The House

Pictures in Blair's bath

2009-05-19T12:19:00.001-07:00

I am very pleased with the pictures in Blair's bathroom. They are photographs I took and one from a friend. (thanks Lee) I photoshoped them into a sepia finish and printed them at Costco. The biggest challenge was the frames. I did not want to spend a lot of money- my original plan was to make the frames, but I found cheep pictures in 12x12 frames at Walmart- took the pictures out and used the frame! His rustic looking bathroom is about done!

Moving Day II

2009-04-19T18:48:00.001-07:00

Today the men and their truck loaded us up and took everything to the new house. What a long and exhausting day. They moved stuff for 11 1/2 hours!

I had my rugs down and ready for the furniture.

Carpeting

2009-04-07T08:41:00.000-07:00

The carpet went in the upstairs den and guest room. These are the only rooms in the house with carpeting. I hope that works out okay. I will be glad not to have to keep the carpet clean, but I for see dust bunnies moving in.
The guest room got a nice frieze (which is a fancy name for 'We brought back shag')

and the den has a low pile with squares in it. It is kind of funky, but I love it!

The Front Door

2009-03-24T12:06:00.000-07:00

I love my front door! Lumpkin Stain Glass put it together for me . I liked the old door at the restaurant were we eat in Foley. Patricia and I copied what we could from that door, added our own touches, made it affordable, then went with it! Lumpkins is so good to deal with and I love the work they did! Now I need the door knob to make it all complete.

Warning

2009-03-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

The purpose of this blog was to help anyone building with the order of building and to mark the progress of our house for our "scrapbook". Along the way I have recommended some of the subcontractors and given warning about others. Today, I am strongly recommending that anyone interested in residential elevators run from Southern Mobility Products. In the process of getting the elevator running properly, Steve (the short installer with glasses) has acted like a total jerk. He quickly jumps to his defences and begins chewing the customer out. Yesterday, he began on me-He informed us that he was going to keep 'making the builder do it till he got it right'. I suggested that he make a list of what was required and give it out so builder and trim would know what to do rather than guessing. He flew off the handle at me. David stepped up and told him to stop, and I walked away.
Do not use this company. This little dude thinks he is educating the world with his elevator knowledge, and he is hard to work with.

Looks like home

2009-03-15T08:40:00.001-07:00

Athletic Landscapes did an awesome job on the landscape. They started working in the morning, and by the afternoon we had a finished yard. Shutters and the glass for the front door will give the finishing touches!

Tile is done!

2009-03-10T08:55:00.001-07:00

This is Alex's bathroom. The picture does nothing for the tile. We were short on glass in this one, so made a design with what we had. I like it- it's different.

Blair's bath is going to be the best. They haven't washed down the walls yet- the tile here looks like wood, and the floor is rock- it is like showereing outside!

The guest bath was my least favorite, but it has kind of grown on me.

Guest bath again.

Master car wash. The picture is poor, but this one turned out great too.

All better now

2009-03-02T14:00:00.000-08:00

I had a major melt down over the weekend about the tile going in the house, but I am all better today. First of all, we have had nothing but trouble getting the tile from W&W Supply. They told us it would be here and it never showed, didn't order some of the tile, and then ordered two different colors of one of the tiles. We have been trying for three weeks to finish a job that should have taken 1 week. Then as the sweet guys hung the tile over the weekend- I thought it looked horrible. I really thought I was going to throw up. I went back today, and it looks good. I can live with it- and may even like it. I got suckered into tile in the show room, My advice is: plain is good, especially if you have a great looking bathroom.
Secondly, the dropped ceiling was to be delivered Friday and Keith start putting it in on Sunday. The BMW guy told me that the delivery was rained out! I laugh out loud at that. Now Keith is not showing until tomorrow.
Then I begged the electrician to come today and get the power set up for the elevator dude. They showed up at 1:30. They got to work, then got a call from someone that had an issue. Keith ran out of the door to go fix some problem while I stood there with my mouth hanging open.
I am not sure if these kinds of things would happen if we had a builder that demanded some work be done. Said builder showed up this afternoon for about 15 minutes- I don't know why, but I guess he put in his full day.
I need to keep reminding myself that all will be done in a month or so, and it will be so worth all this headache.

