Special Delivery

I was in the awake but not quite awake phase this morning.  Still snuggled in bed listening to the sounds of the birds and not wanting to get up and deal with the day yet.  Then my boyfriend phoned to tell me he saw a large delivery truck outside the house.  "It looked like one of those big furniture delivery trucks," he said. 

Well I immediately hopped out of bed, threw on some clothes, put a hat over my disheveled head of hair and hopped into the jeep.  I was not disappointed.

There in the middle of the garage stood what will become my kitchen and the bathrooms.

 

Landen White cabinetry for my kitchen

(The samples from selection day)

My cabinetry hardware

(sample pic)

Landen Sarsaparilla cabinets for the bathrooms

(sample master bath)

(sample hall bath, basement bath and powder room.  They didn't have samples of the Landen in Sarsaparilla so I used another cabinet type in that color)

The boxes came with a layout of my kitchen cabinetry.  Who, in their right mind, can resist opening this up and taking a look?  I clearly couldn't.

On the right side of the garage were more big boxes.

This was not my fault!  They weren't labeled and I was FORCED to open them to be sure the delivery was accurate.  ;)   Our bathroom sinks.  White for the powder, hall and basement baths.

This is the side piece for the master counter top.  I speckled gray that I love.

There was a huge box on the back wall.  A 48 X 96" maple white panel.  I couldn't think of where this would go.  I was on the phone with the boyfriend and he reminded me of the built-in going in the mudroom.

I found the coordinating pieces in the long box on top of all the cabinets.

This will be the end result (the pic from the model home)

On the left side of the garage were more goodies.

All of our doors.  The double doors on the left are the solid-core doors we special ordered for the master to drown out any noise.  Two sets, one for the door leading in, and one for the double doors to the master bath.

The trim.  Our Legacy Series house comes with wider trim than the standard Brighton Series.  I'm a huge fan of trim work and will eventually be adding more to the house.

It looks like most of it comes pre-cut and ready to hang.

Our porch columns, three of them.  For some reason I thought we only had two going out there.  Now I'll have to look at the plan again.  Three is better than two.

It looks like the last layer of mud is up.  They definitely sanded down most of it, as many of the large gloppy parts are smooth now.

They just need finish sanding, do the ceiling texture and the garage.  Now how they are going to do the garage with it loaded with stuff is beyond me.  I guess they do the house first, wait for the stuff to be moved in and then do the garage?  We shall see.

As I was leaving a red sticker caught my eye.  Susan sold the lot directly across the street.  I was so happy to see this.  Now we won't have to stare at a vacant field of dirt and weeds for the next year. 

I asked Susan what was being built.  She introduced me to The Caldwells!  Well, Hello!  Welcome to The Bluffs.  They are building a Sinclair.  It's a large ranch style house.  We walked a model of it and it comes with a HUGE basement.  It's also a Legacy Series house. 

We also have good news on the closing front.  Jeff emailed and said he was waiting on the painters to get a firm closing date, but gave us July 14th or 15th as his guesstimate.  I'll take that!!  I guessed at closing and took my vacation starting the 20th, so that will work out well.  Time to call the furniture guys and Lowes to change the date of our deliveries for the 20th.  WE ARE 34 DAYS OUT PEOPLE!!

****UPDATE***** My boyfriend went by the house on his way home from work and it was locked up completely. Now we'll have to hunt down the key when we visit. I swear they might as well just give us a key as we each visit daily. 

Moving at a snails pace

They put the drywall up so fast I was sure it would be done quickly. Last week they had finished what I believed to be the second coat of mud.

Monday rolled around and no one showed up at the house. An entire day wasted. 

Tuesday, my boyfriend went by at 4 and no one had been there. Nothing was done again. Then I stopped by at 5 and just as I was leaving a crew showed up. What exactly were they going to accomplish in just a couple of hours left to the day?  

Nothing is more irritating to me at this point than completely wasted days. SERIOUSLY!! We are on a TIMELINE people!!!

Today I went by at about 9:30am. A crew of 2 guys was just getting started with the last coat of mud.

