Posted on by Emily

Day 496

We arrived yesterday to find 47 painters hard at work.

The moving truck shows up in less than two weeks. Carpet goes in on Tuesday. We may need 47 more painters to be done on time.

It’s a good thing there’s a mask covering my face in this photo.

When I walked in earlier this week, the electrician told me he was “putting the jewelry on my house”. I’m going to miss him.

I’m so happy the dining room chandelier is in! I put this fixture in at our soon-to-be “old” house when I did the initial renovation. I still love it so it had to make the move with us. Thankfully, I had saved the extra wire and chain as the ceilings are 2 feet higher in the new house and I didn’t want the fixture hanging 8 feet off the floor. (They have it tucked up at the moment so people don’t run into it.)

Continuing on the subject of house jewelry, most of the door hardware is in. Egg knobs for the win!

Originally, I was going to do rectangular roses (backplates) but I am slightly neurotic about alignments and if they weren’t perfectly straight, it would drive me nuts.

At least I know this about myself.

And speaking of alignments, I went through and finalized where I want all of the cabinet hardware installed so I can make notes for the cabinet guys.

Somehow, I managed to hold up the hardware and my tape measure and make some sort of alien symbol with my fingers all while taking a picture.

I specified in my cabinet drawings for the space between wall ovens to be 48 inches above the floor. This gives a superb alignment for the center of the appliance pulls.

Details matter.

The transoms make me so happy.

The plumbers are *almost* done (we desperately need them to finish so we can call in for the final inspection!).

The kitchen plumbing is complete. Air switch for the disposal on the left (no fumbling around for the wall switch and turning on all of the lights in the process). A faucet I won years ago and have been hanging onto in the hopes that I would use it in my forever house someday (dreams do come true!). And, on the right, though I’m not one for lots of gadgets, a glass rinser, which was a gift from a vendor event (thanks, Delta!).

I am super excited about this for cleaning wine glasses and water bottles.

Still waiting on the rest of the shower trims in the master bath.

Hall bath fixtures are in!

Finally some wall color! The painter asked me three times if this was the correct color for this room. I assured him that it was and that I’m not afraid of rich walls.

This makes me so happy to see some color!

We are really going to be in business once the carpet is in this week.

It’s going to be a big week – wish us luck!

Posted on by Emily

Day 489

Exactly nothing happened at the house last week thanks to six days of below freezing temperatures, snow, sleet, and ice. The ice was no joke. We’re talking inches of it on the roads.

We ventured out yesterday as things started to melt to check on the house. It looked lovely in the snow!

Two of the three HVAC units were installed since we were there last.

This is definitely the least attractive wall of the house with all of the utilities, but we will paint the boxes on the wall after inspection and put in some shrubs to hide the units.

Apparently we have an artist in one of the crews…

We remember to take pictures of us together approximately twice a year. This is our first one of 2021.

The floors were finished the week before last but this was our first time seeing them!

This makes me feel like moving in could become a reality!

I’m in love.

We had our first casualty…little birdy must have gotten trapped in the house. Josh escorted him to his final resting place.

A peek of the foyer floors!

And perhaps most exciting of all, we have garage door openers.

Let’s hope we make up some lost time this week and can call in for a final inspection!

Posted on by Emily

Day 482

Hello and happy Winter!

We were all set to head out to the new house and see the progress this morning when we discovered black ice at our current house.

Better safe than sorry – but I really wanted to see the hardwoods all finished!

This is the stain sample I approved earlier this week. Classic. Timeless. I love it.

Painting is inching along…I’m loving the richness of the trim color. So much better than stark white.

This is our builder, Walt. He’s a good guy.

He does not know that I have this blog.

I cannot wait to get rid of all of this plastic and tape! Though I do appreciate the thorough prep work.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, packing continues. I’m trying to stage most of the boxes upstairs in the middle of the house. Consequently, with the furniture against the wall, the dining room looks like a waiting room.

Bu is waiting for us to tell him what is going on.

He’ll find out soon!

Posted on by Emily

Day 475

I always tell clients that it’s that last 10% that just about kills you.

We are there.

The highlight of the week: appliances were installed.

Hello, gorgeous.

The refrigerator and freezer will have panels to match the cabinets.

This wall brings me great joy; however, it may be the most expensive wall in the house. Given that we will be out in the country and that the nearest restaurant is not close, we will be dining in most of the time and this fridge/freezer space will be essential to our survival.

My employees decided to check if the new house was serviceable by grubhub/ubereats/etc. because they frequently take advantage of such services at our current location.

Haha.

I got a real kick out of that. To be fair, they haven’t been to the property yet.

I squealed with delight when I saw the range. I can’t tell you how excited I am to fire up this bad boy.

Switching gears, one of our neighbors generously volunteered to build us a shared mailbox structure. It’s not at all what I would have chosen, but since it’s at the main road, I didn’t have strong feelings about it. The good news is, he ordered extra large mailboxes so packages will fit inside.

Back inside the house, the painters continue to cover things in tape and plastic.

While I know and appreciate that painting is 75% prep, I would like to see something painted the color it is supposed to be.

These closet shelves appear to be the correct color, my beloved limestone.

Fireplace surrounds are primed.

I’m dying to see the dining room painted. It will be a deep burnt orange.

Speaking of the dining room, I had been on the hunt for an antique dining table with many leaves so I could adjust it for up to 12 people. I hit the jackpot this weekend when I stumbled upon this estate sale find.

I snagged this triple pedestal, inlay top, 115″ long, 3 leaf table for $450.

It makes up for the wall of appliances I mentioned earlier.

Miraculously, the 5 piece top and 3 piece base fit in the back of my vehicle. All of these pieces are hanging out in the entry/dining room of our current home for the time being and Bu thinks they are for him.

In other thrilling news, the toilets have been installed!

You have no idea what an ordeal it is to get a decent toilet these days.

I sent Josh an update with pictures at my last site visit on Friday. 3 out 5 pictures were of toilets.

The master vanity is shaping up! Tower has been installed – though still missing crown – and faucets are in.

So glad the trim guys made a masterpiece of the attic stair pulldown that is located in an unfinished storage closet.

Lastly, Josh, Nate and my dad delivered the library built-in tops yesterday. They installed them, with the exception of one that can’t be installed until a gas shutoff is moved.

Have you ever seen such a look of pure joy?

Thank you, Daddy! And thank you, Josh and Nate, for assisting. Can’t wait until these bad boys are painted a deep green.

Hardwoods are being finished this week. We’re in the homestretch!

Posted on by Emily · 1 Comment

Day 468

Well, hello there.

Things are not moving as quickly as I would like given that we’re trying to move in in five(!) weeks.

However, a week ago, we were still missing one appliance prior to our pending installation. But, late this week, I received some excellent news that this piece had come in. For reference, we ordered our appliances in August.

They are supposed to be installed Monday, February 1. Woohoo!

Meanwhile, the painters have been priming and the plumbers have been putting in the trim pieces.

The painters left me some samples. I like the one on the right. Can you guess what this is for???

Barry D. has finished and delivered all base pieces for the library built-ins.

They are in position to be installed.

Today, we delivered 2 of the 4 tops. They are gigantic. Barry is very serious about this and unsure as to how we are going to transport the remaining 2 (largest) tops from his shop to the library.

Meanwhile, I’ve been packing away at our current house. I ordered a lot of boxes and they are filling up quickly.

Shelves and cabinets are not seeming to empty quickly, however. There is still so much to pack.

The cat is very proud of himself for getting up onto the empty shelves…

Also, I think I need a new phone. Photo quality is quite poor.