The good, the bad, and the ugly...

2009-02-26T11:06:00.000-08:00

When I load these pictures they change order, so I have saved the best for last!
Almost all lighting has been installed! The plumbing is going in and the tile is creeping up. Here are some pictures of the progress.
Guest bath- the faucet looks great- the blue paint has to go! The guest bath tile I can't stand. I am hoping with the correct paint color, and towels and what not it will look better.

This is my favorite light in the house! In the entrance foyer- it is a monster!

See more later!

Lights, camera, action...

2009-02-20T15:27:00.000-08:00

My electrician, Keith took my advice to forgrt the boring plugs and get to the good stuff. He hung a few of my fixtures. They look great! Blair is going all rustic with deer antlers.

I am all glamed up in the dinig room. The breakfast room is so understated and looks great.

More to come...

The Heat is On!

2009-02-19T14:32:00.000-08:00

This has been a whirl-wind of a week. It all started Monday when NO- ONE showed up at the house to do anything. I had been asking for our solar tube lights to be installed for about 3 months. The trim guy came Monday morning to install, builder wouldn't decide where to put the lights (which I had marked in the attic during framing), trim guy left with out installing the lights. Then we had about $5,000 worth of lights delivered and set in the driveway because there was no one there to open the house. I was furious! The next morning I had a serious come to Jesus with Builder. Amazingly enough, on Wed. the electrician, cabinet guys, tile guys, trim dude, drop ceiling installer, heating and air, and an inspector all showed up at the house. That is the way I like to see things work.
The solar tubes were installed, and I highly recommend them. In the day time you can go into either of the boys bathrooms and not need to turn on a light!
The heat was turned on and runs at a low temp to help dry the tile.
The tile is moving right along.
There are plug covers on plugs and light switches.
My cabinets have knobs on them!!!
It seems all my fussing may have been worth it- which is a shame because I am a whole lot better being nice than not.

My favorite part

2009-02-13T11:59:00.000-08:00

This door is an old freezer door I found at Southern Accents in Cullman. Everyone has laughed at me for wanting to make a sliding pantry door out of it, but now that it is up- some are admitting that they may have been wrong. This is just the kind of surprise I like to have in my house- something totally unexpected. I have been working on painting the new parts to match the old parts- keep looking for updated pics.

Front steps

2009-02-13T11:56:00.000-08:00

We finally got steps on the front of the house. No more climbing the ladder!!

Marble Works delivers

2009-02-08T06:19:00.000-08:00

The granite is in- and looks great.
The butler is going to love this space!
Alex's bath

Blairs bath- this was not the stone I picked out, somehow my stone got away from the store. This piece has turned out to be very nice, and even though the original stone for Blair was so pretty you could have used it for art, I like this one.

The kitchen- Awesome!!!

Look at the front of the house!

2009-01-26T14:18:00.001-08:00

The columns have been added to the front of the house. The yard is moving along, and the driveway should be poured tomorrow!

Pink makes men weak

2009-01-20T12:11:00.000-08:00

A friend told me that the color pink makes men weak- only part of the reason I painted the craft room pink. The real reason is I 'got' a pink sink from a trailor at the lake and it will be the craft room sink. I had to match the sink and I think pink will keep the boys out! All of the workers at the house hate it!

We haven't moved yet...

2009-01-05T12:18:00.000-08:00

...but are getting closer!
The basic trim has gone in, painting has begun, and the cabinets have gone in. Take a look- pictures don't do them justice. A-1 Cabinets did a great job making these and are working on tweaking the doors and drawers to make them perfect. All hardware is from HGH in Birmingham.
My favorite room in the house- the kitchen.
Walnut cabinets in David's office

The keeping room office

The family room

I met with my decorator today and firmed up more things. I feel like we will see a lot of changes on the inside in the next few weeks. Keep looking.

