What a Difference

Two changes to any home that make a drastic and quick impact are paint and landscaping. At this moment, the painters have moved from the trim on the interior of the house to the final coats on the ceilings. The walls will follow on their list later in the week. Every step in this process produces noticeable changes and inches us one step closer to completion.

Meanwhile on the outside of the house, the landscapers arrived Friday, and their efforts gave the outside of the house a dramatic face lift from its construction blahs. They installed    zoysia sod along with the bushes and a few trees. Our landscape designer opted to wait until closer to our move-in date to plant a few of the palms, the grapefruit and the live oak because we have had some freezes this winter. But the photos below can give you a good idea of the tremendous progress they made in one day.

I asked him to plant a variety of bushes that alternately would give year-long color and would be in keeping with the home's "timeless" charm. Quite honestly, I have no idea what all is in those beds; Randy and I just picked out what we liked at the nursery with guidance from the designer. But I do know we have some holly bushes, roses and hydrangeas.

The electricians have been working as they have been able and were out there again this morning, bright and early, to install speakers and lighting. I've included a few photos of their work outside.

So when in the move-in date? It looks like it will be the last week in February if we stay on track. This week is a big one, and several crews will be out there to get as much done as they can before the hardwood floor crew comes in early next week. They get the house for two weeks to sand and dye the hardwood floors, which cover the majority of the square footage in the house.

Back porch

Front porch

Bermuda shutters on the south side

Rain chain

Front landscaping

Back landscaping

More landscaping