We are still struggling to get all the little things fixed and done now that we've moved in. The gutter guys are supposed to be there today, yeah that's a good one. They were supposed to be there last Thursday and/or Friday too. Of course I'm sure now that I am back to work they'll show up and put downspouts just where DH doesn't want them.

Plumber is suppoed to be there today too, to fix all the broken things he left us with and to install the faucet on our double slipper tub. He better get the pot filler in, he doesn't want to do it because he's going to have to move the water line down since he put it up too high and the pot filler hits the cooktop hood.

We still have many doors that don't close right too. I think we are about tired of dealing with all the little things that aren't quite right but soon it will be a distant memory so they tell me. DH wants to start getting his workshop built in the spring by the amish. I'm not too sure that I will be ready to start any kind of building again that soon. I told him he can deal with it lol

Countertops tomorrow! I can't wait!! GC says 4-6 weeks until move in. I want to move in NOW dammit! How long after counter install before your build was finished?

Wow. Everybody super busy this July!

HVAC tubes are in, plumbing is in, roofing almost finished, electricals are halfway done.

Here's the kitchen. I can already see the hood and the induction cooktop on that wall.... ;)

Michelle: 4-6 weeks sounds correct. Our flooring only went in after the countertops..

Daboyd4

Those timbers are going to look gorgeous and when you sit under them you will remember how you had to get them yourself and haul them to the build. What a good memory.

R2....our flooring is done already.

Michelle

1. Our countertop will be the last thing installed and that will be next Tuesday. All else will be done by the end of this week (hopefully). "The plan" is to start moving in this next Saturday, August 1.

Sounds like you are getting close, it will go fast believe it or not.

Yay! Crazy what a difference a week makes! They framed Friday, part of Monday, and today. Some errors but nothing that won't be fixed. Trusses haven't arrived yet, they were supposed to be here Monday. Framer can't have a crane here until Thursday anyway, so let's just hope they're delivered before then!

Hubby is also working on painting the fence posts before we install rails in a few weeks. I know there isn't much talk about livestock fencing, but we went with four rails of 4" white Centaur vinyl fencing. It's interesting because it looks like a regular white board fence from the front, but it's really more like tape in that it's flat and flexible.

They also got the posts for the porch in. I still wish we could have extended them all the way back on both sides, but I'm sure they'll be more than big enough!

Amber- It's looking good! Exciting time! We are looking into the Centaur fencing as well. Probably do that in the front pastures and coated wire in the back pasture for expense sake. I really like it. I love the look and durability of it. Seems to be very safe for the horses too. We're hoping to build our barn later this year, after the house is done. Can't wait to not have to board and have the horses at home.

I've missed so much!

Reese, I hope your bank situation is settled soon.

Renee, that sounds really frustrating. We have started moving things in as of yesterday and our painters are STILL working. Slowest people ever. They've been painting at our house since March 2. Like showing up at least 3 days a week since then. lol.

Mirach, your views must be spectacular!! That looks amazing.

Amber, it's looking great! You are at a really exciting stage.

Amberm, why in the world do they make that fixture for so much light?!?! Hope your flooring finisher gets started as soon as he gets back!

r2d2, I've got to come up with something for my bathroom window. It's in my tub alcove. When we ordered the guy tried to talk me into one of the privacy glasses, but I prefer the look of a regular glass. I'm thinking I may put a plantation shutter, but that goes with our style of house. I've seen some of those diy privacy glass things at box stores like Lowes and HD. No idea what they look like though.

As for us, we had final inspections on Friday afternoon. Picked up certificate of occupancy on Monday and got our homeowner's policy yesterday so now we can move in. Except it's the middle of the week and my husband works a demanding job. I started bringing a few things over yesterday. Spent all weekend ckeaning! We have a major spider issue. I'm calling an exterminator this morning.. Still have some things to do like hang the shutters, get the outdoor grilling area granite fixed and finish that, bathroom mirrors, etc.

Here are a few photos:

Ran out of space there.

Office

dining area fixture. It's open to the kitchen.

I just realized I don't have any recent pictures of the outside. Not sure why the pictures look so squatty. It's distorting everything. Weird.