2008-12-03T15:55:00.000-08:00

Finally, I got some good pictures of the back of the house! It has been really muddy in the back and I couldn't get back there. The brick are all finished and were washed today. The porch has been painted- still waiting for the ceilings to be painted.
I love the arches on the back. I have visions of having a fire pit down there in the Fall and enjoying the peaceful evening!

This is the latest front view. Athletic Landscape has been working really hard at building the fortress walls. The driveway is built up now so it is easier to get into the house. Everything got built up too high, and we may have to add a rail around the porch. I am not happy about that, but what do you do??

2008-11-24T15:41:00.001-08:00

Still no picture. The out side of the house has changed a little. The trim is primed and looks a whole lot better. The biggest change is on the drive way and yard where Sammy and Andy work in the rain, sleet and snow to fill in the drive with piles of gravel!
Gilberto and crew are cleaning this week and the hard wood floors will go in next week.

2008-11-20T09:30:00.000-08:00

The house is moving along very quickly. I have not taken a picture in a long time- Hopefully today.
They have been working on the driveway which had to be built up and a wall built to hold 40ish dump trucks of gravel! The sheet rock is all up and they are sanding it. We hope to get cleaned up and put hardwood down right after Thanksgiving.
I have been busy picking paint colors and details to go on the cabinets- which I saw. David and I went to A1 Cabinets to see what was finished! They are beautiful! I need to get pulls to go on all the doors and drawers.
The outside has been primed and will be painted soon. Still waiting on the bricks to be washed. There is alot going on outside the house and not everyone can get where they need to be!

2008-11-09T14:38:00.000-08:00

Inside pictures of my craft room!!!!!! The kitchen/ breakfast room...

The family room.

I have been waiting so long for it to look like a real house!

2008-11-09T14:32:00.000-08:00

The house is moving right along. The brickers finished today. When the ground dries a little I will post a picture of the back of the house- It is beautiful! The porch has arches on it that are so nice. One can see them from the street behind us- so not a total waste on the back of the house.
The porches have been pored, insulation put in, and sheetrock started!
We are looking at a March move in- if all goes well.

October 20th

2008-10-19T17:49:00.000-07:00

Here it is all finished except for the window we are waiting for. It should be here on Wed. I love the window.
My pretty front door!

October 17th

2008-10-19T17:47:00.001-07:00

This is early in the day... Then a little later!

October 16th

2008-10-19T17:41:00.000-07:00

Watch how fast the brick goes up!

2008-10-15T18:37:00.000-07:00

I ran to the house early today to snap a picture before the Amigos finish the brick on the front. The sun was bright in the sky, but I think you can make out the progress on the brick. Check out the picture below for the work those guys did on the chimney!

How pretty is the chimney??? I love the way it looks! We are going to ask that the other chimney be bricked like this too. We didn't think that the second chimney could be seen from the street, so we were just going to put siding on it. We realized that we can see the chimney from the street, and we like this one so much, we are going to do it again!

October 14th

2008-10-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

The brick has moved around the end of the house.

We are waiting on the front door and a window that was left off the order. Then the bricking can be completed. The architect designed inverted coins to go on the corners of the house. Some were skeptical since we had never seen this style. I know you cannot see it in this picture, but the are fabulous! Very unique, clean looking and down right cool!

October 13th

2008-10-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

We have brick! The back of the house has been bricked in the Jefferson Tudor from General Shale. I love it! This is a view from the back of the house. I really like the detail around the window and across the wall. We have an address!

2008-10-03T12:49:00.000-07:00

Get ready for big changes. The brickers are working around the back of the house. They are so fun to watch because they throw the bricks three at a time to one another! I smoosh my fingers when I move one brick! I have spent a lot of time thinking about and designing cabinets, lighting, and paint colors. It is a little soon for that, but I am interested in the final product. It is hard to think about, but each room is a whole package.

