The countertop guy showed up this morning to make his templates. So no worrying about that next week. Whew.
After a little confusion on Jesse's part, Gary found the directions and the guys sorted out the mounting of the range hood. (Which has to wait for the backsplash to be tiled, which can't get started 'til the countertops are installed ...)
Robert started painting the laundry room and upstairs bathroom today. I still can't believe I actually chose four colors that I continued to like after they hit the walls!
The windows and skylights for the sun room arrived today. I think the guys are planning to install them this afternoon.
And, finally, here's the Laura-and-Lance photo I promised. How many smooches can one mommy give? :-)
Friday, May 23, 2008
Day 260: May 22, 2008
As promised, the cabinet installers returned for trimwork today. There's still more to do, though -- so Billy, the lead installer, will be back in a few weeks, when my knobs and pulls finally arrive.
Gary and Bud trimmed windows and doors in the great room.
Bryan called early in the morning to ask if he could send the countertop installers out today. I called Bud, who scrambled the plumber to bring by the faucet and explain the dishwasher vent.
It turned out the guy Bryan wanted to do the countertops wasn't available 'til next week. At least we're *really* ready for him now.
Linda and one of our aunts stopped by for an early-evening tour and dinner at a new Mexican restaurant. We've made some big strides since the last time Linda was here.
Gary and Bud trimmed windows and doors in the great room.
Bryan called early in the morning to ask if he could send the countertop installers out today. I called Bud, who scrambled the plumber to bring by the faucet and explain the dishwasher vent.
It turned out the guy Bryan wanted to do the countertops wasn't available 'til next week. At least we're *really* ready for him now.
Linda and one of our aunts stopped by for an early-evening tour and dinner at a new Mexican restaurant. We've made some big strides since the last time Linda was here.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Days 258-259: May 20-21, 2008
Tuesday was a blur of even more work and less sleep than usual, but my excitement about today made up for that stress.
Almost as soon as they arrived at 9 a.m., the cabinet guys began hauling in the pieces to our giant kitchen jigsaw puzzle, filling the great room with chestnut-colored goodness. If I had guessed the scope of that part of job, I would have timed it. More than an hour, for sure.
By the time they left around 5 or 6 p.m., everything was hung and most of the doors were in place.
Cabinet Day 2 is tomorrow, when they're coming back for trimwork and, I'm assuming, to level doors and that sort of thing.
I stayed around the house today in case there were cabinet questions. Tomorrow, I've got to get back to the office, which is unfortunate since it's the day for details.
Laura and Lance stopped by for a visit and a peek at the progress. (I remembered to take a picture this time, thanks to Bud, so I'll have to post that soon.)
Almost as soon as they arrived at 9 a.m., the cabinet guys began hauling in the pieces to our giant kitchen jigsaw puzzle, filling the great room with chestnut-colored goodness. If I had guessed the scope of that part of job, I would have timed it. More than an hour, for sure.
By the time they left around 5 or 6 p.m., everything was hung and most of the doors were in place.
Cabinet Day 2 is tomorrow, when they're coming back for trimwork and, I'm assuming, to level doors and that sort of thing.
I stayed around the house today in case there were cabinet questions. Tomorrow, I've got to get back to the office, which is unfortunate since it's the day for details.
Laura and Lance stopped by for a visit and a peek at the progress. (I remembered to take a picture this time, thanks to Bud, so I'll have to post that soon.)
Monday, May 19, 2008
Day 257: May 19, 2008
More adventures in lighting today.
The rest of the kitchen lights -- the pendants (in the photo), and the fixtures in the breakfast area and by the sun-room door -- are functional. So are the ceiling fan (!) and the recessed lighting in the great room. Laura was there to see them lighted for the first time!
Tom cleaned the master bedroom this afternoon. Amazing how much better it looks without all that clutter and dust. And it doesn't even have Gary and Jimmy's cool bookshelves yet.
The temporary doors for the kitchen and pantry arrived today. The French doors and glass pantry door aren't in stock yet, so the guys are going to install these, just to have something up before the cabinets go in. They'll replace them later.
