quick post, lots of pics, not much explanation...

So, it has been quite a while since my last post, but I have been a bit busy.  As if building a house isnt't enough to keep folks busy, I recently took a new job with Accenture. 

For the first time in about a month, I was able to get the photos off of my phone and onto my computer so that I could provide an update on the progress of the build.  Plus, I have had quite a few requests, so here goes...

The pics are really not in a specific order or really organized in a way that makes sense and the descriptions will be brief so if you are curious, ask me a question. 

I will try to do a blog post each day this week in an effort to give details about the pond, furniture that is on order or received, art that we commissioned from a local artist here in Oak Cliff...  Notice I used the word try...executing may be a different story.

Entry - before grading of lot

Sidewalk - before grading of lot

Apron Sink - Kitchen Island



 

Handrail - taken from landing leading to second flight of stairs

Door Hardware

Upstairs Shower Tile

Upstairs Bath Wallpaper - Feature over Vanity (on order)

 

Master Bath Tile - Pebble shower floor

Kitchen after backsplash - Lights On!

Exterior - After Electricity

Grading and Pond Install

Driveway and Grading

Exterior after grading and electricity

Sidewalk and grading and electricity

Another grading

Pond location and grading and lighting

Utility - after tile and electricity

 

 

Penny Tile - Powder Bath before sealing of tile

These photos hopefully provide an update of all of the progress that has been made to date.  This week is supposed to be extremely productive - the deck is supposed to go in, the pond should be finished, air conditioning will be installed, plumbing and fixtures should be installed, appliances should be installed, our diy concrete hearth molds should be completed (I know I said no more DIY, but since we do not have to do the hard part which is the building of the molds and installing them on the wall, I think we can handle the concrete part - plus there are lots of tutorials online on how to use Buddy Rhodes products). 

I am guessing that maybe two of these things will get done...  But, we will just have to wait and see...stay tuned. 

tile update and other stuff...

After a very busy Saturday, I am very happy to report that the tile crew have made excellent progress and are doing an excellent job!  They started early this morning and worked until at least 7pm this evening. 

The upstairs bath shower and floor, utility floor, master shower, and powder room wall were completed - to be grouted tomorrow.  The master bath shower floor and the rest of the master bath floor will be completed tomorrow and I guess they will come back to finish the kitchen backsplash when the tile arrives. 

The head boss of the tile guys has been excellent to work with - he suggested grout colors and showed us how the grout would look next to the tile and also worked with us to simplify the upstairs shower tile design (which translates to less expensive to install...).

Everything is moving along quite nicely.  Below is the Master Shower - it is a glass and stone mosaic mix and is quite handsome! 

Next is the streamlined upstairs bath tile - I really like the clean lines and how well the colors work with each other.  I cannot wait until the tiles are grouted - I was so excited to post some updated pictures that I could not wait.  So, after the grout is complete, I will post new pictures.

And, unrelated to tile, the pantry was finally, begrudgingly painted!  I think it looks quite awesome!

 
Will keep you posted as to the progress.  I think that we are getting to the point where lots of stuff will happen very quickly that before we know it, we will be all moved in. 

But, until then, stay tuned!

countertops are installed...

Wish I had more to report - some small, but really important, things are being completed at the house.  The electrical work is being completed including all of the outlet covers and light switches, the inside part of the A/C has been installed as well as the vents and thermostat, most of the paint has finally been completed (still quite a bit of touch up to be done - plus many wall patches have to be fixed, including the large holes/squares resulting from improperly placed light switches and such), the sidewalk and driveway forms have been built awaiting concrete to be poured, and we have been waiting for the tile to be installed since Monday...

We are told it will be ready for a mid July move in.  I just do not see how that is possible, but I am definitely keeping my fingers crossed!

There is exciting news to report!  The counter tops and sinks have been installed!  And, they are beautiful.  Sorry for the image quality.  The island is Staturario marble and the perimeter cabinets are soapstone.  When we oil the soapstone it will have a deep, rich gray color.  And, the plastic will be removed once they no longer need to be protected from any paint and stuff.

The picture doesn't do the island justice - and, the exhausting search to find a single slab of marble (over 10 feet) was totally worth it!

The apron kitchen sink is as awesome as I had envisioned!

Soapstone will look much darker once we apply the mineral oil.

Stay tuned...

paint progress update part 3...

Another week of painting, and all of the walls are still NOT finished!  Progress was made though, which at this point, we will take what we can get. 

Funny story about the slowest paint crew in the world...our builder told us that the painters couldn't believe that we wanted our pantry yellow...which kind of makes sense because it took SO long for them to paint our garage yellow.

Since it has taken them SO LONG to paint everything else, I just thought that the garage was an anomaly.  Not the case.  I think the painters are actually prejudiced against Beach Ball (the yellow color on the garage and pantry)!

Now, I think it would somehow be different if the painters were fast.  I would be more willing to give them a pass and assume that they are unwilling to embrace colors other than white!  But, it is somehow just incredibly ridiculous that they are so slow AND prejudiced against yellow! 

Regardless, they were able to push through and finally painted the shelves in the pantry yellow... 

I mean, for real, you would think that they should have gotten a nice introduction to the color when they painted the garage door!

And, hopefully the color is growing on them, because they still have the front door to go!

The photo below is not the most recent - they have trimmed in now and there is no cabinet color on the wall anymore.  Hallelujah!  But there is still much to be painted...

Stay tuned...

goodbye terrible awful...

The retaining wall, affectionately known as the terrible awful, is finally gone!  The grading crew readied the site for the pouring of the concrete sidewalk and driveway.  The next couple of photos just prove that the wall wanted to come down - it was an eye sore...

They also graded the back and the side as well.

paint progress update part 2...

After two days of productivity, we are starting to see paint on the walls, cabinets, doors, and trim.  The fumes were so heavy, I only viewed the progress from the front door and was able to snap a quick photo:

Stay tuned...

paint progress update and exterior photos...

Well...it is unbelievable that the painters have been onsite for so long yet it only took a day to get most of the walls and ceiling painted with the Thin Ice color we chose.  Today, we have been told that the trim painted will be painted...  I doubt that includes doors and cabinets...I'm sure if the painters stayed past 3 o'clock a lot more could get painted...I'm just sayin'. 

But, at least I do have progress to report...so I will pull back on the nag wagon until they slip back to their old ways.  We complained once before and they had a productive day and then two weeks later we complained again and they had a productive day.

The positive side is that we are getting closer to the finish line...if this project were a real race though, I know a couple of painters that I would not want on my team!  Sorry...I guess I haven't pulled back on the nag wagon yet!

Now on to the exterior pre-landscaping...and, if you have not seen our lot, there is an overwhelming amount of landscaping. 

The pictures below were taken post dumpster removal and I have to admit, the house looks amazing (although as you can see in a few pictures, touchups are needed...which we hate to pile on top of the already lengthy list of things for the painters to finish...). 

Looking good.  Stay tuned for updates...