This is Orlando. He is Chino the Handyman’s right hand man. And we’ve known him for about 15 years. He can do anything. Seriously, if there was some sort of award that was passed out to people for knowing how to do any imaginable task on the planet, Orlando would get the top prize. Hands down, no questions asked.
For the most part, I liked the u-shape of the kitchen in our new house. 
But that was about it. 😉
The kitchen cabinets, counter tops, 1990’s space sucking soffet above the cabinets and the pale yellowish wood floor, were all torn up yesterday {as well as a bunch of other stuff too}. 
As you would imagine, I have a strict budget for this project, so when Chino’s numbers for the kitchen, family room, half bath, office and new laundry room remodel were all tallied up… it was about 20% more than I could afford.
So we struck a deal. Basically my job is to help the laborers every day they are here. Which means pulling up old flooring, hauling cabinets, tearing down drywall, putting up plastic sheeting, taking care of all the daily clean up, and doing all the painting myself. Trim included.
Plus a whole bunch of other odds and ends as well.
What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. Right?
Goodbye old smelly pantry. I have no idea what was stored on those shelves… but whoa Nelly did they smell B.A.D.
Not to shabby for the first day. {The soffets are coming down tomorrow}. 
Oh, and we also found a petrified rat wedged behind the kitchen cabinets. By the looks of it, his death was sudden. I mean how else do you explain the open mouth and giant eye sockets? My guess is he found a little nugget of something and refused to let go.
Only 6-8 more weeks to go!
~Mavis
Ann says
O M G. A petrified rat!?
Anndra says
Please send him to my kitchen next 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
The rat… or Orlando?
Lynn says
I seriously cracked up when I saw that – might have screamed and jumped out of my skin in real life… but here on the computer screen it’s HYSTERICAL!!
Gwen says
May we have a preview of the cabinets?
The rat made me laugh, and sorta retch too.
Hope the pantry aroma is gone for good.
Henrietta Yabeny says
The last picture was hysterical…I’m in the middle of eating my lunch and about lost it all…thanks Mavis, you are hilarious.
Ashley Johnson says
Ewww, Ewww, and Ewwwwww. How on earth did the previous owners not smell that? I’m sorry but I’ve had to deal with a rotting vermin and they have the worst smell.
Randy says
only you would post the rat….
Jess-Nebraska says
Exciting on the remodel….I love that stuff even if it is a giant pain in the backside. Are you recycling the cabinets to another part of th house or are you donating any of the materials? I am wondering about the rat smell too…how would that go unnoticed? Maybe it was a family pet? Probably what the new owners of our old house feel like. We lost two gerbils there…never could find them. I think of that from time to time.
Jennifer Jo says
Put that rat on Ebay. The Bloggess will buy it.
Mavis Butterfield says
I thought about emailing her. 😉
Jenn says
I’m loving that big window in front of the kitchen sink. I can see a huge flower garden there in the near future. Happy remodeling. Hope yours goes faster than mine did!
Marcia says
Well, except for the soffets I liked that kitchen.
Well, and the rat. That was gnarly.
Diana says
I’m totally conflicted here. I’m excited to see what you do with the space. But I also consider this gutting of a perfectly sound kitchen the utmost in conspicuous American waste. To me that is an excellent kitchen. All I’d do is change it to colors I like, and hack into the upper soffit to open it up for light and air or attractive shelving; then possibly other adaptations over time. Please tell us the cabinets and flooring were kept in salvageable condition? (Think ReStore donation. 🙂
Were the former owners really that unpleasant to deal with? How sad.
Mavis Butterfield says
Absolutely! The cupboards were recycled and we re-using the faucet and a few other things.
Diana says
Awesome! And I hadn’t even noticed the faucet. It looks like a definite keeper.
Renay says
There was a smell at my front door (how welcoming) for awhile…could never figure it out until we had to repair the front of the house. Yep, petrified raccoon. Ah, the aroma! We stood it up in the yard for awhile until my husband said NO MORE. I thought it was like a living zoo…lol!!!
Mavis Butterfield says
Oh wow! A raccoon totally beats a rat! Stink a roo!
Cecily says
That rat makes me think of the day my DH tore down the covered entry to a house he was working on. When he tore off the sheeting a mummified cat fell out, its mouth open in shock like your rat (Poe would have been thrilled)! I had nightmares for days afterwards.
Mavis Butterfield says
A cat? Awwww poor kitty. 🙁
Madam Chow says
We are moving out to the country, and everyone out there keeps warning us about the cottonmouths and rattlesnakes. My husband saw a 4-5 foot long black snake.
Pam says
We moved into our place last summer. We’ve spent the first year getting the grounds done to a “workable” condition (gardens are never “done” – just “acceptable”). So this winter was supposed to be the time to start tearing into the house. My appliances are being stored in the barn, the flooring is piled in the spare bedroom, wood and hardware in the garage ready to go. And the hubby (a retired master carpenter) and his extremely arthritic hip was told that he’ll be getting a hip replacement this winter instead. *sigh* So now he’s the project foreman and I’m the labor. I suspect it’ll be next winter before the job is completed. Hope yours goes MUCH smoother……………….:)
Sue Lester says
Are you going to be able to replicate your food garden at your new home? You said you were down-sizing. Does that include your garden ias well as your living space?
Mavis Butterfield says
I can’t even begin to tell you HOW EXCITED I am about my new garden space. 🙂 It’s going to be AWESOME. I’ll try and get pictures and what I plan to do with it soon.
Laura Z says
The first house we rented after we were married came with a dessicated squirrel in the fireplace. He was all streched out like he was going to fly away but was totally crunchy. Double eek! We named it Smedley! 🙂
Kayla says
Maybe you should make an award for Orlando as a thank you for working on your home. You could give one to Chino for being a tightwad too 🙂
Jenni says
I just discovered your blog and am loving this! How did you find Chino and Orlando? I’m hoping to remodel my kitchen and would love to see if they can give me an estimate! Do you mind emailing me Chino’s contact info? I’m in Seattle.