Zorroslw & Zoe52 - thanks! We are estimating 3rd week of April to be done but no confirmation from GC yet. We are almost done except for few things. Zoe - looks like you and I broke ground same month (June last year). You must be excited to be so close!

Amber - totally understand your situation and the frustration!

Aleleux - I found ours kitchen cabinet hardware by looking at various websites including amazon, wayfair and build.com.

We are still painting and should be done end of this coming week. At our stage, it's fun seeing our designs coming into fruition and seeing how everything ties together. Also, it's amazing how different your house looks after painting! All the blemishes disappear with coat of paint. Will post more pics after painting!

Michelle

I have had my eyes on that bench for a while now. Love it!

Would you lmk how you like it once you get it?

Thank you

Weather is cooperating...sort of. Still freezing here. But we have quite a bit of progress. They put the front doors and side door in today, started the basement stairs and put in a little round top window in the front gable. So exciting to see progress!

Almostemptynester. Really love your doors. Can't wait til we get to we're at that stage.

Almostempty. Beautiful doors I can't believe how your builders up north can still work in the snow. I can't imagine how cold it must be to work outside.

Alelieux; I had pinned a number of knobs on pininterest for later. But when the time came to purchase them we happened to be in Home Depot and found a number of discounted knobs that we ended up buying to use in our new home. I actually had to get extras from a number of different locations because they didn't have enough in the local store near me. I figured that these were under our price point on our allowance and it was one of the places I could save money and always switch them out at a later date. They helped to balance out the crystal knobs I bought for the master bath and the two special knobs I bought on Etsy for our guest bath.

Another no show this morning. No call, no excuse.

And then another guy came this afternoon. So I'm now 1 in 5. I think the guy this afternoon was overwhelmed. He said he does a lot of work for Home Depot, so I think the idea of an entire house of flooring, plus casing, baseboard and doors was just too much for him.

Alelieux, I generally buy my knobs at Lee Valley. I have priced elsewhere, but LV always seems to have the best price and selection for me. They're a Canadian company. So no duty or exchange makes them more competitive for me. But with the CDN $ in the tank right now, they're probably a good deal for US customers, too.

Aleleux1

Shelf and rod above washer and dryer, I knew I wanted something above them, thought maybe a cabinet for soaps etc. shelf and rod for hanging...

Better idea!

Everyone's homes are so beautiful! Our construction started today. There's nothing to really see so I won't post a photo, but I'm so excited to watch it progress after seeing all your photos.

Thanks for the suggestions on hardware. I'll check them out.

Anne, congratulations on starting!

Anne

Welcome aboard the wonky train!

I had some issues with the builder today on great room windows, but I think we will get them resolved tomorrow. I had to omit transoms above the windows due to some heighth restraints caused by the roof overhang of the screened in porch. Oh well, not that it was a major issue, I have some windows in mind that I think I will actually like better.

The flooring people were in and measured for the wood and carpet, one less thing.

Met with the construction partner who will actually be overseeing the finishing up of the build. He had lots of questions and that's good.

We also went to a brickyard Thursday and picked out the brick for the front of the house, one more less thing.

Hello everyone- I have been poking back here to see all the progress from time to time, but had several unsuccessful attempts to login after the Houzz change. So this morning, I became musicgal(e), inspired by the torrential storms we've had here in SE Texas over the past few weeks. March came in like a lion here.

Great pictures, great progress! Espescially you Mush- the cabinetry work is beautiful. Hi Amberm- pushing through the difficulties... I remember the early days of permits and holes in the ground:)

Believe it or not, we are still short of 100% completion and we have some "issues" in the gameroom related to moisture. Most everything is good... just taking forever. When we moved in at the end of August, we did not have a floor upstairs and my GC did not have a floor guy for me, so I had to find someone to put in the red oak that we bought rom a local sawmill. He was hired out from under me by the local tile installer who put in my downstairs porcelain. Aargh. The wood floor guy disappeared for a week but got my wood floors done one day before I had a ton of company coming. It was a festival of sawdust.

Electricians called Friday to tell us that we have not been forgotten. (yeah, right?) We still have two pedestal lights to install. The sprinkler guys came out and trenched our poor swamp of a yard during the downpours last week, but we got our little dock installed finally. It will get to be 82 degrees here today. The weather has been crazy this year.

Pics upstairs-

More upstairs-

Musicgale

What a great view, is that a lake? I am so jealous! Glad you got moved in and can enjoy the house and the natures water park.