Painting and drywalling continued. Gary and Jimmy finished putting the floor on the deck.
Did I mention yet that my friends Brian and Janie are having a girl? Eliza Jane. I got to see some of her first pictures today.
The rest of the kitchen lights -- the pendants (in the photo), and the fixtures in the breakfast area and by the sun-room door -- are functional. So are the ceiling fan (!) and the recessed lighting in the great room. Laura was there to see them lighted for the first time!
Tom cleaned the master bedroom this afternoon. Amazing how much better it looks without all that clutter and dust. And it doesn't even have Gary and Jimmy's cool bookshelves yet.
The temporary doors for the kitchen and pantry arrived today. The French doors and glass pantry door aren't in stock yet, so the guys are going to install these, just to have something up before the cabinets go in. They'll replace them later.
Painting and drywalling continued. Gary and Jimmy finished putting the floor on the deck.
Did I mention yet that my friends Brian and Janie are having a girl? Eliza Jane. I got to see some of her first pictures today.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Day 256: May 18, 2008
It's catch-up day at the current house. Laundry, dishes, the usual suspects.
We took our next-door neighbors, Mark and Debbie, to the other house for a tour. It's much farther along than when Mark last saw it, but every time I walk in, I realize how much farther we have to go.
The photo shows just what I'm talking about. At least the bi-fold closets are gone from the master bedroom, which means the space is available for new bookshelves. But the washer and dryer are still in the middle of the room. There's construction stuff stacked everywhere, piles of drywall dust all over the floor.
More progress, and quick, please!
We took our next-door neighbors, Mark and Debbie, to the other house for a tour. It's much farther along than when Mark last saw it, but every time I walk in, I realize how much farther we have to go.
The photo shows just what I'm talking about. At least the bi-fold closets are gone from the master bedroom, which means the space is available for new bookshelves. But the washer and dryer are still in the middle of the room. There's construction stuff stacked everywhere, piles of drywall dust all over the floor.
More progress, and quick, please!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Day 255: May 17, 2008
When we drove by the house this morning, the tile helpers' truck was parked out front. They started putting cement board on the upstairs shower today. The inside's complete, but I don't think they started on the outside.
Lance, Laura and Louis participated in a March of Dimes walk this morning. They were the third-ranked fundraisers! Behind two banks!
I'm trying to get us organized for Cabinet Day. The countertops will come at the same time as the cabinets. They cut holes to accommodate the sink and that stuff on site, so I have to make sure everything's there when they are.
The sink and cooktop are already there; the disposal button's here at the current house. Have to call the plumber about the faucet Monday. I must be forgetting something.
Lance, Laura and Louis participated in a March of Dimes walk this morning. They were the third-ranked fundraisers! Behind two banks!
I'm trying to get us organized for Cabinet Day. The countertops will come at the same time as the cabinets. They cut holes to accommodate the sink and that stuff on site, so I have to make sure everything's there when they are.
The sink and cooktop are already there; the disposal button's here at the current house. Have to call the plumber about the faucet Monday. I must be forgetting something.
Day 254: May 16, 2008
More paint. More crown. More decking. Lots of work!
Harold Wayne and his tiling helpers put cement board on the downstairs shower today.
Gary and Jimmy were expecting to install the French door for the kitchen, but I guess it didn't arrive today. When I stopped by the house after work, I didn't see it around the house anywhere.
Harold Wayne and his tiling helpers put cement board on the downstairs shower today.
Gary and Jimmy were expecting to install the French door for the kitchen, but I guess it didn't arrive today. When I stopped by the house after work, I didn't see it around the house anywhere.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Day 253: May 15, 2008
It's hard to find a parking place at the house these days.
Gary and Jimmy continued to work on crown molding today. They also started planning the bedroom bookcases and did some demo there and a couple of other places.
Robert and his assistant, (another) Gary, painted crown in the rooms that were finished and began putting the wall color in Bud's dad's room, which will be the guest room. (That room doesn't get crown because of an arched doorway.)
