Kitchen remodel, the beginning

Well, this is it. We've pulled the trigger on a major remodel project! We sent a check in (50%) deposit for our new kitchen cabinets. We figured this is the major expense and probably the cornerstone of the project that we'll use for timing. In other words, if the cabinets show up Feb 15, we need to plan demolition, electric, plumbing, and maybe new windows around it.
So here's where we're at. Check goes in the mail tomorrow (roughly $3,400). The rest gets paid upon delivery. It took about 2 months to get to this point. Comparison shopping and then sitting through people dragging their feet and not calling me back.
We have several tile (porcelin and granite) sitting around. We're trying to determine floor and counter tops. I heard Costco has good granite counter tops, so we might look there this weekend. There's a builder's auction in Fife (a long way south) at the end of the month. I want to try that out, but sig. other is a little apprehensive about it. We'd have to hire a fabricator to piece the slabs together. The floor has to stand up to dog nails and dirty shoes. I hate cleaning grout, so brown or black it is if we end up with tile. I'd prefer black and white peel and stick vinyl tiles!
Haven't even gotten around to researching a backsplash. That's easy though. Next weekend we'll go pick out our appliances! New microwave and dishwasher. Our stove is still really new and we might wait a year on the refrigerator. I don't want it eating up our budget and the old crapper is okay for now.

That's it! Enjoy reading about our trials and triumphs!