Good Suzie, I'm glad you've committed to your paint color. It's such a difficult decision, one of the hardest I had to make and I'm glad it's over.

Will it end? Don't ask me, I'm still at it after 6 years. LOL My question is will it end before I die or when I die?

alexandra marie,
I am curious to see more information on your floor plan. How many square foot, etc? Would you mind sharing?
Thanks,
M

Alexandra, congratulations and what room would that be you're standing in? LOL I know how excited you are.

Looks like we will be in by xmas!!!! Amazing.

Suzie, that is amazing. Congratulations

We are building a Carriage House (garage with a guest house) and although it's going kinda slow, it is progressing... our house sits in front of this and we wanted to just build a garage for storage but the area is zoned residential so we have to put a home there.

We bought the plans unchanged from the internet and then our GC contacted the engineer and they were able to take the upper attic space with the windows and make it into an additional bedroom. Will be approx. 1,000 sq ft of living space and the 2-car garage and the "RV" garage which we will use to park our boat in.

Some photos:

Outside of house (we have gone back and forth on doing the rock pictured here but decided against it):

First floor:

Upper floor:

Before starting:

Moving along (our house is upper right corner):

Another shot with our house in it:

Last photo taken:

We have been slowed down the past month from an injured worker, hunting season and continous rain and even snow! No hurry on completing the inside but we'd sure like the outside to be done soon...

Gopintos - I LOVE your view - gorgeous! We've had rain here too.

Alexandra - Congrats on getting started! Look forward to seeing pics as you go.:-)

Suzie - You must be beyond excited to be getting in by Christmas!

Capcapia - Sharp looking!:-)

Well, as for us, we're getting windows, starting on siding and hopefully roof shingles coming very soon.

Front view taken yesterday..

Back of house

Dining Room

Tray ceiling in great room

Split staircase

Our pond has a new fountain.:-) We have a view of the pond from several spots in our house.

Wishing everyone good, injury free progress now that we're heading into colder, wetter weather.:-)

I'm a first time poster and am so appreciative of this forum. It's been awhile since we've built so the information we have gotten here has been VERY valuable!

My DH and I are building a small craftsman style home in northern Arkansas. We are serving as our our contractors and will hire carpenters to "dry in" our home, then we'll do everything else ourselves (except drywall!). We're fortunate that we live outside the city limits and can legally do our own work and that my DH was in the construction trades for 30+ years. The weather has been horribly wet this summer so has taken us 3 months to get dirt work and concrete poured. Looking forward to getting materials and carpenters on site in the next couple of weeks.

We are currently living in a 40 x 60 metal building that we had erected then built living quarters. This will turn into guest accomodations when we move into the house.

rushmom3-

Hey there! It's 2700 square feet. I linked it below. It's built by the main builder here in my area, Quality Built Homes. The garage connects to the kitchen in theback, opposed to the side of the house. We then have a 'village street' to get to our garage. We love it!!

brutuses- Oh my I am SO excited. I am guessing it's my kitchen.. and I wish it would just look like a kitchen. I'm so excited but getting impatient. Now it's POURING these past few days so I'm hoping it doesn't set me back too far.

Everyone else, THANKS! This process is exciting. It hopefully won't be too stressful as it's only 'semi-custom' and I have one builder that does everything. I've already picked out all options (and changed my mind about 2384u928393 times on them) but they've now revoked changing privileges so luckily i'm happy with everything ;)

Keep the pictures coming!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Mattingly Floor Plan

We started rolling out metal roof yesterday. It seemed to go amazingly fast!!

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mitri89 I LOVE the pond fountain. Our pond is still being built, but we will have a fountain also.

Here is a link that might be useful: Our Build in Pictures

Our house is moving along quickly now. At the first of the month we just had a slab. It's exciting now since we can see most all the rooms framed in. When we saw the slab it seemed smaller than it does now. The slabs for our garages will be poured next week. Our well should go in Monday. These framers are really fast. The house is a modified Fillmore plan.

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ramor - You have a lovely view. Your houseplan looks as though it maximizes your views. Mind sharing which Fillmore plan you are using?

Thanks

bogold: what brand & color of siding did you go with? i love the red!

Thanks visions of texas,
This link should get you to the plan we purchased.

http://www.dreamhomesource.com/chateauesque_house-plans_DHSW49111.hwx

Finally getting around to posting. We have a lot going on. Irrigation system, more trim, more paint, lights, cabinets, driveway and sidewalks complete, hardwood floors in, tile still working. Hopefully landscape this week and shutters.