I finally spoke up and asked about their timeline. The garage has yet to be touched with mud. So I'm starting to get concerned. 

I was told they still have to finish up this last coat. Then they have to texture the ceilings throughout. Then they will do a texture on the garage walls. When asked what the ETA was, he thought it should all be done by the end of Saturday  they will work Sunday if needed. 

So guess what?  It all comes back to the Inverness timeline. Do you remember how long it stated for drywall?  1-14 days. And of course our house will use up all of those 14 days. 

I've read other blogs that state 5 weeks from finished drywall to closing. Our SR Susan stated 40 days from completed drywall. Their printed timeline states anywhere from 48 days to 65 days. 

We have yet to hear back from Jeff about our closing date. He had promised it to us by Tuesday but it's Wednesday now and no word. 

If it's really 40 days after drywall that puts our closing at July 24th. 

I am following a RH blog that is almost on point with where we are. Their pre-drywall was two days after ours and their close is scheduled for July 13th. 

It is going to be interesting to see how fast they can schedule all the tradesmen in. 

Still to do:

FINISH THE DAMN DRYWALL!!!

Priming and Painting

Trim work 

Flooring (laminate, tiling, carpeting)

Shower/Bath tiling

Install toilets, sinks, shower heads & faucets

Fireplace surround and mantle 

Cabinetry and hardware

Countertops and bar top

Install dishwasher

Install canopy range hood

Install lights indoors and outdoors

Install back deck

Install siding, trim and shutters

Install electrical faceplate

Install guardian intercoms, motion sensors, smoke/CO detectors, cable outlets. 

Final grading of the entire yard

Driveway, walkway, sidewalk

And honestly there is probably more that I can't even think of. All of this in just over 5 weeks????  Our lease is up on August 6th. Taking deep breaths and trying to be positive. 

Drywall

I've been following the progress of our drywall phase.

Tuesday a group of at least 10 guys came in. They hung the majority of the drywall, with the exception of the garage and some small trim. 

Wednesday a group of 3 came in to finish the garage and all the little trim work.  They also delivered all the supplies needed to tape, mud and sand it. 

Thursday they got a late start. A 4 man crew came in and started taping the seams, putting metal trim on the corners and laying down a light layer of mud on all the seams. 

Friday they started a thicker second layer of mud. They cover all the seams, the metal trimming and nailheads. 

Saturday another crew of 3-4 guys was putting on more mud. Everything is splotchy and thick but they sand after each layer so that should all work out.

They are just focusing on the house right now. The garage has yet to be taped or mudded. I know they are doing a textured spackeling on the garage walls so that may be why. 

I've read that drywallers put on anywhere from 2 to 5 layers, though it seems most agree on 3 layers.

I would guess our second layer is complete and we have one more day of mud and another day to sand??  But this last thick layer may have been the third. I'm going to guess they will be done by Wednesday if they get the garage going. 

They still have a bit of product in the garage still to use. 

Fathead

I sent my boyfriend a text today that read, "AJ's fathead is huge!"  Not quite an insult. 

We've been looking for ways to decorate the kids rooms and found the fathead site. I used to think of fathead as sports decor. Now they carry something for everyone. 

AJ picked out a fighter from Star Wars. 

Zoe picked out a Skylander character. 

She also wanted a Gryffindor crest for her room. 

Landscaping

We finally heard back from our landscapers. YAY!!

First of all I love that they have a template ready to go.  So if we had never contacted them this is what we would get.  Now I am taking my day off and researching what all of these plants and trees are and we will select what we like best.

My boyfriend is the yard guy.  I mostly stay out of it, other than to say "Oh that one's pretty!"  So he can figure out where he wants it all located.

 ***********  Thank you for contacting us about your landscaping!

 We have a website and a facebook page if you are interested:

 pineridgelandscapinginc.com         and      https://www.facebook.com/PineRidgeLandscaping  

We will be happy to meet with you if you like.  