Jesse installed some lighting fixtures, the smoke detectors, and the outlets and toggles. We can actually turn on the recessed lighting in the kitchen now.
Duane and his assistants hung, taped and mudded downstairs. And Bud installed his surround-sound speakers in the great room.
Gary and Jimmy continued to work on crown molding today. They also started planning the bedroom bookcases and did some demo there and a couple of other places.
Robert and his assistant, (another) Gary, painted crown in the rooms that were finished and began putting the wall color in Bud's dad's room, which will be the guest room. (That room doesn't get crown because of an arched doorway.)
Jesse installed some lighting fixtures, the smoke detectors, and the outlets and toggles. We can actually turn on the recessed lighting in the kitchen now.
Duane and his assistants hung, taped and mudded downstairs. And Bud installed his surround-sound speakers in the great room.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Day 252: May 14, 2008
I called Jimmy this morning to check one more detail before contacting Bryan. Then I hopped in the shower while I was waiting for the return call. When the phone rang, it was Bryan, who is now officially psychic.
He said the cabinets already are in production, and they'll be ready for installation next week! How cool is that?
It set off an instant panic to buy cabinet hardware, though. My choices have been in my bookmarks for months, but the company charges a 20 percent restocking fee for orders returned after 20 days. I didn't want to order 'til we were close. Just in case.
So I counted up the knobs and pulls one more time, surfed on over to House of Antique Hardware -- and discovered that my beloved pulls are out of stock 'til June 6. It's a big deal because they won't be here in time for Bryan to install them.
After much hand-wringing and a desperate consultation with my friend Laura, I convinced myself to love another style -- only to discover that the finish we need is so out of stock that no one can even guess when it will be back in.
I couldn't find anything else I wanted on the entire web, so I ordered the first ones.
Gary and Jimmy started crown molding today. The front room (which will be the exercise room) is finished. The master bedroom isn't quite complete yet.
What else? The painters are working on trim. The hardwood floor is down. Ah, progress.
He said the cabinets already are in production, and they'll be ready for installation next week! How cool is that?
It set off an instant panic to buy cabinet hardware, though. My choices have been in my bookmarks for months, but the company charges a 20 percent restocking fee for orders returned after 20 days. I didn't want to order 'til we were close. Just in case.
So I counted up the knobs and pulls one more time, surfed on over to House of Antique Hardware -- and discovered that my beloved pulls are out of stock 'til June 6. It's a big deal because they won't be here in time for Bryan to install them.
After much hand-wringing and a desperate consultation with my friend Laura, I convinced myself to love another style -- only to discover that the finish we need is so out of stock that no one can even guess when it will be back in.
I couldn't find anything else I wanted on the entire web, so I ordered the first ones.
Gary and Jimmy started crown molding today. The front room (which will be the exercise room) is finished. The master bedroom isn't quite complete yet.
What else? The painters are working on trim. The hardwood floor is down. Ah, progress.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Day 251: May 13, 2008
I got a little ahead of myself yesterday on the deck report. The guys actually finished hanging the joists this morning.
This afternoon, they started laying the decking. Turns out the raised platform for the table is a no-go. Sad. But not devastating.
The hardwood guys came back this afternoon. Today they cut most of the boards that were lying on top in yesterday's photo. So maybe tomorrow's nailing day.
I got the all-clear to get Bryan started on cabinets. Can you believe it? I'm calling him first thing in the morning!
This afternoon, they started laying the decking. Turns out the raised platform for the table is a no-go. Sad. But not devastating.
The hardwood guys came back this afternoon. Today they cut most of the boards that were lying on top in yesterday's photo. So maybe tomorrow's nailing day.
I got the all-clear to get Bryan started on cabinets. Can you believe it? I'm calling him first thing in the morning!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Day 250: May 12, 2008
The hardwood guys laid out the great-room floor this afternoon -- which, I think, means they'll be ready to nail it tomorrow night.
