The Dream Team

We have lived in this house for a week now, and every day, we wake up in awe.  We can't believe that we are so blessed that this, THIS, is our house.  It is a dream come true for us.  And we owe so many people more than thanks for the help and support that we were given in order to make this project happen.  And wow, I'm pretty sure someone will pinch me and I'll wake up. 

Our parents have been invaluable sources of support, advice and experience for us to rely on.  We are incredibly lucky to have parents that are close to us and willing to pick up their grandchild when we're moving and unpacking 8.3 billion boxes.  If you've ever tried to pack boxes with a two year old around, it is an exercise in 1 step forward 25 steps back.

Our friends and family helped us make crucial decisions when we had lost any sense of perspective.  They were an endless sound board, listening, cheering and sympathizing with all the little gripes along the way.  And then, when it was time to move in, without us even asking, they showed up with bulging muscles and health insurance policies to cover the back surgery they would need after moving boxes.  It was so. many. boxes.  And of course, it was unbearably hot last weekend. 

The Builder/GC team we went with made this process such a good experience for us.  It was not without bumps in the road, but I would turn around and do it again with them in a heart beat, no question about it.  I'm pretty sure the GC will go through withdrawal from Andrew's phone calls, but it is a testament to his patience that he answered the phone nearly EVERY TIME Andrew called him.  I will not go into detail, but it was more than once a day, and not much less than a dozen times a day.

Our friends and family are the awesomest.  A million thanks to all.  You all now own stock in this family, and we pay dividends in the form of party beverages.  I'll let you know when the next distribution is up!

Week 21 - Move in Day, July 8th, 2011.  Officially, the home pad.

Week 21 - We start by providing atmosphere with flowers.

Week 21 - The vent hood extension went in T-minus 20 minutes before they handed us the keys.

Week 21 - This was the last time the kitchen counter was clear to date.

You Just Never Know

So many little loose ends were (and are still in the process of being) tied up this week.  The truth is that the details are what make it feel more like a home, like us, and I think it's a good sign that our natural reaction is to kick off our shoes as soon as we step inside.  This is also why I like to believe that the details are important, no matter how much they can drive me loony.  It's not all complete however, and the punch list I handed the GC on Tuesday is being accomplished, one small skirmish at a time (his battles, not ours).



Week 20 - "Access Granted" - The front gate call box has a color camera we can view inside, and a woman's voice to welcome you if you know the code, albeit a little seductively.





Week 20 - Looking to the first floor, we are very happy with the new carpet.  Even if carpet wasn't our first choice (it was one of those compromises we had to make based on limited budget), it feels like velvet below your feet.



Week 20 - The ovens finally went in with the correct voltage for power.  The bottom oven is a full size oven, and the top one I am told is a speed oven.  This translates loosely to a combination mini-oven-slash-microwave.  I'm a little intimidated by the appliances so far.  I'm pretty sure this is Andrew's ploy to keep me completely out of the kitchen for good.

Week 20 - The vent hood is installed; however, we are still missing the extension cover which cost us Lilly's college educations (Hey-yo! scholarships!) for the beautiful  mechanicals above.  The custom-ordered piece was too short (I am rolling my eyes because of all the drama required for this seemingly insignificant extension, taking up way too much energy in this process).

Week 20 - View from the dining, just short of the ability to watch television while eating (the way it should be!).

Week 20 - The view from the living room to the kitchen.  Andrew, please let me know when dinner will be ready, kthanks.

Week 20 - The cabinet covers in the living room are perforated pressed aluminum, and we're hoping this allows the signal to go through from a remote to the components.  This is one of those things we haven't actually tested and we're hoping works in more than theory.

Week 20 - The frameless glass shower door in the master bath - I feel like the addition of the glass doors and mirror make a big difference in the spatial feel of the bathroom.  It's not a very large master bath, but it feels better to me now.

Week 20 - Peekaboo, I see you.  The blue boxes on the counter hold the towel bars/rings which need to be installed.  This was also one of those items that I had no idea about.  By that, I mean I had no idea how expensive bathroom hardware was.  HOLY SMOKES.  The Builder installed their "standard" which we proceeded to hate immediately.  The result being a weekend of searching for complimentary hardware, and finding out how not easy that is to find in stock, or even in a price which doesn't feel like assault.  So when you come over and wash your hands in the bathroom, please tell me you are at a minimum not offended by the towel bar.  It helps ease the pain.

