Family and Fixtures

This week the kids came with me to the house.  My grandson's had a wonderful time playing in the dirt and running through the empty house screaming (because it echoed and was loud).  

I managed to get some great pictures of them, and one of Jeff and Vicky that is very nice.

My lovely daughter-in-law and my son.  Love them both.

The boys had a really good time playing in the dirt.  But then they are boys and don't all boys like dirt time.  :)

I really wish this one had come out clearer.  This is a really good shot of the boys.  

This week at the house, the fixtures are in all the bathrooms and kitchen.  I received an email on Friday from the builder giving me a heads-up that many of the fixtures are wrong.  I order oil-rubbed bronze, and all the sink and bath fixtures are chrome.  They still have not fixed the cabinets where the refrigerator will go but they have finally fixed the lack of outlets in the craft room.  

So looking at the pictures, note that the light fixtures are ORB, but the faucets are all wrong.  
Tile is in and the stone tiles around the master tub are also installed, with one section pulled away due to the faucet issue.  The tiles in the pictures of the shower look like they don't match; however I didn't notice it when we were checking everything out so I believe it is just the photo or the lighting in the photo.  

The half bath is almost done with the exception of the base board trim and the correct faucet.  The floor will need to be scrubbed, but they bring in a cleaning crew before the first walk-through and also touch up the paint in areas that are roughed up.

This bathroom is going to get a lovely Ralph Lauren wall treatment.  He has some wonderful paint techniques that include metallic finishes and since this is a completely enclosed room, having a shimmer on the wall will spread the limited light.  

The lights fixtures are all standard and the fans they have installed do not have lighting.  I have already found replacement and will order them in December.  I have yet to see that fixture they have for the entry, but I hope its a simple piece like I had in the Plano house.  I really liked that one as it gave off great light and the design went well with my style. 

The kitchen looks wonderful, I am so glad I went with recessed lighting over the island.  The more I see kitchens with the pennants hanging down, the less I like them.  Dust catchers is all they are.

The exterior up-lighting is in and has a nice dark finish that looks good against the dark brick.   

This week I need to go over to the storage place and take a look at the coffee and sofa tables.  My interior designer (Kim Wofford at Ethan Allen Frisco) thinks the counter stools I love will do just fine with all the ORB because I already have the iron worked into the existing furniture, and the Plano house was filled with ORB and it never looked odd.    

The table for the entry way will be delivered on the 20th of this month and the bookcases for the study will be here in December.  It will be a challenge to store these new pieces in that tiny apartment.  

The plan is to have as many workers as possible out at the house that first weekend after I sign the papers.  The carpet is already scheduled to be installed that Saturday.  If I can swing it, I'll see if I can get the ceiling fans installed that same Friday in the afternoon.  

WOW... 10pm, where did the evening go.  

Week 22: Primer, Pavers and a Close Date

The close date has been scheduled for January 27th.  I'm thrilled to have a date for closing, but unfortunately it puts me on month-to-month at this apartment complex and the rent is ridiculous once I hit that point.  I looked at the numbers, and it would cost me more to get another storage unit and move out, then it would to just suck it up and pay the rent.  

With closing at the end of the month, I won't be able to move in right away due to Month End Close at work.  However I have already requested 2 weeks in February immediately after we are finished with closing the books and submitting the reports.  I do not want to move into the new house the way I moved out of the Plano house, piecemeal.  That was too stressful.

Waiting a few weeks to officially move in will allow for the carpet to be replaced and maybe some paint work.  

A lot of new changes at the house today.  All the primer paint for the walls appears to be done as well as the high gloss painting for the doors, trim, shelving in the pantries and the bathroom cabinets.  

Today I picked out the pavers that will be on the back porch.  The picture below is from the model, the paver I selected is darker and compliments the darker brick on my home.  I also met with my interior designer this afternoon and we completed the various room designs and furniture layouts.  Before the end of the month we will go out there and measure all the windows so the order for shutters can be placed.  We are trying to time this so that the window treatments and new furniture purchases come in right at the time of the closing.  That way things like window treatments can go in before the actual move in.  

Todays Pictures:

It was a rainy day today and I really liked how nice the brick looked in this weather.  I love rainy days like this, even stormy days for that matter.   

Constructions workers are SLOBS!!!

YAY!  The kitchen counter tops are in.  They are covered in plastic right now which is why I could not get a clean picture.

They did a great job making sure every inch of the cabinets were covered for painting the walls.  

Everywhere they painted with the high-gloss paints, they covered the floor and the area's around it.  This is the master bathroom cabinets.  I love all the graduated drawers.  The center area is the "vanity".  I won't ever use it but it looks nice.

All the drawers for the master bath cabinets.

These are the study doors, but they will be replaced with the correct doors; hopefully soon.  The only light in the main hallway comes from the front door, so I decided to make the study door glass pane.  Not sure if they will have to tear out the whole door frame, or just replace the doors.  

This is a picture of the model home back porch.  The pavers really add a nice finishing touch.  The pavers I selected are darker, I'll try and remember to take a picture next week.  

PS:  Love this model.  Unfortunately it was a higher price and it would have forced me to work for another 10 years to pay it off.  I want to retire in 5 years and the model I selected will allow me to meet that goal.  Plus it is over 3000 sq ft; I don't need that kind of space, I'd just clutter it up.  LOL    

I'm off to bed.