The Final Stretch

During the last couple of years, our family has gotten hooked on HGTV to the point where I recently overheard the girls playing "House Hunters" with their dollhouses. Of course, the climax of the home improvement shows is the "reveal," when the homeowner comes in to see what the show's designer and crew has done with the space. The homeowner's response is usually one of shock and delight. I know the feeling; I experience it every day I pay a visit to the job site and see the dramatic changes that are taking place.

I hesitate to use the term, "job site," these days because our project is quickly becoming a home. The painters have finished the upstairs and are working on the first floor, while the hardwood floor crew has begun sanding the floor on the second level. Our project manager is lining up the necessary crew to finish the outdoor kitchen and begin work on the screened-in porch. We caught a break earlier this week when we passed three inspections in one day: landscaping (to ensure we did not cut down trees credited in our "tree bank"), lot grading, and the buffer. The purpose of the latter is to ensure we have not encroached upon the wetland buffer established by the Army Corps of Engineers along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. We own the property, but in keeping with regulations, we are not allowed to disturb the vegetation between the buffer line and the water.

By week's end, the hardwood floor crew will toss everyone out of the house so they can finish their work. They are expected to be on site through next week, finishing the floors as well as the stairs and a few side projects, like the front door and select countertops. Once they are out, we will be on the downhill run to finish this house. And we are close. The appliances are in, and a good portion of the lighting and plumbing fixtures are installed. While the last half of the month will be a mad dash, we are on target to move in by the end of February.

Porch bath fixtures

Bonus room painted and ready for floor finishing

Girls' bathroom

Grill for outdoor kitchen