The Kitchen Log
Chronological renovation diary from demolition to final tile — weekly updates, before/mid/after photos, and the real messy middle.
33 articles
Our DIY Kitchen Renovation: Real Costs, Real Mistakes, Real Results
Thinking about a DIY kitchen renovation? Here's what ours really cost in Salt La...
The Before Tour: 1994 Almond Cabinets & a Dream
A full walk-through of our original 1994 kitchen—almond cabinets, buzzing lights...
DIY Kitchen Remodel: What Our $28,000 Renovation Taught Us
DIY kitchen remodel costs, timeline, and real lessons from a Utah family's $28,0...
Demolition Day: We Thought 4 Hours. It Took 12.
Full account of our kitchen demo day—what we planned, what actually happened, th...
Small Kitchen Renovation Ideas: What We Learned in Our 180-Square-Foot Kitchen
Looking for small kitchen renovation ideas that actually fit a real budget? Here...
Kitchen Renovation Before and After: The Real Numbers, Timeline, and Stumbles
Kitchen renovation before and after: one Utah family shares the complete, honest...
Week 5: The Day the Plumber Showed Up & Everything Stopped
The day our plumber arrived in week 5 and the entire kitchen project ground to a...
Countertop Install Day: 2-Hour Window, All-Day Ordeal
The countertop template was perfect. Install day was supposed to take two hours....
The After Tour: 10 Weeks, $41,400, One Kitchen
The full after tour of our finished kitchen—10 weeks, a final total of $41,400, ...