Hi Zorro- that is a lake view we have on the East side of the house. We are the last house on our street and it ends on a dam.

We just finished the living room ceiling. The color is off in the photo. The walls are a deeper color.

This is our view. The pool guys are coming this week to begin finishing our infinity pool.

Having our kitchen tongue and groove painted today. Still need to organize the kitchen.

View from other windows.

Lovely views, aktillery!

Thanks okla!

I agree with okla78, gorgeous view.

Great windows for that view aktillery. Your ceiling height is perfect.

Love the vanishing edge pool- it will be jaw dropping. We wanted one but it didn't make sense for our location.

I need some advice, if any of you have trench heaters?

You all are making such great progress!

Making a decision once seems to be hard enough, but to have make it again is about to drive me nuts.

The electrician told me back at rough-in that he could convert a plug in sconce to a hard wired sconce - "no problem!". So I found Ikea's astrid sconces, which have the wonderful pull chain that I want, and bought them. Now, the other electrician installing fixtures says he can't covert them.

So, the search continues for a hardwired sconce with a pull chain. I had hoped to save some money with our lighting budget (I was under our estimate), but this will probably put me over. (All the bedrooms have sconces). Now, to decide between Pottery barn or schoolhouse electric ... Or anybody have other favorite places for sconces?

In good news, my MIL is working on the master shower today and tomorrow. I can't wait to see it! I went with almond 6x6 tiles and mixed blue penny rounds as an accent and floor tile. I'll try to get some pictures this weekend.

Speaking of lighting:

We were at the build yesterday to meet with KD so she good measure up for the cabinet order, which won't be for a while yet. The electrician was there to mark where we wanted electrical plugins, light fixtures and ceiling can lights. Everything went fine until he asked us how many recessed can lights we wanted in the great room and where did we want them? Yikes, like we would know that! I thought he should know about that, but he said some people like a lot of light and others not so much so he lets it up to the owners. So, we told him we needed to do some research and would let him know.

We've purchased all the ceiling fixtures, ceiling fans this week so that's done. Now I want them to get their buttes in gear and start working on it some more, they haven't done much since they finished the roof a couple weeks ago. Well, they did put in the plumbing and installed the furnace, but I want some action on the building part. We have nice weather now and I have been waiting all winter.

zorroshlw1,

Lighting is hard, and I would not leave the lighting design up to the electrician. They will likely just suggest all can lights (can lights are simple and yield lots of profit for electrician). Can lights cast quite unpleasant shadows so avoid having them over a seating area (a can light over head will make a person appear old so watch out). Can lights work well when they are directed towards a wall, and can offer indirect light or are used to accent art on the wall. The gimbal style can lights offer some flexibility to direct light towards a wall. Have you drawn up your furniture plan? If so, you might want to post it here or over in the lighting forum for advice. Don't forget to state your ceiling height. You need to layer the lighting by mixing up and down lighting, and by using ambient, accent, task and decorative lighting. Can lights cannot give you all those kinds of lighting and they only light downwards which leaves the lighting flat.

I have read way too much on lighting design. I like Randall Whitehead's blog for ideas. I have found lot of good books on lighting design to help open my eyes to how to layer light. We also consulted with a lighting designer (she was hard to find so we had to travel an hour away to consult with her). Sometimes a high end lighting store will have qualified lighting designers in their stores that are available for a consult. Tell them you want to pay for their advice and not choose lighting products in this visit.

Carol

Thanks for the nice comments. Everyone is making such great progress!

Regarding lighting, we just had it in our plans from the architect. I had inspiration photos and copied my lighting from them. Layering light is so important. We have recessed lighting on a dimmer (super important to use dimmers on everything), chandeliers and will be using lamps as well. I am huge fan of lamp lighting. It really brings the feel of coziness by bringing the light down to sitting areas etc. Good luck!!

OK my turn to vent! Long time Houzz contributor here. I have contributed some to GW since the merger mostly on the windows and home selling forums.

What a disaster. Our builder kept saying we were 4 weeks behind. First it was 4 weeks behind but we can make some of it up and then, when I was out there a couple weeks ago, 4 weeks and we wont be able to make any of it up. Now, just two weeks later, after I hounded him to provide us with an updated completion date, we are 14 weeks behind.

So our house here 1500 miles away is sold. We have no place to live after April 30. We will have to change our address twice now, once to a PO box which I have to fly out there to rent in person, I guess.

Then we have to stay in a hotel. My spouse will continue to work (may as well, I guess) to pay for the hotel and monthly storage for all our stuff plus all the extra costs this new 10 week delay is going to cost us.