Here is a link that might be useful: View my blog to see more!

I should wait until tonight b/c i'm hoping the island found its way into the kitchen (LOL- its in the family room for now)-- but i'm so excited. They templated for the granite/caesarstone today-- so hopefully in 1 1/2 weeks i'll have more kitchen pics

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Guest Bathroom- i will have to get a better pic- brown top and brown walls...
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Master Bathroom-waiting for silestone top
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Today is officially day 12 of work, the first week and a half were all demo and today we now how the trenches ready for foundation footing forms. We should have the cement poured by next week and november will consist of framing. It's so exciting to see this come together

missstacey, looking beautiful.

Suzie, love all your cabinetry. Your kitchen is a really nice size.

ramor, you have a very interesting looking house. I can't wait to see it come together. Oh, lucky you, on the water.

iamsum, looking forward to seeing your progress every month.

Lots of progress lately. Hope to have roofers there in 2 days. We still need to add the front porch and cutout for the palladian type window above the porch. If only the weather could hold up in western Pennsylvania...

suzienj, would you mind sharing some details on your kitchen cabinets? we're planning on getting the white glazed style as well and we're looking for places to buy and pricing. It looks very nice by the way, i'm curious to see you're granite choice.

suzienj, would you mind sharing some details on your kitchen cabinets? we're planning on getting the white glazed style as well and we're looking for places to buy and pricing. It looks very nice by the way, i'm curious to see you're granite choice.

Iamsum- the cabinetry is Shiloh--- soft white perimeter with glazing... and the island is cherry- i would have to get the exact colors later b/c i'm not home... if you go with Shiloh and need exact colors let me know!!

I have granite and caesarstone going in in about 1 1/2 weeks!

suzienj, are you happy with the quality of your cabs, and your ordering experience? I'm still comparing Shiloh to custom cabs.

alab- they are beautiful cabinets- i ordered through KD so i had no issues--- good luck!!

Thanks for the feedback!

I love watching everyone's progress!! We are at Day 68!

wow that's fantastic progress for 68 days.

Here is Day 70! My front door is stoned! I also took a picture from the road so you could see the whole house!

we are just getting started as well!

Pond is progressing nicely. Yeah!
We have most of the roof done. Yeah!
Some windows are starting to go in. Yeah!
I finally decided on a stone. Yeah!
Even though I am not ready for flooring, couldnt pass up a good sale, so ordered 12,000 pounds of flooring to be delivered later. So finally decided on the floors. Yeah!

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Here is a link that might be useful: Our

Some very lovely homes in spectacular settings!

fish, where abouts in Western PA? Looks like Somerset area. I am in Westmoreland county. Beautiful home and view you will have :)

I had to chuckle when I saw the amazing progress some of you have made in short order- we are on...oh, let's say day 1,300 or so. LOL

I haven't posted in a loooong time, but we started our new home back in March of 2006. It has been quite a journey but there is a tiny glimpse of light beginning to shine through the tunnel.

We have done all the work ourselves, including the design and drawing of the plans. My husband is a mason and our 15 year old masonry business is expanding to include general contracting as well as geothermal installation. We are pretty experienced in all aspects of building, but even still, it has been a lot for my DH and I to take on. Especially with a 2 year old boy running around. :)

We put in our septic a few weeks ago. That was a 1st for us. Well, 1st sand mound. We've done a few septic projects but none that required permits or designs. We personally hauled in about a gazillion ton of recycled glass sand and made our lovely mound deep down in our woods so we don't have to look at it unless we want to. ;)
Passed with flying colors. Woot!

We also recently put in a temporary furnace for the winter. We will be installing Geothermal heating and cooling in the spring.

My DH started insulating 2 days ago and is close to being 1/2 way finished.
He also picked up all of our drywall and it is stocked throughout the house.

Well was drilled long ago and we hooked the water up this past spring. Awesome water so far.

I'm so anxious to start making final decisions on paint colors, cabinets, and hardwood.

I hope to start posting more now that things are getting a bit more exciting.

I'm posting from my phone so I have no pictures to post, but maybe next time I get on the computer I will share a few.

Happy Fall building!

ang, your stone work is exquisite. Fabulous job and great color.

mommabirrd, I'm glad to hear that you're coming along so well. You, like myself, have had to do it the "slow" way, but I see you're really making progress. Can't wait to see some photo's.

