The front parapet has been on our 'to do list' since July 2007. We have been putting it off, knowing the repair will be costly, plus it's not like the roof is leaking, right? WRONG.
Back in mid-September, we had 3 full days of pouring, driving rain. It was during that weekend that the roof started leaking in the front bedroom. Not a major leak, but a noticeable one.
We asked the roofer to come and check it out... Turns out, because the parapet was in such bad shape, rain was seeping in thru the deteriorated joints AND the flashing wasn't adhering at the back of the wall (since the plaster-patched brick was crumbling). PLUS, the stone could be jiggled with your bare hands (translation: it wasn't secure and could potentially fall = BAD). This 'repair' was NOT in the budget for this year, but after some SERIOUS negotiations with the roofer, we agreed on a price and the parapet wall has now been rebuilt, re-pointed and re-flashed. Give it up for the roofers Walter, Wally and their other brother Wally. Woo hoo!
Andrew returned this past Saturday with door, drawer and side panels, shelves, drawers, plus some shim and trim pieces. It was a full day of work (11 hours) but the cabinets look great! One really nice detail is the wall cabinet hinge - it allows the door to open 170 degrees. 
A lighting installation, by PSLAB, in London, using recycled car headlights, incandescent light bulbs, and red fabric electric cord. 
Andrew (our friend who made the cabinets) and Bryan hard at work... I think... on a side note, check out the toolbox in the bottom left corner in the photo below... Andrew made it from Mahogany wood. I could barely lift it... 
We are now researching countertop options... I think we've narrowed it down to either slate or soapstone.
... the fridge and dishwasher didn't make it into the photo... I couldn't find the extra ultra wide angle lens.
Even though we try to keep our 'stuff' to a minimum, we're human, we're an architect and a structural engineer, we like books and projects and collecting things, so... we have a lot of 'stuff' and a lot of this 'stuff' still doesn't have a home, as seen in the photos above.
... now our 'stuff' will have a home.
We finally received a nice sized sample of the cherry (finished) that will be used for the kitchen cabinets... see photos above. We're still deciding on which floor stain option to go with...
Image above: Rosewood Option
Image Above: Neutral Option
Image above: CHERRY used for kitchen cabinets
Image above: Floor stain options - Neutral or Rosewood
The front parapet has been on our 'to do list' since July 2007. We have been putting it off, knowing the repair will be costly, plus it's not like the roof is leaking, right? 
... unfortunately, not for long. Friday's forecast calls for rain mixed with snow...