In other flooring news, the rest of the kitchen is grouted. After I find out more about sealer and stone conditioner, I'll know when to contact Bryan and get him started on the cabinets.
Upstairs, the painters primed and caulked everything. They're ready to add color as soon as Gary and Jimmy install the crown molding.
I think the guys might get to some crown Wednesday. They've got another day's worth of decking before they're ready to take a break from that and move inside.
Gary, Jimmy, Bud and Tom have all the joists up on the long part of the deck that connects the two sides. Tomorrow, they'll put down the floor.
In other flooring news, the rest of the kitchen is grouted. After I find out more about sealer and stone conditioner, I'll know when to contact Bryan and get him started on the cabinets.
Upstairs, the painters primed and caulked everything. They're ready to add color as soon as Gary and Jimmy install the crown molding.
I think the guys might get to some crown Wednesday. They've got another day's worth of decking before they're ready to take a break from that and move inside.
Gary, Jimmy, Bud and Tom have all the joists up on the long part of the deck that connects the two sides. Tomorrow, they'll put down the floor.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Day 248-249: May 10-11, 2008
The patio set is complete, with no missing pieces and no major scratches. While we finished that project Saturday, the tilers were grouting.
Because our kitchen tile has such a tall profile, Harold Wayne ordered four times as much grout as his guys usually would need for that square footage. They ran out anyway, with about a third of the kitchen still groutless.
Saturday evening, we attended a garden-party fundraiser for the local humane society. We've been thinking for a while now that we may hold it at our house someday. The yard probably won't be ready by this time next year, though.
Today, we're relaxing. The photo is the Monessen ventless fireplace we bought a couple of days ago.
Because our kitchen tile has such a tall profile, Harold Wayne ordered four times as much grout as his guys usually would need for that square footage. They ran out anyway, with about a third of the kitchen still groutless.
Saturday evening, we attended a garden-party fundraiser for the local humane society. We've been thinking for a while now that we may hold it at our house someday. The yard probably won't be ready by this time next year, though.
Today, we're relaxing. The photo is the Monessen ventless fireplace we bought a couple of days ago.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Day 247: May 9, 2008
It's been a shopping sort of day.
It all started with the patio dining set. Gary and Jimmy weren't sure there'd be room to put this one we found last night on a raised platform on the deck like I had hoped.
So Bud and I went back to Home Depot and bought the set late this morning. Our job is to put it together so the guys will know whether to build the platform next week.
We took a break from assembly with three chairs to go. We'll get back to that Sunday.
Yesterday, we discovered that Raymond, the guy who was going to provide our gas fireplace, doesn't sell them anymore. This afternoon, Bud and I endured an hourlong wait a store Raymond recommended only to find out the insert was out of stock.
Since Jimmy said "the sooner, the better" this morning when I asked him how soon we should get the insert, we decided to buy the floor model instead of waiting two weeks for a special order.
And since we obviously hadn't shopped enough after all of that, our last stop was the mall. We're exhausted!
It all started with the patio dining set. Gary and Jimmy weren't sure there'd be room to put this one we found last night on a raised platform on the deck like I had hoped.
So Bud and I went back to Home Depot and bought the set late this morning. Our job is to put it together so the guys will know whether to build the platform next week.
We took a break from assembly with three chairs to go. We'll get back to that Sunday.
Yesterday, we discovered that Raymond, the guy who was going to provide our gas fireplace, doesn't sell them anymore. This afternoon, Bud and I endured an hourlong wait a store Raymond recommended only to find out the insert was out of stock.
Since Jimmy said "the sooner, the better" this morning when I asked him how soon we should get the insert, we decided to buy the floor model instead of waiting two weeks for a special order.
And since we obviously hadn't shopped enough after all of that, our last stop was the mall. We're exhausted!
Day 246: May 8, 2008
Harold Wayne and his two helpers were whirling tile dervishes today. They laid about three-quarters of the kitchen. Because of the irregular shapes, I guess laying the parts against the walls was less than easy.