Everyone's houses are so pretty.

mamabirrd- we're also in Westmoreland county of western PA- at the northern tip of the county, actually. More pics later today- most of the windows are in.

Fish7577: I thought your property looked like an area similar to mine. Our property is also in the same location of the county. Small world.

Everyone's progress looks great!

Small world indeed!

fish, we are actually in the southwestern part of the county. About 5 miles from the turnpike in New Stanton.
It was an awesome day to finally have all our windows in. I'm sure you must be thrilled!

eventhecatisaboy, are you in Westmoreland county too?

Hi brutuses!

This is the latest pic I have taken from the front of the house. Probably the same as the last pic I posted about 2 years ago, LOL. Except there is less dirt piled in front of it. :)

The only thing we are missing on the exterior is a bit more concrete work (we are doing exposed aggregate) and my wrap around porch. I am SOOOO anxious to have that complete. It will go completely around the front of the house. You can see the band of block that runs along the center of the house.......that is where the decking plates will attach. I'm still undecided on material, but plan to do a "twig" railing if our patience holds out. The piers will be stacked stone.

I'm anxious to share our finally completed stone fireplace but those pics are still not loaded in yet. We have an enormous, see through FP that sits in the center of our home, "dividing" the living and dining areas.

mama, it's absolutely beautiful.

Ok first - i tripped and fell down the stairs in the new house- is that bad luck?? I sprained my foot--- uggg it hurts and what am i supposed to do now= i have soooo much to do-- poor me!

Anyway they are moving along-- today they started tile - tomorrow more tile, plumbing fixtures, and painting... woo hoo

We are so happy!

Dining room picture boxes

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Living room and dining room
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foyer boxes

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Foyer/stairs/living room
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Office french doors
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Laundry room tile
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Trying to decide on this wallpaper for powder room?? opinions welcome
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Powder room vanity
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Kids vanity- was supposed to be raised front- they are correcting
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kitchen cabinets
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island- not in kitchen yet

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Back of island
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Mamabirrd: Your home looks just beautiful Could you possibly share your floor plan? Your exterior looks like something I'm envisioning for our home.

I used to live NW of Phil (Bucks cty). Loved it. Beautiful part of the country.

suzie, so sorry about your spill. Take it easy gal. No it's not bad luck, it just means you're clumsy. LOL

Everything is looking so good. Love your tile.

thanks brutuses- such a clutz- have to meet with the tile guy upstairs tomorrow ugggg dreading the hobble up the stairs--
What do you think about the wallpaper? thoughts?

susienj- Great progress and I like the wallpaper. Go for it!

We've been able to get all the windows in except two. One is damaged. The other has to wait until a one-piece tub/shower unit is in. Roofer's started today. XPS foam is down in the basement and just about ready for radiant tubing.

looks good fish, but what's the deal with the lonely window on the second floor on the backside of the house?

All I'm getting are little boxes and a note that image hosting by twitter. Must be my limited photo memory on my computer.

misstifyftl
It is probably too late now but if you need to provide greater sound isolation between rooms with a wood stud wall, the use of horizontal resilient channels or systems like "ISOMAX" can increase the STC rating 10 to 35% above that of a staggered stud wood wall. And that represents a considerably greater drop in sound transfer than it might seem.

Although I posted this in a stand-alone thread, I thought I'd add my link here too. Very excited to be done and moved in!

Here is a link that might be useful: House pictures

OH MY GD!!! I absolutly love everything about your home- Can i come shower??? love love love it!!! We also are building a home-- white with glazed cabinets and cherry island. Check it out on the new home thread...

LOVE IT! Congrats!

It's hard to believe that we are finally getting started!

We are in South Dakota and just starting our build of a walkout ranch. We live in a small town (2000 people) so this is in a suburb-like community. Our lot is about 2/3 of an acre. We are near a river so we have lots of cottonwoods (yuk!), but I guess better than no trees.

Looking forward to sharing this journey with all of you guys!

Front of House

Looking at walkout side of basement:

Suzie, thanks. I love that wallpaper!

Joyce, I will see what I can do. All of our prints are too large for my scanner but I will check to see if maybe we have something that we drew that would fit. If not, I can scribble the approx. floor plan for you when I get a minute. :)

eventhecatisaboy, thanks for the msg! I have been totally swamped but will get back to you soon.

fish, windows are looking good!

buildinginva, LOVE that shower! Very similar to what I have in mind for my master shower. Gorgeous home. So many great details!