Well, Paint & Doors

Mom & Jill came to visit!

Painting is a long, SLOOOOW process. There is a lot of prep (caulking, taping, covering windows, priming) and now finally, we are beginning to see results! As of yesterday, some of the white gloss (final coat) had been painted. The painters tell us they should be done by the middle of this week. We have our doubts!

The drilling for the well has been done. They tell us they hit water at 200 feet. I have no idea what that means - but good information to have on hand I suppose!

Dinner party conversation maybe?
'So, when we we dug the well, we hit water at 200 feet'...... or not!

Drilling the well!

We were very pleased to see that exterior doors were installed when we drove up earlier this week. The front door looks great. It will be stained the same color we have used on the interior pieces.

Looks like it's time to move - the new tenants are hovering!

Coming soon - tile & granite!

Our World Became Color - and Other Updates!

When Sean was about 3 or 4 years old, he asked us when the world 'became in color'. I'm not sure if he had been watching too many of my 'I Love Lucy' tapes in black and white or thought of this on his own. Pretty profound for a little guy.
In any event, our new house is in the process of 'becoming in color'.

The outside of the house is mainly gray. The trim is white & there is a red accent at the top. Those colors alone gave us hours of angst! In the end, we held our breath, hoped for the best and were very happy when we drove up to see the paint in person. It was what we were hoping to see!

Next challenge, interior paint. The three step process for the stained pieces - fireplace, entertainment center in the living room and most of the study is complete. The pieces were stained, sanded and then lacquered in a satin finish. We walked into a hazy fog of stain fumes yesterday. During the visit today, we were very pleased with the results. As we left today, the windows were being taped in preparation for spraying the interior of the house.

In other news, we met with Mr. Landscape last week. His proposals are very interesting. A lot of what we heard was what Bob had drawn last summer. He had some new ideas & we will see how they play out as we get closer.

The 'hangar' in the playroom (Bob's airplane display case, above) is looking more like a hangar and a lot less like the marionette stage that Jill & I were calling it a week ago.

Meg & I - admiring the finishing touches on the rotunda crown molding

The rotunda got one final round of crown molding & looks great. It was missing 'something' and Bob figured it out, told the carpenters & voila - complete!

The electricity has been drawn from the pole to the house, preparations for the well have been started.

Kareem has fulfilled my request for a beautiful plate from Morocco to display in the kitchen. When he returns home in December, this will be in his bag. There is a spot above the stove specifically built with this plate in mind. Thanks, Kareem!

The biggest excitement was last week when Bob asked Jay the Builder for a move in date. As of now, we will move the week of January 9, 2009.

What a great way to start the new year!

Pictures and Paint!

The trim carpenters have finished all but a few details. They are truly artists and did a great job. They listened to our ideas, added their own and we are very pleased with the results.

Master bedroom

Fireplace mantel (hearth still to come!)

Dining room - looking toward the study

Study doors

Coffered ceiling in the study

The beginning of Bob's display case in his playroom

The painters have started the exterior of the house. We'll see soon how those color choices look! They move to the inside in a day or two. They anticipate a little more than a week inside.

Week in Review!

As we told Jay the Builder, we are very pleased with the progress of the house. It seems to be moving along at a nice pace. Every day we see progress. We know there is a moving van at the end of the tunnel.....some days it just seems further away!

The 18,000 pound septic tank has been placed in the yard. As you can see by the picture, the hole is open. We are waiting for a state inspection.

This week has been filled with very long days & a lot of decisions. Decisions we had made on a high level several months ago. Now it's time for us to commit to them.

The trim carpenters have continued their work this week. They should finish up today.

The painters have started caulking & sealing the exterior of the house. They will move to the inside next week.

We have had analysis paralysis over the red we want to use on the trim. We think we have a decision. Now to figure out the gray for the siding....

We met with the tile layers yesterday. They walked the house with us & will start ordering supplies. I believe they are up after the painters finish.

Cabinets!!!!

I will just let the pictures speak for themselves.....we have cabinets!!

The desk in the study being put in place (left)

Entertainment center in the living room (above)


Kitchen (below)

Living room from the kitchen

Kitchen desk (left)

Kitchen cabinets (above)

Master bedroom (left)

Master bath cabinets (above & left)

Laundry room

Trim starts tomorrow!

So Much to See!!

A few days out of town & I felt like a kid in a candy store when we visited our house yesterday.

The extra stone has been taken away & trash has been picked up -the yards looks like.....yards!

The brick for the fireplace was delivered & is waiting for the mason.

The outside trim work & infamous water tables are finished.

The glass block was installed above the tub in the master bath.

The garage doors were installed.

The cement floor in the game room has been stained, scored & polished. It was wet yesterday so we could only peak at it. They are still working on it today so it may be a few days before we can get in there to walk on it. At first 'peak' it looks amazing!

The wood floors were being installed yesterday. Should be complete today.

One of the most exciting things we heard yesterday is that cabinets should arrive today. The trim man will be on site Friday to 'set up shop'.

Glass block window (left)

Stained cement floor (below)

Another week......a Little Closer!

October 16, 2008

Back of the house

Living room

Guest room with window seat

I feel like we've turned a corner this week. Probably just in my mind but maybe not. The details on the house seem to be coming together.
The water table is complete, the stone is complete, the walls have been textured. We met with the man who will do the treatment for the cement floor. He will begin working on that tomorrow.
On Saturday the glass block will be installed in the master bathroom.
The wood floors will be started either tomorrow or early next week (we both thought we heard something different).

Out of town for a few days, hope to be able to report on big progress when we return.