Friday, October 29, 2010

Starting to look like something....

Today there was no school, so the kids and I went out to the property to check things out. The guys were working, so we didn't go in and check things, but from what we can see they are framing the attic areas and starting to frame the roof! The metal decking is on the porches, and the front porch is framed. That is cool (still a bit left to do on the round porch). The gables are visible on the roof, and that makes the house look more like a house, and not just like a "wild west house" as Alex describes it!

Here's what were looking at so far....
Tomorrow, we'll have more of a chance to poke around, when the guys are not there.



Monday, October 25, 2010

I can sleep again...we've solved the window situation....


I called Lloyd this morning and explained about adding a window for Nicholas. Anyway, I got worried that I didn't explain myself well and drove out to the property to talk to the framers in person. I came around the corner, and look what I saw.... the window is already framed!

Here is how it looked yesterday....it really needed that window... inside and out!


Also, forgot to take a picture out of the bonus room window area. I love being able to see a glimpse of the horse pastures through the trees...
The house in this picture is nearly done.... can't believe it because they started in May.... think they'll definitely be in before the end of the year..... wow.... that was fast!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Second floor framing mostly complete --- Window situation.....



Much of the second floor is complete. It looks great, and it is so fun to look out all of the windows. I am really happy with how we placed the house because the windows are working out well --- they are aligned with our few trees on the property. However, now that we can look out the windows, I see a big oversight that needs to be fixed, related to the windows. The problem is visible in the picture above.... see it yet?

Here are some hints.....
Alex's room window --- see the pretty trees (ignore all of the support 2x4's in the picture)....

Hint #2...Ryan's room window....


Hint #3... View for Nicholas.....

See the problem????.... Wouldn't you agree he needs a side window in his room too! Yes, he does have windows to the front, but it sure would be nice to be able to look out the side too. Do you like the above view for him, or this view below?....(I know the dumpster is not adding much now, but it sure looks better than the wall)?

Monday, October 18, 2010

2nd floor framing begins, garage framed, and new furniture making business


This week has been much of the same... framing. The first floor is done, including the garage. There are very scary temporary stairs between the basement and first floor, and then up to the second floor which has floorboards, but no walls yet. That is very scary, so I'm not spending much time up there yet!

The keeping room is framed and you can see where the window seats will be once complete.

The kids are having lots of fun out at the property. Ryan told me the other day he thinks we shouldn't go out as much. When I asked him why, he said, "because it is SO fun that I don't want all of the fun stuff to run out."
Their latest activity is furniture making. This week they made 2x4 chairs. Here they are....

Notice the scary stairs in the background!

Up this week.... framing the second floor.


Saturday, October 9, 2010

Getting vertical, grading, destiny and love at first sight!





This week they framed the entire first floor. There is one little wall missing on the keeping room, but otherwise we can walk it and see how it feels. It feels good! We made a big deal about "lines of sight" and it was very cool to stand in an area that should "align" well and see it in action. Our favorite view so far is out of the master bath big window -- to the north of the house--- The window will be a tall archtop type, and we are hoping the tree will be totally visible. Here is how it looks at framing......
The first floor front view so far.....
Yes, it is still high up, but we still have a giant mountain of dirt to move --- we didn't even have to call in the dirt guy yet!!

Other exciting things....
I have fallen in love.... with a piece of stone.... White Diamond.... so very pretty, but of course I am not sure if they have enough for us....
Here is a picture of white diamond and an old drawer front I have which I painted in my planned cabinet / trim color for the house. Right now we plan all of the trim to be this color, and the kitchen cabinetry, as well as the master bath. Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan....I know it is a "tan" but with our dark floors, I think it will look good. Here is the granite along with my little old sample drawer....Nick likes it too, so it is REALLY a good thing!
Weird things.... our lot slopes from low in front to high in back, so while I tried to line up our big tree through the living room windows in placing the house, it worked out, but what I didn't factor is that we can see the tree trunk, not the upper part of the tree. Oops! But, we did realize that while we are lying in bed, then the view improves --- so guests, first thing when you walk in the house, don't look out the rear window, you must only look out the rear from our bed!! Here it is from a few feet down, at our bed level in our master (east side)....
Rear view....

Last but not least....I have been thinking about all of these fun things to do with this long skinny under the porch space (9x40) --- my ideas so far have been roller skating track, kids clubhouse, and bowling alley. Remember last week I was thinking about this and saying good thing my mom doesn't read this because she would know one of these things might really happen and maybe she would attempt to talk some sense into me (who needs it, all of my ideas are surely better than the voice recognition trap door the kids have in mind, right? Not to mention, mom, remember about a year ago when we came up with the idea for the slide into the basement and you were wondering if that is how you had to get down there? Consider all of the latest ideas big improvements!) Well, this week they had to do some grading and guess what the kids found.... A BOWLING BALL, buried in the muck. Is it destiny? I thought perhaps so until Nick and I saw them carrying the bowling ball to the highest point they could find and then they threw it into the mud puddle to see how big the splash would be. End of the bowling alley dream..... I am now starting to have nightmares about the "bowling" idea!! Mom, don't feel relief yet, we still have time to come up with a REALLY cool idea. Give us time!!!

Up for this week --- getting the porches "panned" --- this will be nice because we will not have giant drop offs in the front and rear of the house. Then they can put the flagstone on them and we can actually use them. Also, I think they'll finish the last wall on the first floor and maybe begin the 2nd floor flooring. I told the kids that in the next 2 weeks we'd be able to walk in their rooms and figure out which ones will belong to each kid. Nicholas gave me a stern reminder.... "Mom, remember, I want the one with no dog poop!" OK, will try to accommodate that request.




Saturday, October 2, 2010

The chair....and a beer!

Today was chair day! Such a fun feeling to sit on the first floor in our chairs, and what a beautiful day for it!
Some basement framing....Nick's workshop has a floor above it, and it is feeling like a.... basement... oh how we've missed a basement!


Friday, October 1, 2010

Almost time for Nick's chair!

One of our "milestones" is getting the first floor system installed. Well, today, after days and days of rain, they almost have it done! The joists are on, and right now they are putting the plywood (or whatever it is) board down to walk on. I've got our stadium chairs in the back of the car and I think one day this weekend Nick will be able to sit in his chair on the first floor. I can't wait to walk up there to see what our view will be like out our first floor windows!

On a side note --- after stalking dirt piles for the last few weeks, I think I found a GOOD one! I gave Lloyd all of the info and he is getting in touch today. We can start pushing dirt any day now, but it has to dry out a bit first. So, keeping my fingers crossed for a dry weekend so we can move some dirt next week!

I went to Homearama this week and saw some pretty houses --- lots had big windows and pretty kitchens opening via either french doors or large sliders to big outdoor porches. It made me question our french doors as the day was just perfect and the big opening provided by the sliders was so nice. It really integrated the outdoor areas. But, I suppose the way we settled on has its good points as well and it will be great (not to mention the windows are ordered).

Also met with the lighting lady, which was very fun. I've got some very cool lights picked out, but am going to have to figure out ways to trim a few costs to get the main lights I like. We also decided to turn Alex's tub / shower combo into a shower only. Why we didn't do this before now is baffling to me since he pretty much only ever showers.

I am excited to look at tiles for these rooms, but have no idea of prices, etc. Nany did an awesome job with her tiles, so I'll have to pick her brain (hint hint for a later date Nany) :-)

I'm hoping to go out tomorrow and get another picture with the floor totally on --- but want to hold off until no workmen are out there because I feel like I'm in their way.

Keep my fingers crossed for a few days of dry weather!