Since we've started building the house I've been out on the Internet reading a few sites that deal with Craftsman/Arts and Crafts style houses and products. One of these web sites is The Constant Craftsman.
I monitor this web site daily for new posts. I was pleasantly surprised this morning to see a picture of the bath tub that we put in our house up on this web site. It wasn't just a picture of a similar tub, it was a picture of our tub. From this blog.
I had commented on a post on his web site a few weeks ago and listed the URL of this blog as my website. He had several good comments to make about this site.
It was nice to get some good feedback about this blog from someone who also does it.
Please visit The Constant Craftsman. It is an awesome site with a ton of great info about Arts and Crafts style products.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Paint
Painting has begun on the inside of the house. They put down a primer coat the color of the final coat. Once that is done they will walk through with a light and fix any "ding and dongs" as the painter put it.
We went out there this afternoon to meet with Tom about the front porch.
The upstairs was completely painted and they were taping the woodwork on the main level.
We went out there this afternoon to meet with Tom about the front porch.
The upstairs was completely painted and they were taping the woodwork on the main level.
Monday, May 26, 2008
We're Stoned
The stonework on the outside of the house was finished this weekend. I can't believe how quickly they finished it. It only took them one day to complete it. There is still the stonework on the fireplace to be completed and the columns on the porch.
The varnishing of the trim was also completed. The next steps with the painters are to prime the walls, fix any imperfections in the drywall, and then paint.
Now that the stonework is up our decorator, Charlotte, can select some colors for the outside of the house.
The varnishing of the trim was also completed. The next steps with the painters are to prime the walls, fix any imperfections in the drywall, and then paint.
Now that the stonework is up our decorator, Charlotte, can select some colors for the outside of the house.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Granite Arrived
The granite was delivered and installed today in the Kitchen and the Master Bathroom. They have it covered so it doesn't get paint and varnish all over it.
The painters applied the varnish to the woodwork today. What a difference that makes! The painters said they'd be back tomorrow to sand everything down to make it smooth. I'm not sure how many layers of varnish they apply but one of the painters alluded to multiple coats.
The stone for the outside of the house was delivered today. I can't wait for this to get up because Charlotte needs to see it up to recommend exterior house colors.
The painters applied the varnish to the woodwork today. What a difference that makes! The painters said they'd be back tomorrow to sand everything down to make it smooth. I'm not sure how many layers of varnish they apply but one of the painters alluded to multiple coats.
The stone for the outside of the house was delivered today. I can't wait for this to get up because Charlotte needs to see it up to recommend exterior house colors.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Staining
Jill and I agreed that the woodwork in the house should be stained the same color as the kitchen cabinets. We realized that this would be a challenge because the wood types are different and the cabinets have a black glaze on them. I went over to the house right after they had started staining the wood in the master suite and my heart dropped. I really didn't like the look. To me it didn't look like a craftsman style color, it looked more like something out of the 70's. I went home really disappointed and told Jill that we needed to go back out and hear her opinion. We went out the end of the next day and saw that they had stained the majority of the house. Now that the stain had a chance to dry and it was on more things, it had started to look like it was supposed to. Now I can't wait to see what it is going to look like with the varnish on it, and with paint color next to it. The painters are only supposed to be there for 2 weeks but I'm guessing that they'll have to be there into a 3rd week, based on the fact that they didn't get the stain done by the end of one.
We'll see. I'm hoping that the rest of the work will go faster.
We'll see. I'm hoping that the rest of the work will go faster.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Concrete. Finally.
The concrete guys were finally able to come out and pour all the cement for the house. They poured the Front Porch, Back Patio, Driveway and Sidewalks. The neighborhood covenant says that the sidewalks are supposed to have a curve in them, instead of being straight. We were really leery of this because that is the one thing we didn't like about the neighborhood. A lot of the sidewalks look like they zig-zag. I brought this concern up with Dave and he laughed. He said that he completely agrees with me that they look horrible. And besides the look, they would be a nightmare to shovel. He assured me that our sidewalks would have as little curve to them as possible. When I went out to see them after they were poured I was very relieved. They look great.
