Master Bedroom Foyer Light - by Holly

Isn't this lovely... we'll have to see how much room is left in the budget!

Am I the only one - by Holly

That is in LOVE with this floor?!

Window progress - by Holly

 

Gas Line - by Holly

This week the gas company installed our line. It's crazy to think that there are places so close to downtown without any gas line at all. I'm grateful we got this done early--not that we have any way of heating the house yet, but our move-in is expected to be January and we will definitely need heat!!

Sure, you can unearth half my yard...

Tweaks Complete - by Holly

 This is the view of our new master bedroom doorway. We changed the plans to add an extra 2/2.5 feet of space between this and the hall bathroom door. Definitely a good call... Under the circumstances of limited places for a toilet.

And here I have stepped into the master then turned around to take a picture of the "foyer" to the  bedroom. Main door is center, pocket door on the left (from the this view) to the bathroom and door on the right to the closet. I'll hang a nice pendant in the middle and perhaps add a small table in the corner between the door and the closet.

HVAC - by Holly

This week the HVAC guys are putting in the ductwork. They nearly completed the second floor today; first floor will be tomorrow-ish:

AND, we have more progress on the back porch/master bedroom!..

The old exterior wall came down today. There will be one more window added, about where you can see the little window--except it will shift towards the rest and match their dimensions:

Here's the view of our backyard from the master. I can't wait to have green space instead of gravel and a dumpster. :)

Probable kitchen finishes - by Holly

I hope to have a layout to post sometime this week, but here are some samples that I'm in love with and will probably use:




Basically I'm looking at a medium to medium-dark floor, "country pebble" for the perimeter cabinetry, oil-rubbed bronze hardware (not that specific knob), "basil" cabinets in the island and butler's pantry, all cabinets topped with a white/gray/brown quartz.

Front Door Design - by Holly

Well, the design isn't by me. :) Here's a look at the plans for our front door (using the salvaged piece and creating panels to match):

More Back Porch - by Holly

And here is what they did today:

Back Porch - by Holly

The guys have started working on the back porch (you may remember it once had exterior stairs). The whole structure needed to be rebuilt, plus we're closing in the top. Here's the progress from one day of work:

starting with the foundation

floor joists

complete floor on the bottom

the backdoor on the porch will open into the kitchen

you can partially view a roughed in window frame that will look into family room

soon this wall will go away...!

Stop the bus! - by Holly

This week we, I, hit a snag. A wall went up and something inside me said, "this isn't right." It was definitely built right, but I felt it wasn't good for the space. Since a week ago I've had my head in the ground trying to solve the new issues that had become my concern. It threw a wrench in our progress and halted work but the good news is we are back on track. I loved the space that has been dedicated as master suite; but I worried about the hall bath being so close to the master, and not central to the bedrooms it will serve. The problem is, the hall bath can't be central without dropping ceilings below, and with the house not having many historical elements left to preserve, we really feel we should keep the high ceilings in the front/formal part of the house. Switching the hall bath and master bath seemed the last logical option, but that created other logistical/design issues. So the only thing left to attempt was to put more than 2 inches between the hall bath door and master suite door... and we ended up with this:

*closet will be 5' wide including door

I like how it creates 4 windows in the bedroom and a noise buffer next to the hall bath (we were gonna do extra soundproofing in the walls). In the past, this version had a bigger closet, which created a long hall before the bedroom opened up--and I really was not a fan. But now, rather than a hall in the master, there is a nice open foyer, plus with the bed + windows being visible, it will feel like you have arrived at the bedroom (again, vs a long hall). This change also allows the exterior windows to line up rather than being distributed equally but offset. Yay!

Another week - by Holly

I have quite a bit of pictures to post. Enjoy!

Finishing up the drop ceiling in the kitchen (post beam).

Framing upstairs! Laundry room on the left, bedroom door on right.

Same bedroom door (left), hall bath door (middle), master bedroom (right).

Replacing joists in the attic to make a usable floor.

Will watches as Colin move bricks.

Clearly Will is enjoying this.

Colin? Not so much...

Super big THANK YOU to our good friend Mike for helping Colin with this on Sunday.

Whaaaaaaat?! Colin, you're insanely awesome for moving all those bricks.

Work on this will begin soon.

The upper half will be absorbed as interior (the master dressing room/glorified closet).

Hm, what to do with all those bricks... a driveway? retaining wall? --ooo, I know!--how about a CHIMNEY?!

I don't think Colin liked that last suggestion.

The first of last week's orders arrives! These are master bath fixtures.

shower handle

my darling, silly Elana

I can't wait!