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We're in the Home Stretch!- Teaser Pic

15 years ago

Finally my GC is wrapping up the project! All of our appliances are installed! And plumbing is hooked up! Still have left: last of hardware, couple of doors on order, finish installing glass in doors. All in time for DH to have surgery Friday on his neck for some herniated discs. Keep him in your prayers.

Teaser pic...

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Comments (28)

Linda Giorgi
15 years ago
beautiful kitchen. Hope your DH feels better soon.
Lynn
rmlanza
15 years ago
Mary I've seen some of your in progress pics and they get me drooling every time! Can't wait to see the whole thing.

My heart goes out to you and your DH. I have herniated discs, too (lumbar) and thankfully 8 weeks of physical therapy helped me. I hope the surgery goes well for him and he has a speedy recovery.

Robin (also in NC!)
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Kats, that is some real chutzpah. I feel for you. We've been in our home for a little more than a month after a 13-month build (that was only supposed to take 9 months) - the delays were excruciating because they would have been avoidable by someone with even a modicum or organizational ability, which our GC does not have. He's a lovely guy on a personal level but not nearly as good a contractor as he thinks, and we sorely need a break from the unrelenting pressure. He still has not finished one major item - two sets of steel stairs that go from our rear porches to our rear terrace, as well as several small punchlist items. There's always an excuse. He's disorganized, but resents it when we step in to organize, or take any kind of action to impose a deadline - this from a guy who is routinely hours late to scheduled meetings and never met any deadline in the construction process, even ones he imposed himself. Our new theory this week is to give him whatever time he needs (within reason) but to limit his intrusions into our home life to one day a week, arranged in advance, with a "one hour" rule - if he's not here within an hour of when he is supposed to be he has to wait until the next week. Apparently that is being just as "mean" and "difficult" as complaining about unmet deadlines - he thinks we should be there 24/7 for him to do what he wants, or we should just give him a key and trust him, in any event on his schedule. No way - he has needed watching every step of the way. We've done way more than our share of work that he should have done - I feel for you there too. He's been inches away from being fired more than once on this job, and we've talked to a construction lawyer several times about really contentious issues. In the end, even though we have the cash leverage (we still owe him more than our 10% retention, primarily because he's too lazy to do a requisition), it just hasn't been worth it to fire him. Assuming that you don't need clean title for a takeout of your construction loan, it sounds like you have little to worry about. I don't have huge faith in the court system, but even then I find it hard to believe that a judge would buy his argument that his subs are not under his control. Also, if he's not done, how in the world could he be owed a completion bonus? The courts are always a risk, but in this case it seems to me a pretty small one. If you do have to close any new financing that requires title work, you may need to think about it a bit more strategically. Do everything you can to get your loan closed without a lien being recorded. Otherwise, my advice to you is the advice I have a hard time taking myself. It's only as big a deal as you make it. So hire a lawyer and instruct him or her to deal with it in as cost-effective a manner as possible. Then let it go and enjoy your new house.
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bbtondo
15 years ago
Hey, no fair, I want to see more pictures of your beautiful kitchen! Good luck with DH's surgery.
Barb
bluekitobsessed
15 years ago
I think I'm going to love this, but I won't know unless you post more....

Good luck with the surgery.
mary1805
15 years ago
oooh, please post more pics soon! I'm still in the planning stages and your backsplash, counters, sink, & cabinets are exactly what I'm thinking of doing. Can't wait to see more!
remodelqueen
15 years ago
ooooooooh such the tease!!! More pics please!- the Golden better be in some, too!! ;)
nancy_east
15 years ago
What a tease! But it looks soooooooo great!! I've been wondering how far along you were with things. Rob and Leslie from Asheville Kitchen Tops were telling me how beautiful your soapstone turned out! Good luck with the final stretch and post pics as soon as you can :)
rhome410
15 years ago
I cheated...Clicked on the photo and got to more! Love the butcherblock and the other details... and prayers and best wishes to you and dh for his surgery.
claybabe
15 years ago
WowzA! I'm clicking too, thanks, rhome410! Gorgeous kitchen.
Yvonne B
15 years ago
wow - that's looks wonderful!! And, I found the Golden :-).
igloochic
15 years ago
gorgeous! dh will be in my prayers. if he runs low n post surgery drugs....i can hook him up lol

i really do hope the best for him and you. it;s a lot ofstress on the whole family so you will all be in my prayers!
atlbeardie
15 years ago
Looks great, Mary! Can't wait to see more.
My husband had surgery on a couple of discs in his neck a few years ago and I was amazed (and thrilled) at how quickly he recovered. As he said, had he known how easy it (the surgery) was, he would have had it done much earlier. Here's wishing your husband a similar speedy recovery!
mary_in_nc
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks, you guys, for your compliments, encouragement, jokes (i.chic) and support! You are all so great!

