. Plus, they said since I bought solid wood top, I needed some oil treatment before I could fully utilised the kitchen. So, they practically sent me back to Ikea on a Friday afternoon.

One guy advised that I should not get an Ikea tap as it is just more expensive. But being under pressure to get it done that day (and hubby not around), just where I should get it.
That's how it looked when I left at 4 pm. I only came back at 6:30 with the doors, the cheapest tap, and I got the handles exchanged to cheaper ones to recover some cost from the tap, some other accesories BUT without the oil....arghhhh. I realised it in the car, while fuming mad at the traffic.

Anyway, I was a bit calmer when I saw the kichen was getting more realistic. See my huge and deep sink that I just lurveeeee;)



Quickly cleaned the house as much as I could, left again to fetch hubby and the kids, returned at 8:15 and the kitchen was almost complete. Love seeing the girls "Oooh" and "ahhhh" while checking the new 'playground'. Started to play 'masak-masak' right away.

It is not complete yet without the wall accessories, plugs and the curtain. But we had the top coated with the treatment oil last night. I will add some wall cabinets later but we have already more than enough space at the moment. And I had already putting some things in their places.


The girls had placed their cutlery in the drawer, I found it cute;).

It will be another kitchen where a lot of times spent to cook delicious meals (ahem!) for the family, a playground for the kids, a place where my friends are invited to hang out (I will get an occasional table and some stools), a place where I will teach my girls that a way the a man's heart is through his stomach (it does not matter if it is still applicable during their times).

It is small, but it is perfect and I love it, love it, love it!