Week 20 - The right side of the master bath.  It looks so spacious.  Maybe we should install a couch?



Week 20 - It is such a lonely space, this space with no bath tub.  Bath tub, please be worth it, I don't want to resent you.



Week 20 - The view from our master bedroom - Complete with new construction trailers.  Yes, the apartment complex straight on is expanding into the next phase and will be using the strange empty lot in front of our house for management and lay down area.  Sad face.  But happy face for new retail/commercial development to explore within walking distance.

And in the spirit of setting our expectations low, and then delighting us with better than low, the tub arrived yesterday!  Ahead of/behind schedule (depending on your perspective)! The plumbing to accommodate it is still being adjusting, but I am just relieved it fits in the space at all.

This means, we are moving in next Friday!  Twenty-one weeks from start to finish, and I can't believe it.  Now I will proceed to panic about the lack of packing accomplished by yours truly.  Where are those magical fairies when I need them?

Week 20 - I couldn't be happier to see you Mr. Tub.  My, you are looking svelte today.



Week 20 - Let's not fight, I didn't mean what I said about not wanting you from the beginning.  I will make it up to you by committing to one soaking session a week.  Sacrifices.



For the Record, We Ordered Dark Grey Carpet

That's what was wrong with the yellowish khaki mess going on last time. 

Yes, it has to be pulled up (it was completely installed) and new carpet has to be re-installed.  Add that to the punch list, Ladies and Gents.  At this point I'm keeping a list in my phone so I don't lose my mind, but I'm pretty sure it's too late for that (the mind part).

We're looking at Week 20, the very optimistic estimated last week, and we don't know if we'll be moving in next weekend or not.  I'm known to be a bit of a planning freak enthusiast, so you can imagine how well I'm internally handling not knowing if I should hire movers or not for next weekend.  I'm hoping we'll have a better idea by Tuesday, so stay tuned...

A Little Bit Debby Downer, but Go Team Appliances!

Week 19 - The fans were installed tonight.  This is the model of all the indoor fans, as well as the first floor patio.

Week 19 - This will hopefully make the balcony bearable in the summer evenings, and maybe naively I hope it will diminish the attack of mosquitoes on us.

Week 19 - Lilly has her own personal beer/wine refrigerator.  OK, obviously not really, but we're going to have to figure out a way to keep her away from it given it's perfect size for her to pillage.

Week 19 - You can only imagine Andrew's glee on Monday when some of the appliances arrived.  We're still missing the vent hood with extension, and there was a little problem with the 110 versus 220 volt power to the speed oven (i.e. new lines are now run all over the place) but it's coming together.

Every day we show up to the house, and it feels like two steps forward, a dozen steps back.  The punch list multiplies exponentially by the hour.  I don't see how it's possible to be done by next Friday.  I think the idea of having a "we're still in boxes, but who cares, let's watch fireworks" party is fading, but I'm okay with that.  The truth is, I want the outstanding items left to be done right, not shortcut for the sake of schedule.  We have time, so if it takes extra time, we can wait.  Patience isn't quite our virtue, but we could stand to work on it, and what's another few days, right?

The tub came in last week, but both the pedestal and tub itself are incorrect (as in, there is no way outside removing walls that the tub would fit in our bathroom), and there aren't any of the right one in the country. So... any guesses on how long it will take to get a place to rub-a-dub-dub?  Not to be a pessimist, but I would wager that it won't happen by next Friday.

More Photos, Because I'm Sure You're Not Sick of This Yet

Week 18 - The front yard, sans any "landscaping."  I believe in the case of a stale mate, the GC makes his own decisions about shrubbery and the like.  TBD.

Week 18 - The gate is now sort of working, but not really.  Let's hope that changes soon.

Week 18 - Lilly's room with clean windows.  I love the light in here in the evening, but for our sanity, I will have to figure out how to block it so that she will actually believe it's bed time.

Week 18 - The office actually looks lighter with the windows cleaned.  Any ideas how to make this room up?  I'm thinking ORGANIZATION MANIA.

Week 18 - The Master room, looking to the bathroom.  There is a barn door there as well, and I believe it will be covered in a full length mirror.  I'm curious how that will actually work.