Mary
maydl
15 years ago
I clicked, too! What a fabulous kitchen! And if your DH is having microsurgery, I have a friend who's said it was the best thing she ever did for herself. I hope your DH's experience ends up as positively as hers did.
nancy_east
15 years ago
Mary,

I just discovered your other photos and it's even MORE amazing after looking at those too! Quick question--who did your butcher block--did AKT do that too? I'm using butcher block for my island, and I LOVE the look of yours! In my mind, mine will look very similar to that so I'd really like to know who you used and if you were happy with them.
brutuses
15 years ago
Thanks for the tease, it's beautiful. I'll say a prayer for your DH that everything goes well.
neesie
15 years ago
What a gorgeous vintage kitchen! I wish I was doing a vintage kitchen like that! (Jealousy talking here). Seriously, I hope your husband's surgery is as successful as the other posters who have relayed their encouragement. Make sure you are extra-special kind to him while he's re-couperating. I don't remember if you posted about him liking the skin on the pudding or not...but pudding is an excellent recuperation medicine you can give him. :)
mary_in_nc
Original Author
15 years ago
Nancy-

My GC/KD Sam Benbow of Benbow Cabinets in Asheville (281-2700) made the butcher block for me. I got the inspiration from a web search and have attached the link below. Sam has been great to work with! A very sweet soul who takes great pride in his work. I love that I have shaken the hand of the person who made my butcher block. It's like a piece of artwork. Probably my most favorite thing in my kitchen. (Well, love my soapstone, too!)

Here is a link that might be useful: Devo's Butcher Block
mike_r_2000
15 years ago
Great pictures! (I clicked too :-D )

Can't wait to see the final product - love the hardware you chose.
beantownrenovator
15 years ago
Mary - it's stunning! Would you tell me the color of your soapstone?
mary_in_nc
Original Author
15 years ago
Beantownrenovator-

My soapstone is Green Mountain Original. I LOVE IT!! I oiled it two weeks ago for the first time and it has yet to fade! And it does not easily scratch. Everyone who comes by my house to see it comments on how much they love running their hands on it!

Go Red Sox!!
hcf1
15 years ago
It's beyond a TEN! Love it - you will definitely inspire many!!!
deedee-2008
15 years ago
How beautiful! What a special place you have made in your home. My brother had cervical disc surgery, and did well quite quickly, so wishing your DH a speedy recovery, also.
wascolette
15 years ago
Mary, what brand of subway tiles did you use? It all looks wonderful.

Good vibes being sent for your DH's surgery tomorrow!
clc08
15 years ago
Simply beautiful, Mary. That is gorgeous Soapstone you have there! I also peeked and found your Golden...we are Golden people too! And, my husband had herniations taken care of Dec 26th...hope your husband's healing is swift. Mine is literally a new person.
mary_in_nc
Original Author
15 years ago
Wascolette-

The tile is from Subway ceramics. The pics do not do it justice. It is beautiful, beautiful tile. Very well made porcelain tile. My tile guy even commented on how nice it is. The grout I used is "moonlight". It was the lightess gray grout that my tile guy had available.

To everyone- thanks again for all your encouragement and positive thoughts. I'm in the medical field. I know there are a lot of people going through surgery every day. It's so different when it's the most important person in your life going into the OR. I appreciate all your kind words.

Mary

Here is a link that might be useful: Subway Ceramics Tile
mary_in_nc
Original Author
15 years ago
To all of you who said a prayer for DH and sent good vibes our way a big thanks!! He is out of the OR and doing great!

Mary
mamadadapaige
15 years ago
Absolutely amazing! Love it! the butcherblock is gorgeous. Have you used your Sharp Microwave yet? I just got the same one installed a couple of days ago. So far, I have only heated up my coffee...

The soapstone is stunning. I looked at three different places and never saw a single slab even close to that pretty.

Good luck to your DH.

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