Cabinets, lighting, tile, and stone installation (Week 17)

Finishing touches continue to be installed bringing all those choices together so we can finally see how everything looks. Patrick and George from Lowe's Cabinet and Lighting Gallery in Cleveland arrived with the cabinets and vanities on Monday and worked all week to install them. Back when we met with Kim at Just So Decorating she was a little concerned with our preference of going with Brazilian Cherry Floors with Cherry cabinets with a dark Cabernet stain. Now that we can finally see it all together we are very pleased with how they look. Billy, our electrician also returned this week to finish wiring the electrical switches and outlets, install the grounding system, and install the interior lights. The electrical inspector is supposed to be back this coming Monday which will allow for connection of temporary power. This will allow us to get rid of all those extension cords and turn on the lights. Last week Katie and I decided on man made Ledgestone in a Bucktown color for the fireplace surround. Katie wanted a color that was a tan/gray mixture and I wanted something the was primarily gray. We went with the Bucktown which is a tan/gray mixture however now that it is up it is definitely predominantly gray. Luckily we both think it looks really nice. Tyler, the "tile guy", finished up the tile work this week by grouting the tile he had already started last week and completing the master bath tub surround and tile shower. We are really pleased and excited about the master bath. Everything looks fabulous. Gutters were also installed. We didn't get any earth moved this week and the forecast for next week isn't favorable. Something is going to have to change or the inside of the house will be done and we won't have a septic system, driveway, lawn, or deck. Next week Tim is planning to start installing wood through the rest of the main floor of the house and hopefully the electrical inspection goes well.

Soffits and floors (week 16)

The finishing touches are starting to come together. The Brazilian Cherry wood floors arrived Wednesday. Tile came in at the end of last week and was installed this week. Next Monday our cherry kitchen and bathroom cabinets are being delivered along with the interior lighting fixtures. Tim and Travis worked late several nights this week to make sure the hard wood floors were installed in the kitchen, breakfast nook, and keeping room. Likewise Tyler, the "tile guy", installed the tile in the upstairs bathrooms, laundry room, and powder room. He prepped the master bathroom for tile which will start Monday morning. Tim also worked on putting up the crown molding on the main floor and the 7 1/4 in. baseboards. I finished building the tall doorway headers and finished the sheetrock I installed several weeks ago in my media distribution room/closet.

We had several nice days of weather this week which allowed a crew to install the soffits on the exterior. That really helped put a finished look on the exterior. There is a chance we will get some warmer and somewhat dry weather this coming week. Tim is hoping the excavators can bring in a high lift dozer to start the final grading. The construction site has really turned in to a mess so it will be good to get it cleaned up and leveled.

Next week should be really exciting with the cabinets and lighting. We should also see the tile installed in the master bath. At this point it is hard not to be excited that the project to so close to being complete. We keep getting asked when we will have a party and or cookout. I have a feeling we are going to have to hard several house warming parties with everyone who has been interested in the new house.

Coffered Ceilings (week 14.5)

My latest project with the house has been to build coffered or beamed ceilings. Many of the Frank Betz house plans include this architectural detail, however ours did not. So...when we decided not to build the vaulted ceiling in the den this made the perfect place to add this detail. It has taken me three days to build the beams and I still need to add crown molding between each of of the squares. Tim has been busy this week working of installing the interior doors and other trim.

The house of 9 colors (Week 14)

Paint and primer were delivered Monday afternoon and the paint work is 95% complete. The painter ran out of paint for the foyer and garage, but everything else is done! We had rain and snow all week, again, so no exterior work was completed this week. Valley Building Supply received two boxes of flooring to help us decide. We chose the Brazilian Cherry. Tim is wanting to start trim work this coming week. The forecast is for rain and snow Tuesday through Thursday, again.