Home Sweet Home

My friends, it has been much too long since I've posted an update.  We moved in to our home on March 20th, and we have truly been enjoying it!  Since then, we've started some grass seed in the back, installed herbs and vegetables around the deck, and realized the need for a dry creek . . .

The wee ones have ample room to play, and the hubby and I are reveling in our success with this design.  Once we finish the playroom upstairs, who knows if we'll ever coax the kids out of it?  The deck is their favorite place to play right now; they both love playing in the water.  Just a few days ago, they rushed out there to dance in the rain!  You can see the beginnings of our lawn behind them :)

Getting the Finishing Touches

This last couple of weeks have been especially exciting.  The carpet was installed on the first of March, then the next day we got an astonishing two-and-a-half inches of snow!  Some of you may be snickering, but getting that much snow in Georgia is a rarity - and definitely a good reason to go home early from school and work.

Stephen and I spent a lot of time spreading pine and wheat straw around the house, as one of the county requirements involves covering any disturbed earth.  Of course, when we chose to move the house forward (out of the sinking mud), we ended up with a much larger cleared area.  So, we covered everything within 20-23 feet of the house and hoped the inspector would show us some mercy.

He came Tuesday of this week, leaving us with a list of twelve items to "correct" before he will grant us our certificate of occupancy (which we need in order to transition from a construction loan to a permanent loan).  Not only did he tell us to cover every bit of ground, he also instructed us to coat the walls and doors of our unfinished bonus room with primer.  He also wanted to see our propane hooked up to prove that the gas cooktop is functional.  I made a valiant attempt to control my breathing as I thought about how we could get it all done quickly. 

Builder Brian came to our rescue.  After reminding the inspector that we've had a great deal of rain (and some snow, too) since we broke ground, and that we also expect several more days of rain this week, the inspector agreed to lighten up on the straw issue.  However, when asked if priming an unfinished bonus room is a new part of the building code, the inspector snapped at him to "just get it done!"  You take your life in your hands when you question an inspector.

In order to speed things along, Stephen went out to prime the walls that night and I spent the next day filling out paperwork for the propane company and meeting the installer to determine the proper placement for the tank.  I watched in frustration as the pouring rain transformed the driveway and surrounding area into muddy rivulets and pools.  The fresh crush and run (gravel) in front of the garage might as well have been quicksand, inspiring me to call the local tree services to see if we can't get a load or two of wood chips to cover some of the ground on either side of the driveway.

Our propane tank is scheduled for installation tomorrow, and we're hoping the inspector will deign to come out just afterward.  Maybe, if he's in a really good mood, he'll give us our c/o.

Pocket Doors and Progress

Rain, rain, rain! Despite having a roof - and really being "dried in" - the rain continues to frustrate us, not because it keeps us from moving forward, but because we are still sitting in an enormous mud puddle! What appears to be trash in the front of our house are actually strategically placed re-purposed scraps which form a slightly-less-than-muddy path to the front porch. If you haven't heard, let me just go on and assure you: there is no drought in north Georgia.

Today we had the HVAC folks "trimming" the house with vent covers. I was delighted to find that we also have paint on our front door and a bunch of light fixtures on our dining room floor. Once the electricians do their stuff, we should be ready for flooring. The stone for our hearth will also be going in soon.

Last week we got our shutters, mantle, railings and stairs for the deck, garage doors and openers, interior paint, and our pocket doors! And about those pocket doors . . . at first we had only intended to put pocket doors between the family room and the library. However, after talking to Rhonda (our design consultant), we got serious about things that would make our home not only efficient and budget-friendly, but also interesting and pleasant in the long-term. We chose a pocket door for the mudroom / pantry so that we could leave the door open during busy times without blocking traffic in the hall or interfering with space in the laundry area. Although not a space that guests will often see, we spent a lot of time designing this room. Having the right tools, right space, and right layout can make a huge difference in my attitude toward everyday tasks. Along this same line, we also chose a pocket door for the master closet. We'll be able to leave the door open without restricting access.

I can't wait to get lights in the house! It is hard to see the beauty of this color on such a dreary, rainy day. Kudos to Rhonda, again! She helped us find a color that would function as a neutral, while also providing a contrast to the trim and creating an elegant, cheerful ambiance. I'll admit that I'm not quick to make decisions on paint, or any other long-term design element. However, it really isn't easy to start with a blank slate, then coordinate your carpet, hardwood, granite, cabinetry, and paint colors. Well, not on a budget, at least!