I have to review the contract but what can people do to get compensated? Anything?

This whole process we have not wanted to make anyone mad because they have the ability to make your life miserable, so we have swallowed everything and just smiled. Maybe that's why this has been such a bloodletting. They think they have permission to take advantage of us.

But is there a remedy or do we just let it go?

We are drywalled! Siding is well underway as well. I must admit, most of my rooms seemed to shrink after drywall. You'd think that a 3500 sq ft home would feel large, but it doesn't. There are areas where we should have changed to plans (like the entry into our master closet, it's narrow), and I'm a bit annoyed with the architect for those things. But overall, it's beautiful. Here's the living room from the kitchen:

The kitchen area:

Master bedroom:

Foyer and stairs (with the ugly unavoidable bulkhead):

Thanks all for the lighting input. We will have a chandelier in the dining area of the great room along with kitchen pendants and some table lamps in the great room area so all will not be can lights. I like the softness of lamp lighting also.

Michelle

You got drywall! So exciting, I can't wait for mine to be put up.

aktillery9....

Gorgeous infinity pool. We are in the process of finalizing the floor plan of our house. We have a similar plan for our backyard. Our builder is recommending an infinity pool which would be budget busting gorgeous feature. We have two boys (one 8 and one 4). I've been at pool play dates though with some of my older son's male friends. The horseplay on the part of some of his friends has been truly scary. I nip it in the bud as soon as I spot it but I'm worried that the infinity wall would be a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Zorroslw1

If the chandy in the dining room offers ambient or uplight, it will help balance the downward lighting from the cans.

Are you considering any sconces? They offer nice mood lighting and uplighting to also balance the downlight from cans. Sconces look great over a fireplace -- do you have one planned in the great room?

Don't forget the floor plugs for the lamps.

Carol

Michelle - congrats on dry wall!

We finally passed our rough-in electrical and plumbing inspection.it only took a week to fix problems (GCsaid 3-4 days). They will be starting insulation this week, GC said that should only take 2 days.

Our original dry wall guy had a heart attack with valve replacement so he retired and let his son take over the business. Needless to say the son won't honor the bid and wanted $2k more, he had another crew come in and bid, they were $3k+ over budget but they cam down to just over $2k over budget. Now we're waiting on yet another bid, I hope they are on budget! Nothing to date has been on budget.

Then GC sends me email saying if we use R19 Batt in walls vs the R23 blown in we'd be on budget but if not then over budget. We told him all along blown in insulation. Just frustrated with him!

Chicagodreamer, thank you....thank gives me hope! :)

Staying on budget is hard!! We have been over on things like concrete, framing materials, insulation, Hardie, and trim out. I tried to make sacrifices (very hard) and we came in under budget on cabinets and painting. Painting was just a pleasant surprise because our guys are wonderful! We just picked flooring and are waiting on the estimate back from the flooring place. I'm set on the hardwoods, but may change the tile if we need to cut. Tile was ridiculously hard. Of course I wanted travertine, but had to settle for ceramic or porcelain. Then naturally the only porcelain I liked for the main back area was out of budget. They also can't get the backsplash I want, but their installer will install for labor cost if I provide it. I really want the Encore crackle subways, but there is no dealer in our area. Plus, I would love to find something more affordable. We don't need a ton though and it's gorgeous. Worth a splurge for me. We pick our countertops in 2 weeks. Have to drive 2 hrs away for that. I'm sure it will be hard to stay on budget there also. I've done very well with my lighting budget, but suspect I'll go over on plumbing fixtures. We had picked everything out in the beginning with a local plumbing supplier, but I am changing a few faucets and sinks. That will likely put us over. I could scale back my kitchen sink choice to a different finish for much cheaper, but I don't wanna!!! It's hard picking and choosing where to put the money.

I think we are getting closer than I imagined. Our masons haven't started any of our interior work yet as they are STILL working outside. So slowwww! I think next week I will see if they can start inside so we can keep moving in there. He's only going to hold up the trim guys, the cabinet guy, and the electrician. We will see.

And in exciting news, they poured 2 of our concrete columns yesterday. I can't wait for them to take the molds off and see them!

And I agree that paint made the rooms feel a little bigger.

Ray, that is a beautiful kitchen and backsplash. What is it? It almost looks irridescent.

Artillery, you have one gorgeous view from your home.

Michelle you are making good progress. Things will start to slow down a bit after they finish the wall board. But it won't be too long before you start seeing the finishing touches which finally complete your home.

