Even though we’re in what Melissa describes as the never-ending kitchen project, we finally got the flooring removed and the walls painted, so we were ready to move on.  The next step was to start installing the base cabinets that had been sitting in our living room for a month now.

To get ready, we pushed everything over out of the way in the kitchen. We also cleaned up all our various tools and supplies.

We also spread the boxes out where we thought they’d go. This step wasn’t necessary, but it gave us a headstart on installing them the next day since we had to work in small chunks of time.

Then, we started by un-boxing all of the cabinets.

We had to check over them all really well, because we have a 90-day post-delivery window to report anything wrong with each one to the manufacturer.

After un-boxing, Melissa removed all of the doors to make the cabinets lighter and easier to move around.

Then we were ready to start setting the cabinets in place, starting with the corner cabinet.  Whatever cabinet you start with will be the “anchor” to the rest of the cabinets, meaning all of the other measurements rely on it. For example, in order to be able to install the cabinet that will go on the other side of the stove from the corner, it needs to be 30 inches away to all for the stove.  Without the corner in the right place, I wouldn’t be able to install that one.

Once we had them in place, we started to level them out. It’s important to simultaneously level the individual cabinet as well as making sure the cabinets were level across each other.

Plus, you want to make sure the cabinets are level front to back.

We used cedar shims to level the cabinets that needed adjustments. Don’t worry, we cut off all the excess.

Once the base cabinets were level and double checked for correct place, we anchored them to the wall with the screws that were provided.

For the cabinets that were side by side, I connected them per the instructions of Tom Silva and This Old House Installing Cabinets.

That included shimming the gap between the cabinets and securing them together with screws.

Once they were connected, I stood them up and leveled them with the other cabinets before anchoring them to the wall.

I talked about modifying the sink base here. So when I was leveling the sink base, I leveled the corner cabinet to the top of the sink that was sitting on the sink base. The sink will be “under-mounted”, so it needed to be the same height as the top of the corner cabinet. That way the counter-top will sit level across the corner cabinet and the sink.

After getting them all anchored down, Melissa began to put the doors back on. During this process we also moved the range into it’s space, and she realized there would be a tight fit between the corner cabinet hinge and the door of the oven.

So to avoid damaging either, we came up with the idea to cover the hinge with felt.

This gave plenty of cushion to the hinge, so I don’t think we will have to worry about banging into the door of the oven and causing serious damage.

We were rushing a bit to get these base cabinets installed because we had to wait until they were finalized before we could order the counters. Over last weekend, we went and paid for those, and we’re hoping they will come out and measure them in the next few days, but I know we may have to be a bit more patient. 

Then, it’s only a 3-4 week wait until they’ll be ready to install them!

So, we will be able to install the upper cabinets and the pantry area (still to be built) while we’re waiting. And then, we’ll be ready to backsplash, the open shelves, and then, finally do the floors, which ironically was the first thing we purchased for this giant, seemingly never-ending project.

Sheesh.

Until then, Melissa is debating going ahead and moving things into these base cabinets in an attempt to get rid of the clutter that has taken over the rest of the house.

Anyway, there’s the current kitchen update. Be honest, have you been surprised by how long this is taking us? Ever installed cabinets? What did you learn in the process?