Espresso, Nickel, Quartz, and Rain.

We have basement walls that look like basement walls now!

In the cabinet department, we were excited to get a sample of the new stain our cabinet makers use, called Truffle.  I think we're going to go with it for the island, bathroom cabinets, and misc other woodwork in the house.  Along with it came a decision on satin nickel over chrome, mostly due to fingerprint issues.

The color we're probably going to use on most woodwork

We also started looking at countertops.  Research online quickly lead to the conclusion that quartz is probably what we want.  This will be one of the more exciting choices, I think, because it should look really nice and be much better than anything we've ever had.  Do we put white countertops in a kitchen with white cabinets?  Jesse likes this, Kelly leaning towards something not quite as stark white.

NOT our kitchen, just an example of white with white.

Aaaand, next week does not bode well for significant progress on the actual structure.

Decisions, decisions...(that won't even matter)!

Lots of progress on the house this week.  I can't believe how quickly they work (sometimes...).  

On Tuesday they put the forms up.  In this picture they are not quite finished with the forms.  The forms are where they pour the basement walls into in case you didn't know.  :)  I took Nora to the house after gymnastics and she was ready for a picture as always.  

 

Then comes the cement truck:

Then just like magic you have walls:

 

We stopped over after school to check out the walls.  Notice the 2x4s leading out to the forms?  The kids thought it would be great fun to make these balance beams.  

We still haven't made our decision regarding cabinet stain.  We were between two stains (one dark, one medium), but then I was informed the dark stain we picked was discontinued.  So now I wait for a sample of the replacement color.  

We got the bid back for all of our plumbing.  I noticed that the faucet finish is different in different bathrooms.  Master and 1/2 bath are nickel.  Kids bath and basement bath are chrome.  So now I'm agonizing over nickel or chrome.  Chrome is cheaper and I actually like the way chrome faucets look.  However, when you throw in chrome towel bars, chrome cabinet pulls, chrome light fixtures it all seems a little "blingy" for me.  Then we were looking at pictures of the spec home (the same floor plan as ours).  I took notice of the two different bathrooms and how one had chrome and one had nickel.  We walked through that spec 4 times now and I NEVER noticed or cared.  They both look nice.  So is there really a wrong decision?  I think I spend way too much time thinking about things that just don't matter much. 

Friday we meet with the Tailored Stone to look at counter tops. I think we are leaning toward quartz in the kitchen.  If it is in our budget. ;)  Next week we will meet with Chet's to look at faucets.  Pretty soon I (I mean "we") will need to start making these decisions. 

 

Schedule Schmedule

 

 

And so it begins with schedules.  The "footings" were supposed to be done last week Wednesday.  Then it was going to be Thursday or Friday.  So of course, Jesse and I obsessively drive by the lot waiting for something to happen.  But there it sat, looking the same as before. ;) 

 

Turns out TODAY was the day!  So, in case you were wondering what footings look like...here you go!  So exciting!

 

You see that spot of concrete that got spilled in the lower right of the picture?  Nora stepped right in it and it sucked her shoe off.  Then she stepped in it with her sock.  Good thing it is 70 degrees today so she could change into flip flops when we got home! 

I am having a really tough time deciding on a stain for the island, bathroom cabinets, mantle, staircase pieces and custom built in desk.  I love the way the dark stain looks right now, but I am worried I will hate it in 5 years.  Our kitchen cabinets, trim and doors will all be white.  The door handles and cabinet hardware will be satin nickel. 
http://consumer.schlage.com/products/pages/productdetails.aspx?ModelNumber=F10%20MER%20619

 

The "schedule" as of right now is forms tomorrow (Tuesday).  Pour walls on Wednesday.  Next week will be beams, bearing walls.  Framing is scheduled to start May 6th. 

 

The Beginning...Snow in April

The schedule for cutting down trees was Monday, April 14th.  After all of the snow having melted we thought we were in a good position...until we woke up to this on Monday morning! 

The company who was cutting the trees down happens to stay busy in the winter months by taking snow plowing jobs.  They were quite busy Monday morning, but made it to the lot by noon.  After three short hours this is what was left.

 

Tuesday was the day to dig the hole.  Another super cold day, well below freezing in the morning.  Here are the boys after school.  Ryan wondering where everything in the house is related to the hole. 

Tomorrow is a day off, which is a good thing because more snow/sleet/rain is in the forecast. 

Meanwhile, we are making lots of interior decisions.  Cabinet layout, cabinet stain, medicine cabinets, plumbing fixtures. 

Jesse spent a lot of time putting our plan into a 3D home software.  Here we are relaxing in our new living room.  :)