Hi Drj Sorry. Misread this statement. "We considered, a couple of years ago, building in a place with a list of approved builders. It so happened that the lot we were interested in was owned by a particular builder so we had to use him if we decided to build on that lot". I thought you were talking about this house. One thing I don't understand is that if DH went to straighten out a "bunch of other trim issues" how is the TC is doing a good job? The ceiling issue you posted about should have been addressed by him before he cut the first board. I also don't understand the on-the-job training of the siding crew. Is this a shake sided house? How much did that "journey" cost you and is it the beginning of a long journey for you of failing products and voided warrantees? If the builder had spoken to his supplier Nichiha would have wined and dined them for a few days and trained them on how to properly install the products. If you look at the photo posted by worthy it is obvious that people aren't "as fussy". If that were one of my projects the first thing to go would be that stair. Everything about it is wrong. It's disproportionate in every detail and it looks like everything else in the foyer was slapped in there with no rhyme or reason whatsoever. Was that supposed to be a barrel vault ceiling or are they just trying to hide the stair coming into the hallway? The white concrete and the floor are great but are lost in all the commotion. The amount of money you are spending or the perceived "value" of the home compared to others and your distance from the site is irrelevant. Most of the clientele I worked with were usually on different continents altogether as were some of the subs. With the technology and services available today there is no reason why you couldn't get a sample sent to you. If they are using an "epoxy-like" finish it may not be noticeable. The only thing I would be concerned about everything having a plastic or metallic look. Either way you are paying for this work and it is your house. Wanting something done right is not being "fussy".

French doors will give you the option of a door between the DR and LR, add to the value of your house. A lace curtain over the glass is the traditional way to cover them for privacy. If you wall in the space, please put your 2x4's 16" oc. It will take only a couple more and you will need the extra studs for nailing - sheet rock and trim are designed to be nailed every 16". If you are going to the effort of building a wall, do it right. Many people close in and rename their dining rooms. It's a fine idea to use the space you have to suit your family. But a house that 'goes around' works better - think of small children chasing each other through a house, happy for hours, or a party where people don't get caught in a dead end room but can circulate easily. So even if you close the door most of the time, I would suggest that you leave one, even if it is only a single French door. Yes, if you can only get to the DR through the kitchen, it is not a formal DR. When you have a dinner party and wish to entertain in the LR, you then set the table with your favorite china and silver, etc., and welcome people into your dining room formally - in Victorian days the gentlemen would have offered their arms to the ladies and escorted them into the dining room! However, if you do not entertain like that and do not intend to move in the next 5 years, do what you want! Someone else can change it back.

Well, good question. Sorta went like this: One Friday the GC told us this: GC: I'll have the shingles for the roof delivered Monday and we will get that on, then we can start the floor. That will take about a week and then we can do the walls. Monday rolls around.. nothing. No shingles the entire week. END of that week, though, Sheetrock got delivered. NEXT Monday, Shingles got delivered. 3-weeks later, no progress at all. (some light rain here and there, nothing major) Next week - rain for 2 weeks straight....heavy. 2- day opening.. shingles went on. 2 weeks of floors being jacked up and solutions etc.. Sheetrock goes in. Bad management by the GC, imo.. R

II like the desk entirely hidden behind that wall, but this is better for Zoom calls. You need to be facing a window for the natural light to be on your face. You can use a ring light on cloudy/rainy days but if it is sunny, use the natural light. That also leaves the wall to your left for a new office storage piece like a credenza or file cabinet. If the glare from those windows bothers you when working, get some custom bamboo shades at Lowe's in a shade that picks up the caramel color in the rug. A new ceiling lamp and a brass floor lamp for the corner by the sofa will look great.Move the round brass table to the entry side of the sofa for a bit of bling to be seen as one comes into the space. Also add a lamp to your desk. Try not to use the ceiling light, for a warm and cozy feeling. Ceiling lights are great for seeing how to clean the space, but they do not enhance the ambiance unless they are interesting to look at. And speaking of visual interest, the map isn't that. If you need it for your work tasks, move it close to the desk. I would be something fun and colorful to hang 5" above the sofa. Don't forget a trash basked if you don't have a shredder.