Aleleux: Simply beautiful.. love all the colors esp. the MBR blue. The light fixture in the dining room my fav. I like your hardwood color too-- nice and dark. Can you please add like you said an exterior picture again to complete the album to the same post. Everything is very well tied. I will do a pic link inspired by you like this soon when we are ready to move. Thanks.

One more question what brand of washer/dryer did you buy..?

Also what do you mean Spiders-- is it cobwebs everywhere outside?

Amber: Framing stage-- wow how exciting. From nothing to a palace in front of your eyes, is what I felt. Enjoy.

Thank you, r2d2. I should have done a link, but wasn't sure how. I will add an exterior pic. Spiders IN the house. And outside as well. They are everywhere. All varieties. Washer and dryer are Samsung.

aleleux1 - Congrats! We have spiders too YUCK! I finally killed all the flies lol

I have vacuumed and dusted every day since we moved in and there is still dust and a grit feeling on my counters and floors. So frustrating! I have noticed that there are several paints spots and left over grout on my tile floors and smudges on the hardwoods. I don't know how these people can be so messy. We still have tons of empty boxes from the subs in the garage so no parking in there for now anyway. I hate parking outside, especially when it's raining like this morning.

My new drive to work is longer and I still feel tense learning a new way in, but I love my new home. Still out of sorts so no pics for now.

Amber - so excited for you on getting started. It will be a long frustrating process so hang on for the ride. I think the last couple of months were the worst.

The plumber came out and got most of his stuff done, although the faucet in the claw foot tub leaks, how do you miss that! My DH said he's not letting that guy in our house again so he'll fix it.

The gutters are mostly done, but it rained over night and this morning so I'm sure they won't want to finish up in the mud today.

Aleleux1

What a beautiful home. You did a fantastic job on everything. I especially like the master bath floor tile. The kitchen is a dream. The architecture flows through the house blending into each room, thanks for sharing.

Aleleux1, you must be thrilled. It looks gorgeous! Well done!!

Renee, yes. I am noticing paint all over as well. Little splatters here and there. Seems the cleaning will be never-ending. Our air conditioning guy told us to change the filters every week for a while. We have been doing that and they are filthy every week. :/

Thanks, everyone. We are so thrilled to be finished.

Aleleux, nice kitchen, I like the island color.

Love the porch ceilings! Beautiful!

Aleleux and R2D2, I saw this a while ago on Pinterest. So I didn't get any factory frosted glass, so I can choose a design as I have the energy to create it. frosted privacy window

Everyone's houses are beautiful and all the progress is exciting-even the photos of the lots waiting to begin! Dh has spent the last few days getting construction loans renewed and finding new construction insurance as our current one ends the middle of this month and we figure the build won't be done until mid September(I have a feeling it won't be until the end of September-my husband has already made contingency plans to fly into NJ just for the rehearsal dinner and wedding of our son on Oct.3-he was really looking forward to visiting friends and family as he hasn't been back since we moved to California last November). Our current insurance policy only sells one year policies-we don't want to pay that much for what should be a month or two.I think these last few months are the hardest-you just want to be in-the beginning is exciting, but it's getting old at this point. We were lucky to find a rental that was willing to let us extend it month by month. Our builder is doing a great job at finding us ways to save money on the build, but it's getting eaten up in rent.

I was looking on Pinterest for the above photo of the window film, and I came across this photo. It's from a real estate listing of a house we looked at before buying our dirt.

Loribug! That deck looks so inviting. Perfect hang out spot.

Aleleux1,

Your new home is lovely! I especially love your MB mini chandy. Would you please share brand/collection name? Thanks!

Lori do I spy a corn field? ;) I bet you'll be watching deer from your back deck this fall!

Wow! It's so exciting to see everyone's progress. Especially those of you who are nearing the finish line - makes me feel like it might happen....someday! Thank you all for sharing!

I was asked this morning to stop by the electrician's supplier to "pick out/up" under cabinet lighting. I have 3 cabinets all under 3' to light. The supplier wanted almost $1000 for all the various pieces. (The electrician is shocked, and they suspect it was a case of "woman not dressed for construction, let's charge her a ridiculous amount of money.")