Gary and Jimmy worked in the sun room. But with the fresh kitchen tile, it's hard to get into the sun room without going up a ladder. So I haven't looked around.
Bud helped our next-door neighbor, Mark, pick up a new-to-him motorcycle this afternoon. Mark's been talking about this bike for a while, so we're glad he finally decided to buy it.
Gary and Jimmy worked in the sun room. But with the fresh kitchen tile, it's hard to get into the sun room without going up a ladder. So I haven't looked around.
Bud helped our next-door neighbor, Mark, pick up a new-to-him motorcycle this afternoon. Mark's been talking about this bike for a while, so we're glad he finally decided to buy it.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Day 245: May 7, 2008
Our pile of lighting got a little smaller today.
In the great room, Jesse installed the ceiling fan and some of the recessed lighting. In the kitchen, he put in the pendants, a fixture near the sun-room door and all of the recessed lighting.
Buying trim and bulbs for recessed lighting is much more complicated that you might imagine. In fact, I'd recommend taking some sort of class before you try! Bud and I spent two hours this afternoon at Lowe's trying to make sense of it all.
Harold Wayne put a couple of tile sheets on the floor near a wall in the kitchen this afternoon. (I think he was trying to decide where to start laying since it's such an odd shape.) I was very relieved to see that I still like the tile and the wall color together.
The drywallers still say the upstairs will be ready for paint by Friday.
In the great room, Jesse installed the ceiling fan and some of the recessed lighting. In the kitchen, he put in the pendants, a fixture near the sun-room door and all of the recessed lighting.
Buying trim and bulbs for recessed lighting is much more complicated that you might imagine. In fact, I'd recommend taking some sort of class before you try! Bud and I spent two hours this afternoon at Lowe's trying to make sense of it all.
Harold Wayne put a couple of tile sheets on the floor near a wall in the kitchen this afternoon. (I think he was trying to decide where to start laying since it's such an odd shape.) I was very relieved to see that I still like the tile and the wall color together.
The drywallers still say the upstairs will be ready for paint by Friday.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Day 244: May 6, 2008
Bud, Gary and Jimmy got started on the non-sun-room side of the deck today. In the next week or so, the sides will meet in middle.
After some prompting from Jimmy this morning, the drywallers actually got to work. They told Bud the upstairs will be ready for the painters by the end of the week. And after the amount of work they accomplished today, we're a little more likely to believe them.
But the really big news today is all about flooring. When we met with the hardwood guy this afternoon, he wanted to lay the great-room floor this weekend.
He can't, though, because we're getting kitchen tile Friday and Saturday! (So we'll get hardwood flooring early next week!)
Is that a light there at the end of the tunnel?
After some prompting from Jimmy this morning, the drywallers actually got to work. They told Bud the upstairs will be ready for the painters by the end of the week. And after the amount of work they accomplished today, we're a little more likely to believe them.
But the really big news today is all about flooring. When we met with the hardwood guy this afternoon, he wanted to lay the great-room floor this weekend.
He can't, though, because we're getting kitchen tile Friday and Saturday! (So we'll get hardwood flooring early next week!)
Is that a light there at the end of the tunnel?
Monday, May 5, 2008
Day 243: May 5, 2008
Even with the usual lack of drywall progress, there was quite a bit of action at the house today.
The kitchen's one step closer to tile. Harold Wayne, the tile subcontractor, readied the floor by rolling on some sort of sticky stuff, then putting down wire mesh and, finally, applying the leveler, which is the wet-looking stuff in the photo.
Jimmy wasn't feeling well, but he and Gary finished their part of leveling the kitchen floor before Harold Wayne got started. Then Gary continued to frame the skylights in the sunroom.
Tom, the guys' helper, was back for the first time in a while. He was in charge of cleaning up debris around the outside of the house.
Bud was in mower-maintenance mode, including sharpening blades, changing oil and pressure-washing.
The kitchen's one step closer to tile. Harold Wayne, the tile subcontractor, readied the floor by rolling on some sort of sticky stuff, then putting down wire mesh and, finally, applying the leveler, which is the wet-looking stuff in the photo.
