Kitchen Ceiling Re-Do

Day Nine

2007-07-06T19:30:00.001-04:00

I had a surprise when I got home today. The fan had been installed! First I noticed that the box containing the fan was no longer sitting on the counter. Then I looked around the room to see where B. could have stashed it. I didn't see it. Finally I looked up at the kitchen ceiling and there was the fan!

I tried to get a picture of it when the blades were moving in a blur, but the camera is too fast--the blades came out perfectly still, even at high speed.

The fan is very quiet and very powerful. I'm glad we got that one. It's a better fan than the ball style we originally considered (see Day One), plus I like the simplicity of the three blades (vs. four). And it still has a ball--well, half a ball--to match the stainless football knobs on the cabinets.

The price of the fan accounted for about 15% of the total cost of the ceiling project. B. said the handyman spent about an hour installing it. It's on its own circuit and can be turned on and off by a switch next to the light dimmer. It also has a remote control that comes with a holder for attaching to the wall.

Day Eight

2007-06-28T21:01:00.000-04:00

Although the fan had not yet arrived, the handyman came yesterday to paint the ceiling, install the light trims and the A/C vent cover, and to get paid. I paid him all but $60, which he'll get when he's installed the fan.

And--wouldn't you know it--the fan arrived today from Farrey's. It had been shipped on June 8th, from Taiwan, I presume. I put a call in to the handyman to let him know the fan is here. It's quite handsome, if you ask me. [See Lucy in the background, lying on the couch.]

Day Seven

2007-06-12T19:09:00.000-04:00

This project is almost done. Ceiling has been sanded and primed. Dimmer switch was installed today.

B. got out some sheets to collect the dust. Still waiting for the ceiling fan to come.

Day Six

2007-06-08T19:13:00.001-04:00

All the drywall is up now, and all new light fixtures installed.

Here's the grate for the A/C duct (sitting on counter) . . .

. . . ready to be installed.

I talked to Farrey's today. The fan has to be ordered from the factory and will take 1-2 weeks.

Day Five

2007-06-07T22:16:00.001-04:00

Almost all the drywall up. (Still some stretches of pipe showing on the bare ceiling.)

They still have to vent the A/C duct above the bar.

I ordered a fan this evening online. It's a Cirrus Hugger, made by The Modern Fan Co. It's being wired to its own on/off switch (separate from the recessed lights, which will be on a dimmer--he got that today). We're buying a remote control to regulate the fan. I ordered the fan from Farrey's, which is right up the road. Tomorrow I'll call to see whether I can pick the fan up on Saturday (i.e., if they have them in stock).

Day Four

2007-06-04T19:18:00.000-04:00

The drywall was installed today for the new soffit, as were most of the recessed light fixtures. There will be eight new fixtures in all. Lights off.

Lights on.

They are bright and will be put on a dimmer.

Day Three

2007-05-31T19:29:00.000-04:00

Almost all the wooden framing went up today. They're supposed to be back tomorrow.

Day Two

2007-05-30T23:12:00.001-04:00

Today they started putting up the wooden framing, from which the new drywall ceiling will be suspended. They only got one up. They had to cut notches in it for the pipes running across the ceiling. They also removed some of the old fluorescent lighting.

But mainly they hauled up the pre-cut drywall, pre-made frames, and more supplies.

A stack of pre-made frames and cut sheets of drywall.

Day One

2007-05-24T19:09:00.001-04:00

Several months ago we ripped down the translucent plastic panels of the drop ceiling in anticipation of this project. You can see all the junk up there (the pipes cannot be removed). Yesterday (5/23) the handyman took down the metal framework for the drop ceiling, along with the crappy old ceiling fan that came with the place. We're buying a spiffy new one:

No more fluorescent lights. Yesterday the handyman brought along a 6-pack box of 4" recessed lights. Attached to the wooden frame was a white panel, beneath which hung the fan.

The handyman was supposed to be here at 11 a.m. today but he never showed up or called or returned our call. Hope he's all right. These two photos give you an idea of what the old ceiling looked like, though it wasn't nearly as nice. And panels would fall on the floor and get damaged depending on the air pressure (or something) when we opened the front door. Also, the air conditioning vented into the space above the drop ceiling.