2008-09-21T18:53:00.000-07:00

Here comes a series of pictures showing how far the house has come in the past week. Last post was waiting for shingles... Now we are waiting on brick!
Spent most of Sat. with Ralph the cabinet man. We drew all the cabinets up in the computer. I am going to sleep on the plans then get him started this week!

The pink stuff is insulation that goes under the brick. David has sealed all the cracks and holes he could find in the house. The outside insulation is suppose to save big bucks in the longrun!

2008-09-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

We have shingles!!! I went by this morning to pick out the trim color- and there is a roof on the house! The shinglers were tied up there with ropes like the boys repelled off the climbing tower this weekend. I thought it was funny that the framers were talkinga bout how crazy the roofers were because they were tied to the roof- I believe the framers were the ones who put the roof up there!?

2008-09-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

The plummers are about finished putting in tubs, showers, faucet pipes....After meeting with the cabinet guy, I only had to move two pipes to get cabinets to fit!

Blair helped David seal up all th eholes and cracks! This house will be super air tight!

2008-09-10T15:14:00.000-07:00

The most exciting visible thing going on at the house is the carnish going around! Here is the last photo, but not the most recent. I have trouble getting to the house with the camera!

Moving right along

2008-08-27T07:52:00.000-07:00

Today we met with the plumber to go over every sink, tub, and drain. It is so exciting to really think about how each room is going to look. I feel like we are getting closer- even though we are still a long way away! One thing I did that is a huge help to me...I got a sketch book (a notebook would work) and I sketched how each wall in each room will look when we move in. This is hard in some places, but a general idea is good. Then when I walk through with the plumber and the electrician, I have already thought about each cabinet with sink, light, plug...It makes the guess work go away!

2008-08-20T14:21:00.000-07:00

The king and his castle! David is posing for the picture.

Today they worked on inside stairs, putting sheeting on the back of the house, and finishing the porch.

2008-08-18T09:19:00.001-07:00

Mom and Dad came to see the house for the first time! It was fun going thru the house like giving a tour. It helped me look at it with different eyes. I see that I need to raise the door height, and open a door that I had closed off. Not too many changes!

2008-08-18T09:15:00.001-07:00

House is moving along. Last week I found the perfect counter top for my kitchen. I found it at G&L Marble in Birmingham. It was on hold for someone else, and when they decided they didn't want it, It became mine!!! The colors are perfect, and it is a good granite that has movement- which I like.

2008-08-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

The house is moving along- faster than I can keep up with the pictures! This shot is from last week. Today they are finishing up the sheeting on the roof. David opted for solar plywood to help keep the attic cooler! Cool!

2008-08-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

See what I mean about going up quickly- the very next day...

Blair climbed to the top of the attic and took this picture. You can see into Jones Valley from up there! David wants to put a window in the attic so he can look out!? Whatever!

2008-08-05T17:35:00.000-07:00

The rafters are quickly going on! The poor guys are on the top of the house on the hottest days we have had this summer. I don't know if they agree, but this part seems to go fast, so maybe they won't bake for long.

2008-07-29T08:12:00.000-07:00

Another shot of the front of the house. It is hard to see any big change, but every day there are a few more boards!

The biggest change is the addition of stairs to the second floor. I am so glad because there was this really creepy ladder that you had to climb to get up there- I did not like it! There are still no stairs from the ground level to the first floor. They are waiting to get things more stable so it will be safe for people to be in the house.

July 24th House

2008-07-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

I have forgotten to take the camera several weeks now so there is a big change in the way things look. All floors are up- and the joist are going in on the top floor! There still are no stairs, but I think that is a safety thing. It is so high up looking out the top floor. I would hate for anyone to fall.

This is the view from the game room window on the top floor! It is like being in a tree house!

