This and That.

This has been a week of lots of different things going on.  As expected, the visual look of the house hasn't changed alot, but alot of work has gotten done!

The plumbers completed their rough-in and brought in tub surrounds.  The HVAC guys started; the excavator came back and performed final grade (which is fabulous!) and got rid of the big stumps and dirt piles we had hanging around.  The garage floor was completed last weekend.  The roofers were there and are almost done shingling.  The tub deck was built and the pocket doors were framed, as well as some of the other doors.  The footings were poured for the screened porch (framing will begin next week-can't wait). 

Next week, electricians will start and outside decking and screened porch will be started.  I think the retaining wall will get built as well.  Septic and well will get dug this coming week too.  It's finally supposed to be dry for a few days and above freezing, which will be nice for outside work. 

We had a bit of a surprise this week when we found out the red siding I wanted has been discontinued and not to be found.  Anywhere.  So, after lots of lumber yard calls/visits and internet searching and drive-bys (and a brief waver back to charcoal grey), I've decided that Countrylane Red will be the color.  It's more barn red than fire engine red, and I think that may almost be better.  So, siding will be ordered soon.  We also shopped for the overhead door and will be getting that ordered.

We'll meet with the kitchen designer next week and get the kitchen all laid out, so cabinets and surfaces can be ordered. 

I have been so surprised that this house just sits so perfectly on this property, tucked right into the woods as if it has always been there.  I love that.

Back yard...

Northeast view of prop...there's a nice area back there which should perfectly fit a firepit.  The yard will just follow the natural lines where the excavator has backfilled.  I had a very large, very square yard in my last house.  I'm looking forward to this more naturalized setting!

 A sample of roughed-in plumbing.  This is the powder room - all set to go.

Tub surrounds are set.

Master tub deck.

Shingles!

We had an early snowfall this season.  The roofers showed up on Thursday morning and got creative - our first snowman.

Moving Inside.

What a cold and rainy week it's been!  The guys got the sheeting and felt on the roof just in the nick of time, so now it's pretty dry inside the house. 

So many big things have happened in the past few weeks, that it's been a requirement to go over to the house every day to see what has been done.  Now that we are walled, roofed, sheeted and wrapped, we'll be moving inside and the visible changes will slow down.  There are still so many things afoot!  Windows were just ordered; shingles will go up when it stops raining; garage floor is getting poured and the electrician and plumber are starting.  There are a ton of decisions that are being made too: faucets, fixtures, which trees stay and which go, and biggest of all: the siding color is due on Monday.  I've really agonized over this one decision more than any other...and....I think it's going to be red.  Love!

This is the back corner of the house, a view I rarely shoot from.  The screened porch will go where the roofline breaks.

The garage floor, all leveled with drain in.  If it doesn't rain too much tomorrow, the concrete floor will be poured.

I love this snap...it's my Hankie in his 'favorite' tree...the one out of all he has chosen to be his.  He's been in it every time we've been at the property this week.  He can stand right against the trunk so you can't even see him, which I why I think he likes it so much.

The kids and I had a grand time on Sunday walking the entire property, which is when Henry discovered his tree.  Ava had lots of 'oh, this will be a perfect reading spot' moments...tucked under a pine tree here, sitting on a rock there.  This photo was taken Monday night as she was keeping herself busy while we worked out some details.  Pull up a seat on a few sticks for a read?  Don't mind if I do!

Henry in the kitchen...he was giving me his most charming smile, as he wanted to play on my phone.

You can barely see him, but that's Mark up on the ladder installing 'eyebrow' detail on the south side of the house.

And this is the finished eyebrow on the north side of the house.  I love it!

Another Lorax moment...this is the last of the clearing and where the pool will be placed.  I'm happy we're finished cutting trees.  I met with the landscaper this week and he has a great vision for the back of the property and pool.  I can hardly wait to see his whole design!

Truss Setting.

I got back into town about midnight on Wednesday night and was so tempted to drive out to the house and shine my headlights to see the progress with my own eyes.  I resisted but couldn't wait to go over on Thursday.  Even though Angi had sent me pictures of truss setting day, I was so surprised at how great everything looked and how far the guys had gotten while I was away!

I've put lots of snaps down below of the progress throughout the week.  Over the past week, Angi and I have been working to figure out plumbing and lighting fixtures.  I think we're just about there on plumbing fixtures (plumbing to start soon and the shower fixtures had to be decided because a part of them are used with the rough-in) and lighting is coming a little more slowly.  I actually bought the kitchen island pendants and am getting a feel for the rest of the house as we go.

Speaking of getting a feel for what this house wants to be...we've had some surprises along the way.  I've always thought the exterior would be somewhat craftsman-y with some edge stone and shingles, carriage garage doors, etc.  It was so perfect in my head.  Now, I don't think that's going to be the thing at all!  This house has a giant front porch, which you can see below...so, now, I think it's going to be somewhat plantation-y.  Also, it was always going to be charcoal fiber cement siding with white trim.  Now, a red house is in the running - what!?  So much to think about!!  I've added photos of the light fixtures and of a red house Angi and Mark built a few years back, which I LOVE!  So, even I don't know the end of this story, but I'm having a grand time figuring it all out.

The kids popped right in the window wells and called them their 'escape pods'.

This is my favorite picutre - this is the front porch...love it!

Interior Walls.

Yesterday and today: interior walls - and they're all up!  We've tried to capture photos, but it's just not the same as walking through, since all the walls are transparent.  Also something fun below: Angi did some rendering with her fancy new CAD program, so we can sort of see how the interior will look when finished with fixtures and furniture placed...YAY! 

And on a very sad note: I have to be out of town for a few days for work, which includes Monday and Tuesday, the day the trusses will be set!  Of course, I made Angi swear on her life that she would capture everything in real time and send me the results.  So, look for roof truss updates at the end of next week.

Sheeting.

Yesterday saw lots of changes: some sheeting was put up, windows were framed and the stairs finished.  Such a lovely change to see exactly what the windows will look like and what the view outside them will be!  We also had great fun with re-designing the mud room area.  What looked like it worked really well on paper did not work so much when under our feet.  We removed the broom closet, made the laundry room and powder room bigger, and made a giant pantry...I'm so in love with this new space!!!

Today, Mike came back to backfill and...to clear my real driveway!  So, some more sheeting was done, but between having to haul all the lumber into the house and not being able to haul the generator to the house, the guys had a short day so Mike could do his work.  We also got a backfilled garage, which you'll see below.

The kids had such a fun time going down into the echo-y basement (on the new steps) and making ghost noises.  I'm so glad the bigs will be able to remember this project from the ground up.

Decisions, decisions...

On Tuesday, my new driveway was made! 

The car fits.

Front of the house with sheeting.

Back of the house - the bump out will be the beginning of the deck, with the screened porch coming off the kitchen and dining.

Here's the best shot of the day: the view of the house from the permanent drive.  We've so been wondering what the view would be like - I like it!

The trusses get delivered on Friday, so on Monday, the crane will show up to do the heavy lifting.  Between now and then: finished sheeting and interior walls!