April 20, 2008

•  It’s been awhile since I’ve done a house update but that’s only because I’m so busy working on it.  We’re making great progress and we’re still looking good for a July 1st move-in.  Here’s some pics and commentary;

  These first few shots were done a few weeks ago before we finished framing in the dropped ceilings, garage popouts, or finish details. This one here is from near the gate as you pull in to the development.  It’s the best shot of the home that shows the full length. The second pic here is a close-up of the glass block window.  The guy who did it talked me in to doing the different pattern in the blocks…I like it a lot but it’s really the one window in the house that gets the most sun and will make that room pretty hot.  Probably should have thought of that prior to building it there but at least it looks really nice.

  

  These next two shots are again pre-finish framing and are of the entry to the home.  The first shot is what will be the enclosed front courtyard area and covered entryway.  The second shot is at the front door looking in to the home.  One of my favorite things about the home design is the openness and the fact that you can see all the way through the house as you enter it. 

  

  This shot is the last shot of the pre-finish framing.  I show it so you can see the ceiling height.  Prior to putting in any drops it was 12′ tall in the center and 10′ everywhere else.  The way we achieved the higher ceiling in the center of the home is to construct the trusses to land at a precise spot and shoot up 2′ and then span the rest of the way.  It’s amazing how it all came together just as we’d planned/hoped.  We had to make a couple alterations due the foundation being slightly off but nothing that was a big deal.  This picture is standing at the back of the main living area and looking back at the kitchen.

  

  Here’s an updated shot taken yesterday of the house.  We finally passed our Sheathing and Shear inspections which allows us to dry-in the roof and wrap the home for pre-stucco.  As you can see the roofers are busy putting on the 40# felt and making us watertight.  They’ll load the tile tomorrow so that we can then go for our next inspection.  In this shot you’ll also notice the arches on the garages and the installed electrical panel. If you look close you’ll also see that all of our windows and door jams are installed as well.

   

  

  Here’s a shot from the front door.  What we’ve done in the ceiling is to drop it 18″ in spots to create ”recessed boxes” patterned throughout our main living area/kitchen.  They are a little tough to see now but when they are drywalled and more defined it’ll be easier to tell what we’ve done there.  The idea is that there is a little hidden trough where a rope type light is placed that will then reflect of the ceiling and provide indirect lighting below.  It may sound weird but I think it’ll look really cool.  I was a little sad to lose our 12′ tall ceiling but we still have that in the center of the boxes and the dropped area is still 10 1/2′ which isn’t too shabby. Also in this shot is our fireplace installed in the main living area.  

  

  While still in the foyer area and looking to your left you’ll find out formal living room.  You’ll see we did do a dropped design around the perimeter of the room but not as elaborate as the main living area.  This room will be the hometeacher/visiting teacher reception area and I know Pam has been making noise about getting a piano to put in there. 

  

  This shot is standing in the family room looking back towards the kitchen.  You can see a little more detail on the ceiling drop and also the framed in area where the range/hood will be located.  We’re planning on wrapping that plywood area in fieldstone…should look nice.  I should mention here that Pam has been wonderful to let me make a lot of these design decisions.  I’ve tried to involve here in a lot of the choices and some things she’s been adamant about but she’s been nice enough, and knows how involved I am in this project, to let me make a lot of the choices.  I’m not sure if she’s being extra nice or just happy to see continued progress.

  

  Shot looking towards the hallway leading to the powder room and the two other bedrooms.

  

  This is the long hallway that I was so concerned about on the initial plans.  I felt like it was a giant waste of space and tried several different ideas to make better use of the space.  Unfortunately I was up against a shear wall and a bathroom so there wasn’t much choice other than to build it as it was designed and make the best of it.  Now that we have it I actually like it quite a bit.  It’s hard to tell the detail on the ceiling but it’s similar to the main room but it’s a tad more elaborate.  Also, the long wall serves as a great picture place and removes the “master suite” from the rest of the living area. 

  

  I should have taken more pictures of the bathroom but you can tell what part of it I’m most excited about.  This is my tub deck with two sided fireplace. 

  

  A shot from the other side of the fireplace in the master bedroom looking back towards the long hallway/bath entrance.  To the left of this frame will be a wetbar with mini-fridge and entertainment center that’ll control the TV over the fireplace.  Pam wasn’t so sure about a wetbar in the bedroom but I think it’ll be great.  

  

  A random shot of the fireplace in the great room.

  

  And last but not least is a shot looking back at the house from the back corner of the lot.  We have a lot of back yard space to fill and a pool has been bantered about quite a bit.  While it’s definitely in the works it will have to be part of Phase II of the project as getting the house in over budget as little as possible is the focus right now.

  

  This upcoming week I’m hoping to wrap the exterior with foam/lathe and get the plumbing/electrical/HVAC subcontractors wrapped up and a rough framing inspection called.  Really all that’s left to do is run the low voltage electrical (cable/phone/speakers), run the gas lines (fireplaces, tankless water heaters, furnaces), and install the furnaces/FAU’s.  After that is done we can go for our next big inspection hurdle (all-roughs).  Once we clear that we’re on the downward slope of the project as we can then insulate, drywall, and start bringing in finish.

  • 6:52 pm
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