2008-07-13T06:22:00.000-07:00

The framing is moving along, the first floor is finished and they are putting up the joist for the second floor! I can really get a feel for rooms now, and am anxious to spend some time at the house drawing furniture in with chalk. I would like to play in the kitchen, keeping room, and masterbath. The cabinets are so important ot me so I can stuff them full! I am also thinking about my craft room so I can get Blair busy on the tables I want him to build.

2008-07-09T10:32:00.000-07:00

Here is the front of the house!
And a shot from the side.
It is amazing how quickly this is going up. We go down every night and place furniture, and hang out in 'rooms'. Everyone has told me, and it is true, that things look really small right now. I had dreamed up lots of space, and was worried we had gotten too big. Now I can see that the house will still be cozy and we have the space where I wanted it. Big pantry, laundry, craft room!

Moving along...

2008-07-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

The framers have been very busy. There are interior walls on the first floor now! We go to the house every night and visualize rooms. They are starting to make sense and I am getting re-excited about painting and decorating.

Moving on Up

2008-06-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

Here are the latest photos from the house. The basement area (my craft room) is framed and they are putting the flooring for level 1! It is really starting to look like a house.

2008-06-25T06:12:00.000-07:00

The framers have been working so hard and have completed the first level of framing. They were working on beams to support the joist yesterday morning when I took them a cooler of water. We didn't get back yesterday afternoon, so I can't wait to see how far they got. The framing part is so exciting because there is visible change everyday! We are blessed with dry weather too - it is hot, but dry!
I met with the window guy at Gobble Fite. We are ordering Weather Shield windows. These windows were recomended to us and after I did a little research, decided they were good enough for us!

2008-06-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

Here is the completed basement framing! It is hard to get it all in the shot so I just took pictures of my craft room!

Craft room Craft room closets

Walls go up!

2008-06-18T06:11:00.000-07:00

OMG! They really started today. Ricky Harbin the framer and his son, and another guy worked hard today getting the walls up. There was some crisis with the rough opening for the windows. The Gobble Fite guy who had these measurements was on vacation, and Ricky needed them . I had a copy of the quote and rushed it over. Problem solved!

Plan for the week

2008-06-16T08:12:00.000-07:00

The plan for the week is to start framing. The lumber was delivered this morning, but it was the wrong size. It will be replaced while the framer is finishing up another job. Hopefully they will start tomorrow. The walls were waterproofed, and Wed. the dirt and fill will be moved up to the walls so there is a flat yard on which to work from.
I am going to recount windows, talk to the front door peeps, and read more magazines!

Finished Slab

2008-06-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

The slab was finished and left to dry last week. We went to walk around on it about three times over the weekend. It is so fun to "move in" and think about where we are going to put everything. The bad news is that I am already moving walls around- better now than later!

2008-06-13T07:41:00.000-07:00

Almost finished...

The Slab

2008-06-13T07:37:00.000-07:00

The concrete was poured today to make the slab! We are really moving along. I was so amazed to watch this crew pour and smooth the concrete- it really is a dance! It was so hot and these guys worked really hard! Thanks!

We have walls!

2008-06-04T05:42:00.000-07:00

They poured the walls to the basement yesterday. The foreman of the poured walls company 'Big John" told David he had never seen a truck as big as the one they sent for this job.

The boys and I watched as dump truck after dump truck delivered the 'mud' to go into the hopper then pumped thru the 165 foot boom and down into the walls. It was really cool. At one point the form broke and concrete came gushing out. They quickly stopped the leak, scooped up the spill and poured it in another part of the walls. These guys work hard and messey. I appreciate the work they do.

2008-05-31T18:25:00.000-07:00

Here are the forms for the poured walls. This is the front of the house. Looking at the storm shelter which is as big as a house in itself!

Looking at the back corner of the house. This is the garage and the yard room.

Rebar and wall form.

May 29, 2008

2008-05-29T14:05:00.000-07:00

After a couple days of rain, the concrete walls guys are getting ready to pour the walls! They told me they would pour on Monday. I told them I wanted to move in on Tuesday! They thought that was really funny.

