Kitchen Remodel Photos Round III

Good morning and thanks for all of the comments so far from the readers!  Here are a few more updates and photos from the last two weeks below.

Island and Perimeter Counter tops went in last week and the week before, very exciting as really starting to come together:

It took 9 stone guys to deliver and install the white marble island counter top slab which is approximately 9.5 feet by 6 feet... very heavy to say the least.  I had to have it without a seam or without using two pieces :-)  It was very nerve wracking watching them, but they got it in and installed with no damage!

After the counter tops went in, Jared and I spent 4 hours vacuuming and wiping down the dust from inside and outside of the cabinets to keep them from getting damaged or scratched.   We know there is another round of dust still to come with the painting but 1 out of 2 cleaning trips down.  The contractors do great work, but they are not exactly the cleanest people in the world that's for sure!

End of last week and this past weekend, the contractors were M.I.A. as the floors were getting refinished for four days.  They did a great job.  Good thing it has been great fall weather as we were able to leave the windows open all weekend to get rid of the smell:

We decided to match our existing floor finish for now but in the next few years we are going to refinish the floors to be a custom stain color - much darker, black/brown color like this sample:

The tile back splash also was installed last week.  We selected a white subway tile so it would blend in with the cabinets and not be too busy with the counter tops.  The kitchen faucet and garbage disposal were installed.  Also, a portion of the under cabinet lights were installed, but not completed yet.  We covered the counter tops with linen drop cloths so they didn't get scratched or damaged by the construction workers:

This past weekend we ordered the furniture for the kitchen so it will be delivered before Thanksgiving.  We ordered Four counter stools for island seating, a round dining table with a polished concrete top and four natural linen, slip covered dining chairs.  The counter stools are custom with a custom grey linen fabric - tight upholstered with stained wood legs and nickel nail heads (Jared calls them "tacks" which is what they look like).  Here is a photo of the finishes and fabric swatches:

The polished concrete top sample for the table is the darkest of the three shown in this photo, it is a very dark grey:

Only 4 days left until completion (or we hope, as every construction project is based on the contractors busy schedules and the excuse "I can't get in there until _________ is completed"... it's all a process of juggling the timing of each vendor involved.

Here is what we think to be the schedule:
Tuesday: Painting of walls, trim and ceiling, and install of remaining under cabinet lights & outlets.
Tuesday and Wednesday: Crown molding, toe kicks, & baseboard install.  Appliance install.  Cabinet Hardware install.  Decorative pendants installed.  Tweaking and adjusting of cabinet doors.  Install of drawer accessories.

Let's all hope that these contractors can stick to their word and get it done ON TIME we are very skeptical and hope they surprise us.  Can't wait to get rid of the mess and dust..but all worth it of course.  The project has taken 6 weeks so far and this week will make it 7.  We are ready to get back in the kitchen to put the new cookbooks we received as wedding presents to good use!