gotta have a good foundation...

Everyone will tell you that the most important thing to get right is the foundation.  And, from what I have read online, everyone is correct.  Builders today are increasingly building homes on post tension slab foundations - which basically means they pour the concrete, let it set, then wiggle it.  It is a lot more complex than that, of course, but that is as complex as you are getting from me.  Think about it though, what better time to break the foundation than before a house is on it?  So, I guess they wiggle it, check for cracks, repair said cracks, and then start building our home. 

I took a lot of pictures only because I think that it looks so neat - the perpendicular trenches with plastic laid just so is almost OCD, but the work looks really great, so obsess and compulse away!

Before that, though, I thought I would show you our DIY dumpster...  Good thing that the foundation work looks so good, because if I had seen this prior to seeing the work that has been done behind it...I might have reservations.  I promise we will get to the foundation part, but there are three things that have kind of made me laugh so far throughout the process to date.  And now I introduce you to the DIY dumpster:

I had wondered what in the heck is this big wooden box that had been built on the lot...I found out!  The more I think about it, the more clever I find it.  And...notice the potty in the background.  It is not an optical illusion.  That thang is leaning...meet the Leaning Potty!

So, that is the second funny thing...  My dad would probably get vertigo if he had to use that for any substantial amount of time!  Now for the third funny thing...Dangling Design!

But, I digress.  Here are the photos of the preparations for the foundation - I know not to get my hopes up about anything, but we have been told that they will pour the concrete on Monday!  Too late...my hopes are up!  Will keep you posted on this, of course.

Now, I cannot comment on the technical aspects of each photo since I really do not know all of the details, but I can give you an idea of where I was standing when I took the photo.



The photo above was taken from the front left of the house...just use the leaning potty for reference if that helps.  The potty sits just to the right of where the driveway will be which is on Thornberry.  The photo below is from the front right of the house...just about where the front door will be.  Look how deep the trenches go into the ground...and the mounds of dirt are almost OCD perfect!

I thought that the soon to be chimney location looked cool...guess that hump of dirt did not warrant any black plastic?

Below is taken from the back left of the house - this is where the garage will be (for those of you looking for the potty - it is to the left...almost out of our periphery).

To be honest, I am not really sure where this is taken from, but gives you an idea of what is holding up the rods on the ends that will not be pulled tight (the tension part of post tension slab).  Post, I assume means after.

That is it for now - we are moving right along...so much fun!

now let's talk lighting...

Not sure how familiar you are with how much great lighting costs...but let me just go on and tell you that it ain't cheap.  However, I think that if we purchase a light a month, we just might be able to stay on budget. 

We are calling these purchases (like the tile and sink for the powder room) presents for the house...  And, we are keeping these presents safe until such time that the house is ready to receive them... 

One of the only design elements which hasn't been decided yet for the powder room is the lighting - well, I found a light that I LOVE.  But why is it that something that looks so simple, costs SO much?  Case in point...

This light would be so simple and perfect in the powder room, however the price has not budged since I first came across it - it is called the Miconos Wall Light by Artemide.  I have kept my eye on the price for about 8 months hoping that it might go on sale...no luck so far.  The specs and review are here...

The light is quite large 17" H x 12" W which I think would make a very nice statement on the wall of penny tile - at least in my untrained interior designer imagination, it will work out very nicely.  However, unfortunately it may be a bit too expensive of a splurge.

For the kitchen, we like these lights to go over the island. 

They are from Restoration Hardware and are very popular - the 13" Benson Pendant which is also quite large in scale.  We would want two of these which more information about these can be found here...

Another thing that I like to go over the dining table is a bit "blingy" - but I think will add a bit of glamour to the space and also serve as sort of an unobtrusive divider between the spaces.  The one below is a knock off of the originals which can be over $2000 - not going to happen, EVER.  But, again, overstock comes through.  This light has received very good reviews - and I can just picture all of the light bouncing off of the crystals...

  

More details can be found here...

There are still many other choices left to make and we can focus on saving money on these choices.  We will rely on Greico for helping us make these decisions.  He has plans for many wonderful pot lamps (got this word from Candice Olsen) and also some art lighting which will all be installed in the ceiling. 

Will keep you posted as we are really starting to see some great progress - the foundation should go down this week.  Update to come...

i do love me some overstock...

I really like nice things.  But, nice things are usually really expensive.  Luckily, we have the internet - the store that stays open all the time.  Combine that with my keen ability to sleuth out a deal or two and we are in business.  My go to online retailer for home goods is overstock.com.  They have a really great selection of just about everything.  I am a bit reluctant to purchase art from overstock, but I have purchased just about everything else.

You first have to find a product that you like and then search for it on overstock - it is usually a decent quality knockoff at great prices.  I do caution you to do your due diligence - read the reviews, check the dimensions, decide if you can put it together yourself (I tend to stay away from those items...), and look for coupon codes to enter during check out.

So, I bring this up only to get to the point.  We have had a pretty good idea about the overall design of the powder room (why DO they call it this?).  Ever since I saw these penny tiles, the vision began.  Picture these tiles on one wall - a faucet will attach to the wall.  Still haven't really decided on the wall color, however these tiles are such a nice color and I think it will make the powder room experience enjoyable.  The floors will be the same wood that is throughout the downstairs.

Now, I assume that the cabinet/vanity will be floating and there will be a dual flush, water conscious toilet also sharing the tile wall.  On top of the cabinet will sit this beauty...

So, these way too early purchases sit anxiously awaiting their new home.  I think just a simple mirror - nothing fancy above the vanity.  The cool element will be the faucet - still have to find the perfect one...but believe me, I'm looking.

I expect it will look something like this...

That is definitely not THE one, but it gives you an idea.  Got any ideas for a wall color?