The Kitchen.

After all the problems we had with Napoleon, we had to find a new carpenter to make the kitchen. As I have mentioned before, it is virtually impossible to purchase a kitchen 'off the shelf' like we do back in England: no Ikea nor Homebase for a start. The ferreterias and such like do sell basic free-standing units, but not of great quality and there is very little choice available. Plus, aesthetically speaking, the units that are for sale are not much to look at to say the least!

Alejandro's Workshop and House.

So a new carpenter, Alejandro, has been found, in Belen, about 40 minutes drive from here. Nice guy, looking after 2 kids on his own; very humble and modest. His workshop adjoins his small Tico house. Chickens roam free throughout both living and work areas, whilst mango trees surround the property, allowing for much needed shade in this flat and dusty area.

The Happy Couple

Freshly Laid Eggs and Hatched Chicks

To help keep the costs lower, and to keep himself busy, DH offers his services and works with Alejandro and his trainee,Eduardo, for a couple of weeks. DH is given the job of rubbing down the woodwork for the cabinets and worktops. I just hope that they are not primped to within an inch of their life, like the front door to one of our old houses: DH rubbed down the wooden door so much, that it was as smooth as the shell of a car and looked more plastic than plastic! I guess you can take the boy out of the car body repair industry but not vice-versa!

The Sink Hole cut ready in the Worktop before DH works his magic.

DH plays the role of carpenters assistant for about a fortnight and is happier than he has been in weeks - back in a working environment enjoying workshop banter. Every evening he shares little snippets about his day, relishing the fact that he is occupied again, keen to impart a funny tale or two. 

Consequently, the kitchen is built, painted and installed in a relatively short pace of time - and it looks fantastic, if I do say so myself. 

The Bare Shell a Few Months Ago.

The Wooden-Topped Breakfast Bar.

Custom Built and Hand Painted Units.

Installing the Worktop.

Everything and the Kitchen Sink.

The Finished Kitchen - Finally!

OK, so we still need to finish off a few things, like the tiling on the back-splash. Oh yes and get some white goods and install the taps and ... well the list goes on. But, this kitchen has been a right pain in the proverbial and I for one am thankful that it is nearly all done!!

A quick update for January.

 A whole load of ceramic tiles and two toilets later, the bathroom is pretty much finished. Why two toilets? The first one had been manufactured incorrectly and appeared to be leaking. The smell it gave off was disgusting to say the least. Trying to get the faulty product replaced was a difficult task in itself, but after a great deal of sweet-talking by DH, a new and fully functioning toilet has now been put in place.

The shower door has now been installed too, although it was a struggle to get it to fit properly. 

Just needs the shower door and a good clean-up.

Although DH has spent two or three weekends on the interior doors, he is not happy with the end result. The doors are just too ... well just not right. So he may well take them down, strip them back to bare wood and start all over again. 

The kitchen, is still waiting for its cabinetry and worktops, and has been since before Christmas (see my earlier post). It looks sad and lonely with only a base for the breakfast bar in it, but hopefully it won't be too long before the new carpenter has built all the required kitchen furniture; DH is in fact painting the units that are ready as I type.

Tiled, painted and ready for some units.

Not bad considering it really was an empty shell three months ago.