Name: Seth & Allison
Type of Project: Kitchen/Family Room renovation
Location: Ventura, California
Type of building: Mid-Century, multi-level, single family home
The Renovation Diaries are a new collaboration with our community in which we feature your step by step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style.
This week we installed new aluminum windows and sliding doors from Western Windows Systems. (Helpful hint: it turns out window lead time is about two months since each window is custom made for the specific job.)
Some of the existing windows before we took them out. The existing slider was a three-panel door with the two outside panels remaining fixed. Below: New windows above the sink and in the family room, with the old slider removed.
We had to relocate an electrical subpanel; the original was positioned right in the middle of this new bay of windows. These new windows are a mixture of casement and awning style to get the best airflow through the kitchen.
Once the windows arrived on site, Seth helped our contractor set each window in place. It took about a day and a half to install windows throughout the house, including in the kitchen, and then an entire day was dedicated just to the pocket door. This was because of the complexity of framing up a new non-structural wall for it to fit into and because our contractor had never installed this type of door before.
Multi-slide pocket door installed. The new door actually sits on the interior of the framing of the house to allow for the panels to disappear into a non-structural wall.
Estimated time for project: 8 weeks/two months
Time remaining: 4 weeks
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Hillary & Michael's Refined Roost
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The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Sprout Side Table
Kitchen Before & After: A Cookbook Author Transforms His 1950s Kitchen
Recipe: Ham, Cheddar & Chive Egg Bakes
Your home is coming along so nicely. I am envious of those pocket sliders.
Nice! What would you say is the cost difference between aluminum and wood frames? I've heard that aluminum can cost quite a bit more, but the look and versatility (and lifespan?) may be worth it.