The boys are checking out the work going on on the lot.

First blood

2008-05-24T06:42:00.000-07:00

David gets first blood on the building site!

2008-05-24T06:37:00.000-07:00

We have the beginnings of walls! This is looking at the front right corner of the house. the walls are scheduled to be poured on Wed.

2008-05-20T15:04:00.001-07:00

Day 1: Foundation being worked on, and prep for the poured walls.

2008-05-20T15:00:00.000-07:00

Edited on May 29th: Bill Smith called David for a laugh and pretended to be a city employee. He said that he had heard we had balloons hung on our building permit, then he wanted to know if we had a permit to party!

Here are the balloons we hung on the building permit! The foundation is already being laid! I am so excited again!

2008-05-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

We have a building permit!
The foundation guy and poured wall dude are meeting on the lot today! Yea!

2008-05-13T07:08:00.000-07:00

We are looking for the building permit today! Bill S. was suppose to turn in the plans yesterday, but no one checked on him, so he didn't do it. This is why things take so long. My idea to run for mayor, eliminate all these city workers and get rid of all this foolishness is only reinforced by this kind of stalling. I bet I could run this city with less than 20 workers, and all the extra money would go to public schools! Will you vote for me?

2008-05-08T13:56:00.000-07:00

I don't want to jinks anything, but the papers are in motion to get the building permit! Everyone has agreed to a plan, and now we just have to sign papers and turn things into the right people! We may be really close! Keep praying!

2008-05-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

Today I am frustrated with the lack of progress on the building permit. I think this could be a long battle with the city, original engineer and the neighbor. I am beginning to wonder if it is all worth it? We could rethink the house we live in and make it work for a lot less hassle than we are going through right now. I will keep updating the progress or lack thereof!

2008-04-26T16:38:00.000-07:00

We are getting really close now! The new architect is turning in the plans for the drainage issue on Monday! Hopefully we can get some answer by the end of the week. I played tennis alongside the neighbor who is causing all the trouble. I was nice and didn't accidentally hit her with my racket! A neighbor who is on the new street told me that every time it rains, Mrs. M goes out with her umbrella to look at the pea gravel! I would like to see that- How desperately funny!

2008-04-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

Nothing! David has finally gotten involved, and we are hoping that the city crew will feel some sense of urgency knowing that this is costing real people, real money. There is a meeting at the end of this week to discuss the new plan for the drainage issue. I believe they are talking about a detention pond- Maybe we can fill it with fish!

2008-04-07T11:52:00.000-07:00

I made a bold move and called the city today to find out what I could do to motivate them to get the drainage problem solved. They pointed the finger at my builder and named Mrs. M*********as the reason that things aren't going like planned. Basically, nothing has been resolved, but the nice lady at the city assured me that she had all the confidence in the world in the new engineer-Bill Smith. I am praying that the meeting tomorrow goes well and we can get started.

2008-03-31T09:39:00.000-07:00

Monday report- NOTHING!
There is a new engineer on the job to fix the drainage problem. Hopefully the city likes this one better. I believe Forrest is sitting on go - just waiting for the city to approve a plan for the drainage. I would really like to know who is on this board, where they live, and who has a sale on TP!

2008-03-24T07:55:00.000-07:00

Back from our trip to Orlando- super fun!
There is movement on the lot! They removed two trees that were in between out lot and the one next door. I have no idea how this is helping us get any closer to starting, but atleast there was some action!

2008-03-13T10:55:00.001-07:00

Talked to my builder this morning. The city is giving him problems again. So even though he has the permits for other properties on the street (they are finished houses), we still don't have the go ahead. He is hopeful that things will be resolved today or tomorrow. Me Too!

2008-03-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

March 9, 2008
This is the week that I am hopeful we will begin the construction on the house that we have been waiting to build for sometime now. We are waiting on the grading permit from the city. This could take hours- or weeks.