Here are the plant choices included in your Inverness Package 'F' along with the additional tree choice:

1 Shade Tree

Legacy Maple (2"cal.) Cleveland Select Pear (2"cal.) choose one

Upgrades include Green Mtn. Sugar Maple (2 1/2" cal.)  +$100,  Cleveland Select Pear (2 1/2" cal.) +$50,  Autumn Blaze Maple (2" cal.) for +$125,  Autumn Blaze Maple (2 1/2" cal.)  +$200

1 Ornamental Tree 

Jane Magnolia (6 ft)  Flowering Showtyme Crab (1 1/2" cal.) or Dura Heat Birch (6-7ft) - choose one

Upgrades include Colorado Blue Spruce 4-5 ft. +$50,  6-7 ft +$115, 7-8 ft. + $185 These are VERY beautiful

3 Evergreen Shrubs

Gold Mop Cypress, Blue Pacific Juniper, Seagreen Juniper, Grey Owl Juniper, Taxus Yew, Choose any combination of three

Upgrades include Green Velvet Boxwood +$50 each or Bird's Nest Spruce +$20 each.

3 Deciduous Shrubs

Chicago Viburnum, Goldmound Spirea, Miss Kim Lilac, Ninebark, Karen Azalea, Roseglow Barberry- Choose any combination of three.

You may add any combination of trees/shrubs from the above to your landscape and we will give you a quote accordingly.  

.......some thoughts about your new landscape -- your style?....Traditional - Country - Modern..... your budget? ....to complete your landscape now, or install in stages.....the position of you new home? .....shade, sun, direction facing.......family activities.....will you have a deck, pool, hardscape, water feature? 

I have also attached a basic template of where Inverness would have us install your landscape.  

Mulch is included around each shrub/tree only.  If you would like additional mulch in courtyard areas or around deck, patio, etc. we will be happy to give you a quote upon measurement.  

Let us know what you think, and we will be in touch soon to schedule an appointment with you!  Thank you!

Terri Norvell

Landscape Designer  **************

Obsessed

As our home starts to come together I am falling in love with it. This is truly a dream come true to have a vision in your head come to fruition. 

I love how open and airy this house feels. I can't wait to see the flooring and cabinetry and all the other goodies installed. 

JP added temporary locks on the doors. I'm hoping this means the real goodies are about to be delivered. 

These guys aren't playing around

Let me just start by saying, HOLY COW!!

I thought framing went fast. Mechanical just drug on and on. And when insulation took over 3 days!!, I was sure we were heading for an August closing.  

Then the brick started yesterday and they seemed to be flying. I stopped by after work today and nearly the entire front of the house was done. They only have the 3rd bay to finish. They told us they would be done by 7pm tonight. Once they finish the siding guys will come out. 

Now let's talk drywall. I walked up to the house and Latin music was BLARING out of the doors and windows. There were at least 10 guys in my house hanging drywall. Now THAT'S how it's done. Put on a full crew. A few guys on each level and knock it out. 

They started this morning and at 4pm they have almost the entire house wrapped in drywall! They should have it all up by the end of the day. Now I just wonder how long it will take to mud it and sand it down. I am thinking there is no way it's going to last 14 days, as the long end of the schedule indicates. 

Susan told me we got the "good drywall crew".  Let them blare their music as long as they knock this out quick. 

Entering the mudroom from the garage

The mudroom from the entryway

The entryway. 

Looking into the kids office

The great room

The tray ceiling in the master suite

The laundry room

The view from the loft

AJs bedroom

The pantry in the kitchen

Looking into the nook from the kitchen

The lower office

Hanging drywall in the basement

They are fast but messy

I stopped by the store after and bought them a big THANK YOU gift. These guys are awesome!

As a side note, our closing has officially been moved to July. We don't have an exact date, but we knew that was coming. 

What a relief!

We had our very quick and concise pre-drywall meeting. Since we both visit the house nearly every day we were able to go through everything in very short order. 

It was so wonderful to pull up and see brick going up. AND it's gorgeous!  It's even better than that tiny little sample you have to choose from. I have seriously lost sleep over my design choices. Today was a complete relief. The platinum gray siding is going to look stunning with this Savannah Gray brick.