So I left and went to Home Depot. I picked up an led tape that does colour changing for $55. Unfortunately, it doesn't do a warm white. So, I can return it and get a white one that is hopefully a warmer white. Or I can keep it, and enjoy putting it on a different colour every day. :) Hmm, this would be easier if I'd made a decision on backsplash. :P

Aleleux, your cabinet maker lives not far from our property where my husband and I used to live. Hopefully we will build there in the next year or so. My husband knows him. What a small world, right? I was looking at cabinet makers in the area on Facebook for future reference. My husband suggested looking at his Facebook page. I just put two and two together where I saw your kitchen. Your home is quite beautiful as are all of your cabinets.

mom2sulu, I picked that up at a local lumber/building supply store, Stine. I am so sorry, but I do not even know the brand. It was something that I just grabbed one day because I hadn't been able to make a decision.

Lilflowers, small world indeed! Thank you! He was very easy to work with.

aleleux1: your house is gorgeous! wow. congratulations. I am just getting started with floor plans but i am inspired!

Finally!!

The house is finished and we can start moving in Saturday. It's been a long haul, but like just about everyone else building, it was worth the wait. The yard is not finished, but we are meeting with our landscaper tomorrow morning. I will post pictures after we get moved in. My husband and I are very happy with all of our decisions, for a couple who had no clue what we were doing, but we learned along the way and picked up a lot of good tips/advice from this forum.

Yay!! Congrats zorro!

Countertop installation began today and will finish tomorrow. Overall, I'm happy with my choices. There's only three different types of stone in the whole house, so part of me wishes I'd chosen more variety, but that's not a big deal. The leathered absolute black granite is beautiful and so soft. The Carrara marble is gorgeous and I love my island made from LG Viatera Rococo....EXCEPT....back before templating I sent an email to the fabricator asking that the sides of the island be wider to allow for plugmold. Well, of course, they didn't. The overhand is 1" and the plugmold will actually hang out beyond that at least 1/4 to 1/2". I'm so upset. Do you think they can inset the plugmold into the cabinet? Or do I have a case to ask them to redo it?

Pictures of the counters so far...

One more question....when they installed the cabinets for my China cabinet area (uppers will have glass), they didn't recess the toe kick. See pic below. Does that look weird?

Michelle I think it would look weird of they DID recess the toe kick. You wouldn't really stand there to work, right? It's just storage? Then why would you need the toe kick? This way, it looks more finished to me.

Ok. Thanks Amberm, that makes sense. Any thoughts about the countertop?

Michelle, the china cabinet looks better without the toe kick.

It all looks great, Michelle, Check with your electrician regarding the plugmold. It think there is a reasonable chance it could be recessed into the cabinet the 1/2 inch. Are there drawers in that cabinet. If so, that gets tricky as well. Check if there is a half inch available for the plugmold recess.

Carol

Michelle, are you sure you will need plugmold on the island. Do you really have a need for 4-8 outlets on the sides? We have two regular outlets on each side. I don't think we have used them yet. We matched our outlet covers to the color of our wood. You would not know there were there unless looking for them.

There is also the option of the compact Sillites instead of Plugmold.

Carol

Sillites

What's plugmold?

We are about the same place as Stephanie-Sara, maybe a bit further. Foundations and underground storage room floor and walls all poured and waterproofing on, backfill almost finished. Garage is ready for pad which will be poured next Tuesday Aug 4th. They have started putting the floor joists in and the plywood is here for the decking. Meeting with builder and architect on Thursday to finalize window/door choices as they will be ready for them before we know it. Been fighting uphill battle with architect because I want gliders and she wants casements....whose house is it? I have won on most except a couple of small awning type which are fine. The real *working* windows will be gliders. Also appliance finalizations....still debating refrigerator.

Next spring/early summer hopeful finish date.

Another thing I insisted on in kitchen.

@Michelle - We are also doing Viatera Rococo for all our kitchen counters. Would you mind posting a few more pics of your island? Great to see it out in the "real world".

aleleux1 Please tell me about your wood floors.

Sure Roper

It's still dusty as installation isn't complete yet. I'll get better close ups next time I go.

Sherimcm, they are engineered hardwoods glued down on slab. Bella Cera, Pompeii Collection, color is Leopardi. 7" wide planks.

aleleux1 I know this is an old thread but I was searching for any information on Bella Cera Pompeii Leopardi, as my mom is considering for a new house she is building. How has it held up for the past 2 years?