Mostly-New Kitchen reno!

We are doing a kitchen reno this spring. Not a complete rip out, but mostly new. We want to keep some of the retro feel of our current 50's kitchen, but in all honesty, it's probably going to have only hints of retro by the time it's done.
We're still in the planning stages, but I think we have a pretty good grasp on what's going to change... and it's a lot!  The only thing remaining are the top cabinets. When we bought and replaced the flooring in the house, we originally bought enough of the walnut to do the kitchen, so we're going to bring that in throughout. All of the bottom cabinets and counter will be replaced, as well as the whole wall of cabinets where our fridge is.  The (new, slide-in) stove will move to the opposite wall with deep pot drawers on either side of it and will have a hood fan over it that goes up to the ceiling. The (new, counter-depth) fridge will stay on the wall that it's on, but be centered and surrounded by new cabinets, pantry and drawers, filling the entire wall. The dishwasher will slide over towards the sink a bit more to make room for an under the counter microwave with deep drawer under it.  The sink wall (with newly installed window!) will have 2 pull-out garbage drawers flanking both sides of the sink. One for garbage, one for recycle and compost - or something like that. And then the counter-top has yet to be decided on, but it'll either be grey or quartz (if we can find a good deal) in a white colour.

We are thinking a grey colour. Originally when we started thinking about this, we were going to keep a lighter colour of the sea-foam green that is in there currently - but that's changed.  :)

Here's a pic of the inspiration;

Some things we had to compromise on because of the space we have or cost to do them are;
No eat-in or breakfast bar type of space - no room
No island - no room
Not knocking down the wall between the kitchen and dining room that we originally thought when we moved in - if we did that, the top cabinets would have to go too, and then it becomes a much bigger ($) project and we lose any retro feel that it might retain (plus, our house quite literally becomes one huge open space).  If we did do that, we would turn that wall into an island extension, because we wouldn't take that wall out right to the window. The cost/benefit of that is something to ponder...

New Windows!

We decided to get new windows. It's been a sticking point in this house since we moved in. They were terrible. Painted and puttied shut from the previous owner. Hard to open, drafty, no screens, some were broken, and originally old... 1954 stamped on the inside aluminum!  We priced it out ~2 years ago just after Des was born, but decided that was bad timing even though it was a good price. We at least had an idea on what we were up against cost-wise.
Well we decided to have another look and called a few companies. We really liked the one company, even though their Windows were probably a little more expensive than some others. They really seemed to be top quality, and all locally designed and manufactured (London) which is important to us.  Centennial Windows and Doors.  Even though the company research showed up clean with good reviews (most did say they were more money than other companies), there's something about (all) window companies that makes you feel like you're getting taken for a ride.... there's just something very "used car salesman" about it.  We won't talk about price, because I still have trouble uttering the amount.  :p

They started on them yesterday, and so far look great!  They were supposed to be back today to finish, but a winter storm rolled in and they had to cancel. They'll be back on the weekend to finish.  It would be nice to have them done before the weekend to get the house back in order, but there's nothing we can do about that.  They were all put in except the one in Desmond's room and the two large picture windows (which is actually 6 windows total) in the dining room/living room. After those 3, they have all the trim and exterior finishing to complete.  All windows except the large picture windows will be completely replaced down to the studs instead of "retro-fitted" where the original window frames remain. We chose that because we didn't want to mess with the "look" on the inside for those windows. They really give the room more character they way they are. We were told that you don't lose efficiency when you retro-fit - it's mostly just a cost savings and/or looks thing.  So we found out that it's more expensive that way - more labour, you end up with slightly larger windows (because they're not inset into the existing frames), so more materials, glass, wood, etc..

I'll post some pics when they're done. For now, I just have a cell phone snap that Marn bbm'd me yesterday of the window in our room. So it's pretty low quality.  SO excited!

It will be SO NICE to finally be able to easily open the windows, and not have 100 bugs fly in during the summer!!  I literally had to step into it to open them and ensure I kept a straight back as to not injure myself!