day 104

I had a work conference all week and am just now downloading the photos I took last weekend.  Better late than never, eh?

The stone work is done!  The masonry team started on Wednesday (day 101) and was finished the next day.  It looks great in person and I think will look even better once the front door has been stained.  It's so hard to tell from small samples how things will ultimately look and the stone is one area where the samples weren't quite representative of the full product.  Hubby likes it more than he was expecting to and I like it slightly less.  It's growing on me, though.

[does it get much cuter than this?  the hands in the pockets melt my heart.]

The piece of trim that is missing above the front porch drives me crazy.  I'm pretty sure it was fixed this past week, though.  Amazing how a simple thing can make such a difference.  Also?  I'm anxious to see the front pillars built up the rest of the way.  We really wanted to bring the stone higher, but ultimately decided it wasn't worth the cost.  I'm sure seeing the upper sections boxed in and painted will make a big difference on the overall curb appeal.

Our main reason to stop by the house was to measure for our dining table (first mentioned here).  I want a large table, but because it's not going to have leaves, I want to make sure it's not too big for the space.  We ultimately decided on a 7-1/2 foot long table that's at least 42-inches wide.

The cardboard cutout was done to size, so it gave us a nice idea of what we'll be working with.  I'm planning to put a buffet along the wall on the right and may add a small bar cart behind the patio door on the left.  We're also thinking of doing a mix of upholstered chairs, wooden chairs and a long bench.  I like the casual look of the mixed seating but wonder if a bench would just be too big and bulky.

We also attempted to tape out the cabinets.  I say attempted because I'm pretty sure we weren't all that close.  Between a certain two-year old that liked to move the tape, the tape not sticking well to the texture residue on the floor covering and a cheap tape measure, we gave up before we'd finished.

Can you tell how excited a certain someone was to be out there?  His patience is wearing thin now that he can't run between walls and get into things.  I can't say I blame him, though.  Drywall isn't really all that entertaining.

The other thing accomplished that week (on Friday, day 103) was the wall texture being applied.  Nothing too exciting about this photo, but the walls have since been painted and I'm anxious to get out to the house to see the colors up.  Fingers crossed the colors actually match the small swatches I selected them from and I'm happy with the results!

day 102

I feel like we should have had a big 100 day celebration... but I totally missed it.  Ooops.  Instead, want to see what has happened up until day 102?

Here's the high level summary:
Day 96/97 - drywall work - taping and mudding
Day 98 - rest day!
Day 99/100 - drywall work - sanding and touchups
Day 101/102 - stone work and cabinet delivery

And the proof is in the details:

[master bedroom - see the boards on the floor?  they're hiding a hole.]

[pretty purple master bath]

[nice and smooth kitchen and living room]

We had been to the house on Saturday (day 97) and were aware that the drywall work had been started.  I was awarded a (much needed) fun day with one of my girlfriends on Sunday and then I spent Monday through Wednesday avoiding/caring for the sick boys in my house.  Staying away to avoid sickness yet being around enough to provide care is an interesting balance.  The good news is, everyone seems to be healthy now!

So, all that to say - I hadn't been to the house since Saturday and was pleasantly surprised to see a crew out laying stone this morning.

I like the stone in person much more than I do in these photos.  Let's blame the iPhone camera?  I think I'll like everything even more once the front door is stained to match the garage doors.  And once the posts are finished.  I have the worst timing imaging how everything comes together.  Usually, I find a photo of what I like and then try to replicate it (e.g. our master bathroom).  For the exterior of the house, I really haven't been able to do that.  It drives me crazy.  But I think it drives my Hubby even more crazy.  If he hears another "I'm not sure" or "I don't think I like it anymore", I might be looking for a roommate!

The real reason for my visit to the house this morning was to accept delivery of our cabinets.  Aren't they pretty?

I'm super excited for them to be installed.  But first - priming, paint and floors.  We're getting closer!  I dropped off our paint samples with the Builder this morning and am told painting is supposed to start next week.  Then, some more magic and hopefully we'll be moving in towards the beginning of April.  My patience is getting thinner...especially as we start to get calls for showings again on the Condo.  As unready as I am to pack up and move again, I seriously can't wait to be in our house.  Our home.  This Condo still doesn't feel like home and I truly miss that feeling.

In the mean time?  I'll continue to love on the cuties I get to call my Valentines.  Aren't they sweet?

day 92

It's Monday.  And I'm scatterbrained.  And I'm not in the mood to write proper sentences or use correct grammar.  Therefore, it's time for a list.

1. I met our Construction Manager at the house during lunch to talk through what's to come, go over placement of our master bath mirrors and resolve an issue the drywall crew left behind.  He told me that they should be adding the attic insulation today or tomorrow and then they'll start heating the house up to finish the drywall work.  Also, the siding is finally done along the garage!  They just need to finish the trimwork on the porch and box in the columns.

2. We ordered our kitchen faucet last week and are getting varying estimated ship dates.  Hopefully it ships sooner rather than later.  We finally decided on the Pfister Wheaton in a stainless steel finish.  We're not going to install the soap dispenser because the one at our old house never worked properly.

Pfister Wheaton faucet from build.com

3. We also ordered our dimmers and fan controls last week.  I can honestly say they were some of the least exciting things to pick out so far.