Jill and I went out last night to look again and Jill said that she needed to stand on the front porch. We've got a great view of the pond and the playground. The stone for the base of the house is supposed to be delivered soon. They said that they'd be right on the heels of the cement guys.
Jill and I went out last night to look again and Jill said that she needed to stand on the front porch. We've got a great view of the pond and the playground. The stone for the base of the house is supposed to be delivered soon. They said that they'd be right on the heels of the cement guys.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Bathtub Installed
Went out to the house today over lunch to look around and saw that the bathtub in the Master Bathroom has been installed. We had seen this tub at Lowe's and picked the faucet out from a catalog with the hopes that it would look as good in person as it did in the pictures. I was happy to see that it looks even BETTER in person. According to Tom, the bathtub weighed a hefty 400 pounds.
The trim work in the house is complete and the painter starts Monday. The painter will be there for 2 weeks.
The trim work in the house is complete and the painter starts Monday. The painter will be there for 2 weeks.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Stairs
Jill and I went out to the house over lunch to figure out some placement of bathroom accessories and saw that the trimmers were about done with the steps. They look just like they're supposed to.
We also saw that the bathtub for the master bath had arrived. It is currently in the middle of the master bedroom waiting to be installed.
The front yard looks nice now that they've taken out the old muddy dirt and replaced it with dry dirt and packed it down. Of course, after they had finished doing all the work yesterday, it rained. Only the top part of the soil got wet though so they shouldn't have any problems delivering the cement for the front porch.
We also saw that the bathtub for the master bath had arrived. It is currently in the middle of the master bedroom waiting to be installed.
The front yard looks nice now that they've taken out the old muddy dirt and replaced it with dry dirt and packed it down. Of course, after they had finished doing all the work yesterday, it rained. Only the top part of the soil got wet though so they shouldn't have any problems delivering the cement for the front porch.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
This Looks Familiar
They are excavating the muddy ground from the front yard today and replacing it with dry dirt. They also graded the back and street-side yard.
On the inside, the stairs are coming together. Al, the trimmer, was going to be working late tonight to get them done today.
The painter is supposed to be there tomorrow.
On the inside, the stairs are coming together. Al, the trimmer, was going to be working late tonight to get them done today.
The painter is supposed to be there tomorrow.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Hearth Room Cabinets - After
This is what the Hearth Room cabinets look like after they were changed. There is a huge difference in usability. While I did like the old look, they were just not functional for what we needed.
As of Saturday they had all of the baseboards installed and the crown molding in the Living Room and on the Kitchen cabinets.
We're hoping that they finish the stairs and the crown molding in the Master Bedroom the beginning of next week.
Jill worked with Charlotte and picked out the carpet, interior paint colors, and designed what the kitchen back splash is going to look like.
As of Saturday they had all of the baseboards installed and the crown molding in the Living Room and on the Kitchen cabinets.
We're hoping that they finish the stairs and the crown molding in the Master Bedroom the beginning of next week.
Jill worked with Charlotte and picked out the carpet, interior paint colors, and designed what the kitchen back splash is going to look like.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Front Porch Issues
Our front yard is apparently too muddy for the cement truck to get up to pour the front porch. They've tried a couple time now and get stuck about half way up. The theory as to why this is happening is as follows. The dirt used to build up this area was frozen when it was moved and was loosely compacted. It has also been raining about once a week for a while now. The combination of this, and the pressure of the heavy truck is crating the perfect storm to create a muddy mess.
The solution is going to be to excavate a large portion of the front yard and replace it with dry soil, compacting it a bit as they fill it in. This will do a couple of things. First it will allow the truck to get up and pour the concrete. Second, it will create a hard-packed surface to facilitate water run-off away from the front of the house.
Not sure when this is happening, all I know is, soon.
The solution is going to be to excavate a large portion of the front yard and replace it with dry soil, compacting it a bit as they fill it in. This will do a couple of things. First it will allow the truck to get up and pour the concrete. Second, it will create a hard-packed surface to facilitate water run-off away from the front of the house.
Not sure when this is happening, all I know is, soon.
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