Jimmy wasn't feeling well, but he and Gary finished their part of leveling the kitchen floor before Harold Wayne got started. Then Gary continued to frame the skylights in the sunroom.
Tom, the guys' helper, was back for the first time in a while. He was in charge of cleaning up debris around the outside of the house.
Bud was in mower-maintenance mode, including sharpening blades, changing oil and pressure-washing.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Day 242: May 4, 2008
Rest day! Hooray! We watched movies, mostly.
When we finally got out and about this evening, we started looking at gazebos. I guess maybe we've changed our minds. Instead of tiling the patio to start, we might just place the gazebo. Maybe we're still undecided.
The photo is our lilac tree (near the water garden at the current house). The tree is unusual because it's entirely purple, except for one branch that blooms white every year.
When we finally got out and about this evening, we started looking at gazebos. I guess maybe we've changed our minds. Instead of tiling the patio to start, we might just place the gazebo. Maybe we're still undecided.
The photo is our lilac tree (near the water garden at the current house). The tree is unusual because it's entirely purple, except for one branch that blooms white every year.
Day 241: May 3, 2008
Linda invited us to the farm for a little Derby get-together, so we loaded up the broccoli salad and the mint juleps and hit the road.
We drew Big Brown (and three others) in the $1-a-pick game, which was great fun for a few minutes, 'til we saw what had happened to Eight Belles. That poor girl tried so hard.
I know you're not surprised that I didn't remember to take the camera to the party, so the picture is of our current water garden. We hope our fish will be as happy in his new home.
We drew Big Brown (and three others) in the $1-a-pick game, which was great fun for a few minutes, 'til we saw what had happened to Eight Belles. That poor girl tried so hard.
I know you're not surprised that I didn't remember to take the camera to the party, so the picture is of our current water garden. We hope our fish will be as happy in his new home.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Day 240: May 2, 2008
The guys put a chipboard roof on the sun room today. They also built a little roofline on the front to match the one that runs across the end of the great room.
The shingles apparently will be added near the middle of next week.
At lunch, Bud and I picked up the mirrors and shelves for the medicine cabinets. I went back to work, and Bud picked up a a load of stone to go on the final wall of the great-room foundation (the sun room side).
Back when the other stone was laid, everyone tried to talk me out of putting a facade on that side. They said it was a way to save money because no one would see that wall. Now the consensus seems to be that we need the stone.
Busy Bud also put the rest of our garden in the ground today -- more tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini. Now I'm counting the minutes 'til daily homegrown salads.
The shingles apparently will be added near the middle of next week.
At lunch, Bud and I picked up the mirrors and shelves for the medicine cabinets. I went back to work, and Bud picked up a a load of stone to go on the final wall of the great-room foundation (the sun room side).
Back when the other stone was laid, everyone tried to talk me out of putting a facade on that side. They said it was a way to save money because no one would see that wall. Now the consensus seems to be that we need the stone.
Busy Bud also put the rest of our garden in the ground today -- more tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini. Now I'm counting the minutes 'til daily homegrown salads.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Day 239: May 1, 2008
While I worked and Bud motorcycled, the house celebrated the arrival of May with chipboard and skylight framing.
It looks like the drywall guys hung a few more sheets downstairs. We're still wondering why the closets and fireplace wall in the master bedroom haven't been drywalled at all if the idea is to complete the upstairs first.
Yesterday, we decided the concrete pad that currently holds the metal storage building will become an auxiliary tiled patio, overlooking the still-to-be-built water feature that will house our pet bass. We're considering adding a gazebo later.
It looks like the drywall guys hung a few more sheets downstairs. We're still wondering why the closets and fireplace wall in the master bedroom haven't been drywalled at all if the idea is to complete the upstairs first.
Yesterday, we decided the concrete pad that currently holds the metal storage building will become an auxiliary tiled patio, overlooking the still-to-be-built water feature that will house our pet bass. We're considering adding a gazebo later.
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