Our landscaping was started but not completed bc of rain the last couple days. We peeked into our home since they did the flooring last week. Won't be long before we can move in now.

Here is a picture of the landscaping. The red mulch looks really red in this picture for some reason. It doesn't look that bright in person. But then again this was taken before it rained. Perhaps the color washed out.

And a peek at our new finished floors in the living room through the back porch French Doors. Couldn't get in there today since they were still drying out.

And the view into the Great Room from the screened porch area

musicgal-so glad to see there is yet another 2014 builder still working away. Waving at ya from up north!

ray-oh marble and herringbone..........eek. Lovely!

michelle-oh that is exciting. The build changes feel so many times from start to finish. It's nuts. In the end it seems to shift back to 'normal' vs. oh it's huge and what happened it's tiny. Paint does change everything. Feel the same on some things here-why would they ever design this? Oh well. It's all good when it's done...after some time....hahaha! Just go to your happy office nook and smile at the views of your back yard. :) I have one of those bulk heads too and honestly it's not something I think about at all now (but there are a couple of other things - hehehe).

renee-that's crazy that the son takes over and won't honor the bid. Nice. Frustrating for sure.

zoe-cross posting - ummm, I want your grass. That's all I see in that picture, grass and landscaping and then - oh there's a house (fantastic by the way) but I am fixated on yards right now! Awesome! We are still waiting for snow to completely melt.

Zoe52

Beautiful floors, I hope mine look as nice.

Zoe - beautiful house & floors, your build is looking so good! Are you happy with your design choices with everything? When do you move in?

We stopped by our house today and the backsplash in the kitchen is in and looks awesome! I'll post some pics when I get a chance. We are getting our floor stained and polished this week and stairs have gone in past few days. I can taste the finish line. So close but still feels far away from move in (two weeks?)

ray - love your backsplash! is that a stove i see with the backsplash? Where's your hood?

Hi back atcha Autumn. It is officially post winter here. Bluebonnets are starting to come up, although my little seeds did not bring up more than 5 seedlings. I know what you mean about lawn envy. Our yard is still a mess, but we will get our Italian Cypress trees on Good Friday. Then, sometime later in the month... wait for it... GRASS:)

Raybo:

Great sense of color. LOVE that backsplash. I'll bet you are so glad you put that in before you put up that hood. Had to be much easier...now I can't wait to see the hood go in!

Zoe, those floors plus that paint color are stunning! We think we picked out wood flooring this week. That's been stressful - builder thought the color we picked would be to clashy with our dark cherry cabinets. Think we've got a good compromise but needing to make a fast decision on that during a week where I spent 19 hours in meetings was not good. The house has moved lightning fast this week. Could see insulation last Friday and now drywall is up, mudded, and one layer of paint on!

Zoe,

Love your paint colors! Would you please share? Paint is so difficult! Thanks!

Ray- gorgeous kitchen! Love your island color as well--would you please share?

So sheet rock bid is $2k over budget, the last bid was $4k over. Insulation is set to start tomorrow and finish Wednesday. Hope sheet rock will start soon after! I only hope the rest of the house comes in on budget - please!

Thank you for the compliments on the backsplash :) It just got grouted today (I'm stuck at work, dying to see it tomorrow).

That backsplash is from Lowes (http://www.lowes.com/pd_526267-25497-SP117+1X3-098_0_?productId=50122017&Ntt=marble+mosaic&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dmarble%2Bmosaic&facetInfo=#img)

I used it first as the flooring in the half bath. I love how it turned out. I hope to be able to get the hood up tomorrow.

Definitely glad I waited til after the backsplash (thank you GW)

mom2sulu, thank you. That is a custom color, the cabinets are from Kith/Eudora kitchens and that is one of the colors they offer :)

So nice to see everyones progress.

Michelle, I wanted to say your home is looking great. I know you are bummed by those bulkheads, but with the 9 foot ceilngs the ceilings still look high. Now that you have it boxed in, I am sure you will be able to better visualize how to do the coffers, columns etc you are planning to make the boxing look intentional. It was harder for posters to visualize at the framing stage. You could always update your separate thread that was seeking input for the best ways to add decorative boxes etc to make it all look more planned. Perhaps posters there will be able to give you more input now. At the end of the day, you know you want heat and air so those boxes are important.

Carol

Thanks Carol. I guess my question above was somewhat rhetorical as we have a plan in place. I do think it will look intentional when finished. Thanks for the kind words!