Houston We Have A Problem!

 

Remember the movie starring Tom Hanks.  It was the story of Apollo 13 flight that was going great until one of the engines for re entry caught fire and jeopardize their re entry back to earth.  It took a lot of really smart people and prayers to fix the issue and allow them back to earth safely.  It took thinking outside the box.

Well..... I hate a kitchen without natural light or a window.  In this condo we have neither of these happening. 

Terry came home on Friday night and I said "hey you know how I hate the fact that it is so dark and gloomy with no natural light coming into the kitchen right?!!!   I reminded him of how there is no air flow in this kitchen either.
He had the look on his face like Yep I know what you are saying but what is this leading too!!!!!

I said hey how about we moved the refrigerator back to where the new cabinet and microwave are now. 

Then we can.... wait for it!!! Bust open the wall and make the kitchen open concept to the living room and dining room!

I was waiting for the WHAT?!!!  Instead my man said yep you are right and that sounds like a good idea to make this kitchen function better.
God I love this man!!!!

The refrigerator was awkward sitting in this corner of the closed off kitchen.  I looked so misplaced in the kitchen.  The flow was not good.

This wall was the problem.  It was blocking all the natural light from coming into the kitchen.  This house facing south so I get a lot of bright sunshine in the living room and dining room.  Then you walk into the kitchen and it is like a cave.  I have to have the lights on in there all the time.

This opening was going to need to be made bigger.  Excuse the mess in the kitchen.  Everything had to be moved before demo started. 

I thought this is great.  Terry is on board.  He has the tools and we can do this. 

This is a load bearing wall but with all the ceiling work out in the hallway while they are doing repairs from the fire we could see their was a steel beam running across that was attached up in the attic. 

Yay no support posts.......  So we thought!

Then when we opened up the wall we found an old concrete filled steel support pole in the middle of the wall.  I just wanted to cry.  

Why is that there if it is already being supported up in the attic.  Terry figured it was probably put there years ago as extra support. 

Well there is no way that sucker can be taken out. 
Ugh!!!  Now my open concept kitchen idea was becoming a blurrr...

As the great quote went "Houston We Have A Problem" ran through my head. 

Ok! I do not have a team of scientist and astronauts like Apollo 13 had but I have Terry and his tools and some ideas that are running through my head.  

We accomplished letting light in this dark kitchen and air flow is accomplished. 

 Now my challenge it to figure out how to make that pole look like part of the island we are going to make.

That is my challenge and I have thought of a couple of different options.   I hope we can make it work.  I will show you that soon when we can finish up this project.

I know a lot of you remember the Where's Waldo Books.  In this picture today I have the "Where's Buddy ".  Can you find the little photobomber!

Can you find all the crap from the cabinet all over my dining room table too?!!

Yep! there he is looking at me in the kitchen.  Hey mom you are pretty close to my treats in there!! How about you get me one while you are right there?!  I really really like treats!

Ok back to my drawing board to come up with a way to cover that pole and make this pole part of the open concept and not an eyesore and disappointment.

I will be back to show you the results soon.
Have a great new week.
Hugs,
Kris