Week 18 - Master bedroom towards the front.  I'm starting to really fear the bill for window treatments, and I don't even know where to begin.



Week 18 - You haven't seen the master closet in a while, but as for me?  My love has not waned for even a moment.



Week 18 - The floors are stained and drying, and you can peek in to see the result.  We did a "coffee brown" stain, which I think nicely displays the variety of color and grain of the oak floors.

Driving It [Home] in Week 18

This week was another state of frenzy, with the major hold up being the electric meter.  The electric meter had to go in, so the electricity was on, so the AC could run, so the floors can be sanded and stained, so the floors can dry, so the appliances can go in, and you get the point.  The "Critical Path" was on delay because the electric meter wasn't in until Wednesday (it was supposed to be in early last week). Everything else not involved directly in that hold up was still busy with work.  The metal stair railings were designed and welded in place, the Bradford pear tree went in the front yard, the Zoysia sodding has been started, and the crushed granite and pavers been laid out.  The master bath tub came in, but with the wrong pedestal, so hopefully that won't take too long to correct.  I believe the goal is to have things wrapped up by next Wednesday (June 22nd) in order to still try and close by June 30th (it takes at least a week to get the bank in line for all the final mumbojumbo).  I don't see how that logistically possible, but I'm willing to believe in fairy wings and angel dust. Week 18 -  The driveway is poured and the landscaping begins - we agreed on a tree.  Welcome Mr. Bradford Pear, where is your partridge? Week 18 - Stair railings. Week 18 - The view on the way up. Week 18 - The custom staircase we didn't even design turned out exactly how we didn't know we wanted. Week 18 - Sodded Zoysia grass.  So soft, I would take a nap on it. Week 18 - The view from the west. Week 18 - The Kitchen Sink Faucet.  I'll admit, I like it.  Good job Andrew. Week 18 - Remember the hockey puck doorknobs?  They're in! Week 18 - The cabinets are correct now, and we can all breathe easier. Week 18 - The guest closet blunder gets a barn-style door.  And yes, that is the mushroom-style light I'm not fond of.

The Chaos Within

For the past couple weeks, the inside has been a whirlwind of activity.  The major items of work have been plumbing and electricity.  If you live with a boy, you need a toilet, it’s just the way things go (I still maintain that women never actually use the toilet for it’s intended purpose, it’s where we go to chat privately).

The outside is obviously getting a dose of work itself, and the landscaping arugment discussion will need to be settled soon.  Wish us [both] luck!

Week 16

Week 16 – We have toilets and sinks that remind me of elementary school.  Rad.

Week 16 – Lilly’s bathroom is stylin’ with rectangular sinks and Hollywood-style lights.

Week 16 – The importance of light and smoke alarms can not be emphasized enough.  How else will Andrew manage to wake the neghborhood while cooking bacon on Saturday mornings?

 



Week 16 – I apologize in advance to the IKEA haters out there, but the light just worked in the office, and it was cheap.  I have an[other] aversion to the builder “mushroom” or “nipple” standard ceiling lights.



Week 16 – Courtesy of CB2, the kitchen pendant lights.  It’s getting hot in here.  No really, we need some AC action.

 

 

Week 17

Week 17 – The correct doors are on the hutch cabinets, and the Nelson lamp is hung, ready for dinner guests.  We still need to stain the cabinets, but that’s just [one of the thousands of] details left to go.



Week 17 – The trim cit and stones for the fireplace are in but, unfortunately, the trim doesn’t quite fit.  Wah, wah ,waaaaah.  Someone gets to enjoy taking apart the fireplace blocks and then putting them up again.



 



Week 17 – The last of the sinks go in the master bathroom.  More rectangles, but up very high.  I’m not sure shorter-than-us people will like this, but it works great for us giants.



Week 17 – Like lightening, the forms for the driveway and sidewalks went in, and are ready to be poured.



Week 17 – The fence is started, and shouldn’t take long to finish.  We went with horizontal boards instead of vertical because as you can see, we can’t seem to get enough horizontal action here (keep it clean, folks).





Week 17 – The covetted green door.  Does this scream WELCOME enough for you?





Week 17 – It’s getting there, faster than I can believe, but we couldn’t be more excited.