Long time since last update...

Since the last post, much has happened. Most importantly, we have received our Certificate of Occupancy from the county and moved in!

Here is a look at the finished kitchen. It is spacious enough for 2 people to work at the same time without getting in each other's way :)

Here's a shot of the house after the painting and staining got finished. It looks MUCH better than just primer colored!

Here is a close up of the front door/porch area. Note the gorgeous dark-walnut stained door. The door is knotty alder in a craftsman-style. It is nice!









Here is a view of the guest suite, all outfitted for guests. The quilt hanging over the bed came from Mrs. Builder's mother. It is beautiful!

Guest bathroom, in all it's resplendent glory...

And here is the sink in the guest bathroom. The mirror looks nice, don't you think?

Built-in desk and overhead. The design was created by Mrs. Builder, and our general contractor did the cabinets/installation. He is really good! These are cherry and match the kitchen cabinets.

There is Stan, our mason, installing Camas Grey stone on the fireplace.

And here is the finished product. Note the bookcase and entertainment center on either side of the fireplace. They were also built by our general contractor. This room is almost done - just need to get some stain on the mantel.

Well, that is just about it for now. Maybe next time will be finished backyard, last two showers tiled, and front yard done. Until then!

March 2008

Stretching for cleanliness...

Front porch getting poured

Randy Turner, our General Contractor, is the guy manning the float on the back patio. This is the area outside the master bedroom.

The concrete pumper truck has to reach over the entire house to get to the back patio!

Mrs. Builder celebrating in the soaker tub with the first bag of popcorn from our new microwave.

This mess of wires, copper tubing, and sheet metal is the heart and soul of the geothermal heat pump, where water is heated for the radiant floor heat and domestic hot water.

FINISHED!!! The first shower tiling project is officially done. WOO-HOO!

Kitchen with most of the appliances, sinks, faucets, etc. A bit messy yet, but not for long...

Here is a look out the french doors (with freshly painted trim) at the back yard.

Our lovely double-french doors into the "TV room/exercise room"

A view out the master bedroom's patio access. Note the new fencing being installed in the back yard - that is to contain our two new dogs! (pictures coming soon to a blog near you...)

Easter Sunday: for us, a day of new carpet. Here is one of the kid's bedrooms. The carpet is "Palomino Hills" color. Uh, yeah...

Mr. Builder vacuuming the master bedroom. Note the grubby clothes, the sign of a home owner who fancies himself a builder.

Laminate, granite, and toilets, oh my!

Since the last update, we have had finish electric nearly completed, installed ~95% of the laminate flooring, plumbing, etc...

Here is a shot of the laminate floor looking into the kitchen.

This is the breakfast nook area. Sorry for the dusty lens - building a house is dirty business!

These exterior lights are from Home Depot, and are a great deal. They look old fashioned, but are energy efficient with CF light bulbs.

This is the central vacuum collection unit. This thing sucks :)

Here is a look at the guest shower with nice blue glass tiles and white trim pieces. Nice, huh?

A shot of the island looking from the kitchen out to the family room. Man that island is HUGE!

Here is a look at the bar. Dusty with granite dust, but also a big island - 4-5 people at least.

This is our pot-filler over the electric cooktop for adding cold water to cooking pots.

Danze makes some beautiful fixtures.

Here is the main kitchen sink faucet. This is a busy shot, but from L to R are: air gap, soap dispenser, faucet, control valve, sprayer, and instant-hot-water dispenser.

Electrolux dishwasher. Not fully installed - needs electric hookup and final leveling.

Here is the Electrolux double oven, fully installed in the cabinets. This baby was HEAVY - around 300 lbs!

Powder room pedestal sink - Kohler Devonshire products. The matching toilet is to the L, but out of the shot.

Here is a photo of our custom front door entry system. This Craftsman style door has "water glass" windows, and on the outside there is a "dentil" shelf on the door and the two side-lights. NICE!

Closeup of the water glass in the front door. Sort of looks like old leaded glass.

Here is the "Hers" side of the "His and Hers" master bath sinks.

Toto Carlyle toilet in the throne room. This is supposed to be the most powerful toilet out there... We'll see.

Lasco Montrose II Premium jetted/air massage tub. Ahhhhhh, luxury!

In this picture you can see the little "knobs" in the bottom that emit the air bubbles and the jets that shoot out water to massage.

The Roman-style tub faucet, valves, and sprayer.

Here are the two windows that can be seen from the "laying in the tub" position. Beautiful view, right?? And how about that cool "Craftsman-style" molding? All the trim/molding will be painted with fast-dry B47 white enamel paint.

The french doors (there is another set around the corner from these) that will allow this room to be private or not as needed for guests, kids, treadmilling, etc.

Progress in January...

Here is what has happened since X-mas break...

One member of the paint crew in his becoming painting garb.

The other half of the painting crew, ready for action!

A big, blue water-pressure tank.

Bathroom floor tiled and grouted.

Vanity in the guest bathroom.

Here is a look at our hand-scraped laminate floor in "American Walnut". Shiny!

The master bathroom has a shower pan!

Here is the freshly-tiled master bathroom floor. No grout yet...

The study with lots of laminate flooring installed.

Beautiful cherry cabinets in the kitchen. Check out the size of that island!