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.
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.