I couldn't resist taking another picture of the kitchen now that we have granite. Of course, the granite is still covered in plastic, so it looks a bit dull and it's hard to see any of its beauty. I can't wait to work in my new kitchen! Although it isn't a large area, Rhonda really helped us prioritize. Because of her patience with us - and her determination to make us happy with the design - we have a lot of features that matter to us: an under-mount sink (makes it easy to swipe messes away), an extra large gas range, double wall ovens, and a study area (or recipe center!). We also freed up space in the kitchen by creating a large pantry (in combination with the mudroom/laundry) just around the corner.

The door to the right of the kitchen leads to our master bedroom. We won't be far from midnight snacks! It is also very convenient to the laundry. However, my favorite feature is our view of the woods. I was wary of having the master downstairs (I like private spaces to be separate from public areas), but I also wanted to be realistic about my desire to climb stairs over the next 50+ years. The elevation at the back of the house creates an especially pretty view, and it also keeps backyard visitors from staring straight into our bedroom windows.

Countdown!

Beginning to look like a real house, huh? We'll be getting our shutters pretty soon - maybe this week! The front door still needs paint, but you can see how the main and trim paints work together. We chose Sherwin-Williams "Distance" and "Snowbound."

Wood Hollow (they are out of Dalton) installed our cabinets yesterday. Seeing my kitchen come together is so much fun! James was crying and hiding his face in my shoulder while I took this picture; it seems he has a very healthy fear of table saws . . .

Here's Virginia Ann modeling with our cabinets in the Master Bath. We chose to raise the cabinets to true counter height and I'm really happy with that decision. Not only does it look good, it is a more practical height for adult use. The kids' bath has the same look, but the counter is at the standard height for bathrooms.

Blue Paint!

The kids and I drove out to the site in hopes of finding cabinets today, but instead found painters! Not only did these guys make quick work of the job, they seem to have been very neat and precise around the trim. We can't wait to see how all the colors come together!

A Smile in the Sky!

I couldn't resist sharing this with everyone. Yesterday I took the kids to visit the site, and as we were leaving we saw this beautiful phenomenon! I understand that this upside-down rainbow occurs in the cooler months as a result of light hitting ice crystals in the air. Regardless of the science behind it, we enjoyed seeing a rainbow smile in the sky!

Drywall, Cabinets, and Countertops with a Side of Guilt

I'm sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry - and a little bit extra sorry - for failing to update this blog in so long! Stephen has been begging me to add pictures, if not text. My bad, people, my bad.

So, here's the update:

We had some real frustration with the water authority several weeks ago. Builder Brian called me to let me know that - despite my multiple phone calls and messages - no one had bothered to set our water meter. As this should have, could have, been done prior to framing, (and considering that I'd spoken with the appropriate human more than once) I had been functioning under the assumption that the water authority people were waiting for Builder Brian's special okie-dokie. Wrong! My next phone call actually got through to that human, and he of course politely denied ever having heard from me. I restrained myself.

A few days later, I got a phone call from a gentleman who seemed to be in authority over this original fellow. In a voice that combined the best of Rhett Butler and James Earl Jones, this gentleman apologized profusely for what was undoubtedly a problem on his side of this issue. And just as kindly, he informed me that either of our two options for placement of the meter would cost us roughly another thousand dollars. I thanked him. And then he thanked me for being the nicest lady ever. If only he knew what I was thinking . . .

Just before the new year (we were traveling back home from our visit with Stephen's family), Builder Brian called to say that they would be hanging drywall soon! And, sure enough, we have a great deal of drywall installed as I write this entry. Of course, we are thankful for the warmer weather (in the 40s this week after last week's 20s and 30s) as we've learned that drywall mud will indeed freeze, making it impossible to work with. Builder Brian assured us that the workers would bring portable heaters in the house to speed things along, but the heaters can't make up for temperatures well below freezing.

The next phone call was the one we'd been waiting for. Builder Brian informed us that our cabinets are built! Yes, I'm excited because I can't wait to see my kitchen come together. However, the real excitement is this: once the cabinets are installed (directly after the dry wall / mud), the time line to C/O (certificate of occupancy) is about 30 to 45 days! Thanks, Builder Brian, for understanding (or at least not laughing!) when I teared up on you . . .

We viewed our granite slab yesterday and it is really lovely! The granite folks plan to install on January 20th. If everything continues according to schedule, it looks like we'll be moving somewhere in early March! I am once again struck that even in the midst of so much uncertainty and craziness in the nation, God blesses us and reminds us to trust in Him.

We're not done yet!