[images from Pro Lighting]

Left to Right: Lutron 3-way Fan Control, Lutron Fan Control & Dimmer, Lutron 3-way Dimmer

4. I had a wall texture crisis today.  I'd really prefer a smooth drywall finish.  I personally think it looks cleaner.  However, it's expensive.  And I've spent a lot of money on other upgrades recently. So, we're sticking with texture.  But I don't remember what texture.  Aye.  The Builder is going to confirm with me tomorrow.

5. Our house cleaner comes tomorrow.  I have no desire to finish picking up the condo.  Or to go to the bank for cash.  But I'll be glad for it tomorrow night.

6. Have you seen the IKEA Rast side table?  It's unimpressive on it's own but there are some amazing hacks out there.  I'm seriously considering trying to replicate a couple of these.  Could be fun, no?

[Rast Side Table by IKEA]

[Rast side table hack by A Charming Nest]

7. Our cabinets are now scheduled to be delivered next Thursday or Friday.  I'm hoping for Thursday.  Happy Valentines Day to me!  I'm so ready to see them installed.  Not sure if I'm more excited about the kitchen or master bath vanity.

8. I still need to order our cabinet hardware.  I have the kitchen knobs and pulls picked out but I'm still not sure what I'm doing in the bathrooms.

9.  I also need to order toilet paper holders and towel bars/hooks/rings.  I'm leaning towards the Sussex line at Pottery Barn but I'm still on the lookout for something cheaper but still high quality.  We've been to Lowe's and Menards.  Maybe Home Depot will come through for us?

[Sussex Towel Ring by Pottery Barn]

[Sussex Paper Holder by Pottery Barn]

10. That's all I have but it seemed weird to end a list on 9. 

day 90

The drywall is up!  It's looking more and more like a house.  The two bedrooms look a little smaller than I'd hoped and our master closet seems even larger, but otherwise everything is just right!  It's at a point where I'm starting to visualize flooring, paint, cabinets and even furniture.  Exciting stuff.

We met a potential painter at the house Saturday morning.  His price was reasonable but I'm having  a hard time with the thought of paying someone else to paint.  It's certainly something I can do myself.  And have done myself.  I'm just enamored with the thought of having super straight lines along the ceiling.  What to do, what to do?

While Hubby was chatting with the painter, E and I walked around to check things out.  After awhile, E started getting super antsy (honestly, I didn't blame him) and ultimately started acting out.  Once I'd exhausted my list of distractions and he, again, blatantly ignored something I'd asked him not to do, I felt I'd been lenient enough and needed to discipline a bit.  It's not very easy to take something away in an empty house and he wasn't exactly listening, so I ultimately had him 'take a break' in a closet that wasn't full of nails or drywall scraps.  Of course, he immediately started crying "Mommy - let me out of the closet!" and "Mommy, don't put me in a closet".  I should add I was standing beside him the entire time, it wasn't a tiny closet and there obviously aren't doors on at this point.  Also, I can assure you this is the only time I've ever put my child in a closet.  Anyway, I'm crossing my fingers and toes that he doesn't start telling everyone I put him in a closet.  Could you imagine?  Aye.

After meeting the painter, we dropped E off with one of his favorite sitters and headed to look at the dresser we'd found on Craigslist.  It ended up being just what we were looking for and we're now the proud owners of a 6-drawer dresser that's waiting to be re-finished.  I keep changing my mind on the color and look I'm going for, though.  Pinterest has so many fun ideas!

The rest of the weekend has been somewhat lazy.  We started the morning snuggled on the floor in sleeping bags, watching a movie.  E received a sleeping bag last Christmas but is just now getting excited about it.  I brought it out the other day because I'd forgotten to wash his daycare bedding, but it only lasted at school one day.  He insisted we bring it home that night and he has been sleeping with it since.

I've been trying to get the condo in order because the piles of boxes are continuing to drive me insane.  I did manage to find a new home for all of the lighting fixtures to be stacked.  They were previously piled in the entryway, as well as the kitchen.  This mountain, as E called it, is still missing a large fan and all of the can lights that the electrician is providing.  We should have a well-lit house!

Otherwise, laundry is close to being caught up again and I've started going through a few of the catch-all boxes we'd packed.  And, because the table was stacked with Goodwill donations from cleaning out boxes, we ate lunch at the counter.  Don't ask me why, but my two year old loves salad.  I'm thankful, but confused.

 

When I was downloading a few of the images about my from phone, I came across the one below that I'd forgotten about.  We decided to hit up Lowe's last weekend (the paint swatch trip) and I was worried about E behaving since it was close to dinner time.  Nothing a trip through the McD drive-thru and a 'cool cart' couldn't fix.  Please tell me I'm not the only one to keep my child content with a Happy Meal on occasion.  And, yes, I was one of those parents that swore I'd never feed my child fast food.  Funny how things change.

Also, see the giraffe pacifier (aka the Wubba Nubba)?  The kid has never taken a pacifier yet he still carries that thing around.  Silly boy.  But he's an awfully amazing silly boy.  Point in case?  He just crawled up on my lap, told me "I love you best mommy!" and planted a kiss on my face.  I think that's my sign to wrap this up and snag some snuggles.