Inside & Out

During the last half of December, our crews have been tripping over each other inside and outside of the house and are heading into the final stretch to complete this project. I've heard an old adage spoken two different ways, and whether God is in the details or if it's the devil, certainly the challenge now is to get those details right. A quarter-inch here and a color choice there has a chain reaction that is often unforeseen when the decision first presents itself.

For one, the biscuit-colored farmhouse sink that I picked out last spring from a square-inch sample will not work with the white cabinets. Anyone in the market for a farmhouse sink? It's going on Craig's List. A new white sink has already arrived, and this mistake is one that I accept but certainly hope is isolated. It was an expensive one.

When we returned after our Christmas travels, we were pleased to find the progress made on the home, but much work has yet to be done. Most of the trim carpentry is completed, the pavers are in, and countertops have been installed in the bathrooms. Our project manager  returns to the job site today, and the goal is now to keep the crews working toward a February completion. In the meantime, we are working to get our current home ready to list, and Randy is diligently building and installing the closet shelving. In all of the busyness of our lives right now, though, we do have to stop and pinch ourselves that we are going to live in this house. It's surreal to us. I have lots of new photos to share.

Fireplace in sitting room

Shelving by Randy in my closet

Tub in master bath

Stained bead board in Randy's office

Stairs, notice the not-yet "secret door" on the right

Staircase

Stained bead board in great room coffers

Marble countertop on a master bath vanity

Dining room

Bunk room

Wainscoting panels in foyer

Paver sidewalk

Driveway

Getting There

Barring any unforeseen problems, we are approximately two months away from moving into our new home. Target: early to mid-February.  In these final weeks, Randy is busy building the closet shelving, I have finalized lighting choices, and we have a pretty good start to a landscaping plan.

The hardwood floors are in -- although they will need to be finished when we get a little further along. The cabinet maker is installing the cabinets, the stair carpenter is working to get the stairs completed, the trim carpenter continues to plug along, and the tile work continues inside and out. The painters have returned to start caulking the trim so they can resume working inside.

In the meantime, I've learned why special touches like sconces and bead board are so disdained by builders and that my husband and my project manager -- brothers, mind you -- have very different opinions about the most comfortable height for televisions.

Admittedly, we are a little nervous leaving this project for our Christmas trip. Every day raises questions about more details, and the details are now going to be visible for a long time to come. But we are grateful we have a good crew of guys out there. Here are some of the  latest photos:

Front porch

Kitchen, sink side

Kitchen, cooktop side

Randy's office

Back side of house -- finally completed!

Bonus room

Mudroom, sink side

Mudroom, cubby side

staircase