Happy Memorial Day Everyone!!!
Things have been hopping here as the house begins to really take shape!! It seems every week is filled with meetings with subcontractors. It is amazing all the details that have to be attended to. Chuck has been able to participate in these meetings, but it makes for a lonely evening when he has work left to do at the end of the day because of it. I guess it leaves me more time to surf the net for more stuff for the house.
So, what has occurred since my last post? I'm not really sure where to start since so much is happening. We had to make a small change to the facade of the house as the metal contractor the builder usually uses was being difficult - I'm immensely glad I do not have to deal with all these contractors and their varied personalities, would make me crazy! So, the builder was able to talk with the metal roof guy who punched out a prototype for the metal on the facade. It came back a wee bit expensive, so we elected to only put metal on the section that is the clerestory (the three horizontal windows up high) and not put the section on the front. We decided to just use the stone we are currently using to finish off that front part. It's looking really good. Our plan had been to paint the metal, but have decided we like the look au naturale! It is the same color as the roof and the trim on the windows and soffits will make it pop! Suffice it to say, the stone and brick are going up quickly! I imagine it will be finished this week! The only things left for the exterior are painting the trim and exterior doors. The doors, much to our builder's angst, will not be in until the middle of June. It will be nice to get the doors on and have less crud blowing through the house. It's been super windy here and between the plaster dust, mortar dust and general outside dust (it's dry as a bone here) the interior of the house is a dusty mess! The builder has some thick cardboard put down on the floors to protect them, so we haven't seen the floors since they went in. Can't wait to see how they look with the walls up. This stuff will have to be pulled up in order for the trim work to be done which is not that far into the future.
Inside the house there have also been plenty of changes. The sheet rock, taping and plastering is almost done. Will surely be done this week. The pocket door frames are in. We have done two walk thrus of the house with the cabinet makers to make sure we are all on the same page. We are going to have tons of storage. Since we are losing about 800 - 1000 square feet, storage is going to be important. We are even having a Murphy bed put into one of the extra bedrooms. This room will be my craft/exersise room on top of serving as a guest bedroom. The tile people came out and measured for tile in the baths and kitchen. I was happy that all the tile I ordered has some recycled content. The glass accents for the baths and glass subway tile for the kitchen we will be using are all 100% recycled! Also, they are all made in America. So far we have had pretty good luck getting items made here in the good old USA! We also ordered all of our appliances two weeks ago. Our Sears Appliance Store was having a huge sale - one of those where the more appliances you order the more off you get - and we were able to come in waaayyy under budget! (I keep asking myself why the stuff I have been given allowances for are coming in under budget, but the stuff I have little control over is not? HMMMM?) All the appliances are Energy Star. Since we have no natural gas in our neighborhood, I was a bit dismayed I could not have a gas range - I love my gas cooktop I have now - but was pacified by the fact I was able to get an electric range with 2 ovens, one being convection. I will have to read the instruction manual front to back on that one! Chuck went out and picked up all of our ceiling fans and a few of the outdoor lights we ordered a few weeks ago. Alex's old room is filling up with all kinds of stuff for the house, a pile of stuff to donate and a stack of boxes I have already packed (yes, my friends, I have started to pack away the low priority stuff - when you have a bad back, you need to do stuff at a different pace.....slowly). Good thing he doesn't want to move home. We have also ordered our other lighting for the house and it is trickling in. Once again, all made in the USA!
One other thing we were able to accomplish is to find someone to build the pool. The first bid we got from them was so outrageous I almost had a kitten right there in front of him. It appears I did not express my desire to have a "simple lap pool with fence and some grass for the dog to do her business in". Not sure what's hard about that, but the design he brought had fountains, a spa and fancy landscaping - which would totally clash with the house and cost a mint. I put the kabash on that, went into detail about "simple" and got a much better design the next round. It's going to be really nice, understated and functional, as requested!
We have come up with a bit of a hiccup concerning the cabinets, extra refrigerator and the pantry. The design calls for the extra frig to be in the pantry, but in order for it to be placed in that small space we might have to make the cabinets quite a bit shallower in order to be able to spin the frig into place after sliding it sideways into the pantry. Not sure I want to give up that much cabinet space. The other option is to put the frig in the mudroom and move what cabinetry it replaces into the pantry. Any thoughts? The architect and builder are convinced we can get the frig in the pantry without a problem, but I have concerns about the cabinet and walls getting all banged up (and the builder and architect certainly aren't going to be around to help us move in!) and the loss of cabinet space. The architect was actually concerned Chuck would have to see the frig every time he went from his office thru the mudroom into the house. Cracked me up...Chuck nor I have any problems aesthetically with looking at the frig in the mudroom. Also, Chuck will have to pass the darn kegerator every time he goes from his office into the rest of the house! I tell you what, my frig is MUCH cuter than the kegerator.
Well, I guess next up in the never ending decision making process will be countertops and paint colors. Up to this point, Chuck and I have been pretty much on the same page about all the decisions that have come up (either our tastes are extremely similar or the fact I told Chuck to "do whatever you want in your office" has given me extra points and consideration?!!!!) I'm sure there will be some serious discussion (nope, we don't fight, folks, ask Alex) and one of us will "prevail" in these discussions. I have a feeling hearing "I just can't picture that" from Chuck repeatedly might get a bit tedious, but he's "very visual" (aren't most people?). I have heard is said that if a couple can survive a remodel or building a house your marriage will be stronger for it! I'm going with that premise as I have found most of this process to be fun and wouldn't do it with anyone but Chuck.
The builder seems to think the house will be ready late July, early August. I have to say I was expecting September/October as a move in time. So, I am in a bit of panic mode. Guess we better get a real estate agent out here and prepare to stage the house. This will be my least favorite part. I may have to get one of my decoratory friends out here to assist me. The housing market here is on the upswing, so that is a huge positive and we hope our house will go fairly quickly - not so fast I go into a panic driven coma, tho'!
Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and takes the time to think about all the men and women who have served or are serving our country!
Love to all!
Lori
