HA = that's funny "buildinghome". We had zero problems, not one tiny hitch. Yet the home started off at $240K and we kept adding little things. Ended up at $253K. Little things add up. Double the size of the deck, better appliances, better furnace (make sure you get a good furnace and not cheap builders furnace). Upgrade from a cheap Lennox gas fireplace (a true builders box - run away if you can) to a Mendota. Make sure the water heater is not sitting on the floor (rust). Make sure you have a regular door in the garage so you will not have to open the big door all the time. 12x14 foot deck is too small for real use, we doubled the size and because we face south we used wood and not composite with gets REAL hot in summer. If you can get an extra foot of overhang do it. Good for shade and run off. If you are on a hill make sure the garage is on the downhill side of the house. Make sure you have windows on all four sides. I'm surprised to see so many spec homes with no windows in the sides! Wash tub in the laundry room is a must! Outdoor faucets, put them higher up so you do not have to crawl on the ground to hook up the hose. If you are on a budget, get the expensive lights for the living areas and go cheap in the bathrooms and other areas. Then once you get back on your feet buy the good lights for the bathrooms. Paint everything neutral until you see how the light falls in the house. Don't go fancy YET! We would also build in a heartbeat . . . . . if we had too! Here is a link that might be useful: Rod & DJs House Building Adventure

WOW....just a few weeks behind schedule. This is fantastic for such a large job! I am very impressed and happy for you. Is there a basement under your addition? I would love to see pictures, from start to finish!

Well, what a nice surprise to run across this old post! I was just perusing GardenWeb and Houzz as we get revved up for another remodel, when a google search for “sapele kitchens” turned up this, my “almost-done” victory lap post. Please forgive me my moment of sentimentality, but reading through my post and the subsequent comments has me a bit verklempt; we are, as of this writing, only a few days away (probably) from committing to buy a new house, which means leaving this one, and our wonderful kitchen. Much has changed in the 5+ years since this post went up: The backsplash behind the range was installed; the rather wispy red Japanese maple that you can see in our backyard in a couple of the pics above is now pretty robust and magnificent; we had to say goodbye to our beloved boxer a few months back (our “first born”); we have a son, an amazing 16 month old,who has, of course, become the center of our universe; we are working on a sibling for him. With a growing family, and frequent visits from out of town grandparents, we are feeling a bit cramped in the home we thought we would be in long term. We found a new place in a lovely neighborhood, despite Seattle’s current crazy real estate market (after getting absurdly outbid on some places—like over asking by almost 25% of a big asking price in one case). It’s from 1907, was updated in the 70s and 80s, but needs a good overhaul. (I’ve tried to attach a couple of pics of the current kitchen but this interface limits comment size so much (~21k characters) that it seems that photos aren’t going to be an option. I’ll try to post some pics in comments to follow). It has served the current owners well over the last 45 years, but it is time for an update. It’s certainly a first world problem, but it makes me sad to leave our current kitchen after having put so much thought and energy into it, and after it turned out so beautifully. It has been such a joy to spend time in it. But the real reason I started writing this comment: I thought I would right two wrongs that I have just noted while reading through my original, ancient post: I never once acknowledged by name our architect, who played a primary role in bringing our current kitchen to fruition. His name is Andrew Borges, of Rohleder Borges Architecture (http://www.rb-a.net/), and he was fantastic to work with. So much so, that we are teaming up with him again for the next remodel. I never posted any photos of the backsplash behind the range, as I said (above) that I would do. I still really love the tile that we chose—an etched limestone (I think) with a repeating dahlia pattern. As I was looking at Andrew’s firm’s website just now, I realized that he has a pic of our kitchen with the backsplash in view so I have included that here too. Here is a link to the image, in case I can’t figure out how to post it here: http://www.rb-a.net/res-montkit1.html I suspect you’ll hear from me again soon, as I query the collective GW wisdom on this new project. And in 6 months or so, our current home (kitchen included) will likely be hitting the market, just in case any of you might be interested....

First, let me congratulate you on having a son serving in the USMC. While grocery shopping with my WWII 89 year-old father, he donated to the local university Vets Club at a stand they had in the store lobby. When they found out he was a WWII vet, those guys treated my father as if he were a celebrity. So, let me say thank you to your son. Onto your post. I completely understand about wanting new items for the kitchen. Some things I purchased: 1) new towels and dish cloths - they were much needed! 2) Kitchenaid mixer. I found a great deal on amazon.com. Do not regret that purchase at all. 3) Everyday dishes. I chose a tomato red that we still use daily after 8 1/2 years. These were on closeout at a local shop and I fell in love with them. When putting away the old, think of the memories that are attached. How many batches of cookies did you bake on those sheets with your family? What about the bowl that may not be so beautiful, but it was given to you by a favorite aunt or friend. My last piece of Corning Ware with the pastel flowers (era 1978) broke and I must admit, I miss that dang thing! I even unboxed some 30 year old items that were classics (I did not know that as a young bride). Best of luck and I look forward to the pictures.