On Time, On Budget, and Beautiful

Well, we did it. The Bank Appraiser has determined that we are 100% finished with the house and the construction phase is at an end.

We are far from settled or organized, but that is a major step (or hurdle) that we've achieved, so we are glad that is behind us. Attached are some photos of the exterior painting and Bob's final handiwork, the trim around the great room windows. Last month's post showed the unfinished windows, so it is easy to see the nice transformation that has taken place in a few weeks.
No more ladders in the great room. :)

Susan and Denny were our first official guests this past weekend. Who is next?

I guess the blog will end soon....next time I'll try to post some interior design views.
But for now ..... here is where we are! Isn't she beautiful?

Here's what we've been up to

The view from our bed....a nice way to get out of bed each day.

What Bob did on Saturday, taken inside the great room.
The dining area
View up the stairs to the loft
Entrance / foyer
Campbell and Bob taking a break
The dogs have been no help at all....those are stacks of papers and flattened boxes to the side; we work, they sleep.



Hello, it has been a while since the last post. People keep asking us "how's life in your new house?" and we don't really have an answer yet. The view is lovely, we are enjoying the space, the dogs love the play area....but we are still working on it and haven't taken too much time to enjoy it all yet. While Angela has been unpacking countless boxes, Bob has been trimming countless doors and windows....well actually about 40 windows and 13 or so doors.

I've included some photos of what it looks like now. The furniture is (mostly) in place, the beds are made up and waiting for guests and thick layers of sawdust keep settling on everything.

We are IN!!!!

Dining area and up toward the loft.
Guest bathroom.
My beautiful kitchen
Master bedroom
Just a few boxes and crates on that truck.
Yikes, the view from the loft at the end of the day.


Ta-da! Now, wasn't that easy?
Actually, surreal is the way we feel about it all...so long in coming, and that day finally arrived. :)

The move went quite well despite being several days earlier than Angela wanted (due to work schedule some juggling of leave time had to occur). The movers were superb, patient and helpful. They got here at 900 and left after 5 pm...they had to be tired.

I've put in some photos of the EMPTY house. Just about all that remains are some window trims upstairs and baseboards throughout the house. Once things are placed and unpacked, I'll post some more photos.

I'll also let you know when the guest rooms will be ready to use, plan to visit us and see this work of art first hand. (she says modestly)

One plank/door at a time

Is it level, she asked?
Terri and Bob put in the French doors without much difficulty, at least that's what Pat and I thought as we observed.
This is the only time Angela smiled while holding a plank of wood....almost finished!
The weekend work crew, Pat Pound, Terri Baker (holding our Baker), Angela with Campbell and Bob. Pat and Terri put in a lot of work and helped hang doors and lay floors ALL weekend. Thanks guys!

The appliances were installed today, photos soon.

The tornado inside

Some of Bob's trim work that goes to stainer tomorrow, we pick up the stained doors and window trim that is ready.
View of the great room, we laid that floor today, saw to the right will be moved into the basement so we can finish this weekend.
Entry way filled with boxes of wooden flooring planks; we need to finish great room, entry way and the loft.
The garage, left half is filled with construction debris and the remainder is the material the cabinet installers were using today.
Bob cutting out a section of the flooring for the electrical outlet. I was resting.



We are crazy busy getting things finalized for the occupancy permit that will require an inspection next week. Appliances arrive Monday, putting the finishing touches on the beautiful kitchen. We've devoted our time to laying floor. Friends from Tacoma will come this weekend to help hang doors, lay floors and whatever else we can think of. We are anticipating a move in date of April 1. :)

Lights, water, SNOW!

Some of the latest photos:

Floor in the master bedroom is almost installed. Tough on the knees, let me tell you.
This is why no one has been able to get there for a week.
Bob at work on sanding wood for trim in the great room.
Still waiting on backsplash and appliances, but look at those lights!!
Master bath/sink area with marble countertops, lovely!
The most beautiful shower (before faucets it seems)...marble, slate and rock floors.
The tub in place with mosaic tub front and marble tub surround, also before faucets in place. Guess I need to take some more photos.

The plumbers and electricians, as well as the tilers have been very busy. Since the last update the countertops have been installed in the kitchen and bathrooms, the faucets and toilets have been placed and the light fixtures are 90% hung or mounted! It is looking like a real house we could live in soon. Our plans are to move out of the rental at the end of this month.

Since last week, however, no one has been able to get to the site to finish up their respective jobs. We've had non stop snow that has prevented the craftsmen (with their panel type trucks) from getting to the site. Bob and I have been a few times in a 4 wheel drive, and will be back there tomorrow.

Up to date photos of the action

Basement workshop where Bob fabricates the window and door trim.
He has set up an assembly line of sorts.
His Christmas presents....SAWS!

Bob finishes the master bedroom. Angela did all the cut in work.
A few tiles short of being finished in master sink area.
Kitchen cabinets without countertops or appliances.
Master shower.
Master tiling team! Beau, Katrina, Julie and Ben of Geneva Floors...Thanks guys.


My brother had suggested more pics and fewer words. This one is for you, Jeff.

Sherwin Williams has 1394 shades

That's true...and Sherwin Williams is only ONE paint company from which we can choose. It's a bit overwhelming and daunting to decide what color(s) we might want to live with for the next few years. As much as I detest painting, I really want to get this right! While there is no flooring and no trim around the windows, we can paint without worrying about the mess. Next time won't be so straightforward, so I'm trying not to complain.

Bob has done most of the ceilings in the house, and working together we completed the bathrooms (2.5), laundry room and kitchen in just under 4 days. The kitchen cabinets, bathroom and laundry cabinets will be installed this week, then the countertops will be placed. The tiler has finished the upstairs bathroom, the powder room, the entry way, the fireplace and is working on the master bath/shower. Things are looking beautiful!

Steve and crew have finished the front porch, photo next time. Here is the fireplace with custom desgined and painted tiles (photo doesn't do it justice). The other photo is of the kitchen wall prior to cabinets coming in.

Bob has bought lots of tools (toys?) for his workshop....two saws and nail guns and compressors. Photos of the workshop to come. Stay tuned. We are still thinking MARCH will be a great time to move in.

Physics Lesson

Question: Will an empty propane tank remain at the bottom of a 5 foot pit during torrential rains?
Answer: No
See the photo for the result of our unintended experiment. The propane tank was delivered a few days ago, and before we could get the pit filled in, heavy rains swamped our region, filling up the pit and causing the tank to rise and FLIP over. Sigh. The installer for the tank will return after the pit is pumped dry, right it and replace the now damaged regulator that was submerged in the water for a couple of days. Bob has the excavator standing by to immediately fill it in so it can't happen twice.

The good news is the dry wall team finished today. Only 3 weeks late, we are now ready to begin painting the rooms that will have cabinets installed....kitchen, master bath, laundry. We'll also paint the powder room and upstairs bath as the tilers are ready to install tile in those locations. Painting in a "naked" room sounds easier than painting after tile has been installed. Bob and I will spend a couple of days this week and weekend getting it painted and ready for the cabinet install which we hope will be next Monday.

I was at the site today and ended up painting some exterior areas with the colors we THINK we like. After they dry, we'll decide what we think. I took the camera, but didn't get any shots before it got too dark.

Next post will show the workshop Bob has set up in the basement. He has quite a production line going on for the staining and storage of 2300 pounds of stain grade fir that will make the window trim, door trim and baseboards for the house. It is turning out just beautiful!